new member, new bike

Hi everyone, I'm Dave, recently found the forums, and almost as recently found my "new" bike.
ok its more like a bicycle at this time, but its an 81 xj550r Seca.
I bought it sight unseen for 100 KNOWING it was going to need work, and i wasnt disappointed in that aspect, but its got a title, and that seems lately to be difficult on bikes to find.

Its been sitting since 86 without running, owner just stopped riding it, and everything on the bike needs to be rebuilt, replaced, repainted and fixed.

Why the HELL would I buy such a paperweight? short answer, I plan on making a full on cafe racer. not this "stock bike with the look" but a real, nothing untouched cafe, so it didnt NEED to be in good shape.



this is what i got for 100. to be honest the rims, gages, and frame/title alone were worth it just to part out so i wasnt concerned.

heres a list of things im PLANNING on doing:
rebuild the motor, possibly overbore,possibly higher compression, hot cams, valves, heavy duty clutch and springs, polish and port, full cosmetic polish of the motor. no choice in this the pistons are frozen in the jugs.
detab, smooth, modify frame for stiffness, powder coat frame, hand formed seatpan and rear cowl, hand fabbed rearsets, clubman or clipons (havent decided yet), shaved and smoothed triple tree, mini 3.5 H-4 headlight, Polished lowers, perhaps a dual disk or upgraded single disk front end, fork gaitors, relocated non yamaha ignition, relocated electronics, LED brake light, taller shocks, and PERHAPS a 3" over stretch on the swingarm, new tank, but have no idea what can "bolt on" without rewelding a tank, and roller bearings in the neck and possibly the swingarm.

This leads me to you guys, as you can guess, Im going to need thoughts, opinions and experienced feedback as to the best parts to start foraging for and where to get the parts im going to need. Anybody that has done some of these changes please chime in or IM me, this is a TOTAL rebuild. yes, im aware that i could have bought a "new bike" I'm aware that I'll never see light of day on the cost of rebuild, but I'm ok with this, its a dream bike, that I'd eventually like to show.

The more feedback i get about this build, and the more help i get for upgrades, the more i will update with pix and progress giving proper credit where credit is due. my plan for this is to do a "generic bike build" think generic brand foods from the 80's and I plan on putting anyone's name (forum or real) on the bike in the "ingredients", along with what it was they contributed.
As of right now, its stripped down to major components, top end off, and out of frame, everything stripped off frame, and ready to start a slow rebuild. first things first though, rebuild the motor. we're calling it project Lazurus cause of all the work it needs.
Now for me:
I'm 36, living in IL now, but lived in NV for 6 years, never setting my butt in a car, only OWNED a motorcycle back then, so i know how to ride, what FEELS right, and what MOST bikes lack (style OR function). I'm lucky in the fact that ive seen both central AND west coast styles for bikes, and im using BOTH to draw from on this build. I have ridden motorcycles since I was 8, and have YET to go a riding season without a bike since.
Ive logged well over a half a million miles in those years so I RIDE, I dont just sit in a bar and look at my bike. I'M also an ASE certified diesel mechanic turned CDL driver, so I dont believe in paying a shop to change out parts.
Yes, Im planning on doing MOST of the work myself, short of machine work on the motor, but have access to a friend with a machine shop that i have limited access to so almost anything is possible.

 

first and foremost, Welcome to the forums. here you will find just about all of the info you will need.

We have a local parts guy, and he is awesome. his forum name is Chacal, real name is LEN. he can be found at the top of any page on here where you see the XJ engine, and it says XJ4ever. Just click the engine and it will take you to his stuff, you can go through his online catalog, or PM him with your needs. he is very fast with repsonses and even quicker with shipping you what you need.

You will find many people on here to chime in to the specifics on what the bike is going to need to be looked over and what not to get it back to road worthy condition.

As I can see, I'd say it was a good find for $100.

 

In the spirit of halloween... now the scary stuff...

 

OMG The insides are in very rough shape, I cant wait to see how you get this running.

