Front End Swap

[Mayor2010]

Just picked up an 80 G standard with no front end, was going to us it as a parts bike but now considering rebuilding it. My question is will any year stock front end work as a replacement or does it have to be the same year?

Thanks in advance

[crazy steve]

As complete assembles (brakes, trees, fender, headlight, turns) any XS11 fork assembly will fit any other. The Special and 'standard' forks have almost no parts interchange between them though....

The wheels and gauge mounts are common to both.

[fredintoon]

Just picked up an 80 G standard with no front end, was going to us it as a parts bike but now considering rebuilding it. My question is will any year stock front end work as a replacement or does it have to be the same year?

Hi Mayor,
what Steve said.
If you go for Special forks you gotta keep the square gauges.
Swapping to the Special's round gauges means swapping to the Special's thermistor fuel level sender to work the round tach's low fuel warning light.
Or if you are swimming in lard, think about upgrading to a newer and better front end instead.

[Yard Dogg]

Make sure you get standard forks. If you have a standard upper triple tree, then the geometry for the special forks will be wrong. The standard forks have the wheel axle directly at the bottom of the fork in the center. The special forks have a leading axle.

[fredintoon]

Make sure you get standard forks. If you have a standard upper triple tree, then the geometry for the special forks will be wrong. The standard forks have the wheel axle directly at the bottom of the fork in the center. The special forks have a leading axle.

Hi Dogg,
like Steve sez, if you do the swap with the complete fork, 'trees, front fender, (the wheel itself is the same) and all, the trail won't change and it'll work just fine.
Some say the Special fork works better than the Standard fork but OTOH using the Special fork locks you into the Special's Weird Harold swiveling tapered pad brake calipers.
The Special fork/Standard 'tree mix works great to reduce trail for sidecar work.
A Standard fork/Special 'tree mix would increase the trail. Perhaps the increase would please those riders who wish to be mistaken for Peter Fonda.

[Yard Dogg]

Maybe I should try some standard forks with my special top clamp.

[bikerphil]

Maybe I should try some standard forks with my special top clamp.

That will shorten the wheelbase and quicken the steering.