I was following a thread yesterday where the type of carbs fitted to the early ('78/'79) Special models was discussed.
Concensus of opinion was that the BS38 carbs were fitted to these bikes, and the 1980 models onwards got the new smaller BS34 type.
Now I always thought that the European (Special) models always had BS34 right from the start, but I seemed to be in a minority of one.
And sure enough, even Yamahas european sales brochures show the larger type carbs.
OK, so anyone can be misinformed, maybe I'd got it wrong years ago when I first started learning about the XS.
But then I dug out this - Yamahas 3L1 1979 parts list for Europe, quite clearly showing the early type rolling chassis along with BS34 carbs and plastic airboxes.
So I'm not actually going senile after all.
I'm not trying to prove anything by posting this, I'm certainly no expert at building or tuning these (or any) motorcycle.
Just an example of how things get lost and obscured by the sands of time.
I don't suppose this matters in the slightest to most American XS owners - bikes only tend to flow one way across the Atlantic, but it matters to me, as I want my '79 3L1 model (UK market type) to be restored to original spec.
Concensus of opinion was that the BS38 carbs were fitted to these bikes, and the 1980 models onwards got the new smaller BS34 type.
Now I always thought that the European (Special) models always had BS34 right from the start, but I seemed to be in a minority of one.
And sure enough, even Yamahas european sales brochures show the larger type carbs.
OK, so anyone can be misinformed, maybe I'd got it wrong years ago when I first started learning about the XS.
But then I dug out this - Yamahas 3L1 1979 parts list for Europe, quite clearly showing the early type rolling chassis along with BS34 carbs and plastic airboxes.
So I'm not actually going senile after all.
I'm not trying to prove anything by posting this, I'm certainly no expert at building or tuning these (or any) motorcycle.
Just an example of how things get lost and obscured by the sands of time.
I don't suppose this matters in the slightest to most American XS owners - bikes only tend to flow one way across the Atlantic, but it matters to me, as I want my '79 3L1 model (UK market type) to be restored to original spec.