 

Welcome to the forums! Looks like the airbox slurped up a mudpit lol

Can't wait to see your progress

 

That one is going to be mucho dinero to rebuild.
If you have any luck at all you can find a good used mill from someone here for way cheaper.

MN

 

the problem is the RUNNING mill would get the exact same treatment as this boat anchor... i got my anchor for 100, why spend another 2-300 on another "anchor" since very little of the guts isnt getting touched?

biggest problem was there was no airbox, and for at least the last two years shes been sitting outside with #1 and #4 open and getting rained in.

just talked with the mech doing the milling, this is what we think would be the best: low and mid range for the best response, would a 600 head be better suited for that? i know its got bigger valves, would like to have some hotter cams with an overbore, maybe 2nd or 3rd even? if we DO use the 600 head, can we shave it down to increase compression, and if so, how much? other options for increasing the compression?
I bid on a used set of jugs and pistons as a replacement, im afraid the ones ive got are too far gone.

 

Just trying to save you a few bucks dude.
Good Luck with your project.

 

Definitely look for a mill or a parts bike, I've seen running engines for $100. Between the exhaust and an open airbox there was some serious water ingestion. That would'nt cost a small fortune to repair, but a large one.

 

I appreciate it, i REALLY do, however im trying to justify the cost, considering im planning a full race rebuild, the only reason to have a running motor to just slam in for now.
Id LOVE to get a running mill for it so I can work on the kinks on the suspension, frame and sheet metal. A running riding mockup while the motor is being built. It would be less discouraging to have a rider with a 10k engine being built on the side rather than a "bunch o parts." But every parts bike Im finding is just as suspicious as this one, and while Im only out 100 bucks at this point, Im worried my "parts bike" would be just another few hundred wasted cause the motor is just as bad, unless its got a bunch of sweet parts I want/need like a good tank, h-4 headlight, or a dual disk front end.
If someone HAS a "parts bike" that runs and can prove it (no title needed) Im all ears, especially at 100 bucks! midwest ill come pick it up!
And the more I look at that original tank, the more I like it... damn shame mine is rusted through, but its getting turned into a cowl so its not a total loss. If time permits Im rough detabbing and chopping the frame and perhaps starting the seatpan this weekend. pix when i work on it!

 

That engine is going to need a complete rebuild. The inside of the crankcase is going to look just as nasty and a every crevise is gonna need attention. A parts bike is not a bad idea.

Not bad for $100. You'll easliy make your money back twice over by parting it, especially with a titled frame.

If you get that bike back to good running condition you will have one of the most impressive "back from the dead" threads I've seen on this site.

Not to break balls but we don't want to hear about all those mods you want to do when you got a bike sitting in that condition! You're going to be putting a few hundred hours and a few hundred bucks into just getting that bike back to being ridable, let alone a race bike; there isn't anything on it that does not need to be completely overhauled.

Not that you shouldn't attempt it just want to keep you honest, we've all seen the big dreamers come and go. You're a certified mechanic and have much experience with bikes so I say go for it, but to just want to make sure you're not focusing on step 416, 523, and 599 (the fun ones) when you have 900 (not so fun) steps that have to be completed in order.

 

It is possible to find a good running motor on the cheap. I actually picked up one with the frame and titled for free just a couple of weeks ago. You also might be surprised at how fast those bikes are with a stock well tuned motor.

 

Lou627, youre right, i should focus on step one, which is the motor, and its going to be fun (can you hear the sarcasm when i said fun?)

MN Maxims, there IS merit to getting a throw away motor so i can tweak frame mods and the wife even suggested it so im in the clear with the most important person. however the built motor will take probably a year with my 1 weekend a month schedule (work nights 12-16 hr shifts) anyway so why not build up the rest in a weekend or two and just start enjoying it with a motor i throw in for a hun or two? (ok maybe a month or two considering paint and PC) if i can get time to work on it.

