78 standard seat on my 79 special

[brock]

I just saw this thread a couple days ago, but now i cant find it. anyhow, I just found a complete (sans carbs) 78 xs1100 standard in my local junkyard. I got the seat and the hard bags off of it. I havn't taken mine apart yet (its raining), but is the 78 gonna fit on my 79? the pan looks at least similar. and if it doesnt fit, can i make it fit with a simple mod?

if anyone's done it, would you happen to have a pic handy?

I'd like to get it together tomorrow, as i'm leaving for biketoberfest in daytona on friday morning. see any of you there?

[Bubba1954]

There is no frame and bodywork difference between the '78 XS1100E and the '79 XS1100F standard models so a seat from one should work fine on the other.

[brock]

awesome. that's what i thought. i just went outside and got the seat off, and covered my baby back up. they appear to be a perfect match. some of the little rubbery things underneath are in different places, but that shouldnt worry me too much.

this seat looks like its sat out in the blazing sun and rain for a month. its pretty dull and faded, but not cracked or anything. i've put a little armor all on it, but dont wanna put too much, since i dont want to slide off the side. it just sucks what i put on there right up tho. any ideas on bringing this super comfy corbon king queen jewel back to life?

[skids]

Wait a minute! I thought the subject line involved a Special model. The seat lengths are different, I believe...

Originally posted by Bubba1954
There is no frame and bodywork difference between the '78 XS1100E and the '79 XS1100F standard models so a seat from one should work fine on the other.

[brock]

right-e-o. I took a seat off of a 78 standard, and want to put it on my 79 special. is it different? the little lip in the front is a different shape, and might not swing down as low, but i believe i can bend it if i need to. otherwise, they appear to match up in all of the relevant places.

right?

[Bubba1954]

Whoops! Sorry Brock, I missed the part about you having a Special model. There are no differences between the standards of '78 & '79, but there may be some differences between the standard model and a Special model.

Bubba

[rover]

There IS a difference in the seats. The special has the TCI box mounted UNDER the seat, about two thirds of the way from the front. There is a recess molded in the pan to clear this. The standard has the TCI box mounted BEHIND the seat, with a plastic extension attached to the rear of the seat to cover it. There is no recess under the pan on the standard. The TCI can be moved to the rear of the seat, but the wiring harness may not be long enough. Also the hook that holds the front of the seat may have to be bent for it to engage in the strap behind the gas tank. The front of the seats are shaped a little different. This change can be done, but the standard seat will be positioned a bit higher from the frame, and a few slight mods might have to be made, but this should be doable. If you have both pans, examine them carefully, and you will see what needs to be done.

[brock]

well, just for the record, i'm not sure what we were all worried about. fit the new seat today, after cleaning it up all nite with about 10 coats of armour all. I watched for not enough clearance for the tci box, and while the recess is smaller, it fits with a little room left over.

for what it's worth, this seat does not have that little cover in the back that i've seen, so maybe what i've got is a special seat after all, but i'm pretty sure it was mounted on a standard.

thanks again for everyone's advice/opinions. always valuable

[rover]

Yes, you have a special seat. The standard seat WILL NOT

[rover]

Yes, you have a special seat, the standard will not clear the TCI, I know, cause I tried every combination of the seats I have. The extension housing (plastic) bolts on the standard seat, the special seat is shaped differently and does not have the bolt holes