Alternative side panels

Let's see what you have come up with for alternative side panels.
I am thinking of something thin and flat that wont interfere with the flow to my intake. This is just cardboard to give me an idea of what I want.

 

Most panels I've seen are made of sheet metal, diamond plate, expanded metal or plastic purchased from the local hardware store. You could get creative and make a mold and fab panels out of fiberglass.
Or shop ebay.

 

That looks like a 550 Seca. Right side panels for those don't exist. I was thinking of making something similar.

I was thinking more along the lines of a riveted bracket for the front tabs rather than slots, though.

 

I don't like the diamond plate look, more like plastic, in black?

 

I'll be watching this one, I am struggling with my side cover options too. What about diamond plate painted black?

 

???

Please elaborate. I've looked at many other Secas and seen side covers on both sides. Can we have another independent verification on this? Just curious, not that it really matters...

 

Unless you run up to someone's Seca 550 and steal one, they are very hard to find. They rarely come up on ebay, and when they do the prices are ridiculous. Left panels, for some reason, are much more obtainable. There is a post right here where someone said he has been looking for a right panel for a year without success.

 

So they do exist.

Okay, that I can believe. It was the part where you said "they don't exist" is what threw me off obviously, which is why I asked in the first place.

Solution to the problem; don't lose it! Haha I'm just teasing now

 

You can get sheets of 1/8" ABS on ebay. These can easily be cut to any shape with a fine-tooth hacksaw or Dremel tool. They can also be easily bent and formed with a heat gun (best to use a wooden "buck" or form, but it even works free hand with a leather glove). If you need more depth to your shape, you can even cut parts out and glue them together with PVC glue from the plumbing department.

 

Too late - previous owner took care of that for me.

 

That's a good idea man!! They sell Plasti-weld at auto parts stores too, that stuff works awesome with ABS. Comes in a double chambered syringe like some epoxies do. I might give ABS a shot..

 

That's a good idea man!! They sell Plasti-weld at auto parts stores too, that stuff works awesome with ABS. Comes in a double chambered syringe like some epoxies do. I might give ABS a shot..

 

Perhaps for genuine, otherwise I ring my local fibre glass guy who has a mold for them and get him to flick one out for me

I've even got a couple in carbon fibre

I'm surprised with the volume that would have sold over there someone like airtech doesn't do a "replica"

 

I don't know a fiberglass guy. What does something like that cost from a local guy?

 

I think they were $60NZ each in fibreglass, bit rough on the back but once tided up and painted I doubt anyone will be able to tell they are OEM

 

I'm lucky my 550 came with both panels in decent shape, a little faded/oxidized but otherwise ok.

So the REAL question, because this is rampant, what do PO's freaking DO to all these missing panels??? Do they eat off of them then throw them away? Use them as frisbees? I just don't get it.

On getting creative you could create a mold (Hobby Lobby stuff) for about $8 and make a replacement out of fiberglass for about $15 more-but that is time consuming.

 

Hi there, I am new here and managed to get this set, they need a couple of repairs before going any further with them.

Can anyone please tell me which year this set of side covers if from, I think they are 1981 Yamaha XJ550 seca right and left.



Thanks.

 

You're correct, and year (1981~1983) doesn't matter, they're the same except for color. It looks like you have an '81 left and an '82 right there.

Except for paint schemes and the eventual deletion of the little fairing, all of the USA-market 550 Secas, '81~'83, were virtually the same bikes. There are some other minor variations between the '81/82 bikes and the '83s, but they are minute details and the part numbers never changed.

An interesting bit of trivia: from what I can tell, all of the '83s were manufactured in 1982. I have yet to find an '83 model with a 1983 build date.

 

Nice one , much appreciated for your input and valued knowledge..

 

They fall off during a ride and are never seen again. Rotted grommets, weren't put back on securely, broken tab that went unnoticed......ect.

 

Use left side for pattern and make one as I did until you locate one .

 

These will soon be available in a few weeks..