xj650 cafe racer project, yet another

I have had my xj for about 8 months or so now and my plan the whole time was to make it a cafe racer and tinker with it. Here is my progress on the project.

The day i got her home




It was in kind of poor running condition, so i made that my frist order of business. I rebulit the carbs adjusted all the valves added pods new jets, new fuel lines, redid the fuse box, changed the oil and filter, new plugs and wires est.
TI then added a set of clubman bars

That was the first jump toward the cafe look. I also yanked off the rear rack and sissy back (for sale if you want it) off came the front sac and a few other misc things. Notice the lovly rainbow metalic paint


All that seemed to clean the lines up pretty well
The big problem now was that i couldn't see out of my mirrors

so i when with a set of round bar end mirrors.



I then ditched the big blinkers for a slim but brighter set also changing the relay.



this is pretty much how it is sitting in my garage now. Things that will be coming up this weekend will be the new fender on the front and rear as well as a new seat with a storage area to replace the rear seat (thanks to xjrookie).
I would also like to make a rear set and maybe get a front fairing to cut down on the wind at high speeds..I have a set of mufflers to go on as well as one of the stockers is rattleing like mad.
I will keep this thread updated with my progress.

 

Where are the blinkers from?

Nice paint on the tank, btw.

 

that thing needs to be lowered!

But great progress. When my R6 master cylinder gets here I'm taking the bike in for the clubman install (I don't have the time or tools to do it myself at the moment)

 

You gotta be kidding me, just buy the tools. it will pay off and you'll end up with a set of tools in the end. I bet you'll pay way more $ to have someone do the install then what you'll spend for a decent set of tools. besides all you really need is a 10mm, 12mm,14mm and s set of hex set to do the job you're planning on doing.

Bottlecape30: what you need to lower, would be your gauges and headlight, don't mess with the suspension just yet.

It's coming along really nice. keep posting photos

 

Yeah i was going out side right now to give that a try the forks have been lowered about a half inch or so. It also looks high because of the lack of a front fender. I will snap some more pics tonight.

 

I lowered the the gauges and the head light, put the fender back on. It made a huge difference in the way it looks.



I just layed the seat pan on there to get an idea of how it will looks

The blinkers came from a local shop in lockport NY, i do think that they are on ebay as sportingforless.

 

Set of tools is in arizona (along with the rest of my shop,) no point spending money on cheap tools I don't need.

It's the time. Every day I don't have my bike I spend an extra $10 in gas getting to and from work. and the shop guys can get the bar mounted, cables made, MC mounted, old MC removed, etc. in one to two days, whereas it'd take me over a week.

bike looks almost perfect stance wise now that the HL and gauges are lower!

 

the blinkers look like the kind you can get a cycle gear for around $18. whered you get the new flasher relay?

 

I think i paid $16 for them, the relay i got at advanced auto for like $4. I had to do some searching on here to find the thread that had the item code, I just can't remember what it was.

 

lookin good bottlecape,keep up the good work

 

Bottlecape,

Would you be willing to sell the sissy bar and backrest? I have been looking high and low for one so I can have my son ride with me. I f you would how much would you like?

Reach me at rob_6thnhvi@yahoo.com please.
I am in NH.

Thanks in advance.
Rob

 

To help with the vintage look, you can get spoke rims from a Virago 750.
You don't see many 650 's with an oil cooler !

 

Sent you an email form happymealrobbie

 

And they work with the rear shaft drive?
I will have to look into that, i hate the mags and spokes always look cooler.

I have also been looking into a seca tank bt from the looks of it it might not fit right. I might have to try my hand at a custom tank.

 

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... irago.html

Check it out. . . !
Yeah, crouching rider, hidden battery!

Custom brakes, Virago rims, and you can bolt on a 750 Seca tank, but the lower edge will look a bit unfinished . I think his is a 650 tank, you can bolt that one on too.(pretty sure). If this bike doesn't scream "cafe racer" I don't know what does.

 

His is an XJ650, which in Europe means Seca 650 to us. It came with that tank.

As for the wheels, make sure you swap the backing plate and shaft, too, as ddibling found out with his swap on an 81 650 Maxim.

Pretty sure the front brakes were standard late model Virago, as well.

 

The more i learn about these the more i want to do. Thanks for the help guys. That orange bike looks great!

 

Bottlecape,

Rec'd sissy bar and back rest today..Thanks!

Now one question? How the heck did you have that mounted? Did it go thru the back bolt near the rear fender and then mount in the first hole on the grab bar? (right in front of the shock bolt?)

Or did you have other holes drilled in your grab bar?

Your bike is a 650 maxim is it not? Mine is a 82..

Thanks in advance,
Rob

 

Rob glad is arrived.
As you said it was mounted on the two tabs near the fender and in the holes just forward of the shock mounts. The sissy bar mounted to the bracket on the rack. Give me a sec and i will uplaod a pic. I didn't install it just took it off. my bike is a 81 maxim 650

 

Rob glad it arrived.
As you said it was mounted on the two tabs near the fender and in the holes just forward of the shock mounts. The sissy bar mounted to the bracket on the rack. Give me a sec and i will uplaod a pic. I didn't install it just took it off. my bike is a 81 maxim 650

 

Here it is. There maybe a few bolts that i kept on the bike and just used a washer to take up the space. also note that the rear blinkers were mounted to the rack.


good luck and enjoy

 

No kidding! that makes total sense being mounted to the rack!!! Damn.. I was racking my brain trying to figure out how that was mounted. Ok well appreciate it. Gonna try and hammer it out tomorrow.

Cheers!
Rob

 

Robbie,

Finally got the bar and seat rest on. Phew! What an undertaking... Your last message was very helpful. THANKS! I am happy with the way it came out and couldn't be happier.

Looks like I will not be able to go with saddlebags now though but should be able to find something for the rear rack.

Anyway, Much appreciated all around.

Rob

 

Rob,
Glad that they worked out for you. They were just laying in a pile of stuff for me to put on ebay.
I had a set of saddle bags on the bike for a little bit before all the stuff was removed. Here is a link to the bags i used
http://www.jcwhitney.com/SPORT_BIKE_SAD ... 010256;0;0
Thanks

 

Got my seca tank



I then debadged it and repainted with a black base coat a candy green and then a metalic tinted clear coat.




I have been toying with the idea of twin head lamps but not sure yet.
I'm also overhauling my exhaust as the baffles were shot in the old one

the new mufflers

 

what year/make/model of that seca tank? what kind of trouble did you have putting it on? can you send me a link for tips on how to lower front end? AWESOME BUILD!

also, I think 4-1 exhaust system would make that thing look faster, that's just me though

 

It's an '81 750 Seca. Bolt off, bolt on changeover...

skillet

 

Bottle....what happened to that sparkly tank? I liked that.

Rob

 

He and I swapped tanks. I haven't seen any posts or replies of his in a while. Heck of a nice guy! Too bad we all live so far apart ...

skillet

 

Yup I totally agree.

Rob

Be awesome to have an xj rally..

 

Ease's build is the proto-type.....

 

any updates??? Photos please!