1. Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

XJ550 street fighter Project, "pic heavy"... Finally DONE!!!

Discussion in 'XJ Modifications' started by low-1-5-0, Dec 31, 2006.

  1. low-1-5-0

    low-1-5-0 Member

    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Newfoundland
    Hi all, I'm new to the site but already have gotten a few ideas on customizing my 83' xj550, so I thought I would let you in on my project and progress.

    Had this bike since 1995, it's been stored for the past 5-6 years, so I took it out of dads basement and started yet another project

    the plan is to drop the front and raise the rear a bit, custom headlights and tail lights, chopped fenders, custom exhaust, and custom paint, anything else I think of as I go along... well here it goes

    The Start Nov 28/2006:
    [​IMG]

    the tear down:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    cleaning and painting the motor and frame:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    motor back in:
    [​IMG]

    mocking up of the new headlights:

    *OLD stock one:
    [​IMG]

    new ones taped in place, signals are made into them, so soon saying goodbye to the stock indicators:
    [​IMG]


    fabrication of the front headlight bezel Dec 02/2006:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    lowered the front a bit and rasied the rear, rear seems a little too high, so I got some more tweeking to do:
    [​IMG]

    Dec 26/2006
    I've been searching for a certain set of drag bars, but could not find what I wanted so using the stockers I made my own :twisted:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Took the stock front fender and shortened it, also made it so it looks layered (stepped), once the body work is done should look pretty good (I hope :roll: )

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Dec 31/2006
    painted the front forks and gauges, say good bye to more chrome :twisted:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    started the beautiful task of fiberglassing the front bezel and sanding and sanding and sanding... (still not done! :roll: )

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I think it's going to look alright on the bike:
    [​IMG]

    then after staring at the "banana" seat I got to cutting it up and mocking up the fiberglass mold, which means more sanding to come :wink: !!!!

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    please check back for more updates :D
     
  2. beanflicker_98

    beanflicker_98 Member

    Messages:
    308
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    east petersburg pa
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"

    This thing is sweet.keep us posted please.
     
  3. beanflicker_98

    beanflicker_98 Member

    Messages:
    308
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    east petersburg pa
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"

    What kind of paint are you using on the engine.And welcome to the site.
     
  4. themidnightspecial

    themidnightspecial Member

    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Liberal, Ks
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"

    very nice.....we need to talk, because Im trying to turn my bike into more of a streetfighter, and if i cant find some clues on where to start, I might have to go a different route...but looks like your on my page....

    How did you do that seat, and does that sucker make you hug the gas tank? and are you going to keep that gas tank stock?
     
  5. low-1-5-0

    low-1-5-0 Member

    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Newfoundland
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"

    engine is done with all high temp ceramic paint, from the primer to the color to the clear , engine was blasted and sanded well before the primer:D
     
  6. kevineleven

    kevineleven Member

    Messages:
    800
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"

    You've got a very interresting project going, good work.
     
  7. low-1-5-0

    low-1-5-0 Member

    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Newfoundland
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"

    I started by wanting to lowering the front 1" and changing the huge 8" headlight to something I liked (first I had two 4" round lights mounted which looked great but liked what I have now a bit more), everything else just seems to follow. I have somewhat of a plan but alot of what is done and going to be done is "on the fly".

    The seat is the stock one with the vinyl removed and the foam cut just to remove the rear section, theres no difference in the way I sit on it, but after the fiberglassing I have to do it will look totally different...and I'm keeping the stock tank but going to add some accent pieces and fill the emblem mounts, man I love my welder :lol:
     
  8. beanflicker_98

    beanflicker_98 Member

    Messages:
    308
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    east petersburg pa
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"

    What do you plan on doing to the seat?I am curious cause I have a old gsxr(8) and want to make a newer style rear for it.
     
  9. low-1-5-0

    low-1-5-0 Member

    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Newfoundland
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"


    going to recover the foam and fiberglass the rest, it will then be color matched (which I haven't decided on right yet) with the rest of the bike.

    those gsxr's look great with an undertail, integrated signals in the brake light (no indicators), and a rear seat cowl (get rid of the back seat if you can) :D
     
  10. wdenny

    wdenny Member

    Messages:
    86
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    Kansas City
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"

    Too cool. Will be very interested to see it finished. Anything special going on with the rear lighting or maybe chassis lights?
     
  11. low-1-5-0

    low-1-5-0 Member

    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Newfoundland
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"

    indicators and brake will be integrated led's and molded into the tool compartment door (if I can figure it out :roll: ), trying to design a rear fender that mounts to the swing arm that incorporates the license plate and marker light but we shall see :D
    hopefully I should have my seat and front headlight bezel done by next week
     
  12. Ace_Frehley

    Ace_Frehley Member

    Messages:
    559
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    NS Canada
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"

    nice bike man, can't wait to see the finished product!
     
  13. low-1-5-0

    low-1-5-0 Member

    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Newfoundland
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy"

    I started at the seat tonight, heres some materials...good old duct tape!!!
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    foam used to get the shape I want, then used fleece to cover, all I got to do is crack the resin to it and let the sanding begin :roll:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    then I covered the seat cushion in a material called ultra leather, is't leather, but more stretchy, softer and durable than vinyl, stuff sells for about $250 sq yrd, but the fabric shop I went to gave me enough to do plus some extra seat foam for $20 ( they had some ends left over from a job :lol: )
    [​IMG]

    then the test fit...
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    I think it's gonna look great when the back gets fiberglassed, sanded and color matched to the rest of the bike

    Still more to come! :twisted: ...

    Jason
     
  14. MiCarl

    MiCarl Active Member

    Messages:
    4,373
    Likes Received:
    23
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Livonia, MI (Metro Detroit)
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy" Updated Jan 3/07

    Looks to me like you may have solved that XJ seat pushing rider into the tank problem. How about some side shots of the seat on the bike.
     
  15. low-1-5-0

    low-1-5-0 Member

    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Newfoundland
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy" Updated Jan 3/07

    as requested...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  16. OneShoe50

    OneShoe50 Member

    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    Albuquerque, NM
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy" Updated Jan 3/07

    So, I'm liking the red on the engine, what gave you the idea to do red?

    BTW, all the mods are right on!
     
  17. low-1-5-0

    low-1-5-0 Member

    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Newfoundland
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy" Updated Jan 3/07

    it's a candy red color, I painted my 87 f150 lowrider ( http://www.cardomain.com/ride/653921 ) with it a couple years ago and loved it, (you should see it in the sun, it's got a crazy metallic look to it) so I got some ceramic paint mixed for the engine, I think I'm going to paint the whole bike with that color, and do the same color scheme with my Bronco and bike trailer this summer. :wink:
     
  18. MiCarl

    MiCarl Active Member

    Messages:
    4,373
    Likes Received:
    23
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Livonia, MI (Metro Detroit)
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy" Updated Jan 3/07

    Thanks.

    Looks great. Looking forward to the ride report.
     
  19. chuck

    chuck New Member

    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    boston
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy" Updated Jan 3/07

    cool i like it hope the best with the fglass keep us posted.
     
  20. wdenny

    wdenny Member

    Messages:
    86
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    Kansas City
    Re: XJ550 Project bike, "pic heavy" Updated Jan 3/07

    Very nice. My plan for my rear lights was to incorporate them into the grab bar in the back. Might be worth a thought. I was going to box it in and then flush mount LED brake and turn signals. Some food for thought, but once again, excellent progress.
     

Share This Page