Front Suspension - fender fitting

I have a 1981 XJ550 which when I bought it had some stupid modified/cut fender on the front which I wanted to replace with an original or a full fender of some kind - I bought an original replacement but it did not fit - it bottomed out on the tire before the bolts lined up - So I am assuming the front forks were changed or moved or something

Can anyone tell me how to measure or get an ID on the front fork set up so I can install a new fender?

 

What size tire is mounted?

 

Crap - thats a good question - Im currently at work and wont be able to get the dimensions until later

 

that might be your issue, because it would be unlikely that someone would chop the forks from the bottom. usually they would just slide them up in the triple tree more.

 

what you should know however, is that the fender is a key piece in the alignment of the forks, and is also provides structural support/alignment.

 

^That is very useful information, and might explain my fork issue: a guy hit the fender ripping the bolts in half that hold it on the left fork, and now the whole thing is askew, but it was a relatively slow collision (4-6mph?) and I can't see any visible damage on the forks, and nothing ever collided with the forks (I think).

 

Ok I have the tire sizes -

front, 100/90-19
rear, 130/90-16

Sorry for the delay - and thanks for the suggestions!

 

Two quick questions:

1. Can you show us a picture of the forks and fender? If you have the wrong fender, we'll spot it.

2. IF you do need new forks, I do have a nice set from a 550 maxim that I parted. I may have a fender, but not sure........

PM me if you end up needing forks.

Dave F

 

Those are the correct size tires.

 

Thanks fin!

Dave F - I have a couple pics up already on my profile - I wont be able to upload any close ups until I get home from work

I just looked into my purchase history from ebay (where I got the fender) and I realized that I ordered a front fender for an XJ 550 Seca - not a maxim

Perhaps this could be the issue hmmmm...... :roll:

In my defense it wasnt until I signed on here and met Len from XJ4ever that I learned I had a Maxim
The guy who sold me the bike gave me the wrong owners manual which led me astray

I'll still get the pics up later this evening to verify


Thanks everyone!!

 

Theres your issue :wink:

I looked at the pics in your gallery - nice bike, but i'm glad you're going back to a real fender :lol:

Get a maxim fender and you should be good to go

 

Currently the cheapest on the bay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-Yamaha-XJ- ... 28&vxp=mtr

 

oops, spoke wrong:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1982-yamaha-xj5 ... 91&vxp=mtr

That one will work as well, the fenders on the 550 max's were the same 81-83

 

I most likely is. The two bikes have different style front forks and the fenders are not interchangeable. I've got a 100/90-19 on the front of one of my 550 Secas and it fits fine; so it's not a "tire size" issue.

 

Errr... sort of, depending on whether you install the front wheel and axle/bolt before or after you put the fender on. If the wheel's off, then yes, the fender aligns/rotates the forks to each other. But if the wheel and axle is installed first (which I do frequently), both forks are already aligned to each other and can't be moved.

 

I always install the fender first because its easier to line the bolts up with the damn brake line brackets, lol

 

Thanks everyone!

 

The fender does seem to act as a hard brace holding it all together--the triple trees have 'give' under force, the fender has to break to allow misalignment (as mine did).

 

That's because the stock Yamaha fender includes a very stout (stamped) fork brace "hidden" under the mounting areas.