Zombiehouse, define "fast" hell ANYONE define fast for these bikes, i saw the 80mph speedo and that alone bothers me, I just sold my Ducati 750ss, Blew the motor on my gn400 bobber while drag racing, got bored with the v-rod before that, HATED the modded v-star custom before that, gave up on the "slow" FZR600, and enjoyed my time spent on a borrowed 'busa when i was in cali visiting friends. are we talking 120 -130 mph legit (not japanese guages) stock or lightly modified? that would be phenominal and id just slam in the motor at that point. im not looking to run with the big boys, but ive found thats my happy range for hard riding.
my impression of the bike was that its weak point was the relatively small motor, which is why i picked it, so i could blast it out and if nobody ELSE noticed, i know i built the wildest motor i could. if this bike is capable of that or real close with some mods, screw it, ill concentrate on the "easy" stuff, and consider myself a HELL of a lot richer in the process!
this is about taking the ordinary and making it "mine" making it more radical than 80% of the other secas out there, bringing back the dead so to speak, and basically doing what we all do, make our bikes stand out from the crowd.

BTW the salvageable parts are up for offers, cash trade or beer! i can send pix for those interested

 

These bikes are fast enough to get you into trouble on the street. You can peg the speedo and they still keep gaining speed. Surprised more than one idiot on a crotch rocket thinking he was Joe Cool. I have owned mine for 24 years. I have ridden Busas and bikes built for drag, running nitrous, so I do know what a really fast bike is. If you want that fast, this little bike won't do it for you no matter how much money you put into the bike. They are different though. Not many around anymore. I wouldn't trade mine for anything.

 

Now im REALLY curious what the top speed is... stock or slightly modded(jetted and pipes yaknow easy stuff)
not really looking to break world records for speed, but it'd be nice to know itll do 120 when i decide its time to break the law. but if i wanted busa fast ive got a neighbor for the low price of 8 selling a nitrous busa...
like i said originally i thought this thing was a bit challenged with speed, early 80s 550 capable of better than 115stock? im ok with that.

 

Don't discount finding a great engine for cheap.
I bought my first "replacement" for $9.99 and opened it up to find it wasn't even broke in yet. A little TLC and it has 10K miles since.
I can understand if you want to completely rebuild it anyway BUT there are still a LOT of parts you need to be in good shape before you start messing with performance stuff.

BigFitz is the 550 expert.

I believe you can easily drop a 650 engine into one without much heartache which will give you a bigger start without expensive mods.
Heck...you could go nuts and put a turbo 650 on it! There are a number of those engines on Ebay right now.

***EDIT*** No, I think I was wrong...750 will replace a 650 but the 550 is a chain drive so, IGNORE comment above.
I have myself all confused this morning!

 

Desinger_Mike
The 550 is chain drive, a 650 is shaft drive so major mods would have to take place to up it to a 650.

MN

 

Based on my experience o my 650 Maxim I would say that you are overly optimistic wanting 115 mph out of the 550. I believe my 650 might do a little over 100 mph, maybe 105 mph. They just don't have enough HP and they are not aerodynamic enough to go much faster. They are, however, still a blast to ride! They are short, low, compact, reliable beyond reason, smart looking with the air cooled in line four, simple to maintain, and are just fun bikes to ride. If you are looking for anything more you might be looking at the wrong starting point.

There are likely other bikes out there with better engine parts availability and after market mods available which would serve your needs better.

Loren

 

here's the thread you are interested in:
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=7 ... t+550.html

 

well, between mn maxims and others, ive been convinced enough to try out an extra stocker motor.
run it and see how much it really needs to be and can be improved.

totalmotorcycle (i should have looked there first) has it listed as a top speed of 115mph, HP of 56, and i cant find torque specs. if those numbers are close to real, it could have a considerable amount of torque, and in that case (going only by hp/assumed torque of 35-40nm) a sprocket change alone could get it solid 120 without losing too much on the low. it also shows 97 in the quarter... interesting. it seems a bit optimistic to me though but i can live with that.

on to one topic i considered but doubt will work, is throwing modern 17" rims onto it. going to check out the forum and hope.

