Finally took my 1979 XS 1100SF for a ride

[MadHatter4119]

Well...I'm asking myself if all the work was worth it...I'm only 5' 8" tall and I'm here to tell you...these bike aren't built for comfort are they...the drivers
foot pegs are to far back...I took it out just to check the gears...I wanted to
make sure it wasn't popping out of gear or other issues...other than the bike
being the most uncomfortable bike I have even driven...the transmission is
fine...which is a plus...one other issue is the height of the bike...backing it up
is a job with my short legs...I loved the power and the way it handles...I was
thinking of a heel & toe setup...anybody using one ? I have steel pins in my
left (Shifter) knee...they been in there 25yrs or more...With my knees bent the
way they are while driving...shifting into higher gears is really hard for me...On
most bikes I use my heel to shift up...with the pickup coil cover...I can't do this
on this bike...the shifter is hiding behind the pickup coil cover...Any idea ??? Thanks

[motoman]

For starters, remove the shift lever pinch bolt completely, remove shift lever and re-position it then re-istall the pinch bolt.

[BA80]

There are things, creature comfort things, that you won't have on ANY bike you ride.

Some things you can get used to, some you can change.

If all you're worried about is how comfy you are, there's always the obscenely overpriced, grossly underpowered, noisy recliners that carry the Harley Davidson label.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Harry,

First, congrats on getting that 1st ride in!!!

Have read of folks getting heel/toe type shifters off of some Honda rebels or such to provide the heel type shifting action you are looking for. As was mentioned, you can reposition the shifter lever arm to allow easier pulling up action without having to pull your toes so far up, but this can also require more distance your toe has to push down to downshift....unless you were to use your heel on the toe portion to downshift.

Inexpensive replacement shift levers can be got, and if you know a welder or can weld your self, then you could cut off the spline section, and then weld the toe portion onto the rear of the OEM shift lever to provide the heel portion?? JAT!

T.C.

[jwhughes3]

Well...I'm asking myself if all the work was worth it...I'm only 5' 8" tall and I'm here to tell you...these bike aren't built for comfort are they...the drivers
foot pegs are to far back...I took it out just to check the gears...I wanted to
make sure it wasn't popping out of gear or other issues...other than the bike
being the most uncomfortable bike I have even driven...the transmission is
fine...which is a plus...one other issue is the height of the bike...backing it up
is a job with my short legs...I loved the power and the way it handles...I was
thinking of a heel & toe setup...anybody using one ? I have steel pins in my
left (Shifter) knee...they been in there 25yrs or more...With my knees bent the
way they are while driving...shifting into higher gears is really hard for me...On
most bikes I use my heel to shift up...with the pickup coil cover...I can't do this
on this bike...the shifter is hiding behind the pickup coil cover...Any idea ??? Thanks

You could cut down the seat foam a bit to lower bike and switch to shocks an inch shorter to lower the back a bit. Add crash cages with fold down pegs. Much better.

John

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Harry,

Here's a Heel/Toe off of a 71 Honda CL70.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/71-Honda-CL7...-/201543009185

I don't know if the shaft is the same size as the Yamaha, but would think it might be??

T.C.

[MadHatter4119]

TC...So are we talking about lowering the shifter to make it easier to shift up
to higher gears...??? I should have some Virago shifters around here and a guy
that does some small welding jobs for me for a few bucks...might get on that
in a day or two...rain on its way for tomorrow and the day after...crap...than I
need to address the height of the bike issue...A couple inches out of the seat and some memory foam should do the trick...Like I said...I liked the power and
the way it handled...don't want to loose any handling if I can help it...can you recommend a low profile seat that will fit a 79 XS1100 SF...I find the stock seat
rather hard to get on and off...unless something is wrong with mine...Don't you
think its a little much undoing 4 nuts to get the seat off...??? Also, I will admit
I really enjoyed the first ride...I need to adjust the clutch...it releases 1/3" from
the bar...to soon for my taste...Thanks

PS...Heading to the Harley Stealership first thing in the morning...WTF

[Eveready1100]

Any chance you can post up a photo of the 4 nuts you're undoing to get the seat off? On a normal Xs11 seat, there's only 2 captive nuts that fit into slots in the frame mounting lugs that you loosen, then pull the seat to the rear to disengage the front mount tang under the tank, then lift the front of the seat slightly as you pull it forward to let the 2 rear nuts slide clear of the slots.

