80' xj 650 budget bobber

Just finished my 1980 650 build. This build was the most fun I have had (sober) in a long time. I started the project with plans to paint but now I think I will leave it ratted out. Just under $1600 invested as it sits.




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Lookin' good. Most seats that I've seen have 2 springs, that's the first I've seen with one spring. Did you purchase it or fab it?

 

The seat was supposed to be a 13 inch and come with 2 springs. Ended up being a 9inch seat and no springs. I chopped up the stock rear shocks and played with the springs and came up with this. The seat is too skinny to mount two springs around the fender. But I think the slimmer seat fits better. I like the way it turned out

 

Well that's all that matters,your the one that sits on it!What I've learned with mine,...not every thing you plan turns out the way you think it will but as long as your happy, screw the naysayers.javascript:emoticon('post', 'message', ':twisted:')

 

WOW! Looks NICE :wink: !!!

skillet
BTW I was under the impression you would need some risers with drag bars. Looks like you got by without them...

 

That is a sweet ride. Nice work, looks good as is.

 

Nice work

 

I'd put a left side grip on it, and at least prime all the welds...

 

I really like how you replaced the center stand with a twig.THis bike rocks.

 

Got the brake lights wired up ( got rid of the wire nuts) and I satin clear coated all the new metal and welds.

I want to try and find some similar rubber grips to the stock ones. I had to cut the old one off, it was epoxied on to the old handlebars.

 

+1 on the seat. It looks badass.

How's the spring hold up under normal riding? Is the seat comfy to sit on when going over some bumps?

 

I was worried about the seat ride at first, but when you are in a riding position it balances nice and is very smooth. The roughest part of the ride is in the handle bars.

 

Thinking about sanding and clear coating the tank? Did the 80' xj's have the plastic Emblem on the side of the tank, or was the Yamaha molded into the side. I just don't want to strip the tank only to find bondo and holes. Here some close ups of what I did with the electrical.[/img]



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I decided to go flat black on the tank. I started sanding and did find the bondo on the sides covering where the plastic "Yamaha" emblems used to be. I wanted to go bare metal but it would look goofy with the bondo patches. I like the stainless/bare steel look on a tank. My favorite bike of all time is the 89' softail fxr custom from "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro man." To me that bike has the same cool factor as the General Lee. Makes my belly button pucker every time I watch that movie.

 

I agree about that bike. One of the best bikes in the movies EVER. I rank it just below the General Lee but above Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

 

Makes me think of my uncles T bucket hot rod.......Hands down coolest car I have ever laid eyes on!

 

The wife was at work and it got rainy so I pulled the bike into the porch. Got the tank painted.

 

Nice Job man! I like it..

Rob

 

Sweet job man. I am not much on the bars but opinions are like... well you know the rest.

 

The master brake cylinder has been giving me fits. I think I am about to buy one that is made to sit level on drag bars. The screws on the cap were stripped, so I was drilling them out, and I just got back from the ER after the drill bit broke and I ran it through the palm of my hand. Good times! Blood doesn't bother me, but when the fat came oozing out I almost tipped over.

 

use a bigger bit so you drill the whole head off, they don't break as easy either
Kenda tires, yea

 

I like the bike, post some pics of that master cylinder if you do swap it out been thinking of replacing mine just not sure of what to replace it with.
Nice Ride,
James

 

Thanks dude. The only reason I am thinking about replacing it is it wont quit leaking. I found where there is a little notch in the cap where it is comming from. Not sure if that is like a vent from the factory or something, but the way it sits at an angel every time I hit the brakes it spews out then leaks all over my tank. Really messing up my paint job. I am going to give it one last shade tree mechaninc effort with some gasket goop!

 

Would it be possible to dig out the bondo and fill it in old school style with lead so it's all metal? Just curious.

 

Love the bike thats awsome The blood makes it truely custom

 

I made it through the entire build without a scratch! Finnaly paying for it.

 

I like the direction your heading. I have some old fart shooting buddies that lead cast their own bullets, this might be right up their alley.

 

Turned out to be a good night even after stabbing myself with the drill. I went over to my mechanic's and scored two matching grips, and a proper Yamaha master brake cylinder! I have no Idea what the brake cylinder is off of, but it sits perfectly level and says Yamaha! Had to throw in a vanity pic with Boomer!

