XJ650 '81 - First solo project.
- Thread starter Ribo
- Start date
Ribo
Twist the "go-go" side and hold on!
Alright - overdue for an update on this. I've been neglecting this thread athough I feel like I've done a lot here it's hard to do things and keep her running so I can enjoy it for the summer.
To bring it up to speed I've done the following since I last posted:
Here's some pic of how it's looking right now - I'm going to try and take some better shots outside tmw... I'm really liking the way it's looking right now.. thinking about changing the tank and side panels to a dark-dark green -- thoughts?
To bring it up to speed I've done the following since I last posted:
- New brake pads/shoes front and rear
- New brake line front
- New cable for clutch, throttle, tach and speedo - i.e. all cables now new (the tach cable was 10 inches longer than stock - very odd)
- Re-positioned the clutch arm to accomodate the XJ750 cable
- Some paint on the rear wheel-hub
- Swapped out the front fender for a Midnight one and repainted it
- New master-cyclinder - Nissin lever for front brake with a sweet looking low-profile reservoir - installed and bled - silver bolt holding the res bracket is temporary
- With the new MC I was able to lower the tach and speedo and I changed the bolt config on here to make it fit.
- Did a MacGiver on an XJ550 tank to widen the tunnel to get it to fit - not on the bike yet cos it needs an acid flush and more work but knowing it will fit now is good
- Removed the god-damn neutral switch relay after it died on me leaving me stranded and having the bike towed and impounded - tow company fucked up the paint on the tank
- New rear light - mounted - last piece of colored 80's plastic removed
- Pulled out a 3 inch-long piece of plastic from the carb side of the airbox - funny now the high idle is gone and the bike is running so much better - how this got in there idk but must have been jammed up cos I didn't see it before and it fell down when I was feeling around inside with my hand for any holes/cracks etc.
Here's some pic of how it's looking right now - I'm going to try and take some better shots outside tmw... I'm really liking the way it's looking right now.. thinking about changing the tank and side panels to a dark-dark green -- thoughts?
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Looking good! I'm surprised that the Midnight Maxim fender looks shorter/thinner than your OEM. Not sure about the dark, dark green but whatever color you decide on you should probably also paint both fenders and headlight bucket to match. One other think you can do to create a "tougher" look w/o much $ is add some black Rancho style shock absorber boots as gaiters to your front forks.
Ribo
Twist the "go-go" side and hold on!
Great minds....
Ribo
Twist the "go-go" side and hold on!
Again, been very slack on the build thread probably dude to my recently found appreciation for IPA's...
It's been an interesting journey for me with the XJ so far. The plan to make minor mods and ride it all summer got a bit diluted inevitably as one change leads to the next but I think I have it pretty close to a place where I'm content to focus on maintenance until the winter stripdown - de-tab and rebuild etc... not sure how much I'm going to do to it but I'm really liking where it is right now... The seat is a project I may take on but I just spent 3 weeks painting the tank ( I have a very busy life so I work on it sporadically whenever I get a minute to myself), so I'm going to take a break from making any changes and just enjoy it for a bit. Other things on the agenda though are to replace the rear shock, get the front fork boots on at the same time as painting the forks black, then maybe wrap the exhaust and swap out the cans....we'll see what gets done.
Here's a couple of latest photo's. I'm still waiting another week for the 2K on the tank to fully cure before I give it a final fine grit compound and polish. It's interesting to me how the bike it looks right now - not sure it fits into any category and I kinda like that.
I know a lot of people think the fenders, tank and headlight bucket should all be the same but I like it different... also this tanks was a trial. I have the 550 seca tank in the wings and I'm thinking of making that a different color - maybe a very dark orange but it would be interesting to have two tanks to interchange and totally change the look and color of the bike IMHO.
It's been an interesting journey for me with the XJ so far. The plan to make minor mods and ride it all summer got a bit diluted inevitably as one change leads to the next but I think I have it pretty close to a place where I'm content to focus on maintenance until the winter stripdown - de-tab and rebuild etc... not sure how much I'm going to do to it but I'm really liking where it is right now... The seat is a project I may take on but I just spent 3 weeks painting the tank ( I have a very busy life so I work on it sporadically whenever I get a minute to myself), so I'm going to take a break from making any changes and just enjoy it for a bit. Other things on the agenda though are to replace the rear shock, get the front fork boots on at the same time as painting the forks black, then maybe wrap the exhaust and swap out the cans....we'll see what gets done.
Here's a couple of latest photo's. I'm still waiting another week for the 2K on the tank to fully cure before I give it a final fine grit compound and polish. It's interesting to me how the bike it looks right now - not sure it fits into any category and I kinda like that.
I know a lot of people think the fenders, tank and headlight bucket should all be the same but I like it different... also this tanks was a trial. I have the 550 seca tank in the wings and I'm thinking of making that a different color - maybe a very dark orange but it would be interesting to have two tanks to interchange and totally change the look and color of the bike IMHO.
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Lookin' kind of nice! Color(s) are not my cup of tea, but it's your bike. Really like the look of the OEM Maxim seat with the different tail light (I would probably have kept the chrome fender with the singular tank color though..).
RE your 550 Seca tank - I believe there is a build thread (maybe just photos?) on XJBikes showing a 650 Maxim with a 550 tank/seat/side panels/tail. I'm not sure your Maxim seat will match up with the 550 tank. Might be on the lookout for some 550 Seca side panels and seat (I'd keep your current tail) or just another 650 Maxim seat pan for modifying so it fits up with the 550 Seca tank. Then you would have a paired tank/seat to swap out. Either case you may want to give those 550 Seca side panels (or something similar but DIY) a consideration as it greatly "straightens out" the line under the seat.
RE your 550 Seca tank - I believe there is a build thread (maybe just photos?) on XJBikes showing a 650 Maxim with a 550 tank/seat/side panels/tail. I'm not sure your Maxim seat will match up with the 550 tank. Might be on the lookout for some 550 Seca side panels and seat (I'd keep your current tail) or just another 650 Maxim seat pan for modifying so it fits up with the 550 Seca tank. Then you would have a paired tank/seat to swap out. Either case you may want to give those 550 Seca side panels (or something similar but DIY) a consideration as it greatly "straightens out" the line under the seat.
Ribo
Twist the "go-go" side and hold on!
Thanks man,
I'm happy with the colors - The original plan was to eliminate any trace of chrome from the bike and I'm still on that path. I don't hate chrome but just for this project I originally wanted a bike that was completely black. That changed with the tank but the new one may end up so. Things change in the process for me, it's very fluid, but yes I'm in the process of engineering a seat that will work with both tanks or maybe just one for the 550 tank so I can swap out. Not 100% sure on where that'll end up but once the pipes are wrapped and have black cans and the rear shocks are replaced with black ones I think I'll be done until I can pull the engine, detab the frame and new harness over the winter. Then again I'm toying with the idea of leaving it how it is (after those mods and maybe the harness) and getting a new project.
Time to enjoy riding it though.
I'm happy with the colors - The original plan was to eliminate any trace of chrome from the bike and I'm still on that path. I don't hate chrome but just for this project I originally wanted a bike that was completely black. That changed with the tank but the new one may end up so. Things change in the process for me, it's very fluid, but yes I'm in the process of engineering a seat that will work with both tanks or maybe just one for the 550 tank so I can swap out. Not 100% sure on where that'll end up but once the pipes are wrapped and have black cans and the rear shocks are replaced with black ones I think I'll be done until I can pull the engine, detab the frame and new harness over the winter. Then again I'm toying with the idea of leaving it how it is (after those mods and maybe the harness) and getting a new project.
Time to enjoy riding it though.
