Chassis Mods and the mysterious parts book

[excess.11]

This info relates to European models not Oceanic.
Possibly the true description can be lost in translation as well.
Regarding the electric horns...they were the bomb in the day.
Dual tone and effin loud...when you compare to what else was around in the day.....volkswagon horn...anyone?
I still think mine are quite loud...today....on the odd occasion of use...they have done the job.
I sometime think people want their horn to sound as instantly angry as their 0-100  road rage temperament. Haven t we all at one time or another ....forgot to put on that indicator....or left it on.....or...been guilty of not seeing another road user due to a blind spot ...non of us are perfect....but i can agree..... some should not be behind the wheel or handlebars.
As we know you can t compete against air horns with their trumpet like megaphones...i had a set on one of my cars ...triple tone.... either together or alternating mode...along with a klaxxon...more for fun....than in angst......those were the days.

[steptoe]

it,s interesting that it stipulates 75mm airhorns,
how,d we end up with pissy little electric horns

[AussiXS11G]

you fellows have all seen this material - yes?



if you click on this image you should go to my folder of this stuff

[excess.11]

Hey Eddy ...can you scan and post these exerpts you mention...to my knowledge....there were never any" Factory "upgrades made available at dealerships in the day regarding the items you mentioned . If they were detailed or listed in a parts book...they certainly were never available to the general public.
Please enlighten us with your scriptures of past documentation.

[AussiXS11G]

That's not a fork brace...... This is a fork Brace..... 

[Chich46]

Understood, 

Thanks again and all that contributed.

Very insightful info.

Cheers C

[XSIIE]

The front springs and heavy duty shocks are parts in the parts book. 

In my 2H9, 2UE, 3X1 factory parts books for Oceana.  The fork brace is based on the two I have on my 3x1 and 5N5.

This is just my preference: IKON Shocks (talk to the owner of IKON for a load rating) to boost up your arse end.

[Chich46]

Thanks again,
Is this info gathered from the Mal Pitman files ? Or from the " parts book " that gave modified parts official existence? Or do we conclude that the " parts book " is purely a descriptive term as Jeff mentioned?

Thanks for the links. Cheers

[XSIIE]

There are items listed within the Parts Book described as "heavy Duty" these include rear shocks and front fork springs. Apart from that you can also get fork braces:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-XS1100-Fork-Brace-Fastec-racing-engraved-TR1-1000-TR1-750-XJ650-/261990941154?hash=item3cffe081e2:g:K94AAOSwdGFYta30

http://www.fastfromthepast.com/fork-braces (recommended)



 

[Chich46]

Sensational , thanks for taking the time .

Much appreciated.

[Eveready1100]

Been trying to recall exactly what Mal talked about at the rally about his evaluation and testing of the bikes prior to their release to the general public, but I've only retained snippets of what he said. The frame itself was untouched, and the forks were generally made to behave reasonably by playing with the fork oil thickness and preload settings, but he was given a list ( I think) of available options for the rear shocks where he retained the original spring rates but the shocks themselves had much better damping than the original offerings from Yamaha.
These were subsequently fitted to all the Oceanic and European bikes as standard fitment to comply with the Production racing regs of the time which allowed for NO Modifications at all to the showroom models. The American bikes were left with the original spec bits to cope with superslab running at the blanket 55mph speed limit of the era.
The fork brace was something the production guys could only dream about. The chain drive bike Mal ran in the prototype class had one of those, plus a myriad of other small but important modifications to the frame for huge improvements in the bikes rideability, plus the engine kit supplied by Yamaha, but that's only stuff of dreams nowadays. Bryan had tracked down copies of that paperwork somewhere here on the forum, so have a search if it interests you.
The poor RH's didn't stand a chance. The rest of the bike world had reacted and it would've been competing against CB1100R hondas and GSX1100 suzukis which had massive power advantages of the outdated 2 valve XS11 lump, and to top it off with a 15 litre tank would've reduced them to XS1100RHH's. Refuel Half Hourly!

[Chich46]

Awesome, thanks again mate.

[excess.11]

All performance / handling mods were aftermarket ...such as fork brace...rear shocks......3 position preload front fork adjusters ...the later being a standard fitament.
The RH ....had bracing to the frame  A SMALLER TANK and not so successful front air shocks....and leading front axel....they didn t win any major races in the day ...unlike the Magnificent Standard.

[Chich46]

Copy, thanks Jeff for taking the time.

Cheers

[excess.11]

"Parts book engineering"...could simply have been a descriptive phrase ...rather than an actual Parts book that was produced.
There are no add on parts that could be bought to improve the frame.