Let's back up here.....

I've jumped ahead of myself and posted some shots of my project bike. Well, here's what my XJ looked like when I brought it home in May of 2004. I paid a guy $300 for it. It was actually my wife's idea. She knew I wanted something to hack up to practice my wrenching, welding, etc. and a co-worker was out of work and hard up for money. If I didn't know his situation I could have offered less, I'm sure. He and his wife were sad to see this go and talked about how much fun they had on this bike....hope they didn't go too far!! I must be spoiled, but I wouldn't get too far from home. As a friend of mine told his sons about riding dirt bikes, four wheelers and sleds on their farm, "Don't ride any further from home than you feel like walking back."

Side view:


Think the carbs were leaking maybe??


And who says fuse boxes are a problem? Here's one solution....


I replaced the fuse box with the blade type. It's a "six slot" unit so I can carry some spare fuses in the unused slots.

I need to get some current pics, but this is what it looked like last January. Only visible changes since this are bigger rear turn signals and the front fender is on (painted to match the tank and rear fender).

 

cool paint scheme and limp dick tail light...

 

Ummm...thanks. I think. 8O I was originally going to try to airbrush some design on, but went with what I thought was a classic hot rod look. I'll likely repaint because the guy at the paint store talked me into rattle can "high quality" paint and every time I spill gas on it it ruins the clear coat. I'm sick of re-sanding and re-applying clear coat.

 

I think its a high temp clear coat that has those properties.
Please correct me if I am wrong, I might purchase some too during the off season.

 

engine clear is gas resistant

 

I am blown away by what could be. I think your "new" fuse box just makes the "After" version ( i actually typed new bike for a sec) even more tough than if you'd gone with those safe old inlines. Great work.

 

Fuses ? We don’t need stinking fuses !!

 

Fuses are an expensive substitute for crumpled alfoil. Is there anyone here over 30 who hasn't come home with a twisted up bit of cigarette packet wedged in the electrics?
Willierides, IMHO that tail light is really, really cool. I suppose it all comes down to the "eye of the beholder".

 

The paint scheme is awesome! The diamond plate bothers me, though--looks out of place on a bike IMO. And I like the tail light. Great job!

 

I'm under 30, but I was late for class once in college and my Beetle blew a fuse. Nothing a paperclip couldn't fix until I got home from class, haha.

 

Thanks for the comments. Diamond plate was just cheap, easy to work with and available. Kinda like the two 12 gauge slug casings stuck in the ends of the frame where I cut it off.

Also, I think dwcopple's comment on the tail light was a reference to it's shape, not my taste in lighting or sexual...uh.....vitality. I hope. 8O The real name for it is "Sparto". Now, before I get blasted, that's the ORIGINAL manufacturer of this style light, mine's a $25 knock off from ebay.

 

I like the handlebars alot. I wish the Maxim had different handlebars.

Although I'm getting used to those big, comfortable cruiser bars ... I'd like some "Shorties" of some kind to be able to push and pull on in the corners.

I think you should give it even more of the old-world Hot-Rod look and ditch the Diamond Plate and make it a "Woodie"

Have a woodworker make you the same size cover and dress it up a touch with a wicked-nice stain, some router-ed edges and a inlaid hand-carved flames!

 

I'm diggin' that!