Crash Bars

Heres one that someone out there may or may not know the answer to... will the crashbars off of a 1981 xj650 be able to use the same mounting points as a 1983 xj650? I found a set from '81 that i want to put on my '83 maxim but i dont want to buy them if they cant be mounted.

 

3 point or 2?

 

Two points of contact, each point has two bolt holes.

 

I would look for a set of 3 point bars. The 2 points do more damage than good in a crash because they will bend pretty easily. The 2 pointers are almost not worth it.

 

Well i am more interested in the ability to mount highway pegs to them then in the protection factor... so just out of curiousity can i use the bolt hole pattern alreaedy available on them to mount them to my '83 or would i need some sort of modification?

 

The two-point guards work best for mounting Hi-way's. But, the two-point's have a small Outside Diameter. The "Clamp-on" style pegs tend to slip.

The 3-Point present a whole different situation just trying to mount Clamp-on Pegs. Pipe, welds or bends right where you'd want to mount the pegs.

If you just want a forward foot-rest ... I'd say to go with 2-Point ... mount-up your pegs right where you want them ... mark-up the peg-mount and the guard ... and drill yourself a bolt-hole that will anchor everything from shifting around while you're riding.

 

I almost bought a seca (had a good 2-week test drive) that had been laid down on it's right side. he crash bar had bent into the engine case and cracked off a piece the size of a quarter... It was superficial, and there was no oil behind it... but the guy wanted more money than a bike was worth with a hole in the case (I.E. more than $100 [he wanted $1500]). Needless to say I passed on that bike and got another, one year newer, seca (My current ride, see Gallery).

Long story short - the stock (I think) 2-point crash bars suck when you fall at speed... However if you drop the bike at a stoplight, or downtown, they do their job.

 

I think I understand what your asking joe, so how about this..can you pull a center line measurement off your holes on the bike and compare them to the mounting bracket holes..It seems at the most a level and a tape measure would work..Im experimenting with the ideal of drilling and tapping a hole in the end of mine to thread a home made cruise bar into my crash bars. just a thought. good luck with it.ride safe ridz 8)

 

To answer the original question -- yes they will fit.

 

And Altus saves the day! good show Altus :!:

 

After you get the pegs set where you want them, just drill through the peg clamp into the tubing and put in a sheet metal screw to fix it's location.