XJ Forkbrace Question

[MAXIMAN]

Been considering upgrading suspension on my 1100 Maxim.

I noticed the inside of the front fender is reinforced with a "band" of 1/8" steel that essentially acts as a forkbrace...bolted from fork to fork.

Does the XS 1100 have a similar support on the inside of it's fender?

Would I still benefit greatly from a forkbrace in addition to this support?

Thanks

[Jerry]

The XS does not have a similar reinforcement. You will benefit from adding a Tkat fork brace to your XJ. The difference is not as great as adding a FB to the XS11, but still quite noticable and recommended. Keep in mind the XJ FB is different than the XS; the XJ fender is higher and the 'risers' that allow the cross-brace to clear the fender are taller than either the XS11 Standard or XS11 Special models. Get the correct brace and you will be fine.

[John]

The xs fender doesn't have that inner brace that the xj has. I was just looking at an xj fender that I have laying around. I haven't tried it, but I have read here that the xj fender won't fit the xs. I may have to try though...

[MAXIMAN]

Thanks guys. I had read in an old Cycle World review some ofhte things the Maxim had improved on over the XS11. This and a more ridgid fram was a couple of the things they mentioned.

However Bob Jones (author of XS11 Heaven) told me of several things Yammy did to the XJ that was like "planned obsolescence".

BTW I noticed there is an XJ fender on eBay.

One more question:

Does the XS or XJ 1100 have stock "spacers" on top of the fork springs...or is this indication the springs have been. I know my XJ750 doesn't.

When I got this bike it had a Jammer V already on it. I suspect they may have upgraded the front springs. But I'm not sure. Just need a little advise from the more experienced XS'er.

Thanks

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Maximan,

I just checked the Parts Catalog, and none of the models, the 79 F/SF , the 81H/SH, nor the XJ show any spacers atop the springs! The special tubes are longer than the Standards, but they have different spring damper rod, and other parts.

After I put 4" over upper tubes, I had to then use 4" spaceres in mine with my stock shock springs. So....it sounds like somebody was trying to make some changes, trying to stiffen up the stock springs with spacers to pre-compress the springs a bit, perhaps trying to compensate for the heavier load of the Fairing and possibly doubling up on riders!?
T.C.

[MAXIMAN]

TC

I bet your right. I bought this XJ1100 from a lady in Caleeforneea (Schwartzenegger accent). She bought the bike and had full fairing bags and trunk installed. I'm guessing the Yammy shop did it to beef up the front suspension.

I wonder if the springs would have some number to indicate they were stock or not. Since she said nothing about it I'm guessing the shop simply added the spacers to "preload" the springs when they installed the fairing.

Thanks for the info.