Feel like an idiot... how do you get the front wheel on?

[OldGreyBeast]

My front wheel with spacer and speedo pickup measures about the same... aprox 6 inches which converts to aprox 15.24 cm.
Did that wheel come off of the bike?
Does the space between the forks change when you rotate them?
Could your forks be bent?
Can you spread the forks a little bit by hand just enough to squeeze the wheel in?

The wheel did come off the bike, however when I got the bike the axle spacer and speedo pickup were not installed and the rotors were scraping on the forks.

I checked the fork tubes for bends while I was rebuilding them, they're both straight as an arrow. Distance doesn't seem to change when rotating.

I'd have to put a jack in between the forks to spread them enough to get the wheel in, I feel like that's definitely going to damage something.

[Ranger_xs1100]

I'd bet that when he mounted the wheel without the speedo and spacer, he tightened down the axle bolt and sprung the lowers together inward. I've never seen anyone do that before. Sorry, don't know how you fix that other than try to spread them back. But like you said, who knows what other problems and damage that may create.

[DiverRay]

Try to loosen ALL the bolts holding the fork on, upper and lower triple trees. Then install front tire with spacers, etc.. Start at the axles, and in three steps, go up tightening the bolts. So, axle pinch bolts snug, lower tree bolts snug, then upper tree snug. Repeat but a little tighter, then final torque. Put the fender on after everything else is installed.

[OldGreyBeast]

Took the front end back apart and checked the fork tubes with a mic. They both are ever so slightly warped. There are a couple of orientations that everything fits together fine. Now I'm trying to decide what to do... I've always had Frank's make my Honda tubes, he doesn't list the XS1100 on his site though. Any of you guys had him make you new fork tubes for a XS1100 special?

[DiverRay]

Franks used to make the forks. Maybe send an email and see what they say.

[bikerphil]

Phil, is that triple from a special or a standard?

It's from a Standard, but the spacing is the same as the Special.