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What tank for my '81 xj650.

Discussion in 'XJ Modifications' started by JHJams, Dec 18, 2013.

  1. JHJams

    JHJams New Member

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    Hey, everyone

    I'm new here, new to bikes and just purchased my first one. I need a tank and wanted to know my option's. I'm not to fond of the shape/size of the original maxim/xj 650 tank. I like the feeling of the xs650 tank of the same era though. Does anyone know what it takes to use one of these on my frame? Or does anyone know a tank that will fit properly on the frame and I just modify the tank's mounting location under the seat?

    Thanks and I've searched for quite a while and have not found my answer's. I can not justify paying more for a tank than I did for the entire bike.
     
  2. Orange-n-Black

    Orange-n-Black Well-Known Member

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    Anything other that a Maxim tank will require little to much modification.
    You can do a XS, XV, GS, CB, KZ or Victory. Harley peanut will require the most mod to the tank or frame. Harley split tanks(Fat Bob) will work better.
     
  3. JHJams

    JHJams New Member

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    What would need to be modified on an xs tank? I wish I had someone local to me w/part's but I have to order online whatever I want. I have access to a welder and can handle most modification's. Does the underside fit decently? Like width and all.
     
  4. BaldWonder

    BaldWonder Innocent Bystander

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    Isn't Len (Chacal) of XJ4ever in Atlanta, GA?
     
  5. JHJams

    JHJams New Member

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    I'm not all that close to Atlanta. If someone knows what tank besides the oem one will fit over the top-tube and rest on the rubber mount's I could handle the rest. I am not using the original seat so I'm not all to worried if it threw the lines up where they meet.

    Thanks thus far everyone.
     
  6. TIMEtoRIDE

    TIMEtoRIDE Active Member

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    "Schooter" mounted a CB750 tank with mods and it worked.
    The larger "Maxim 750" tank drops on, but you don't like the teardrop??
    That leaves the "seca 650" as another drop-on tank.
    The "Seca 750" has "ears" that you'd need to deal with.
     
  7. JHJams

    JHJams New Member

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    Well, at first the shape bothered me. I'm about 5 foot 5 inches or so and it is rather large. I could deal with it but the prices for one seems crazy on ebay. I just need a tank asap for less than the prices on ebay for a tank. I can have the mounting worked but need something that isn't going to be an issue w/the top-tube and all. Like the way it bends or the width etc.
     
  8. Proximal

    Proximal Member

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    I'm about 5'5 and I've not really had any issues with the size of the tank. Your best bet for finding a tank though is to make an ebay account and follow (kinda like twitter but with keywords in the search function) whatever make/model tanks you think will work (or whatever the XJ wizards tell you will work) and snag one with a low "buy it now" and low shipping costs. I see SECA tanks periodically run for $70ish that are in decent shape.
     
  9. Orange-n-Black

    Orange-n-Black Well-Known Member

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  10. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    OK, let's stop right here and back up a tad.

    If you just bought your first bike, a 1981 XJ, for less than the cost of a used gas tank then you've got a whole heck of a lot more important things to be worrying about than swapping the tank.

    PRIORITY ONE: Get this ancient wreck running right and SAFE. Which means you will need to buy certain parts for the engine (shims, gaskets) and for the carbs ("bits") as well as rebuild the brakes. That right there will set you back between $600 and $800 just for parts and some tools, as long as you do all the work.

    Then once it RUNS reliably and STOPS;

    PRIORITY TWO: Learn to ride a motorcycle. 8O But you can't learn on an unreliable jankety POS. (Gotta have good solid equipment to survive out there.)

    Then
    worry about things like changing the gas tank because you don't like how it looks.

    You got your priorities on backwards. You could get hurt; at the very least you're gonna get frustrated coming at it from the direction you are. It's not a used car.
     
  11. BaldWonder

    BaldWonder Innocent Bystander

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    It's rain on a parade, but he's right. Don't get him wrong, though; he's not trying to discourage you from modding and riding. He, and probably all of us, just want you safe enough to stay a part of this community.
     
  12. Orange-n-Black

    Orange-n-Black Well-Known Member

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    By all means, you should get everything right and learn how to ride if you don't know how.
    But, replacing the tank could be a priority too if it's badly dented or rusted all to hell.
     

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