Thanks Everyone! Before and after on my XJ550 project.

I have never done anything like this before. After a bit of a midlife crisis (at 25 years old) I sold my scooter and picked up a 1981 xj550 for $200.00 less.

Obviously it is still a work in progress...but I am riding and loving it. Have about $1050.00 invested (bike included). Changes include: Chopped frame, Harley sportster springs, Custom made seat, Custom rear fender, LED signals and brakelights, drag bars, new mirror, bondo-ed and satin black tank/covers, spikes all over, stars out of skateboard griptape, etc....

With the help of this forum I was able to get all my questions answered...without ever having to ask them. You guys rule!

 

well played sir

 

wow stunning!!

 

very clean, and simple, yet the rear end kind of grabs your attention nice work. be pround to ride it man!

 

Nice!

I have the same mirror. You can flip it around so it is under the handle bars. Looks better and works just as well.

 

Thanks guys. It was a lot of fun and is far more fun now that I am riding it.

 

Nice... I like to clean, factory looking finish.

 

Rhetoriclost, are those tail and turn signal lights the one from Harrison Specialities? If so how do you like them?

 

They are the Harrison Specialties set....and as far as the brake lights go...I love them. The two middle mounted on the fender are my running/brake lights. They are crazy bright at night and more than kosher in the day too.

I am still messing with the wiring for the signals. I picked up the electronic relay and am still having issues getitng them to work properly. Rockin the hand signals till I want to start missin with them again this winter.

 

Cute. How old are those Dunlops anyway? I thought Qualifiers had been gone for a while...

 

Cute? Wow. Thats just the look I was going for...thanks man.

The tires are old....but have good tread and I will ride them until they dont. Guarantee you can still get qualifiers though...

The degrading comments because I am a newbie and only have a couple thousand miles on a bike? Or because of my big thank you for everyone's help on this site? Because it is not a stock Seca? I dont get it...but you sure do know how to make a new rider far less proud of their project...

 

hey man be proud of your bike, u did it yourself. Your out of the norm, and you can ride with your head high, knowing your not a damn yuppie who bought a great bike built by someone else!

 

Nobody was trying to degrade you. Tubeless tires, once beyond a certain age, are dangerous to be riding around on. I see a lot of time, money and effort spent on appearance here, but I'm concerned you've overlooked the safety aspects of resurrecting this bike.

My only hope is that you survive for many thousands more miles. I didn't see anything in your list like new rear brake shoes, new brake pads, new brake lines, flushed fluid, new chain and sprockets, etc. Which is why I asked about the tires.

There is more to recommissioning a bike than making it look nice. I'm glad another 550 is back on the road, what you have there is a definite improvement over the "before" pics. I'd just like to see you be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. That's all.

Tell me you at least checked the rear brake shoes.

 

Rhetoriclost, any chance we could get a shot of the turn signals during the daylight hours? I am really considering a pair of amber ones for drl's on my seca

 

I like it! Nice vision..

Rob

 

Very nice. Ill be doing something like it soon.

 

Nice work man! I like the lights.

 

The rear fender looks just right, nice job!