Let ρ i ∈ π n+8i−1 (S n) denote an element which suspends to a generator of the image of the stable J-homomorphism. We determine the image of the composite ρ j • ρ k in v 1-periodic homotopy v −1 1 π n+8i+8j−2 (S n). The method is to use Adams operations to compute the 1-line of an unstable homotopy spectral sequence constructed by Bendersky and Thompson. 1. Main theorem The p-primary v 1-periodic homotopy groups of a space X, denoted v −1 1 π * (X; p), are a localization of the portion of π * X (p) detected by K-theory.([14]) The v 1-periodic homotopy groups of spheres contain the image of the J-homomorphism.([18]) Until the last two sections of this paper, we will deal with 2-primary homotopy theory, let ν(−) denote the exponent of 2 in an integer, and let v −1 1 π * (X) = v −1 1 π * (X; 2). We need the following known result. Proposition 1.1. i.) v −1 1 π 2n+8i−1 (S 2n+1) ≈ Z/2 min(n,ν(i)+4) ; ii.) there are morphisms v −1 1 : π * (S 2n+1) → v −1 1 π * (S 2n+1), * > 2n + 1, which are split surjections for * = 2n + 8i − 1 with 4i − ν(i) ≥ n + 8. Proof. i.) See Theorem 2.1 and the accompanying diagrams, 2.2 and 2.3. (ii.) In [14, 1.7] and [12, 2.4] it is shown that if p e : Ω n X → Ω n X is null homotopic, then there is a natural morphism v −1 1 : π j (X) → v −1 1 π j (X) for j > n. In [22], it is noted that 2 3n/2+1 is null homotopic on Ω 2n S 2n+1 2n + 1. Thus v −1 1 is defined on π * (S 2n+1) for * > 2n + 1. The split surjection follows from [18, 1.3,1.5].