New Build

Hello Everyone,

I just picked up this 81' xj750R for a bottle of whiskey from a friend that had to many projects on the go. It's my first time working with the seca but not with yamahas as I built a virago this past winter.

I have a few questions regarding the bike that hopefully you can all answer. I'm hoping to do the R6 front end swap I have the shop and tools to fab any parts and stems I may need to but my question is would the 1995 virago rear wheel fit on the 81 rear end. I think the 5 spoke of that look would match up as close as possible to the front wheel from an R6 with out having to do a missive swing arm trade and conversion.

If there isn't an option for that what are the options for getting wheels that will actually match with the front end swap.

Sorry for the long winded post o appreciate any tips I get!

Here's a few pictures of the project in its infancy.

 

Which Virago? 1100, 750, 535? The splines will fit the final drive, but the wheel sizes vary.

The widest you can go on the rear is a 130, and you have to be careful of which 130 you get. You also need to take into consideration that some of the Virago rear wheels are of a smaller diameter, so tire choice becomes even more critical so you do not alter the effective front end geometry by lowering the rear of the bike.

Matching wheels are overrated IMO. You can't see them unless the bike is parked, and a bike should never be parked for long.

 

I was think of the XV1100 but it's only a 15" rim which would require quite a bit of side wall increase to return the bike to stock ride height. I agree the matching rims are a bit over rated just wanted to see if there was an option for it if not no love lost at all. More important it ride properly.

Do you have any experience in swapping the 750 front forks with the R1/6 from what I can tell the bearing sizes are the same except for the lower stem od. Thanks for the reply

 

I have not done that front end swap. The only info I have is from the two threads on this site, which you have probably already found.

 

Well managed to strip the bike down over the past few weeks, pulled the engine and got the top end off it doesn't seem to look great the cylinder walls aren't scored but very glazed and the Pistons well they look questionable but then again my experience with 30+ year old bike that has 30,000 km on it is limited.
Here is how the Pistons look:

The other two look like the first one with about the same carbon build up.

While I've been trying to find either decent replacement Pistons should I need them or decide on the 818 kit I've been polishing up a few things.


Before and after of the cover, nothing like sand paper and a bench polisher to waste a few hours.
If anyone has any insight on the Pistons please feel free to chime in.

Lando

 

The pistons aren't in too bad of a shape. Clean them up and run 'em.

 

Thanks k-moe! What's the best way to clean them up? Just a por 15 degreaser and wash cloth and elbow grease?

 

An overnight soak in equal parts acetone and automatic transmission fluid, or in seafoam, or in whatever semi-expensive decarboning dip your local parts house has.

 

Got the engine repainted today just waiting on the cylinders to get honed and some new rings and gaskets to come in and the engine will go back together. Still chipping away at the frame looking at doing a Benelli Mojave tank on the bike I know it's been done but it just has a nice feel to it. Only thing holding me back from it is the decreased fuel storeage the tank has.