 

The 550 Seca, in stock trim and in a perfect state of tune will pull right past redline in 6th, to about 112-115mph. (Measured, not "indicated.") I've had my '83 to just over 105 and it was still pullling.

HP peaks at redline, 10K. Torque peak is at around 8500. NOTHING starts seriously happening until 6K, but when you hit 6K you need to be pointed in the right direction and be ready to shift.

As soon as you start gearing it up (smaller rear sprocket) you'll lose the whiz-bang acceleration that makes the bike so much fun.

 

so shaving some(every ounce i dont need) weight off, laying low with clubmans or clipons to increase dynamics, putting the pegs into a rearset design and pipe and rejet could in fact bring it up real CLOSE to the 120 mark? bigfitz, you gave me the real numbers im looking for, thank you!
at 450lbs wet, it needs a diet, a magic number would be 400 but realistically i think 425 is possible.
manbot, that thread, and his others, gives me serious hope that i can hit 120-130. im not going for speed records like he is however, so i dont think i have to go as far as he has.

 

Did I miss the reason why you are wanting to go 120-130mph on a XJ???

 

The NEED... The need for speed!!!

Perhaps? :lol:

 

SOMETHING like that...
the extremely cool wife is taking a particular interest in this bike and dropping hints that i already have a bike... (VFR700) and she REALLY wants a bobber... just won a used piston set and jugs for 7.99 paid more for shipping.
I should make HER put it back together if she wants it so bad!

 

Any new pics, Progress? I really want to see how this turns out.

 

lol ok not THAT bad... just... close.

after TWO hours of beating on the jugs to get them off (everything loosened, the fricking piston was welded to the jugs) i actually got INTO the motor to learn just how bad it was.

I wasted 2 hours

every bearing in the motor was thrashed, it had been run out of oil, and kept running right up until it STOPPED running. the cams are still "ok" but the clutch is fried, the bearings all needed to be replaced, in essence, the motor was just too damn far gone.
the GOOD news, ive got a fresh set of jugs being honed, and im picking up a running motor on the 20th.
that all being said, my wife has officially taken over the bike, its no longer for me, its for her. shes a VERY short rider, all of 5' 0" with short legs so i have to squish the bike down A LOT for her to fit. we've both got some WILD ideas for it, but first things first "running motor".
ive been jumped on for "big dreams, no payoff" by a few people in here, so im keeping it kind of quiet till i can show SERIOUS results, HOWEVER the list of plans now are (according to wife's plans):
Bratstyle cafe, squished to mini-size.
possible sport bike front and rear wheels on matching suspension (monoshock)
tank to be determined
polished aluminum everything possible, painted everything NOT polished
100% no chrome. paint and polish only.
clipons
HID lighting
hand formed solo seat and fender, 99% sure the fender will be swing mounted and pierced (spades)
my polisher god rest its sole gave up the good fight in the middle of the clutch cover, so i had to use a different motor, THAT motor has a different sized shaft, so i need a new arbor and wheel.

Im honestly beginning to think this thing is cursed. tools lost so far (as thats the only REAL progress)
polisher (fried brushes i believe, 30 yr old motor)
cracked 10mm socket (snapon)
broken 12mm wrench (matco)
cracked hammer handle (fiberglass)
broken flat head screwdriver
munched allen wrench socket (5 mm long shaft snapon now can go around corners, i put the motor on it)

I WILL beat this machine, im too damn stupid and stubborn to let a piece of aluminum and steel beat me. Im giving it till after i get the motor before i attack much else on the bike. Ive been playing with a different project a VFR streetfighter cause THAT seems to want to be back on the road. that is a budget "bet" build, 500 or less INCLUDING the purchase price. so far im up to 130, need a brake lever. picking up headlight, mounts, and speedo for it for free (buddies parts bins) this weekend when i see him. wont post it here, but its out there on a different forum.