My 85 is back with the best look to date....

I finally got a chance to put some primer on the bike. I posted it a long time back with a whole other look, it had candy tangerine drippy paint and huge ape Z bars, also in Blue Primer full length stripes.

I figured I would share some pics.

Im still tweaking here and there and hope to have it sellable for the spring time.

 

wow very cool bike! that back fender is incredible, must have taken some serious work

 

Dayum!!! 8O

 

Wow.... looks like something out of a Batman movie....

Well done....

What is the rear section fabbed from?

 

Very
Very
Very nice!!!! I love the look. Is the 'seat' as hard as it looks?
Would love to know the detail. Tank,headlights, how you fabbed the back fender. Excellent job!!! A1

 

Thanks guys! It did take a lot of work.

The rear section is a Halrey Heritage Softail fender and some roof skin metal left over from a chop top project. I got the fender and turned it down from horizontal about 35%. Then I pounded in a seat pan onto the frame and made the two meet. Then I cut side skins and welded to the pan/fender combo.

The bike was crude at first, but it was my first shot at making this stuff. I played around with other materials and metal, but this was my first full scale bike job. It is Still Not done, but close.

BTW The front fender is off the same bike mentioned above but it was skinnied about 1.75" to fit in my forks and over my skinny tire.

Im going to make a webpage to show people how to throw down what I did. Frame is all stock, just chopped off lil ears and tabs that did not effect the structural ingrety, yet things that killed the frames sweet lines.Im all about SAFE chopping!

 

Tank is Stock, only part I did not shred on persay.

If you eat at the buffet like I do, the seat is not too bad. :lol: I do plan to put a neoprene stick on padding, just to take the edge off. Half of the fun is how low you actually sit, so I didnt want to kill it with a "mattress". :lol:

Headlights are a just a pair of $30 driving lamps, but I lined them up and I was lighting the treetop with them centered. So I got some engine paint (anticipating the heat) and I was able to control the light beam to a safe height. I went led on the plate and removed all other incandecent lighting so I could power those beams.

 

Very, Very Kool.

 

wow thats awesome! def a style on its own, one of the most extreme xj's ive seem.

 

The hardest bit with so called 'custom bikes' is getting something that is original and you have certainly done that.
Nice! mate you got yourself some impressive skills and just as important a good eye.
A chopper you can actually Ride,Steer and Stop who woulda thought.

 

Very nice work.

 

Now that's impressive!
Great job!

 

Right on, glad you guys dig my results.

I didnt plan too much, other than, let me do this and let me try that.

It feels so safe to ride and that was the rule barrier I had. If the mod effects the safety....its Out!

(front pic was dead on my server, so I replaced it)

 

Where did you get that exhaust from?

And really nice bike!!! i set it as my backround

 

Hi A...C... your bike really wierds me out, I know I shouldn't like it, but I do. Very well done. Wiz.

 

Well done!! You got some orignal lines there, and I'm sure its a real head turner. I'm planning some light mods to my 700 but, nothing like what you've got there. I just don't have the skills.

 

One of the best I have ever seen. I am usually all about keeping bikes stock, but what you have done totally blows me away. SWEET!

 

Awesome design! How did you ever come up with that?

I am one for keeping it stock but I think I have been converted.

 

You guys are great. I appreciate the kind words! Im use to people on expensive harleys just giving me bad looks because they cant understand how my bike can have appeal. Its a "ricer", its "jap", all this crap. Its nice to see how people can appreciate without having contempt.

Exhaust is off a heritage harley as well. (those guys are so busy swapping parts you can pick up leftovers like I did for low,low prices)

xjVET ,or anyone else for that matter, If you want any tips or any pointers on how to do anything I would be glad to help. I taught myself what I know, so I can really give real world advice. Im still learning as well, we all have skill , just some of us had more practice to let it flow.

Gerry, I kinda just flowed the style out. I didnt have a theme or a snazzy amount of money to play with. Im just a 31 yd old soccer dad with a family and a Very part-time hobby. Im an anti OCC guy, when a bike costs more than I make in almost 2 years.... :roll: WHATEVER!

I will take some pics of it at night to show you guys how a Wal-Mart LED light setup spices it up at night. I dont have much chrome, but I have always liked LED's on bike drivetrains at night :lol:


Questions for you guys?

What price would you consider a "steal" for this bike?

Also what price would be "just" too much?

It has 10k original miles, runs solid and has Zero rust. Im intrested in your opinion, not so I can make money but so I can have a different point of view. I do plan on selling in spring and I appreciate your opinions.

 

what did tou do with the gauges? how did you get rid of all the wires / know what ones you actualy need?

 

hmm, IMo, with the right market you could get 5-7, i think, a steal IMO is 3Kish, but i dont know exactly, im just 17... everyone here is a frugal old man, LOL, and wont spend any more than 2K on an XJ, but it depends on the right market... like im sure if u lived in CALI u could get more, mroe ppl, IDK im just goin on

 

I think $20 is a fair price! Yeah...... $20 is the top price you should go for. Let's keep this sale just between the 2 of us. No need to let anyone else know about the deal!!!!!

Seriously, it is certainly a head turner, everything about it seems just right except for the seat. I too seldom pass up the buffet but I do like a nice seat(soft, fluffy, and breathes well). Anybody ever use memory foam for padding?

