New to the World of XJ

Hey all,
Just picked up an 81 Seca 750, looking for info online and found this site. Spent the last 25 years riding a couple of Sportsters, a 72 Triumph Bonneville, and too many to remember single thumpers.

My last I-4 was a 1984 Honda CB700sc in 1989. Loved that bike. Looking forward to getting onto my first ride on this bike. I bought it from a gentleman who owned it for the past 12 years, has great maintenance records, and a few extras, mostly oil, filters, brake pads, and spark plugs. Bike is mostly stock with the exception of the drag bars and the 4 into 1 headers.

Lots of information here, looks like I'll learn a lot.

 

Welcome sir - everyone that sticks around here tends to learn a lot. If you dive in, give stuff a go and then ask specific questions you get the right advice. For me, this place is my church.

Most people are pretty chill here, just don't mention pirates to chacal !

1) Get a serivce manual if you don't already.
2) Sounds like your PO was good - don't believe a single word they said about any maintenance that has been done. Even it if they didn't make up a single thing to sell it you don't know it till you check it.

Start here: http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/the-information-overload-hour.27544/

 

lafflafflaff!

 

Information overload is right, but lots of great information to go over. Spent all day Sunday changing oil, filters, checking valves, brakes, lights and everything else I could think of .

I found something interesting while doing my inspections, a lock and chain built into the bike, called a Power Lock? Very cool, I've never seen this before.

Did 85 miles yesterday, bike ran and performed well. Two things I found, I hate the drag bars that are on the bike now, and I want to put a round light in place of the square headlight.
Any ideas on a more upright set of replacement bars, and how difficult is the square to round headlight conversion? One other thing, the instrument cluster, I've seen referred to as the Atari on this site, I like it, it's kinda cool in an 80's retro sort of way.

 

Try rolling the drag bars the other way up first, that is if you have them facing down now - that would be the easiest thing. You can put whatever other bars you want on and they're fairly inexpensive. The only thing you need to worry about it cable lengths and on the seca I don't think you're going to have too many problems unless the PO cut/replaced the cables when they went to drag bars.

Yeah the maxim has the lock too - very cool - I didn't know it was there either. Not sure how well it's going to hold up being 30+ years old but it's better than nothing and stops the opportunist thief from just wheeling it away which in my case is good cos my steering lock doesn't work due to the slight reduction I made to the steering to stop my bars hitting the tank.

 

Heres a starting point:
http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threa...n-general-advice-criticism-etc-welcome.54704/
They make it seem easy. As I recall, there is one difficulty: that box isn't just a headlight, it's also a storage area for a ton of wiring and connectors. It's like a bowl of spaghetti in there! Make sure you use a light that is big enough to wear like a hat and you should be ok. This is a very un-scientific measurement. If you have a tiny head, make sure it goes down over your ears! Just kidding. I read that someone used a round one off an '83 Maxim 1100 and it all fit. I plan to do this to Project Someday... someday!

 

The 650 Maxim light has been used as well. The wiring will just fit without causing any trouble.

 

Howdie do!? I'm new here too! I just bought an '82 xj750r (I believe) from a couple do-it-yourselfers... This bike needed rescuing from them lol! I'm having a tuff time finding the factory service manual, and I know almost nothing about this model motorcycle, and less about this bike specifically. It needs some seals replaced, and I picked up some gasket paper from the auto part store to make them- is this a good idea? I don't even know what type of oil to put in it! I am glad I found this forum cuz i live in the country and will be doing most of the work on this mc myself. Thanks for any help, I can't wait to get greasy.

 

NOTE: I am pretty sure this bike is a XJ750r but I have looked around this site and the marketplace but I have not found any mention of this model. Am I wrong about the model or maybe overlooking it somewhere? I know I will need some detailed info on this bike so I need this manual Thanks again!

 

You do indeed have an XJ750R Seca, welcome to the club.

We tend to refer to then bikes by their marketing names instead of their suffixes.
The Haynes manual an the factory service manual are both readily available through onlne sources such as Amazon and Ebay.
Until you get them (they are complementary to one another. note that both have errors and we will point them out to you when they come up) you should start reading The Information Overload hour (link in my signature). It would also be a good idea for you to start your own thread about this machine so it is eaiser to track what needs done and what has been done while you are recomissioning the bike.

 

Are WonUp's bars stock, with the covers removed? I dislike my covers, but am scared to remove them in case what's underneath is worse! Chances are I would destroy the cover taking them off!

 

http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/free-haynes-manual-pdf.65743/

 

He has aftermarket bars. The factory bars have welded on tabs for the covers to screw on to. Changing bars is straightforward. If you look in my showcase I have the EMGO Classic bars. Fitz has the Bikemaster Daytona bars on at least one of his 550's.

 

I spent this holiday weekend riding the Central Coast - Cambria, San Simeon, Morro Bay, Hwy 1, etc. Did just over 500 miles, pretty fun bike. Much smoother than my Sportster, and lots smoother than my DR650.

I think I'd like to replace the 4 into 1 with a stock system, this bike is pretty loud and really attracted lots of unwanted attention, (CHP). Didn't get pulled over, but rode by several sitting on the side of the road, everyone Of them stopped what they were doing & gave me some long Looks as I went by.

I noticed it's real easy for this bike to get away from me, several times I looked down to see I was pushing 80+ MPH without trying. The twins and singles I ride take effort and you can really feel it when you get over 70. This bike is so smooth, and really handles well for a 30+ year old bike. I can see this becoming my daily ride, easily.

I just ordered a set of more upright handle bars, bought a round headlight from a Maxim 650, and put a set of lightweight saddlebags on. But now I'm thinking I'll keep the square dual headlight set up, I'm kinda starting to like it. I'll probably just keep up the maintenance, leave it as is and just do what was intended, ride it.

 

They were lusting for your machine.