slightly customized 1985 xj700

What do you think of my xj? Check out more pics in my gallery

 

Nice ride.
Do the forward controls feel good/right?

Good job!!!

 

Nice, I've always wondered about doing that, Was it hard to fabricate, and did you also move your gear shifter ahead??

 

I've never had a bike with forward controls so sure feels right to me. I probable could have put them a little farther forward but I am Happy with them.

I twas the first metal thing that I have fabricated so no it was pretty easy just some trial and error. Yes I did move the shift side as well but it needs a bit more work before I post a picture.

Thanks for the good feed back

Jason

 

Hey, Jason:

How much juice, amp wise, do the road lamps draw?

I'd love to have a little more light out front at night. I've always thought there ought to be some way to get some more decent light out front without having to get one of those -- "Front-wheel friction generator lights" like I had on my Roll-Fast bicycle ... back in the mid-'50's!

 

I haven't checked. I haven't had a battery troubles since I installed them.

 

It's not the battery you need to worry about. It's the alternator and the solid-state components in the voltage regulator.

The regulator is likely to fail if the load exceeds 15 amps.

On some models, with elaborate instrument panels and lighting, headlamp and brake light burning ... it gets close. That's why most bikes come with a 65/85 Watt headlight bulb.

Owners who re-lamped headlights to higher wattage usually started having some electric problems in short order.

Sylvania's SilverStar bulb prevents the heavier load by offering a brighter headlight at the stock watt value.

 

Thanks for the info. I've changes the tail light and signals to smaller lower wattage bulbs so I don't think I'll have a problem

I know famous last words

 

Hi jason

Nice work..

How did you make the seat (looks smaller/lower than stock)?

Also what does "cut some Virago springs" mean - are those rear-shocks, shortened?

 

The seat is actually a trimmed down 883 sporster seat that I bought at my local harley dealer on clearance for $40.00.

And yes I cut the springs about 1.5 inches. If I cut much more I probably wouldn't be able to have a passanger.

Thanks for the positive feed back

Jason

 

Well this winter I was bored so I did a little tweaking on the xj. It now has a modified stock seat (solo) v-rod led tail light, cleaned up the forward controls, stainless brake lines, alarmed, wiresless on/start/ off switch (The only thing a key is used for is to remove the seat and open the gas cap) new headlight and digital gauge.and I lowered it another inch or so.
More pics in my gallery. What do you guys and gals think?

 

Bee ... you ... tee ... full !

I want you to polish-out that outside clutch cover. Check-out the pix of my 900 in my gallery.

Do the letters on the crank-cover ... Old School.
Mask-off the YAMAHA letters with a tight rectangle -- keep it tight.
Blow-on some color.
After 3-Minutes ... peel-off the masking.
Kleenex. Whole box.
Thinner.
Latex gloves.

Glove-up. Wrap your index and middle finger with a tight-fitting Kleenex.
Moisten Kleenex touch sleeve of old sweatshirt then wipe across letters ONCE.
Discard Kleenex.
Reload.
Move across the letters FAST ... wiping-off all the paint between the letters.
When you get to where there's just a little touch-up needed ...
Index finger only.
Use-up the fresh Kleenex ... don't smear the paint inside the letters.

 

Very Sweet!

I like it!
What paint system did you use? Base coat/clear coat?

 

whats the best stuff to use when polishing aluminum? If you dont mind me asking how much did it cost to do the brake lines in stainless?also how did the seat from the sporster match with the seat locking mechanisms...any mods needed there...thats the same seat look im going for.ridz

 

Once you get the aluminum surface to the point where you're ready to polish the surface:

Jeweler's Rouges:
Brown (Cleaner; prep) ~> White (Polish) ~> Green (Gloss) "Zam" (Mirror)

 

The lines were 150.00.
I actually turfed the sportster seat and made a two up seat pan out of fiberglass and trimmed and bent the original seat for solo.

 

I used endura primer paint and top clear coat on the tank fenders and sidecovers. On the forward controls I just did primer and base coat.

 

For those that have pm me regarding the forward controls.
I fabricated the brackets and bought the controls at www.bikercom.com part #M2041PU

 

Little late on this thread.......but had to put my two cents in! :wink:

That thing is pimp-a-licious! 8) Where did you get those mirrors too, the have piqued my interest.

