1981 XJ550 Seca stock to bobber: Project Bare Bones

This will be my second bobber project this year. I am designating this 'Project Bare Bones' for obvious reasons. No fenders, signals, horn, gauges, mirrors, rear suspension, etc. Just wheels... frame... motor... seat...

I picked up this 1981 550 Seca project bike last weekend. It has 28,000 miles and actually runs pretty well. Cosmetically it's not the best, but mechanically, it has some potential.

To return it to stock (which I will not be doing), it would need:
new gas tank
battery
front brake work
seat recovered
starter solenoid
paint, fit, and finish work

The fuel tank was hacked up and never finished by the previous owner. Because of the rust at the bottom of the tank, he tried to do some patch work. It sat for about 8 months after that. When I picked it up and put some charge on the battery, it started up and ran great. I rode it around some country roads for a while (using a gas tank of a yard tiller, lol).

I'm not sure if I will start this project right away, as I am finishing work on my truck. But for the time being, I will be pulling all the good parts off the bike that I will not be using. So if anyone needs any of these parts, make me offer(s). Let me know if you would like more pictures of specific items.

Here's a list of what I will sell off the bike - that I can think of off the top of my head:

Horns - some surface rust that can be polished out
Turn signals - good shape, polishing could help a little
Seat - needs recovered obviously, good pan
Rear inner fenders - good shape
Rear fairing - needs paint, no cracks
Front fairing - not pictured, good shape, needs paint
Side cover - needs paint, one small crack
Passenger pegs - dry rotted
Handle bars - good shape
Front fender - good shape, 2 chips, needs paint
Rear exhaust - no rust, good shape, I am keeping the headers
Rear shocks - good shape, 28K miles
Chain guard - good shape
Tail light - good shape, not cracked
Stock air box and boots - discolored
Mirrors - good shape, flat black, good mirrors
Center kick stand - uh huh, its metal, good spring
Kick stand safety switch - is goes click

There may be some other items I am forgetting, so dont be afraid to ask.

I am also looking for a different gas tank to use as well as a starter solenoid. So if anyone has anything for sale/trade, let me know.

 

Yikes.
Looking at the pics I thought it was a tank fire victim.

Well based on the other project looks like you should have no trouble.
Good Luck with it.

 

Stolen from the XS site:

Bobber XS Project

Here are some ideas! 'Busa front end, chain conversion, Triump single sided swing arm.

 

... WHoa WHoa... Chain conversion?? Call me Interested.

 

That Busa front end bike is pretty cool, very different.

Yeah, the tank was removed and set on fire purposely, in an effort to remove all paint and bondo. I guess the previous owner had a different way of doing things, lol

 

Nice project dude!! I have GOT to convince my wife to let me buy more of these old bikes and play with them!

 

Hey crath where are you from on the ill side i live in the st. louis area.

 

Hey crath where are you from on the ill side i live in the st. louis area.

 

I live in central Illinois. But I am in St. Louis quite a bit, I have a brother there on the Illinois side. I was there a few weeks ago, riding my bobber around downtown. That was a lot of fun with the loud exhaust boucing off the high rises!!

 

Where on this side of the river Crath? I grew up in Lebanon.

 

I'm very familar with Lebanon, home of McKendree College. I've been through there a million times. Lot's of little antique shops and what-not.

I grew up in Murphysboro, IL and moved up to Bloomington in March 2007. My brother lives in Belleville, IL, so I visit there quite a bit.

So when is the next bike show or cruise in around town that you might go to? I know they have a cruise in once a month at Steak n Shake and also at College Hills mall. Hooter's has something every once in a while too.

 

Thats a good question.... I'm not sure when these things are for sure. Combine that with the next month or so being busy and it might get later in the summer before I cruise over to one. That and I have got to get down to lebanon to help my dad get his old goldwing back togeather so I can have it.. haha. If you hear about a gathering, let me know.

 

I just ordered over $400 in parts from Chacal, along with some other stuff from the dealer here in town. I started on it yesterday and got it all torn down. I should have some pics up in the next few days. I still have all those extra parts for sale if anyone needs anything.

 

I saw you out on the 650 sunday... good lookin bike man!

 

haha, thanks for saying so. I was out riding for a good part of the day on Sunday, man it was nice out!!!!

 

Yea it was!! I was on my way to pick up my bike when I saw ya. Did some riding myself!

