1981 XJ550- Advice

Just purchased my first XJ. Its a 1981 XJ550 seca. This bike is very unique as its production number is 00002, so second off the line and the bike has less than 500 miles on it. I don't know the worth of this. I was looking to make a cafe out of it but now i feel like it could be worth something. What are your thoughts?

 

Pictures will help..

 

81 Seca # 2 off the line keep it stock as possible or make no changes you can not undo

 

Put it in a climate controlled environment and sell it in 20 years, that's your 401-K right there..........

 

Cut the back frame off, fit hoop, tracker seat. fit twin disc front end, clip-ons, rearsets, and to finish it off a set of cheap pods...

Ok, only joking, look after it like it cost you thousands, one day it might be?

 

Only missing front fender and front tire looks flat. And missing front fairing ...PLEASE keep it STOCK it looks good as is .

 

the chrome fender is a little hard to find also needs the right sidecover next to impossible to find

 

As someone who demolished his 81 xj550 and turned it into an awesome bobber/cafe/brat bike.. for the love of all those holy.. don't do it!! That's a rare number.. looks clean, and awesome representative of the beauty of an xj550.

 

Agree with all the above. If I found a 550 seca in good condition, no matter what number it was, I'd own it and be riding it.

 

funny how a style no one wanted back in the 80's is now highly sought after.
I am putting stock exhaust on my XJ550RJ today then it will be stock and complete (no faring)

 

Any example that has survived almost 40 years in that condition should not be hacked up.
It will only appreciate in value. The serial # is also significant.
Nothing depreciates a bike faster than a saws-all and rattle cans.

I have most of the cosmetic parts from what was an extraordinary example XJ650RJ.
The guy had no appreciation of what he had and was building a cafe.
He told me he thought they were ugly and he wanted a more modern looking bike.
His foolishness was my gain so I didn't say anything.

 

I snaged a set of mint seca 550 side covers from a member who was cutting up his bike ,beautiful white no scratches gold on emblem still intact

 

I can't be the only one who noticed the Maxim front wheel? I mean, maybe they're mis-matched from the factory, but the seca had the straight spokes.

 

Good catch! After looking again I totally see it!

 

he could buy a wheel from europe the wheels over there are swirls or there is at least 2 members here who have the correct front rim for sale