80-81 side covers on a 79....yup

[Murphyslaw]

So I lost one of my busted up side covers today. I'll be purchasing a pair off ebay from a 80-81 xs11. I am going to attempt to make this work. I've seen threads about this all over the place but it seems nobody has actually tried mocking a set up to the older years? Any form of advisory would be wonderful, how different are the bottom mounting tabs? I'm thinking the different curvature will fit nicely with my nightster seat.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Murphy,

The problem with the later model sidecovers is that they used totally different mounting slots. The Early ones used dual straight slots, and that's why they come loose and fall off! Then they changed them and made the one front mount a nice round hold that it fits down onto. The rear one is a slotted round hold that snaps/squeezes onto a knob/shaft, and of course the bottom left one still has the locking tab. The right one has a peg that sticks into a rubber squeeze type slot.

My advice would be not to change the side cover, but to change the mounting tabs on your bike to accomodate the later year style. Mine have NEVER blown/fallen off!

There will probably also be other fitting variances since the later model seat has a more deeper angled section which changes the angle of the sidecover.

T.C.

[Murphyslaw]

Hey TC,

Yeah that's exactly what I was planning to do. I was hoping the bottom mounts were the same and lined up the same as well through the different years? Not sure if anyone is aware of this or not. Essentially im hoping that the covers will still sit in the same place so the peg and key slot tab on the bottoms line up correctly. If so, I'll def. Be getting them tmrw when the auction is about to end.