New build, New to the forums 1981 seca 550

[cflint]

To start things off I traded a clapped out dirt bike for a seca 550 back in high school. I sold it to my dads friend for $300 bones. Well here it is roughly 12 years later and the guy decided he wanted to return the ol'550. He simply said "I'm not doing a damn thing with it you want it?" Well, he gave it to me for free. As it was.... a train wreck. Carbs were sitting in a shop, muffler gone, no seat,gas tank huge dent and wires for the tail lights just cut. Anyways I just started removing the handle bars, front light and the rear light assembly. Now I've got a pile of bike parts from previous builds. And I do things as cheap as possible. So I put dirt bike handlebars on it and cut an inch off each end so they weren't sticking out a mile and felt like a motorcycle and not a dirt saw. I also put a 1980 virago headlight setup on it so the blinkers would be somewhat higher then the secca setup.

Here's where things got amazing. I checked the oil and it was alright. I put the carbs on (thinking I'd have giant issues as they're caked with dust.) And I was wanting to test out the wiring harness because I hate rewiring bikes.... with a passion. So I hook up the jumper cables and with my trusty meter go to checking voltages and turn signals.... and so on. So I decide to hit the magical start button and it turns over! to my relief. I hit it again and it pops like it's wanting to fire up?! Now I put a KZ tank on it and put some petrol in and let fuel flow to the carbs. Carbs just start puking out gas. I remove the tank and hit start. The thing fires right up! (Fire extinguisher on hand). Put the tank back on and sent fuel to the carbs. NO LEAKS! Hit the start button again and WHAM! Running like a champ. (considering no muffler or air cleaners). Anyways I'm happy. And I want to share the story of this little machine.

List of things. I've got a benelli mojave tank that's been sitting waiting for a good machine (Installing it)
The rear seat is off a ducati (Just for mock up not installing). Going with a generic cafe seat.
For the muffler I'm just setting in a baffle in a 2 inch OD exhaust pipe. (tone it down a touch)
And just basic maintenance items (uni air filters, chain & sprocket, Fork seals and oil for everything)

 

[canyoncarver]

Welcome aboard. I actually dig that seat with that Benelli tank. Nice lines and looks like it would be more comfy than a washboard.

The first pic you posted, you still have that kawasaki tank? Is it off a kz twin?

 

[45exmayor]

I like the monster seat on there. I rode one for 10 years and it was really comfortable. Perhaps you could cover the seating area in a perf black material and cover the tail section in a contrasting color so that it looks a little like a rear hump.

 

[cflint]

The monster seat has about an inch and a half gap on the sides where the seat and tank meet. Could make it work. I think I'll just do a generic one that'll tuck up in the tank.

 

[Tune-A-Fish]

I rode one to work for a long time back in 83-6 just a Kerker and jet kit... wore it out cruisin the beaches of south Florida and riding the turnpike as fast as it would go... Nice nimble bike with a decent power curve for a 550. I'm using a narrowed Seca 550 tail section right now on my CB project.

Nice example on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Other-/121687645294?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1c55261c6e&item=121687645294

In its' glory

 

[cflint]

In high school I rode it a bit but, I didn't have a clue about how a machine should run (not the motor run, everything else).... In retrospect I'm terrified I even put s leg over the seat.