Parts we wish existed.

[jrobertfox]

Hi everyone.

I realized that I am pretty handy, and am thinking about building out some parts for us XS11 heads. I'm already in process of building a clean tripple tree top clamp for clip on bars (i.e. nothing but 3 holes) and was wondering if there is enthusiasm for other parts "we wish existed"

I guess i'm trying to figure out where the "pain points" are and how/if people are willing to pay for them. Some basic examples:

- rear set/pegs
- brakets of various sorts

lemme know!

[crazy steve]

Keep in mind that there's two different triple tree assemblies for the XS bike; one for the standards and one for the Specials and they can't be mixed....

Sending you a PM...

[daveyg]

XS11 specific rear sets have been available at various times from a few manufacturers, the problem is cost. I don't remember who made them, but there was a really awesome set I saw a pic of once that replaced the alloy piece that holds both stock pegs, but iirc the cost was almost $300. I've been eyeballing a few other universal sets, like these: http://www.fastfromthepast.com/servl...sal/Categories
But again, $170? And they still aren't even a direct bolt on affair? Myself, being a machinist know I can fab up a set for 1/10th that cost for my own bike, it'd just be time. (Which a universal set is going to still take time to fab up your heim joints to the controls and whatnot. If you figured out a way to do a bolt on method, and could produce a few sets for under $100 each, then you'd have my attention! But, being in the manufacturing trade, I'm very skeptical anybody could pull it off for that price, with the narrow market. The clean top triple clamp isn't a bad idea, but it'd have to be machined to fit the 37mm forks, which are wobbly as an overcooked spaghetti noodle without also having a fork brace, that's part of why I'm swapping to 41mm units, and most serious cafe builders will swap to inverted forks anyway, so all the potential buyers just got cut down to 1/3, and it would be a strictly cosmetic upgrade, thus reducing your buyer pool... Guys with 30+ year old Yamahas are cheap folk... Myself included. Since you seem like a real legit guy, go ahead and build a prototype for your bike, just cuz it'd be cool, but don't expect to make much (or any) money building parts for 30+ year old motorcycles, unless it's a part that is unobtainable, and wears out regularly from the oem part. (Like TCs fuse block)

[crazy steve]

One other point (touched on in my first post) is all the myriad little differences between the standards and Specials, and even between years within basic models. There's very few items (outside of the basic powertrain assembly) that have wide interchange between years and/or models.

That's the big reason there's so little aftermarket support for most Jap bikes, as the OEM manufacturers just couldn't resist making all these little 'improvements' every year, making the market pool too small for the aftermarket. With only a 4-year US production run and 8 distinctly different models, we're lucky to find what we do...

Yamaha was 'smarter' in Europe (or maybe because the market was different); the 'standard' remained pretty much unchanged throughout it's run so there's fewer interchange issues, but it was enough different from the US models that trying to use 'euro' parts on the US bikes presents issues.

[kevkat8]

Part that I need-side cover.

Went for a ride last weekend and as luck would have it my LEFT side cover fell off of my 79 xs1100sf. Looked on EBay but not finding much. Heard that with mods I could use a 80-81 std. cover. Maybe?
Does ANYONE have one I could buy. Don't care if locking tab is broken. I can fix that I think.
Thanks.

[oldyam80sg]

Speaking about the side cover,i wish it didn't need a key to unlock but snapped into place like the right side cover.

[Yahman]

Speaking about the side cover,i wish it didn't need a key to unlock but snapped into place like the right side cover.

I already have a fix for that, works just like the right side cover, just snaps on. I developed it before the new latch-tab repair that I now have for sale. I have the original prototype that I will sell you. I don't have any plans at this time to make more, as they would cost more than the new fix. I'll let you have the one I've got for $28.00 plus shipping. PM me if your interested.