As for price you have already pointed out your largest obstacle for getting a fair price for your magnum opus. It isn't a big v-twin scabbed together by the Tuttles. Your biggest challenge is going to be to find the right place to advertise/promote your bike. Maybe ebay with a large reserve to test the water? Or maybe a Yamaha dealer would be willing to part with some cash and make up the balance of the sale price with parts and accessories. The dealer would be getting a discount based on his margin. The sad truth is that if you had appliedyour time and talent to a V-twin you would likely make a whole lot more money. Instead, you have created a unique, work of art using a non standard medium. My hat's off to you.

Good luck and great looking ride!

 

i think memory foam would be horrible for a seat, im not sure why, but it just sinks down... not much "stuff" to reduce vibration... But ya, i mean if you slapped a V twin in that you could get twice as much, even though i like in-line 4's better...... heres the deal, to sell it as a "chopper" or something like that make sure it passes these factors:
1. It feels awkward to sit in/steer, and the handle bars are goofy and in an unsensible region
2. It's loud
3. its weird looking

So, if it passes those 3 categories, slap an OCC or a jesse james cross on it, and you'll be rolling in the dough

 

The market will bear whatever the buyer is willing to pay. You have a very nice custom there. I would think you should get at least 2K for it at least thats a good start. 3K might be too much but you never know. Good luck and hope to see those night pics.

 

I can only speak for myself and what I can observe...

I don't have alot of bank. In fact I would wouldn't have my bike now if I didn't buy it 23 yrs ago. I tend to be known as a thirfty person which seems to be the case with most of the folks here. I would never exceed the original cost of the bike but its hard to determine the value without the finished product. It looks too rich for my budget. That's how good it looks. A wild guess 1500 a steal. Greater than 4900 too much. Without hearing it or seeing it finished...I think the only people who will appreciate it are XJ folks and anybody that appreciates a outstanding design. Which way do you intend to go on the paint?

I rode a Harley Night Rod Special this weekend. I was impressed by the style(old school hardcore) but not the price 17K or performance 11.72. I think your bike could take it or at least give a good run. It would definitely more comfortable.

 

I admire your craftsmanship. Incredible job.

It has already been said, if you find the right buyer the sky is the limit, otherwise you'll be lucky to break even.

I like the idea of an ebay auction with a high reserve. Something high enough that you won't be sad it is gone.

That said, it has an incredible amount of personality. I absolutely LOVE the eyes. (I've been thinking of a dual headlight setup, with a similar, minimalistic handlebar setup, I may use your design as inspiration.)

I could understand someone paying 4k. _I_ wouldn't expect any more. If I had the money I would jump on it for 2.5k.

Oh, and make a seat for it! Make it removable so you can show it w/o but mention that it does indeed have a seat.

 

Thats exactly what I was looking for. I knew from the start I was building an "oddball", but I really liked its potential.

Im not worried about losing anything on this bike. I know my work on a hog would be more cash in my pocket, but im not like those "copycat" douches that we all see. I think thats why I want to leave the bike in satin black...to shut up those Nightsters,lol !

I was thinking around $3k as well. I will however do the ebay thing a few times and see if I cant hit a solid number, that is a reasonable and safe option for me. Thanks for the plan guys..

The seat. I have been looking for a stick on pad, kinda based on Neoprene. Just have not had too much luck, so far. I do agree that a seat would help its sale, lol.

Again, all of you are a great help and an inspiration for me! You guys and your words have justified my time I put into this project. 8)

 

If I had the cash, I'd buy that for $3K in a heartbeat!

 

id like to see the saturn...

 

Memory foam "ain't worth three dead flies on a piece of poop" for a seat.

It does however make the cover smooth.

 

What are you talkin about? I just have another pic of the front of the bike and a Dr. Pepper. :wink:

 

lol that car is EPIC, i love the whitewalls and chrome hubs. does that have windows? err is it street legal? cuz i see roll bars..

 

Nice, although I'd like to see more. Obviously it's not quite finished, but looking really good.

 

I am working on the windows, gonna go nascar on them and just have to buff them once a year. Im going to black out the back 3 windows and tint the front 2 big time. I can't see crap out the back anyway, so Im going to use two rear view cameras (kinda like stereo vision) Use those where my gauges use to be.

Mind you it is registered and insured currently. :twisted:

Thanks Kev, these pics I took were more of a teaser pic photo shoot. I will have much more detailed shots in much better light later this year, hoping for christmas I can finish my airbag setup. I need it to sit 5 more inches down,im not happy with the 42" roof height,lol.

Thanks again guys! You all are a very welcoming crowd.

 

It's official, i'm selling the XJ. Finally got an auction setup and im going to test the market. Figure now that people get tax money back, it's a perfect time to sell.

Figured I would let you guys know.



I put a low reserve as well, so its not as bad as many would think.

Ebay Auction Link


Hopefully I can get another XJ, these have their own unique attitude!

 

Good luck with the sale, and your right about the xj attitude, there is just something about them that everyone seems to be drawn too.

 

Man, I gotta say that is some of the finest craftsmanship I have seen in a long time!!

I would love to pick it up, but, alas, I have already spent my tax money on a race car, again. They never are finished, are they?

Again, great looking custom, and I like the Saturn as well.

Greg

 

That's an awesome custom! Fantastic work.

 

Thanks again fellas!

It looks like my reserve is gonna be met on the ebay auction.

Im looking at a 650 maxim locally....I hope it runs good when I go check it out. Time to chop and drop part 2. :twisted:

 

Reserve is off on my auction.

I hope the next owner comes in and participates here!

Thanks for all the support!