HI all!

Hi guys, I am new to the place, but am glad to be here, seems to be lots of info. My name is Anthony and I just purchased my first motorcycle - 1981 Yamaha 550 Maxim. Since I have had it, I have had the whole bike apart, put in a new engine, and everything, pretty familiar with it now lol. I took a few shots of my bike and what I have done to it and would like honest opinions.
Should I go with a solo seat??

Btw, I custom made the fender out of fiberglass (that was fun :cry

 

Welcome Anthony14, Nice work! I like it ! The rear fender style really gives the bike a cruiser look. I like the color scheme as well. I think a solo seat may be in order for your bike. Have Fun! BTW- consider painting the front fender to match.

 

Very nice. That engine sure is shiny. I'd suggest cutting that seat down into a solo seat. You seem to enjoy the do it yourself project and I think you'll end up with a better looking seat also.

 

If you'd like opinions.....

First off nice job, I love the look of that rear fender!!

Solo seat would look good.... but what to do with the factory sissy bar? It may look out of place if not removed. To me the rear of a solo seated bike needs to look smooooooth!

My only other suggestion would be to take the extenders (black rubber mounts) out of the rear turn signals?!?! You can take a look at mine in my gallery. I had to make an adapter piece, but it looks like you can handle fab work no problem. I'd also paint the signal mounts white and the front fender too!

Good Luck, keep up the awesome job!!!

 

Thanks guys for the comments!

Chared03HD, if I went with a solo (I bought one off ebay, really nice leather one, with a eagle burned into the leather) I would cut everything off the back of the frame, and remove the sissy bar. But I'll see how it will look when the seat comes...

Paint over chrome? Is that normal? It's so shinny, I paid 30 bucks to get a new that's not rusting, and now I have to paint it!?! lol

Ok, that's for the responses! Got me some work to do!

 

LOL.... Sand and paint the old front fender!!

NO that you say that (about removing sissy bar & possibly cutting frame).... Do it, that seat sounds awesome!!

I'm looking to find a bike to modify like you have..... I just can't cut into the Seca (That and the tank doesn't say Rigid - Solo seater to me LOL)

 

lol ok thanks, when the seat gets here I'll begin cutting

Look around, I bought this bike from a guy for $400, I had to pull the engine out because the lower end was going so now I have a extra, and I got the new engine off ebay for $50 - got to love ebay lol...

I'll get to prepping that old fender, why did I not think about that? lol

 

Wow, I like the paint! Nice work, especially on the side of the tank. I like how you didn't let the gas cap get in the way of your lines

As for the fender, I'm personally not a fan of the style on this bike. The squared off look (from the top to the sides) doesn't quite jive with the lines of the tank. The profile looks good, though. Or maybe it's the sissy bar throwing me off. Maybe it'll look better when it's done. That said, I can totally appreciate the work done to MAKE the fender. I can't even patch a fiberglass boat without making it look like hell

You've definitely made the bike your own! Nicely done.

 

Thanks Oblivion, I know what you mean about the fender, but the sissy bar has to go. Not that that would fix the problem, but that it just does not flow... As for the fender, I know what your talking about, when I made the foam mold, I did not think about the edges, more of the side profile, but if they were more rounded, it would look much better.

And in case your all wondering, the flames on the side of the tank were not painted, but rather a good quality decal that I bought off ebay, and it reflects at night too!

Oh, and to get the engine shinny, I took a grinder with a wire brush attachment and let he rip, got it super shinny, then used some polish(maybe mothers) and then clear coated it...

 

I like the looks of your work. Notice you rear turn signals right in line with your exhaust. Don't think you really want that, removing the inner spacers will help, but I personally would get them higher.

 

I WAS wondering - and even typed out the question But I didn't want to insult you if you really did have those maddd paint skillz. Looks good, though, and that's what matters.

 

lol, well actually, I could have painted them, but I am just to lazy, and don't want to have the tank off for a week, masking and cleaning airbrushes lol.

I know the situation with the exhaust and indicators, I am undecided what to do about that, I would move them higher, but I don't think that they would look proper higher than the rear light... Oh well...