New to Me New to the Forum

Good evening,
I pick up a clean 81 Seca on Wednesday. I need to check the valves and rebuild the carbs.
I’ve been lurking for the last week and a half seems to be some great info both the valves and carbs.

This fist picture is what the bike looked like when the previous owner acquired it.



Here are some pics of what it looks like now.







The previous owner made it look good, and now it’s my job to make it run great.
Bill

Ps Just noticed the shinny head in the gauge picture, thats not me!

 

Sweet Jesus,

Nice bike man, I love the seat. What's it off of? Oh yeah welcome to the forum!

Marcel

PS: Don't forget checking the back brake, you might be riding around on a ticking rear wheel lockup waiting to happen.

 

Isr490,

Welcome and nice bike.

Gary

 

Thanks guys,
The seat is a Yamaha Giuliari have not had any luck googling it.
What's the skinning on the rear brake?
Bill

 

the shoes like to delaminate. definitly worth checking out. the acual pad comes unglued from the metal base. pretty scary sheeit. Super looking bike. i love it. mad jealous. i wonder what my maxim would look like with a seat like that on it..hmmm lol

 

Welcome Bill
That is a pretty clean looking specimen you have there. Can you edit your sig, see how just under everyones "Joined: and Posts" shows their location. Then under their actual post shows what bike(s) they have.
This post is pretty evident that you have an 81 Seca, but your future posts will help others help you by seeing the locale and bike info.
Now, back to the bike.....you can find a lot of info using search or other forum members will point you in the right direction. There is one pic that shows the chain and it looks rusty, could be the pic I don't know

best thing to do is get a couple of manuals and just go over the "Basic" maintenance and then compare the mileage to what the manual says should be done, that would be a good place to start.

 

Maxim-X
Thanks for the info I believe I've got it figured out.
Your correct about the chain deffantly on the to do list (with the rear brake check).
On side note I was just telling my wife the other night that I really like you signature quote.
Take care,
Bill

 

That was from my racing days (sigh) sure was a lot of fun!

 

Sweet looking bike. That's the year and model I have, and yours almost makes me want to go back and repaint mine the original color and stripes. Nice! Maybe in 2031 for its 50th anniversary I'll do that.

Oh, and I'll take that Kerker muffler in trade for my Supertrapp, if you would be so kind. I think the Kerkers have THE sweetest, meanest, throatiest bark I've ever heard on a Seca. And I can't find one.

 

Now that is a sweet lookin' 550!

 

argh!! do you mind me askin what you paid for it?

i want a 550 seca so bad!!

someone put some love into that, between the bar end mirrors, chrome engine covers, the pipes, turn signals, and that sweet seat. love it.

 

I paid more than a lot of bikes I see on here, but not more than I felt comfortable with.
I also noticed all the love, but recognized it still needed a little mechanical attention.
Make me feel good, what do you think it's worth?
Bill

 

I paid a lot more for mine than i probably should have but someone once said, if you're happy with it, that's all that matters. I never noticed the mileage but I'd say if it's in as good of condition as it looks you could probably get 1500 easy for that rig.

 

Hmmm. 19K miles. Just for gits 'n' shiggles, when you check the valve clearances, let us know what you found.

Now I know what happened to all of those chrome-plated Seca 550 covers that were floating around on eBay a few years back.

Nice find; you already know you have some work to do.

 

2200?



http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/3339511694.html

 

That is some impressive cyber stalking there, bike.

I'll have to remember to wait for the ad to expire if I ever buy anything off CL and post it on here. But when I bought mine there weren't pics in the ad, now that I think about it.

 

From the original pics that were posted, it looks like the PO got it with the chrome stuff on it already.

I suspect it's gonna need more than just a carb sync to get it 100%.

I can also offer a bit of advice based on personal experience: my '81 came with a Kerker on it too, and hadn't been re-jetted for it. (Supposedly not necessary.) I went back to a stock system and discovered how well a 550 Seca is supposed to run.

 

bigfitz,
If you read my previous post I'm well aware it needs more than the carbs synced. You asked for the valve clearance in an early post, they are as follows:
Intake Exhaust
#1 .0015" .004"
#2 .0015" .002"
#3 .003" .002"
#4 .0015" .004"
With all that known that is why I paid well less than the advertised $2200.
Later.
Bill

 

Bill -

I was just being cocky with posting that link, not by any means was i trying to humiliate you for having spent what you did, the link was merely posted for kicks

In fact, the only reason i happened to come accross is is because i was trying to find more info about the seat and if theres any repo's made these days.

I'm looking at a 550 seca to add to the garage, and love the seat that you have. So whilst searching for the seat for an xj550, that craigslist ad just so happened to pop up - creepy, lol.

But like you already have found, theres not much info about them. All i could find out is that it was an italian seatmaker who to my knowledge is no longer in business.

There are a few repo's for a few hondas out there, but nothing i could find for anything yamaha, other than some rd models.

Let me know if you find anything else, or if you decide you would part with it someday.

Any idea what kind of turn signals those are?

Chris

 

Chris,
Never took any offence to post (public link,right), sorry if there was any under tone to my responce.
You found the same info on the seat that I did. Not sure about the signals when I go back to the shop I'll do some digging around.
Good evening,
Bill

 

Gadfrey. Looks like the PO didn't check the clearances whilst he was bolting on all those chrome bits.

The Giuliari seat may have been intended for an RD or other similarly-sized Yamaha of the day. It could also be an XJ500/550 specific piece, from back when the bikes were current. The luggage rack I have on my '83 is a "period" aftermarket accessory, equally long unobtainable.

NICE find. The seat really works.

 

Welcome!
That is a great-looking Seca. Congrats!

 

Welcome!
That is a great-looking Seca. Congrats!

 

Welcome from Denver!
Sweet ride, hope you get lots of enjoyment from it! Just kidding, I know you will.