I have been really happy with how the bike is tuned. But I have only been riding in about 30-55 degree weather. Today it got a little humid and about 75 degrees. Bike started not wanting to idle and spitting and sputtering under 3000 rpms. Have to chase the fine tuning with the pilot needles I spose. Still pretty happy with it.

 

Wondering how the bike sounds with the pipes so short?

Is it obnoxious or does it sound like a hog?

Rob

 

Its not as loud as you think it would be. It is no Hog with Hooker headers and strait pipes! It's different.. kind of like the bike. Plenty of videos on you tube where you can hear the exact same setup.

 

vintagerice, hope you're not planning on it cause you ain't EVER gonna get one of these bikes to sound like a 30 yr old water pump motor with no exhaust :lol: ...

skillet

 

lol nope I like mine fairly stock...however if I have a chance to snag another rather cheaply for next winter.....who knows.. :lol:

Rob

 

did you follow the minimum wiring diagram to the T on this bike because it looks really clean? starting on stripping mine down tomorrow

 

I used the min wiring diagram on mine. Works great.

 

cool. i'm pretty nervous because to say my motorcycle knowledge is limited would be an understatement, but i bought this bike to learn how to work on them so I guess you gotta get your feet wet sometime. wish me luck.

 

The more I ride it the more I think about sweeping the handle bars back a bit to make it just a bit more comfortable.

 

I have some of the stock stuff I removed from the bike availible, I will post in the for sale forum.

I have the stock seat, stock exhaust, both stock passenger peg/ exhaust brackets, the stock front fender, right side loop/frame slider ( I have the matching left side but it is bent). I have highway pegs that mounts to the frame w/o forward controls (it is also bent). I have the origional chain lock that comes with the bike. The stock handle bars, rear blinkers, and stock brake light and plate assembley. I have the origional side reflecters from right infront of the gas tank. I think I still have some pieces from the frame that I chopped If someone needed any of that for some reason. Pm for any pics or additional info, or ask for something I may have forgotten to list.

 

We finaly got a 75 degree day up here in Scony land. Bike loves the warm weather! I only got to put on about 20 miles today but this thing is running sweet! Going to be a fun summer!

 

I;d like to see some pics of you on the bike. :idea:

 

sweet ride

 

I thought the same thing, I don't think it would look good bare if he uses lead. I was thinking about having some type of plate (design) welded over the place where the emblems go.

 

Yes that would work. Just have a piece the same size of the hole so that when its welded theirs no overlap. Then buff it smooth with a sanding disk on a angle grinder and it will look like one piece of metal.

 

Any chance that we could get some pics with you sitting on your bike, because for some reason to me the XJ bike looks small to me after there bobbed out like yours.

Im still in the process of figuring out if i want to go this direction, or go the way that PainterD did with the Harley fender, and seat. (But your bike does look cool) :idea:

 

+1

 

The ultimate vanity pic? I'm 5'6'' 220, and it fits me perfect. My fatass doesn't even bottom out the seat. I just had my buddy over last night and he took the bike for a rip. He is 6'1'' 220, and he did not look odd riding it. He said it was comfortable and he didn't bottom out the seat either. I am going to go have a beer and see if I can figure out the camera timer. If it works and you guys have to see my fatass........well you asked for it!

 

who cares if your ass is as fat as the rest of ours Go chug a few beers and get that camera working

 

A little beer and a bulldog that knows how to run a camera we got it done.
The ass fat kinda makes it look like I am close to the fender, but I actually have about 2'' of play in the seat in my riding position.

 

Looks good man... I wish I could hear that exhaust though. Did you have a hard time getting the carbs tuned after chopping the exhaust?

 

Stretched back handle bars and forward controls would be more comfortable for longer trips.... but with the way the gas tank is siting I can only get 2.8 gallons in, and I have only been getting about 80 miles out of that! Definitely won't be riding out to Sturgis with that kind of mileage.

 

Dude give me five minutes I am working on it! And no it tuned awsome because I paid a pro to do it..... Can't plug Mark at Sport Tune in Amery, WI enough. He did an awesome job on the carbs...and the rest of the mechanical work for that matter.