 

Here's some pictures of the fairing I have for sale for a potential buyer. Two cracks on the windshield. Besides that, it is in decent shape. It would require repainting though, some of the clear has come off. Someone at some point has done some structural repairs at the bottom with fiberglass and plastic glue. It has been painted front and rear since then. There are two mounting brackets on the back side.

Sorry, some pictures are a little blurry. My camera is not working so well

 

Keep up the good work! I love modifying these things!! Keep us posted!!

 

Here's some pics from work last week. The new owner, Troy and I will be working on the bike all day Sunday, so there will be more pics after that.

 

Looking good man! I wish I had a welder to do mods like that! I hate you right now

 

very nice job!!!

 

Cool frame.

You guys bent all that stuff up?
Good Job, looks like a kit.

 

I think the battery is safe.

I doubt that Battery tie-down isn't Race ready!

Nice welding.
I'd like to see more strengthening of the swing-arm at where the shock used to be.

Are you going to paint or powder coat it?

 

Thanks for the comments guys. Troy and I didnt end up getting together on Sunday, most of the parts I ordered didnt come in yet.

I think we are going to do something different with the battery tie down, something a little more robust.

The frame will just be painted, but the whole bike will have a worn and rustic look to it.

Yes, Troy has a tubing bender with dies to bend 1" and 1 1/2".

 

I wish I had that kind of fab skill ! I have been wanting to chop my xj550 maxim since I bought it ! I just want something different than all the custom harleys and v-stars that are floating 'round here ! Keep us posted .

 

It's been a while since I posted, here's some pics







Kick stand

 

Crath - interested in the fairing...sent you a PM

 

LOVE the kick stand.. 8)

 

I sold some of those parts I had listed, everything else just got throw away. Sorry

 

Man I love these bikes your doin cant wait to make mine a hard tail.

 

haha i figured the hammer was for jack ass drivers but kickstand works too

 

....the hammer also works great to do fine carb tuning, lol

 

Does the exhaust pipes move from vibrations? Or do they stay in place?

Thanx

 

No, it stays still with no problem

 

I really like your bike. I am looking for advice. If I were to cut the swing arms and add about 12” to the length; then weld in new tubes similar to the way you did it. Do you think it would be stable? In short I would try to duplicate what you did with a 12” stretch. I have seen several hard tail versions of xs650 with 6 to 12” stretch and like the longer look.

Second question --- Did you weld the swing arms to the frame at the pivot?

 

You will need a new shaft too. Unless you are on a 550. The XS is a chain driven bike.

 

It is a 550 (chain). Anyone stretch a 550xj?

 

I dont know what it would do to your stability if you stretch it. I would image it would have little to no effect on strait line stability. Although this would increase your turning radius and possibly cornering feel. You will have to lengthen the chain and rear brake linkage as well.

I think I would also like the look of a stretch, maybe not 12" maybe only 4" to 6" for me.

 

I didn't realize the bike had come along this much. Looks great!
Best lookin XJ hardtail (frame i mean) I've seen IMO

 

The bike has been done for a few weeks now. I just got a chance to take some pics this weekend at the show in Waveland, IN.

 

I love it! I bet that thing is so stinking load though. Looks awesome! Well done!!!

 

I hate it when I don't proof read. I meant loud not load. My bad!

 

i like the road side fix it tool the ball pein hammer. sick looking bike

 

Bike looks awesome.

Looks like you had a pretty good section at that show... CafeRacer in the BG and a slammed pickup.

 

im guessing you probably rejetted... what size jets did you use?

also, can you show/tell what you did with all the electrical crap that was back there?

 

Some of the wiring harness was shortened. I also replaced the fuse box with individual fuses. The rest of the stock wiring just lays in place, basically, with a few zip ties. Nothing real professional there, that's not allowed on a bobber, lol.

I need to look through paperwork and see what jets I used

 

Part numbers I sent to Chacal for main and pilot jets

HCP6928 set of 4 main jets $9.75
HCP6952 set of 4 pilot jets $14

 

Do you still have parts to sell? I just purchased an xj550 and I'm going to need a few things. I'm interested in the

Turn signals
Rear fairing
Front fairing
Side cover
Front fender
Rear exhaust
Mirrors
Kick stand safety switch

Let me know rckclmbrhck @ yahoo.com

Thanks

 

I got rid of everything already, sorry.