XJ550 tank on an XJ650

So mocked up the XJ550 tank on the Xj650 again now I've done more work on it and I think it's going to be bad-ass. Only question is - what color should I paint it. I'm stuck right now between black, cream, skyblue or just bare metal with a clear, although the later might now work due to the emblem holders that will need patching.

I think I'm probably going to go with plastic dip once i get it fixed up.

 

I think that it looks fine the way it is. Character can't be bought; it has to be earned

 

Yeah I like it too but the photo doesn't show some of the bad parts - it's got some pretty bad surface rust and pitting. I bought it form Fitz a while back so it's always going to have character

 

Damn. I liked the green on display in showcase pics. 550 tank looks cool on there though. I'm with K-moe on the character issue... battle scars tell the bike's story. Mine is MADE of character!

 

My idea is to have two tanks and two seats that are interchangeable so I can change the look of the bike four different ways depending on my mood. So I want the 550 tank to be completely different to the other one. I'm thinking white or cream right now but also if I do it in plastic-dip I can change that too .... and the wife says I don't like commitment - jeez!

 

Read my posts on tank fitment---

 

Sounds more like a bit of indecision issue rather than commitment problem

 

Oh I've made the decision - I want everything and choices.

 

Oh it'll fit - send me the link, i can't find it.

 

I compiled it all into another post the other day-... I'll see if i can find it

 

Here it is:

Pulling together info that I have posted regarding tanks..... sometime I'll even re-write it to make a it a little more coherent and logical. Nonetheless, here's the info. Read through it, and maybe you'll find what you need:
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Just for giggles, I did swap some things around to see how things fit:

1 900rk Tank- does NOT mount onto the xj650 maxim, xj750 maxim, OR xj750 seca frame. The upper mount for the frame reflector contacts the seam edge of the 900 tank before the tank can slide onto the rubber mounts. If the reflector mounts were cut off, the tank would slide onto the rubber mounts, BUT the tail of the tank would still be about an inch too far back and will still not allow the tank to be bolted down.

2.750 Maxim tank - as we all know, the 750 maxim tank is a direct bolt-on swap for the 650 maxim tank. The 750 maxim tank WILL also bolt directly onto the 750 seca frame without any modification to the tank of the frame.

The seca seat will still work on the frame, but there is about a 1" or so gap between the seat and the 750 maxim tank.

The seca side covers will not mount onto the frame as the tail end of the maxim tank aims down at the back and interferes with the sidecover top-front edge.

3. 750 seca tank - WILL physically bolt directly onto the 650 and 750 Maxim frames.

The Maxim seat front edges need to be modified to fit the extra length and steeper angle at the rear of the 750 seca tank.

I did not have time to check on sidecover fit. However, due to the upsweep at the rear of the seca tank, the maxim side cover upper front point should still be ok and not interfere.

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Regarding 650 Seca / 650 maxim

Frames are different, I haven't done a seat-swap comparo, but I have done tank-swap comparo which is here in another forum......

That all said, if I get the time in the next few days, I'll try to do that for you.

In the meantime, a quick solution would be to pull the covers and foam, and the do a Seatpan swap..... The seat mounting is different

The 650 rj tank will fit the maxim frame, but you should use the 650rj triple clamps to allow clearance at the front if the tank.... Otherwise you'll run the fork tubes up against the tank on tight turns
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650rj tank on a 550r

650rj tank is slightly shorter in length, by about 1/4 inch at rear oval mounting hole. However, if the tank is pulled back just that tiny bit it will bolt into place. Doing that though, pulls the front hooks about 1/4" back, which leaves a slightly "loose" fit at the front.

The petcock just clears the valve cover but with enough clearance to not be an issue.

The bottom rear of the tank does interfere with the seat pan's lower front corners but they could be trimmed back and re-shaped a bit to allow the seat token and close again.

The front of the seat is too long, too, but if it is cut back and re-shaped and re-curved I could be made to fit nicely.

All that would be cosmetic changes, and readily do-able.
The only "major" issue will be that the bottom of the cramped edge of the tank touches the top ends of the airbox. Once the tank is bolted down there will be pressure in the airbox. If the airbox is heated and softened, the two "channels" could be formed. I guess the tank could be trimmed, but I think that may weaken the seams and I wouldn't recommend that.

550r tank on the 650rj

The 550r tank is about1/4" too long, PLUS the front mounting grommets are just a little bit too wide for the tank to slide on.

When the grommets were removed the tank almost fits right in place.

However, the lower front edges of the tank interfered with the horns. If those are lowered or relocated, that issue will be easily resolved.

The rear of the tank tunnel interferes with the frame but if the tank rear is raised about an inch or so, it clears the frame. If some makes a riser/spacer to mount the tank just that little bit higher its right in line above the regular rear mount

The issues to really address would be --what to do about the tank grommets on the 650r, and the rear mount. Here are the solutions....

Two things must be done for the front:

1. The big ring on the mount needs to be moved in toward the backbone about 1/4" on each mount to allow the rubber grommets to fit in the slightly narrower tunnel of the tank.

2. Use the grommets from the 550r, as they are slightly less tall AND the have a little bit smaller diameter that the 650rj grommets.

For the rear of the tank--make spacer to mount the end of the tank about an inch or so higher above the original mount.

Long and short of it:

Either tank can fit on either bike with either seat mods and airbox mods to put a 650r tank on a 550r; or, minor alteration to the front tank mounts on the 650r, relocate the horns, and add a riser for the rear mount will allow the 550r tank to fit on the 650r

Dave Fox

 

thanks Dave,

I already modified the tank so it fits on the front rubbers - I widened it using a piece of 2" dowel that I hammered up and down it with a rubber mallet. It worked very well. I plan on making a small adapter rig to mount the rear similar to what you describe.

R./

 

Ribo is isn't puttig a 650rj tank on an550r... He's putting a 550r tank onto a 65o maxim. I don't think I tried that combo in my swapping things around. Maybe that will be next.