[Eveready1100]

One other thing, Joseph. You've got this thread titled " Finally took my 1979 XS 1100SF for a ride"
If this is the bike you're talking about, it's not an SF, it's just an "F"


The major clue was the headlight brackets, which won't fit on a special head set unless they're cut down, and the fork sliders, which are the Standard type, not the leading axle ones as on a Special.

There are some significant differences between the 2 models which could affect the results of someone trying to assist you with your bike.

Just an example is in your lost cylinder thread, where Greg was asking about the fuel lines and octy, your bike doesn't have an octy, so checking these items would've proved futile.

Not picking on you, mate. Just trying to avoid issues down the track.
P.S. You might want to change the model type in your signature, as that's where a lot of us look to see what we're dealing with.

[MadHatter4119]

Hey Everyready...I think you have 2 posts mixed up...The above picture
isn't a picture of my bike...Lol...No big deal...my seat has 4 (2 on each side)
bolts that slide into 4 rubber grommets that are on the frame rail on the bike and nuts/washer screw onto each bolt...I think a 10mm socket will fit the nut
...to tell you the truth...I don't use the nuts...I just line them up after the front
is lock in and push it down...the bolts go through the grommet and leave it like
that...

[MadHatter4119]

TC...See post #7...any advice ???? Thanks

[natemoen]

I have a heel toe shifter on mine. I like it and really only use my heel to shift either way. It came with a set of floorboards that I bought for it.

[Eveready1100]

My deepest apologies, mate. I do have the posts mixed up as I was searching your prior posts for a photo of your bike, I found that one, but it was in a thread you had replied to, not started, so once again, sorry.

Regarding the seat retention, Those 4 x 10mm bolts that you are undoing are what mounts the brackets to the underside of the seat.
The long 14mm nuts you can see between them in this pic are the ones to loosen to allow the seat to be removed normally.

[tomcos67]

Well...I'm asking myself if all the work was worth it...I'm only 5' 8" tall and I'm here to tell you...these bike aren't built for comfort are they...the drivers
foot pegs are to far back...I took it out just to check the gears...I wanted to
make sure it wasn't popping out of gear or other issues...other than the bike
being the most uncomfortable bike I have even driven...the transmission is
fine...which is a plus...one other issue is the height of the bike...backing it up
is a job with my short legs...I loved the power and the way it handles...I was
thinking of a heel & toe setup...anybody using one ? I have steel pins in my
left (Shifter) knee...they been in there 25yrs or more...With my knees bent the
way they are while driving...shifting into higher gears is really hard for me...On
most bikes I use my heel to shift up...with the pickup coil cover...I can't do this
on this bike...the shifter is hiding behind the pickup coil cover...Any idea ??? Thanks

Hello.! I feel your pain.! Also left knee challenge.! These bikes R tall and heavy,with controls to far back unfortunately. But if you R in good enough shape to ride ,tons of fun,and fast.!So be that as it may.Sometimes you just have to go buy the bike that fits us better.Forward controls. Swept back bars ,low to ground.Ride with a smile rather than a frown and or pain.!!Good luck.!

[MadHatter4119]

Thanks Everyready...I knew there had to be an easier way to get the seat off and on...I'll contact the local bike salvage yard and see if they have a seat
that has the mounting hardware...the PO removed the 14mm section on mine
somehow...your picture explains a lot...thanks again
Hi Nate...Do you know what kind of bike your heel & toe shifter and floor boards came off of...? Thanks