xj/fj 600 cafe fighter

[matie69]

Right you may not like the colour but its tooooo late now its painted. Purchased 500ml Ford mars red.

Had to put pic of car on as my phone camera in no way pics up the gold flecks or pearl in the paint. Black and red are standard choices in paint so wanted something that little bit different.

Lucky to be able to borrow friends garage and compressor, paint shop advised that 50-50 mix so when all ready off we went. Never sprayed before but managed to work out a system on the frame of painting inside frame tubes first then down sides to front, underneath and up and over.......must have done something right as not a single run and from want i can see not missed anything.....will be clear coating tomorrow and will take camera and take some decent pics in daylight.

Swingarm also painted same colour but forgot to take pics... :-[

 

[JRK5892]

huh no pics showing for me

 

[thebronze]

Nice colour choice 8)

 

[matie69]

Been to check on the paint today and well happy with results after seeing in daylight....But its turned out a more vivid colour than i expected so the choice of tank and seat colours i had in mind wont work....bugger.

So after looking around garage i was inspired by a baby food jar lid, Yesssssss thats just the ticket.
So after researching some old skool Yam paint jobs i'm thinking of going along the lines of this......

It will bring the project back onto the cafe side of things and its a quality retro paint job. Gonna change the Yamaha for classic tuning forks and add a more speed block stripe along lines of pic below.......

Thought a darker green stripe down centre might look good but undecided on that as half of me thinks it will look too cluttered from the top.

So please guys what do you think,is this the right route to take.......or am i barking up the wrong tree????????

 

[thebronze]

I would do the top one... but add the "speed blocks" to the stripe..... Best of both worlds 8)

 

[matie69]

Got the clear coat done tonight.....

That was something i was concerned about doing, confused myself and forgot where i'd done on the dust coat but got a system sorted. Another couple of coats followed without any issues. Don't seem to have any runs either which is a bonus.

So as a noob to spraying i've learnt new skills and overall done a pretty decent job.

Can start putting the old girl back together now, will paint and refurb calipers and such like as i go along, will be stripping rear shock and painting so can get swingarm back on next.

 

[matie69]

Managed to get a better pics of the paint........

just got to give it a run over with 2000grit and some finishing compound.

 

[matie69]

Mmmmm just thought it could have done with another coat of laquer, but ran out after last coat...not managed to get any yet so been doing other bits.

Will be reusing all the parts that are servicable and safe due to small budget. Just offering parts up and trying to think what would look good with the colours on the body that i haven't even decided on.....seems to change when ever i actually do any work... ;D

Rear shock has already been prepped and re-painted, spring colour changed soooooo many times, bought some paint now so its too late if i change my mind. Bit of blacking on other bits plus cleanin and polishing.

Would be good to have her on the road next summer.

 

[bluesmoke69]

Great work, I will be trying my hand at some painting this spring

 

[matie69]

Managed to get a bit more done.....

The shock was treated to a new coat of gloss black,the seats were cleaned and polished, the spring was rubbed down and primed and finally a coat of Ford Olympic Blue,,,hopefully should go well with the frame and make the shock stand out,

The sprocket carrier was preped, etch primed and again a coat of gloss black,along with parts of rearsets.

Both discs have been cleaned up and a new coat of gold, the swingarm adjusters are in process of being polished.
I've nearly done enough now to get the forks and swingarm back in.

Tyres will be fitted back onto the rims this week so i'm hoping to have rolling frame by end of month...... ;D ;D

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Nice dude! Getting there!

 

[matie69]

Found a local bearing manufacturer that can supply me some new tapered head bearings at a very reasonable £7.00 each (with shell) most bike shops wanted £18ish each so quite a saving.

Got tyres being fitted on friday....do have some rim protectors but don't trust myself not to chip the shit out of them.lol sooo will leave it to the professionals.

Also been thinking about the lights and bars...undecided whether to go for a set of flat drag bars or go with ace cafe ish bars.

And the light unit thought a bucket like the MZs or BMs that have the speedo in the bowl,mmmm.

 

[matie69]

Bearings arrived......The ID is the same for the XJ and Bandit so just had to get some original size taper bearings.
Due to the xj originally running bearing races had to add a small spacer below bottom bearing and local machinist removed 8mm shoulder so top bearing sat in taper fully.

And it all went together quite easily....

Will get front wheel and swingarm/shock fitted in next couple of days.

 

[matie69]

And still the work continues.....

Swingarm refitted.....

Rear shock fitted.....

Tyres fitted to rims,they won't be staying on, only for ease of rolling round garage at this point.

Front wheel slotted in.....

Rearend put together with cleaned up adjusters etc.....

And this is how the old girl looks sat on her own 2 wheels for the first time in a long time.....

I know she's not a ground breaking build but its turned out better than i expected when i started all of this. Will have a go at cleaning the engine up and getting that re-fitted next along with rebuilding the brakes.

 

[matie69]

Managed to get some better pics today.....does the colour much more justice.....

Dont think the dirty bars suit it...doesn't do it for me.

So do you guys think a set of cafe bars or swap yokes for katana and fit clip-ons.

Ooooh and this is how i got her....

 

[matie69]

Got more done last night.

Rearsets:

Nothing flash, just a set from an old Fz600 but better than huge lumps of pig iron that Yam gave it.

Bars:

Tried another set of bars, but turned round and upside down????eh.... do suit it quite well but would need a larger backward angle on the ends.........But i don't think i like the bandit top yokes, the risers seem far too tall so i think i'm right that GSX(katana) or Sv top yokes will fit and go with clipons.

Headlight:

Already got a dished 7inch cibie that will fit nicely.

Body work:

Dug this back out, I've made a rough fibreglass copy and am going to try and modify it to suit.
Gonna add a rounded top nothing huge just a slight radius, cut the front 4 inch or so off just to the point where it fits over frame rails, trim some of the depth so it shows off the rails and finally fibreglass a seat pan that will include the front of the tank.
Thought i'd give it a try i do like it and it reflects the shape of the tank from above......we shall see.

 

[fastcat14]

looking great! That blue on the shock spring really pops. Nice!

 

[matie69]

looking great! That blue on the shock spring really pops. Nice!

Cheers mate...

Decided not to use the bandit top yoke...i don't like it, the risers sit far too high....so bought a couple of bargains on fleabay that will give me some choices, should get them today so will post pics later.