1979-1981 grab bar for XS 1100 special

[dolphans1]

I am looking to find out if the grab bar that’s made on the 80-81 XS 1100 special will fit onto a 1979 XS 1100 special frame, will it bolts up or does it require modifications?

Thanks ...!!!

[DiverRay]

It will not fit without a LOT of mods! Bolt locations are different, and the tail light is in a different location and bolts to the later grab bar. Special Ed and I went through it on his special, and I was never happy with how it worked.

[dolphans1]

It will not fit without a LOT of mods! Bolt locations are different, and the tail light is in a different location and bolts to the later grab bar. Special Ed and I went through it on his special, and I was never happy with how it worked.

Oh boy, are you kidding me? Do you have any pictures of what it looked like? What mods did you have to do to it? Drill holes? Will it bolt to the shocks?

I am paying someone to professionally polish and repaint it and may have to stop him in his tracks if he hasn't already started.

I just want the bike to look better from the rear end.

[DiverRay]

I don't have any photo's handy. You CAN fit it, but you cannot put a rack on the back. You will probably need to make a couple of steel brackets to help with the mounts, something Ed and I didn't have time for.

[dolphans1]

I don't have any photo's handy. You CAN fit it, but you cannot put a rack on the back. You will probably need to make a couple of steel brackets to help with the mounts, something Ed and I didn't have time for.

I eye-balled the grab bar when I purchased it about 6 years ago and it appeared it would fit, but I actually never tried it with the seat off. It looks like there's a threaded hole in the frame about where that grab bar would attach on the rear of frame, I just don't know if I need longer bolts for the shocks etc.

I saw a 1979 XS 1100 Special with that same grab bar on it, however I know some of the 80-81 frames were slightly different.

[jetmechmarty]

The '79 Special is the prettiest of them all! Don't put that ugly grab bar on it.

[MPittma100]

Grab Bar XS1100SF

May PM Andreas Weiss here on the site. He supplies us with a lot of parts. Beware that you are looking for a rare part. Keep us posted on your results.

[MPittma100]

XS1100SF Picture

https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...x=0&ajaxhist=0

[robbo]

The '79 Special is the prettiest of them all! Don't put that ugly grab bar on it.

+1

There is this old post on making a SF grab bar but the pics have gone

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39402

[dolphans1]

+1

There is this old post on making a SF grab bar but the pics have gone

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39402

This is the grab bar I am speaking of, I like this look better than the tubular older chrome look. I was hoping it would be a match to the 1979 frame.

http://knez.org/vehicles/images/xs11...l/DSCN1417.JPG

[dolphans1]

Here is the older style chrome bar -

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...sf_special.htm

[jetmechmarty]

I'm quite familiar. Nothing matches between '79 and '80/81. Sell the '79 and buy an '80. You should come out ahead, all else being equal. Seat, side covers, grab bar, frame tabs....all are different from the later model. Live with and love the SF or swap it.

[robbo]

I agree with Marty, love your SF. The later grab bar will fit to your SF but you will need to combine it with 80-81 seat, which means a later under the seat tail light, which in turn will need the later rear fender so you can fit the licence plate holder and lamp. Yes all this will fit to a SF frame, I've personally seen it done. Stick with the look of the SF, they're the original and best IMHO

[jrm000kc]

Good luck finding one....

Had my SF for about 5 years and still no grab bar. Trouble is they're extremely rare species and may spook and run if spotted. If you do find one, the seller is aware of their rareness and wants $300 for their rusted one. It's a matter of keeping your eyes open and an extremely rare planetary alignment.

[vedgar]

79 grab bar

I was very luck indeed. I found one on ebay NOS or near to it for 100 bucks.