Clubman z bend bars on 82 seca 550

Ok so I managed to get a pretty mint 82 seca 550 for 800 bucks yesterday. It has 14k on the clock it runs great and is in great shape just needs tires. So I have been tearing parts off it like mirrors fairing mudflap etc to turn it into my around town cafe racer style bike. My question is does anybody know if these bars fit? http://www.oldbikebarn.com/Z-Bend-Clubm ... ory=183101 I saw a person had them on his seca 750. I don't know much about these bikes I did a search still trying to learn this bike and don't flame me to bad please thanks

 

Nobody's going to "flame" you but you really ought to see what you can do with a 550 Seca without cutting it up.

De-fairing it by all means; the fairing was "removable" to begin with; by '83 Yamaha had dropped it anyway. I got rid of the one from my '81 as soon as I rode the bike with it off.

14K is right at the edge of danger for a burnt valve if nobody's ever touched the valves. Don't ignore them like all the previous owners and end up buring up the motor. http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=32118.html

REAR BRAKES DELAMINATE. This can wreck you. READ: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html

Look in "FAQ Suggestions" for a whole bunch of cool stuff like this: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=31872.html

and: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14827.html

welcome aboard. I happen to be a big 550 Seca fan; they can be pretty damn cool even relatively stock:



But I agree the fairing has to go. They only added it for the North American market.

Those are BikeMaster's "Euro" bend bars; they come within 3/8" of the tank at full lock. I have them on both of my 550 Secas, they fit me perfectly.

 

Yes those bars will fit the seca 550, but the control cables are a bit ok long and can bind up easily if you don't reroute them a bit.

 

Shorter control cables for the 550 Seca:

"Choke" and throttle can be re-routed to "eat" the extra, and truth be told the throttle cable re-route can be an improvement over original.

A Seca 750 clutch cable is about 2 1/2" shorter and has the same inneruter ratio; I'm running them.

The best thing for the brake hose is to order up a shorter custom one when you order your stainless steel lines.

(You need to rebuild the front brakes too; the original lines had a four-year lifespan. Check the date codes stamped into them.)

Please don't ride the bike until it's safe (as in BRAKES.)

 

Thanks bigfritz52 for all the info I am about to order tires bars and now rear pads for it lol. I would think the local yamaha dealer would know what I am talking about by checking the valves right?

 

Maybe, but only maybe. I can guarantee they'll want a lot of money if they claim to. (The main reason it was probably ignored.)

You got wads o'cash?

Learn to do it yourself; it's not difficult and it has to be done every 5000 miles: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14827.html

Realize this: You have a 30-year old bike on your hands. The dealership's skillset DOES NOT go back that far; and on top of that most Yammeries won't touch a bike this old anyway. You are now in possession of a DIY bike; if you want to actually ride it you need to learn to maintain it. It HAS to be properly 'recommissioned' if you want to actually enjoy it.

Get a book (service manual) and dig in.

 

I actually bought it from the Yamaha dealer they did some carb work to it new plugs and an oil change. It is going to be a weekend project bike for me. I am Harley guy that appreciates cool old jap and Brit bikes. I am currently on a 2011 Harley Street Glide 103ci motor or 1690cc lol now don't flame me for the Harley comments lol

 

To each his own.

My original owner (me) 1974 Norton Commando still runs better than it ought to after all these years (and miles.)

You still gotta check the valves on the XJ before you burn an exhaust valve. Read the stuff I posted links to.

Nobody's going to "flame" you for riding a Harley; but, no offense, it does explain why you have that "take it to the dealer" approach to motorcycle maintenance. But here's the honest truth: ANY Jap bike over about 7 years old, and ANY old British bike period, is a DIY proposition unless you're dripping cash.

Appreciating old Jap and British bikes is easy from a distance; if you actually want to live with, ride, use and enjoy one, you'll need to learn to at least maintain it yourself. Unless, as I said, you're oozing money. In which case, send it to me. "Dealer." The very term gives me heebie-jeebies.

 

My neighbor will be helping with this build he is pretty into the old yamahas and is building an XS650 bobber. No offense taken to the take it to the dealer comment. I did read over the links you posted I think with a manual your pics and write up it won't be to hard. I won't be messing with it much this year since I am deploying back to the desert for 6 months next month.

 

A Harley guy tearing up a nice Seca 550.

That really bums me out. :cry:

 

How am I tearing it up? Because I want it to be a cafe racer style bike?

 

Is it true to say that these bars WILL hit a XJ650 Maxim tank? I have been looking for a nice cafe bar and want something under the $100 that denis kirk is charging for bars...

I was also looking at the old bike barn bars.

 

[quote="RobDrech]...Is it true to say that these bars WILL hit a XJ650 Maxim tank?[/quote]

No, not at all. They would probably have more room, since the Max's tank slopes down away from the steering head more steeply than the 550 Seca's.

Or were you asking about the "Z" bars mentioned by the OP? I was answering in regard to the "Euro" bend on my bike.

Beware OBB. They're not a "ripoff" but their customer service and attitude sux.

Here: I "Googled" BikeMaster bars: http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... FkQ8wIwAQ#

 

Thanks for the link.

I have ordered from OBB twice, first time the order came super fast (order to door in three days). The second order didn't get shipped until 7 days after the order was placed.

I'm assuming it a mom and pop shop, but 7 days is kinda ridiculous.

 

I'm a purist. It's pretty hard to come across one of these bikes in mint original shape. There's pleny of other bikes that can be turned into a cafe racer. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem modding them with period correct parts. I just don't like to see nice original bikes turned into cafe racers.




I've had to play the waiting game with OBB. They take the money from your credit card and ship your purchase 2 weeks later. Read their reviews.

 

It isn't as nice as yours in the picture that's why I decided it was a good candidate for the project it is missing a few pieces to like the battery side panel. As for OBB they sent me an email saying my parts shipped so who knows I guess.

 

I'm not an "as Purist" as pjb03 I prefer a few upgrades and don't mind a bit of personalization:



I'm all for pulling the fairing, and lower bars by all means; we just don't want to you spoil a sweet example cutting up a relatively complete bike is all. You can find a side cover on eBay, it may take a while is all.