Ride safe,
Larry

[Yahman]

Went for a ride last weekend and as luck would have it my LEFT side cover fell off of my 79 xs1100sf. Looked on EBay but not finding much. Heard that with mods I could use a 80-81 std. cover. Maybe?
Does ANYONE have one I could buy. Don't care if locking tab is broken. I can fix that I think.
Thanks.

There is now a simple fix for that broken tab, see this thread. http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39553

Ride safe,
Larry

[WMarshy]

Went for a ride last weekend and as luck would have it my LEFT side cover fell off of my 79 xs1100sf. Looked on EBay but not finding much. Heard that with mods I could use a 80-81 std. cover. Maybe?
Does ANYONE have one I could buy. Don't care if locking tab is broken. I can fix that I think.
Thanks.

You are screwed... the 79SF is a mix between the 78/79 standard and the 80+ side covers. Only a cover from a '79SF will work.



I'd he hightly interested in rear sets. As already said, price is the driving factor for me and $100 and less is about what I'd be willing to pay.

[kevkat8]

This is what I found from Crazy Steve on exchanging parts between models:
So I hope I am NOT screwed too bad......

This is what I foundHere's a '79 Special cover. Except for the emblem, the '80-81 standard cover is identical and can be exchanged with no problems; these use slots like the above standard covers. The left side cover is also identical except for the slots; the 79 cover still has them, the '80-81 covers have round holes instead. These can be swapped if you modify the holes. Note the shape; the 'tab' is gone, and the cover tapers slightly towards the rear.

[TomB]

XS11 specific rear sets have been available at various times from a few manufacturers, the problem is cost. I don't remember who made them, but there was a really awesome set I saw a pic of once that replaced the alloy piece that holds both stock pegs, but iirc the cost was almost $300. I've been eyeballing a few other universal sets, like these: http://www.fastfromthepast.com/servl...sal/Categories
But again, $170? And they still aren't even a direct bolt on affair? Myself, being a machinist know I can fab up a set for 1/10th that cost for my own bike, it'd just be time. (Which a universal set is going to still take time to fab up your heim joints to the controls and whatnot. If you figured out a way to do a bolt on method, and could produce a few sets for under $100 each, then you'd have my attention! But, being in the manufacturing trade, I'm very skeptical anybody could pull it off for that price, with the narrow market. The clean top triple clamp isn't a bad idea, but it'd have to be machined to fit the 37mm forks, which are wobbly as an overcooked spaghetti noodle without also having a fork brace, that's part of why I'm swapping to 41mm units, and most serious cafe builders will swap to inverted forks anyway, so all the potential buyers just got cut down to 1/3, and it would be a strictly cosmetic upgrade, thus reducing your buyer pool... Guys with 30+ year old Yamahas are cheap folk... Myself included. Since you seem like a real legit guy, go ahead and build a prototype for your bike, just cuz it'd be cool, but don't expect to make much (or any) money building parts for 30+ year old motorcycles, unless it's a part that is unobtainable, and wears out regularly from the oem part. (Like TCs fuse block)

As another machinist I completely agree, I've made my own top tree, my own rearsets and much much more, we own these bikes coz we're cheap, we make our own parts coz we even cheaper. So many times I've been asked "wow thats cool can you make me one" the standard answer "Nope you couldn't afford my time" coz our time to us is free. The point being if you want to work for peanuts off you go my friend, you soon get sick of it as I did, no more.



.

[skids]

So I hope I am NOT screwed too bad......

I have recently found that people on this website dislike the word...I have always considered it as a term of endearment!

[oldyam80sg]

I used to have a set of Rassk rearsets but they are long gone.They would be nice to have.

[daveyg]

That's the ones I was thinking! Raask! I kept thinking Trask as I wrote my first post, but they make the Harley turbo kit not old jap cafe parts...

[1fasttrucker]

Stamped side covers

Hi has anyone thought of , using sheet metal building a die and stamping out the basic side over then ( tig or mig weld on the mounting tabs or locks that are needed to mount the covers , or make a new way to mount the in the old location , that could be added fairly easy , and sell all as a kit together ,???