new to the site

Well I'm new to the site and just before Xmas I picked up a 82xj550for a song.
not being my m normal s style bike I found this site.now im Just trying to decide if I should fix it up sell it whole or part it out. It was running when parked 3 years ago but now frt.brakes are stuck frt.shocks are leaking , throttle cable are frozen. And who knows what else I just need to get into it and do something. Any body got any thoughts on what to do

 

Well its all do-able...welcome to the forum!

Our resident parts man:


http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=44636.html

 

Carbs, Valves, rear brakes, New tires, Fork Seals, front brakes, polish, fuse box conversion, throttle cable, clutch cable, air filter, spark plugs
Should get cha started

 

Well if that's all to get started. Let's just see if I can get this thing running then I'll make some decisions on what to do

 

Do a compression check to see what your working with.

 

Yep; start there.

The other items you mentioned are quite minor typical signs of age and neglected maintenance and are things you'd be attending to anyway in the course of a proper resurrection.

If the motor is solid; then it's a simple (well, sorta) matter of properly "recommissioning" the bike. Plan to spend around $600 ~ $800 to accomplish this, if you do all the work yourself. There are certain things that WILL have to be attended to, parts that will have to be replaced, if you want to get it up and running reliably and stopping safely.

It doesn't really matter how much you paid for the bike; whether it was $150, $400, $800 or $1800; it will need the same things dealt with if you want to ride it.

We're here to help; but you will need a service manual too.

 

Working on the service manual as we speak . Doing the my self is no problem.i just need to come up worn the six to eight hundred $ now but if that's what I gotta do I will . But if decide not top keep it what are these things worth

 

Ruthless, I have seen that the bikes are worth what people are willing to pay, mine were free.

I have seen them going from nothing to thousands of dollars, all in different conditions from parts bikes to mint like they rolled out of the assembly line.

If I was picking something that ran 3 years ago and nothing has been done I would not pay more than a couple hundred and I have seen plenty for that price on Craigslist. If the bike and the owner can prove that they have done everything that has been suggested to you (like Fitz's 550's) I am sure you can get a lot more than $200 ( I would).

Good luck.

 

What's it worth?

Running, passes a compression test but still needs lots of work: Maybe $800 if the bike is reasonably complete and not a horrible rustbucket. If major components are missing or have been hacked, then the price goes down.

Decent condition, unmodified and relatively complete, passes a compression test but won't run: $300 ~ $400 MAX but not if the bike is cut up at all.

Compression test iffy, bike incomplete or partially modified: it's a parts bike. $200 or less.

Fully recommissioned, reliable and rideable: priceless.

Keep in mind, you don't have to "come up with" the recommissioning budget all at once. The process takes more than a small amount of time and effort; when all is said and done, that's what you will have spent. But it will be a couple hundred here, fifty or sixty there, another hundred here kind of thing. People who aren't prepared for it complain of being "nickel and dimed" to death. But if you EXPECT to spend that much, you won't be frustrated by it.

 

Welcome Ruthless. I'm pretty new to the site as well and these guys have been fantastic, listen to their advice & you'll have that bike running in no time, providing the compression check is all good

 

I think you'd be surprised how much fun these little bikes are. Comes with pride once the work is completed.

My father was surprised the first few days we rode together and his bike is 10 years newer haha

 

I'd rather be "nickel and dimed" and do the work myself than to fork out a monthly bike payment. And then have to pay a shop to work on it when it needs the regular maintenance items that all bikes will require sooner or later, or when some stupid sensor or computer related problem occurs that I'd have no idea how to diagnose.

 

"Nickel and dimed". It's more like 30+ yrs of neglect that needs to be reversed is the way I see it. 30+ years of maintenance all at once for 600-800$$$. Not bad. The part that's priceless is that you can do it yourself with the help of all of the great members here.

 

welcome ruthless. Youre off to a good start by joining this group. Do it correct, and you will be able to enjoy the returns, safely.

 

Welcome, I for one have ridden several bikes in my life and the XJ 550 is one of the most comfortable to me. I always wanted to get one to fix it up because when these first came out I saw one and really wanted it. I bought one a few years ago that ran but needed a lot of work to it. In total I have put $6500.00+ into my bike but it now is better than when it left the showroom floor. You can see pics of my bike and read everything I have done to it by going to....
http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=31614.html but note that when the pics were taken it still had the old mufflers on it. I have since found NOS mufflers to put on it to make it look new again. Mine is an 82 also but everyone that sees it can't believe that it is actually 32 years old. If you have the time, patients and the money, I recommend fixing it up. I love my bike. I went to a local motorcycle place just a month or so ago and sat on a few brand new bikes and none of them fit me as well as my XJ 550 and when you do them up right you can get a lot of speed and enjoyment from them.

 

Thanks for all the replys .I havent been able to work on this bike until today. I believe this bike has been sitting longer then 3 years. 1st. the pet cock was left open so fuel (i use this word loosely, its not even flammable) still in carbs . The carbs are in pretty bad shape. Full rebuild or maybe replace them I need to get in to them.2nd. brakes need full rebuild. Frt brakes locked up mc not working .3rd battery of course its dead didnt even have any acid In it .4th tank is clean but looks to have been painted. alot of checking in the paint.small dent in the side.5th the bike has been laid down but very minor. So Heres the deal the bike has 5k.mi.on it. I wanted to get the going for thing spring/summer.but I have other projects that I want to finsh.i just dont kmnow if I will get this thing up on going or is it just going to sit.right now I dont need anoter project thsts going to consume my time and money.i got one of those and a wife. Im thinking I just might sell it to someone who can appreciate it.if I do I will post it here first.

 

It WILL consume time and money; that much is a "given."