Anyway, absolutely gorgeous bike.....be sure to keep us up to date with any future mods as well!

 

man this is the look I am going for..where did you get the blinkers and would you help me with the learning process on how to make the seat...yes finally a vision of what I want! man that thing is beasten.....bravo pm with some info or just put it in the thread man! Ill be watching also can you get some close ups of the blinkers forward controls and tag mount..wich let me ask do you get any issues with the tag being located where its at? outstanding job..you can tell it is a xj and it still looks modern...way cooool 8)

 

I bought the front signals from a harley dealer in town for 40.00 on clearance. And the rear signals from a local custom bike shop for 50.00

As far as the seat goes I made a fiberglass seatpan used carpet underlay as padding and coverd it with leather from a stock harley seat that I bought for 50.00( sorry thats for my 2 up seat)

For the seat in the pic I took the original seat pan, while on the bike and used a heat gun to soften the top section of the seat once it was hot enough I bent it over. I then removed it from the bike and bent it futher. After that I used an electric carving knife and reshaped the foam. Then I used a grinder to smoothen out the knife cuts. Once I was happy with it I put the original cover back on.

For the tag mount I traced the plate out onto a piece of scrap metal cut it out welded a small bracket onto it and spraycanned it black. For the front of the frame I found a frame at walmart for 40.00 with led lights in it.
And no I have not had any hassles yet (but I sure now that io've typed that I will). I figure most custom bike have the plated monted that way so why can't I?

 

very nice look... gives me some ideas!!!


also, quote from rickcomatic... "like I had on my Roll-Fast bicycle ... back in the mid-'50's!" I had you pegged as a kid in your 20's....guess youve been around a bit longer than that!!

 

I was a Freshman, in High School, when the first print ad for the Honda-50 appeared on the back cover of the Science Weekly Reader.

A guy in a Madras Hat, leaning forward, with a long-legged babe, hanging-on; her scarf straight-out, in the breeze, like they were flying!

I went down to "The Crossroads" and made the deal to cross-over! Hasn't been a year gone by that I didn't have a motorcycle to ride since.

 

I would like to know about the Single digi tach/speedo that works with a front wheel speedo drive? brand and Part # PLEASE!!! And where did you put all the fuses? got any pix of those? sweet looking lil ride ya got there. I would not know what do do with mid controls now after having my forwards for so long.

 

the gauge is from electrosport.com and I put inline fuses under the tank.

 

So how does one go about cutting the springs on the rear shocks?

I've got an '85 MaxX that I'd like to lower a couple of inches. I also have a pair of rears from a XJ650 that look the same as my stockers. Can I shorten them?

 

when I first talked about cutting my springs I was told that it would alter the handleing. So therefore I must warn you aswell.

That being said, I bought some virago springs and cut them down and put in some rubber washers( boat trailer bumpers) to prevent the tire from rubbing against the fender. And other than bottoming out every once in awhile( I weigh 260lbs) I have not notice any effects on handling.

 

Do you know if you could take the stock shock and cut it? Anyone tried lowering the forks by removing a little spring on each side? I'd love my entire bike to sit 2" lower. Thought? Love the ride though! That seat looks sweet!!

 

the virago shocks center strut is shorter than the stock strut. I think if you cut and use the shock spring and strut you will possibly over compress the strut. Thats just my guess though

 

That is an awsome look!!! What year and size virago did those shocks come off of or does it matter and what length did you cut them to make it sit that low. I've been wanting to do something like that to mine just wasn't sure how to go about it. Will the maxim seat not work after dropping it like that or did you just prefer a sportster seat. Here is a pic of my XJ700 and i will post another once I finish the project.

 

I took them off of a 1986 virago 750.

I've actually changed the seat 3 times just trying to get a sleek and slim look with some comfort. I find the stock seat is just too big.

 

how much do you think is to much to lower a bike because i found some shocks that are 11.5" and mine are 12.5" and wondering how big a difference an inch will make. Also what all is involved in cutting the shocks down to size you want because i'm not very experienced in all of this.

 

I think it was about 1.5 inches of spring that I removed. If you have a shorter pair of shocks try them on first, it's alot easier that way.