Why so many engine mounting points?

[takehikes]

I’ve torn down bikes for over 50 years and never seen one before that has so damn many engine mounts. 5 different locations with a variety of attaching methods. Some committee did this I’m thinking.
Question is do you need them all?

 

[gggGary]

If you think of them as frame stabilizers.....................

 

[FLEA]

some chopper people do away with the top mounts , but then some of them do some really really silly things

 

[nj1639]

I left the top mount off of one of my rebuilds for the ease of heat cycle retorqueing. After going through some twisties I decided it would be best that it was back on........

 

[Jim]

It was designed to use the engine as a structural frame member for increased rigidity. I wouldn't call it a huge success, but as noted above, leaving one mount off has a noticeable affect. The two mounts on the rear both mount to the (rather beefy) downtube in close proximity to each other.... so I'd guess that the upper rear could be left off without any loss of rigidity. I wouldn't go without any of the others though.

 

[grizld1]

Want to increase the amount of vibration that reaches the rider? Just leave off a motor mount or two. Re. chopper guys and deleted top mounts, those machines won't corner worth a damn anyway, so no additional harm done.

 

[motormike]

Without the upper mount... it's a paint shaker. Read somewhere that Vetter used a Xs as the test bed for new faring designs.

 

[mrtwowheel]

Just to say......My top mounts were broken on my '74, brackets broken not engine, on what seemed to be an unmolested bike. The top mounts have a breakaway type of design anyway, or for some reason. Others have seen the same mount breakage. That makes me wonder about those solid- type top engine brackets available for using tanks with narrower tunnels. Maybe the solid brackets are too strong, possibly resulting in a crack in the engine casting?

Scott

 

[gggGary]

Just to say......My top mounts were broken on my '74, brackets broken not engine, on what seemed to be an unmolested bike. The top mounts have a breakaway type of design anyway, or for some reason. Others have seen the same mount breakage. That makes me wonder about those solid- type top engine brackets available for using tanks with narrower tunnels. Maybe the solid brackets are too strong, possibly resulting in a crack in the engine casting?

Scott

Gotta say I've always wondered about that "overly complicated" top mount..........
60-70 XS's been through here, including several Real bad wrecked bikes. Never seen a broken or even bent top mount..... Got a pic?

 

[mrtwowheel]

Gotta say I've always wondered about that "overly complicated" top mount..........
60-70 XS's been through here, including several Real bad wrecked bikes. Never seen a broken or even bent top mount..... Got a pic?

I've got a pic somewhere, and a few more maybe. Sitting here with Covid, lots of time but not much energy yet. Da future do look bright.

Scott

 

[takehikes]

some chopper people do away with the top mounts , but then some of them do some really really silly things

As a chopper builder since 71 I can confirm lots of sketchy stuff out there but not confined to chopper builders.

 

[FLEA]

As a chopper builder since 71 I can confirm lots of sketchy stuff out there but not confined to chopper builders.

true ... a lot of POs have a lot to answer for ... me never