1st experience with xj bikes!! (updated 01-09-13)

Usually mess around with other type bikes (mainly XS's) but have to come to like the XJ's.

Had one fall in my lap for $200 with title, and my girl wanted a first motorcycle so i bought and began to transform it.

Here is before, and as of now pics...hoping to get started and begin tuning process this weekend. will be running pods, 4 into 1, so I have fun times ahead!!! But thats part of the passion!!

Learned ALOT from this site!!

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

I like it (something different)! You did notice you're missing a headlight LOL!

skillet
btw let us know how much fun you have with the tuning...

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

I sure did!!! Nah, figured I'd wait to wire that and tail light in when I get everything else squared away and ready for the the road. Did a simple wiring config on it everything is ran just needs to be "spliced in" once installed.

Yeah, I already know about the gremlins i'll be facing tuning this thing with pods etc...but hey enjoy a good challenge!!

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

You painted front forks but not exhaust pipes :? and eliminated front brake, don't you like your girl?

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

I've got to agree; in its present form the bike is BEAUCOUP DANGEROUS!!!

That's way too fast of a motorcycle to even attempt to ride with no front brake. It's heavy enough that its stopping distance with only the rear brake will be about 3X FURTHER than your average SUV.

And that is an accident looking for a place to happen.

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Irishman says those pics are "as of now". I don't think he is finished.

Nice build so far Irishman.

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Ok, sorry if I worried in advance... Add front brakes, headlight and paint or wrap those pipes (maybe some muffler too) and it's nice 8)

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Its in as of now stage...not quite done yet. As you pointed out still need brake assembly squared away and lights wired in. Not to worried about exhaust being "pretty" as of now.

Next is to tackle firing her up...got the pods, assortment of jets and alot of patience set aside for tuning lol. Still have to make yics tool and find time to set aside to start on it.

So far its taken me about 3 weeks to get it this far...still got plenty of time till spring to get her done.

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Not to be critical, but the black paint on the fork stancion tubes will ruin the seals and squirt nasty black oil on the GF.

You've got a good start - we don't want to see you mess things up.
(brake and tire warnings \/ )

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Update....installed front brake setup, tail lamp and initial fire up went without a problem!! Really surprising idled pretty good for stock jets. Hint of hesitation on twist of throttle, test ride WOT will definitely need bigger mains. But to my surprise with 4 into 1 and pods, pulled plugs and showed tan coloring plugs...thinking about 41 pilots, 118 mains to start.

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Irishman,

skillet wrote:

I like it (something different)!

Ditto.

Gary

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

If you still have the airbox to carbs boots, you may need them to make velocity stacks for the pods. It helps with the airflow turbulence from the pods.

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Orange-n-black

Yeah, I still have them lying around. Trying to see if i can work it out without using them first.I have read that they do help somewhat thanks for the tip. Problem opt issue I'm having out of the gate seems to be needing bigger mains since I still have stock ones in it (110). Im going to install 41 pilots, 118 mains for the starting point. I kept stock in just to see where I'm at as of now...idles pretty good but little twist of the throttle it has slight hestiation, little more twist it clears up...WOT has flat spot before shifting sounding/ feeling like starving for fuel...but I knew it was going to be crapp shoot running pipes and pods on this style bike. That's half the fun!!

Soon as I change out jets etc i will post my findings cause I see a lot of people and posts here about jetting/tuning and if i can save someone time by my trials/error cool. But my suggestion is just try it, tinker with it...learn a lot more than someone telling you this or that/ what worked for them....advice is a good starting point, but hands on trial/error will teach you a lot and how it works/functions. Every bike is different and lot of variables can exist

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Remember to check your valves before you jump into the carb re-jetting and sync process. 8)

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Orange-n-Black +1 on that, got that squared away before starting her up.

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Well, got headlight wired in and installed 122 main jets late last night, and ran her short time but DAMN!! There was a huge difference in power through out rpms. Will test more today since efforts was hindered from being late and cold lastnight lol..I wasn't expecting these type bikes performance. Not to shabby. Got another xj in my sights now....

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Here is plugs after running her around the block then WOT for most of ride then WOT till shut down and stop...looks tan/chocolate color but think i need to a tad richer? These plugs were cleaned, gapped, before testing. 122 mains, 40 pilots, a/f screws out 3-3.5

All plugs look just about same

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Another pic

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

How did you manage to drop the rear of the bike, and still keep the shocks. Couldn't tell from the pictures.

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

MarkV.....

Ride height is stock, cut the rear tank support and frame area where airbox use to reside. Welded in new support and " down tubes "....welded in tube between top shock mounts, which in turn gave me a mounting point for fender. Where airbox was, I made battery holder welded it in, and off that made a bracket that holds tci, and regulator which in turn gave me a low fender mount on bottom. I can email you pics.

 

Re: 1st experience with xj bikes!!

Oh yes, I can see that now.ty. I'm getting antsy to take the saws all to my bike.

 

Here are the updates as of now.....

122 mains, 40 pilots (will need to go up to 41) good response in mid and upper range sluggish in lowerend, a/f miture turned out 3.25 (still needing fine adjusting), airpods, 4into1 exhaust, head/tail lamp installed, Front brake/mastercylinder setup installed.

Thinking about shimming needle jet to be a little richer, look at previous pics of plugs.

Just need to clean/paint header/exhaust....

Now for pics, this is my girl's first bike...

 

Some wild paint jobs ya got there dawg!

 

Thx mntbike...lol, she picked her color, its actually pink in person. Mine is grabber green ( love that color) both are rattle can jobs.

Her bike total $650+/- , mine is $1000 +/-, had to do more mechanical fixes and electronic ignition upgrades...still tuning mine, hers is about done.

 

Both look NICE! Have always liked that color of green...

skillet