My XJ650 Retro Fighter Update

So I haven't posted in a while, largely because I've been riding nonstop, LOL! Thought I'd share a few pics of my bike as I have finally tackled my seat situation, and a couple other details like repairing and chopping my exhaust, etc. Basically I closely assisted a very able upholsterer with my new seat, the black side panels are leather with a brown vinyl top panel, I am SUPER stoked about it especially compared to the thing that I was sitting on before this. (see pic in my sig)

I also helped a skilled welder friend of mine with the chopping of my mufflers, and I did all the cosmetics like painting and wrapping the headers myself of course.

Also new for me is I finally upgraded my front brake lines to steel braided lines. This is a MUST DO upgrade, people. If you're running 30 year old stock lines on your bike you are taking your life in your hands. Major improvement. I say again- major. In fact, if you have stock lines, stop reading this thread right now and go fix your motorcycle. Seriously.

The rest of you can now look at/judge me and my bike. Thanks as always for the best forum one could ask for!

 

(singing) "Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I'll go eat worms"

I'm sure it says more about me than it does about you fine folks that I'm sad I gots no feedback atoll on my little ol' XJ..

 

I think that bike it sweet, never saw this thread...

 

she looks great!! I think a better uprade is the dual disc swap IMO.
I am going stainless soon too

 

First time seeing this thread as well. Yikes. that is a nice seat. Do you have any close ups of your side panels? Why did I never think of covering mine in Vinyl? That sounds like a good idea.

Again, more close ups, I can barely see the header wrap in the photos.

 

@schooter thanks man! @ass.fault- too true but alas I am poor!

I'll work on pics too

thanks guys!

 

Another shot of the saddle- forgive the marks from my cargo net, unavoidable as I ride this bike daily..


A very homemade stencil job fits this bike's grimy approach to "Streetfighter" status..


All paint was entirely flat until I recently began wet sanding it and low and behold, it is giving up some shine, LOL! It's fine though the bike is still pretty rough looking overall, which is the intent..


Header and exhaust job detail. Sort of a vaguely aviation inspired motif going here. Part Rat Rod, part para-military, with a little Mad Max lurking underneath it all..


That's my little buddy, reporting for duty!

PS- I got this bike a little over a year ago for $300, it was canary yellow, rusty, and a backfiring, front brake seizing jalopy. I'm only into the bike another 2 or 3 hundred total by now, all in little bits and pieces. Tires not included. She's a rock mechanically, and has been more fun than just about anything else I've ever had.. This forum inspires me daily to keep working on my little XJ, and helps me feel satisfied with my bike in the midst of all the other, newer, more exotic bikes around me on the roads every day, and like many of you, people come up to me more often than I ever would expect to say hello and share their fond memories of their own XJ's from years past. Folks loved these bikes first time around, and I'm loving mine now. I have no plans to move on from this bike anytime in the near future..

 

I'm digging the hard look dude, nice stencil job and the mcxj650gp
on the tank line is boss.
I'm doing a xj with a curtis p-40 look, gonna take time since I don't know anything about fabricatin and little bout paintin lol

 

Neither do I Frankenbiker, LOL! This forum as about all we need to at least start having fun and getting into the game of restoring/customizing/repairing our bikes. I look forward to seeing your bike in progress sometime too.

UPDATE: STOKED!! Found some XJ900 rear piggyback shocks yesterday at Bent Bike in Lynwood! I'm stunned- they were the only pair on the building, about ten bins deep, but I found them! I was all done shopping just grabbed a throttle and choke cable, and was going to leave. Something told me to go back in and spend some time in the parts bins, it was a premonition!

There's an XJ Troll who lives on the north side of town who always seems to scoop up the best of the parts for our bikes, I don't know if he passed on these intentionally or just missed them, but they're mine now! The parts guy took it easy on me too and only charged me $60 for the pair. I think he liked my bike. This is a swap I've been wanting ever since I got my bike and saw a rare Japan only XJ550 ( I THINK it was) with the snazzy shocks on it at a local MC club party, way back when my bike was still a yellow rust bucket. Will hopefully have updated pics later today, maybe with one or both mounted up.

 

Updates: Pics of the XJ900 Shocks installed...

 

Finally, a handlebar swap!





Better/ wider angle shots coming..

 

i like it

 

I like it too; those 900 shocks are cool. Do you have any more plans with paint (i.e., the fenders, maybe to get away from the chrome )?

 

REALLY like what you've done with it :wink: ...

skillet

 

Those shocks are looking good. Are they the same length as stock, or how high did it raise it?

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback. I usually remove the front fender in the spring throughout the summer, but have no plans right now for painting it or the other last bits of chrome. I have been very lucky in that the rattle can paint job I did on the bike's tank and side covers has stuck well and hasn't reacted to fuel or anything. Every single local guy who's bike I've seen that DID repaint chrome looks like doo doo. I sort of like a shiny bit here and there anyhow..

The xj900 shocks have the exact same eye to eye length as my old stock shocks, and don't appear to vary the bike's ride at all, except to maybe be a liitle bit firmer.

PS- The Bikemaster mirrors cost $50 for a pair, came with one broken in the package, and the other broke during install, so I'm still working on a final mirror solution for the bike..

 

Man that bike looks awesome!!! I love it! Very homemade but awesome retro look. There is a million things I could say about it. Love the bike man. Is that your 70s Ford too!? Thats my dream truck. 351?

 

Yup, that's our 1974 F-250 Camper Special- I LOVE that truck, it's my first truck- 390ci, Three speed Auto with some kind of performance shifting tranny, and some loud ass pipes, she sounds like a hotrod, lol!

Thanks for the props, SLKid.

 

That is a good looking bike! It looks like it's ready for duty and deployment. The seat is very nice. I'd like to see what it looks like with the fenders matching the tank, but the chrome gives it a cool retro look. Bravo, good job, good investment.

 

Dude.. Supreme jealously... You've got my dream bike AND truck... Shame you're all the way across the country. We'd be great friends

 

Looks good, Steve. I have steel lines on order, should be here very soon. You should join Don and I for a ride sometime.

 

Anytime jdpesz! What's the story on your handle there, btw?

When if ever do you get down towards Seattle? Stanwood is up by Camano right? You guys ever want to come down here and join us at Backfire moto night? www.backfiremoto.com

Did I just really post a reply using almost nothing but questions?

 

Nice bike man! Need a little more info on how you did the exhaust, been thinking about doing the same with mine. Hate to hack up a nice factory exhaust, but don't like the sound, and can't afford a 4-1 right now...

 

I have been wanting to get to BFM, but Wednesday is my men's group night at church. I'm going to try and talk the group into having our meeting in Ballard one night. LOL Most of them ride, so they might even be down for it.
My username is just an abbreviation of my name.
I actually live in Warm Beach, which is about 6 miles south of Stanwood, which is near Camano Is. I drive thru Seattle a lot in my work truck, but I don't often get down that way on my bike. I should do it sometime, I guess.

 

Joel- We Literally took them off and cut them in half with an angle grinder, then popped a couple of crazy big washers in the end of the cut down cans, and tack welded them in place to make some kind of end cap for the now baffle free pipes. Re-assembled, and voila!

JD- Get on down for Backfire night man, it's a good time!