Simple Mods for XJ700

Hey gang!

So, I'd like to one day turn my XJ700 into a cafe, but for now this summer i'd like to start doing some simple mods to make it cooler. Its getting a tune up right now at the show and once I have it back I want to start wrenching. I was hoping that you guys might have some insight on quick mods to make the bike more fun.

First I'd like to know what I can do the exhaust to make it a little louder or meaner.

Second, I wanna ditch the mirrors and perhaps get cafe handle bars. I found these on eBay... http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Black-7-8-A ... 27&vxp=mtr Thoughts?

Let me know if there is anything else simple I can do to improve my bike.

Thanks guys!

 

I don't see a louder bike as an improvement, and I'm pretty sure your neighbors would share my point of view.

 

Louder won't net more power either.

 

I'm not looking for straight pipes loud, but a little more sound might be cool. I'm just looking some some ideas to upgrade the bike.

Has anyone ditched the stock airbox and added individual filters to the carbs? I have a cracked carb boot and that seems like it might be a better solution.

 

Oh man, pods are a controversial topic around here. But yes they can be done with patient care and a lot of different sized jets. I hear ya about the stock pipes, although having never heard mine run I cannot comment on the sound but I do not like the goofy look of them. I would like to adapt a set of the reverse cones like the Seca used.
Much as I hate to say it, but due to the unique nature of the 700 chassis, they are not very conducive to "cafe" treatment. The steering neck is kicked out too far and the body work is all wrong. They didn't make a Seca version of the 700, so the designer were free to make a pure cruiser frame rather than one that needed to be used in both styles, thus you are kind of stuck unless you want to break out the welder and hacksaw.

 

Thanks Bigshank, thats super informative. Any thoughts on what to do about the carb boot issue?

 

I would just replace the card boot. Click at the xj forever symbol at the top of the webpage for parts.
I bought a small bar end mirror off ebay that i love, Its convex and you can see a lot. Also ditch the big turn signals. And I agree with Bigshark, these bikes dont really make a good cafe racer. But it could make a nice bobber with cafe or clip ons

 

Haven't been able to find the boot anywhere on the web and cant seem to find it in the forum. What section would it be under?

 

Not sure to be honest. You could always just email chacal. I would take a look at the rest of your boots, may be worth it to replace all of them while your at it

 

Click on the XJ4EVER banner at the top of the page, and it should be under fuel system. It should be around the beginning of the second page.

 

Cool. Thanks guys.

Got any other home-brew mods that I could do?

 

you might take the lid off the airbox, that makes a little more noise and doesn't screw things up.
i like bar-end mirrors.
LED lights will keep you busy for awhile

 

I pulled the mufflers on mine and run a set of unbaffled chrome turndowns... Mine didn't require a rejet.

 

THREAD HIJACK!

So what bikes do you guys think are good café candidates? The bug has bitten me, and I want to do one of those next.

 

Secas

 

I just took the mufflers off mine. Been running that for a while now without any issues.
Its loud but I ride with guys that have louder bikes

 

You want Café, go take a look... http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... racer.html it's an old thread and we haven't heard from this guy in a long time, but go through it. A café bike is not a set of clubmans and a bump seat, it's a lot of fabrication starting with a good platform. It's not just being hunched over a bike, but improving the handling, brakes, etc.

 

If I had to guess, I'd say singles or twins, either two stroke or four (although I am partial to two strokes :lol: ). Preferably something with a long-ish fuel tank and short rake, so Yamaha RD's make good candidates, and surprisingly so do HD Sportsters (despite the peanut). If I had my choice, I would choose either a 350cc two stroke single or a 500cc four stroke thumper, something like a Kawasaki Bighorn or Yammy XT500, then cut/chop/fabricate. To me the spirit of a cafe racer was to take a pedestrian common bike and make something sporty out of it, so a humdrum small displacement commuter/dual-purpose bike is keeping that spirit intact.
Personally, I don't think inline fours adapt well to cafe treatment. Yes I have seen some well built CB750's and the like, and when viewed from the side they look cool, but I think the proportions of the wide engine when viewed from behind or out front throw it off. Ymmv.

 

That sounds awesome. Got any how-to's on that?

 

Thanks guys. I'm surprised to hear (at least the implication) that 650 is too big, or at least on the bigger side. Aside from the idea that you're taking something mundane to race level, is smaller displacement driven by a weight saving goal, as well as being thin enough to get some deep lean into the curves?

 

The stock mufflers are clamped on and supported with 2 bolts. The turndowns I bought are generics from the local auto part store. I used a reducer to get the turndown close to the stock piping and a pair of exhaust clamps to attach them.

I have some pics of them on the bike in my build thread.

 

Not in terms of displacement, just in overall size, width really. Which is why I think a Sportster makes a good candidate, narrow engine and kind of a low flat chassis with a short rake. Keep in mind this is just my opinion, you are free to disagree.
And take a look at my bike list, I love small displacement machines.

 

1 1/4" Plumbing coupling works GREAT as carb boots.
2 bucks a piece.
+1 on opening the lid on the box. Check it often for mice nests though!
Seen em build nests quick.
Ive got a thread on those couplings.
But ive got em on my 700 and my previous 700 with no probs with an UNI filter

 

Sometimes bigger does not always mean better, a common perception among a lot of riders and racers is that smaller size and displacement "feels" quicker due to lighter weight and the ability to "flick" the bike around. A bigger bike will leave a small bike standing, but in corners a small bike will just "feel" quicker.

 

OK besides style why? I have a 700 maxim that stomps all over racer rip offs on straight line take off short distance.
Its quiet enough to warm up in the garage with the wife asleep.
Being able to run in 3rd at 6000 when they have had to shift to 5th with their lower red lines has let me beat almost every vtwin I have met for take off and running to the speed limit.

 

As I said in your other thread, it sounds like your fellow locals cannot ride. A Duc Monster 750 (v-twin) makes in the neighborhood of 70hp, so pretty comparable to the Maxim 700, but with the torque created by a V-twin it should wax the floor with you. A CBR900 is going to be in the 120hp range, and should not only wax the floor with you, but afterwards it should also take you back to the janitor's house and make you watch him screw his ugly wife.
A small bike in the hands of a skilled rider can beat a bigger bike. It comes down to being able to apply the power your bike has available, and most people cannot maximize that.

As the saying goes, it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast, then to ride a fast bike slow.

 

You are right about riding a fast bike slow being fun. There is a ducatti that that smokes me and a CBR I buy coffee for all the time because I learn every time he beats me somewhere. Most of the riders around here are college students, lots of ninjas, hyabussis, and lifans, for the most part.

But the original topic of the thread was about a couple mods to a bike. And I repeat why? Why do you actually want to do this? Do you just want that style for fashion, do you like it or what?