Not sure where to post this; xj650 maxim project.

I'm calling this a "fix-up" project rather than a resto because it won't be a fully correct resto. (Rear view mirrors, tank yama emblem). The bike already had what looks like xj550 bars and controls so I had no issue finding a good deal on and using the wrong mirrors too.

I picked up this 82 xj650 maxim about a month ago and it has been a nice learning experience. She was in poor shape as you can see and had been abused by someone in the past. She has hammer marks on various areas of the engine; apparently they thought hammer blows would coax her to start.

I actually pick it up as a parts bike but soon realized it could be a fixer upper given the good compression.

Finally got her running after a puzzling electric issue and carb swap (thanks to hogfiddles).

The next issue was the clutch. I pulled all that apart and reassembled it in the correct order. Now the clutch works with no parts needed. sweet.

As you can see now I'm working on the tank. A few days ago I scored a right side cover. As an added bonus, the chrome air covers and carb boots were included. Her current boots are pretty supple so they're an extra set for now.

Will post a final pic soon.

I think these pics are in a somewhat reverse order.

 

Looks like the bars are early Virago bars, and the controls look like 750 controls.

The 550 controls would look identical to the 650 controls

 

Almost finished. I was about to shell out the dough for a new seat cover but after putting lots of black shoe polish on, rubbing it in good, and giving it a final buff, I saw it wasn't necessary. It looked pretty bad before . I don't know if the seat is vinyl ( I assume it is) but it sure came out purty. No black comes off either because it was buffed out well.

 

Don't ride with white pants now.

 

Don't ride with white pants, ever.
Black shoe polish, seriously?

The bike does look good, well done.

 

Seriously! It really worked a miracle on the seat. It looks deep black with a nice shine and kinda slippery too. No black comes off either because the final buffing takes it off leaving still a deep black.

I wish the PO hadn't bondo-ed in the screw in area on the tank for the standard yamaha name emblem. Since it was, I finished it smooth and will be putting on the small round yamaha tuning fork emblem.

 

Silly boy; no white pants after Labor Day!

 

Or before... Or on... Or ever. Unless you are a painter. Or Mr Clean.

 

I feel like I should be reading the left one like an ink blot test

 

That would be a STinkblot test

 

.....and it looks like they PASSED

 

You just stole matti's thunder!

 

Btw; I installed one of those touch activated seat locks, by fingerprint. Just touch the little chrome disk and the seat pops and unlocks.