"To cut or not to cut"..that's the question

REAL new bee here.
I just picked up a 83 Maxim xj650 for only..$200.00
I just couldn't pass up the chance to build be a bobber. The wife, well, she's like "it better have two seats".
We're saving for a full dresser Harley...but she cant wait to ride again so I'll have to make room for two on this short tripper until then.
We don't want the cafe racer look. We like old school- bobber/snub chopper.
Simple BUT..I DO NOT want I hard tail if I can by any means avoid it and still get a low enough rider position so that the passenger seat is a little higher up on the fender. A long, wide, thick, bulky seat for two takes the whole look I'm looking for away.
1) I can find 10" shocks and lower the read as I desire. BUT..will that be bad now seeing on weekends I'll be riding two-up?
2) Can I reconfigure the frame below driver seat to connect lower as in this picture. I've never seen one pic online of it being done. I'm sure, like with the hard tail kit, I'm thinking the battery and other stuff maybe relocated a little bit. Can this be done to give me a lower seat and follow the gas tank and frame lines just as hard tail would?
if I can get some tips, thanks. I can not start cutting until I know these answers.

 

I'll just say one thing.

If you want to cut, get a Suzuki

 

OK, Two things.
You can't lower the suspension much without causing the U-Joint to hit its limit of articulation. Go too low and you'll tear the thing apart.
We usually recomend a 2" drop at the most.

(Yes you can cut and patch the frame like you have pictured to lower the seat height, but you'll need to make an airbox that will fit the location (pods suck)).

 

If you want to lower the seat, my recommendation is simply buy another seat then remove the cover reshape the foam and recover.

 

just ride it with out mods and save that money for your HD..........
it must be riding time in Palm City

 

Awesome.
From what I understand by researching others on the web...a 10" o.a.l shock will work w/o shaft u-joint issue. I'll need a conformation on that.
I'll fab an air box. I did hear, pods are cool looking, but are an issue on turn of this motor.
Yes, as far as the seat goes, I definitely am keeping it thin. It basically a "bar hopper". I don't need deep comfort just "the look" I'm going for.

 

It's florida. It's always time to ride..and fish.
Yes, we agree with the budget advice..I'm not going too crazy with the mod money. I can do most all the mods myself. There are tons of used bike parts and spray paint available in So. Fl.

 

Well. I think I came to an executive decision. There is NO WAY to get a that "narrow" low ride rat -bobber- chopper- look AND ride "two up" on this little bike. That look to me requires a narrow fender and very small narrow seat. That's not going to fly with my wife. Her American side is from the waist up, the Cuban from the waist down. lol
It will just look like the factory Maxim but 2" lower.
SO..we are going the Cafe Style..but x/out that factory "bulky think" seat to a slimmer straighter seat and x/out the plastic fender extension.
I'm thinking of just blacking out the whole bike with one highlight color.
1) Do these XJ parts/ Seca parts like this bike fit on my 83 Maxim..even with a little mods?
I'm sure I can find the tank, and panels around.



2) Any pics or tips for a "two up" Cafe Racer..please post the ideas.

 

You will have a hard time finding the tank, and even more difficulty finding the side panels. One-year-only machine in North America, and not many were shipped here.
Fuel tank interchange information

 

Hey, I'll shed a little optimistic light onto the situation, over the last few weeks there have been a few people parting out the 82 seca. You might have to wait a little bit to find the right setup, but the xj650rj seca tank is awesome.

As they say, good things come to those who wait.

Regarding the "2 up" cafe racer vibe, look into a brat style seat. (Brat, not bobber). I'm building now now. Just got the foam delivered to build my custom seat. Checkout the few photos I have now in my build thread. I'll be updating more over the next few weeks as it all comes together.

 

A photo is worth a 1000 words

Or one with a little thicker style custom seat

 

The top pic..w/ blue frame!
I don't mind a little thickness in the seat. These pics are perfect. I've got my hope back with this project.
I know more the direction I want to go.
Here is pic I found I really like too, I extended the seat with some "paintbrush" skills to give the wife an Idea of the direction we're going. I may just black it all out and use one trim color to accent a few areas. No chrome. We'll see, that painted frame is cool! Thanks for the comments!

 

oh yes. The first time I saw that blue framed bike I fell in love. It looks way too good. I was looking to do my build with a off color frame, but decided to tone it back and stick with black.

Glad to hear that the photos helped get some motivation back into your build! stoked to see how it turns out!!

 

I found a tank with the right look! 81-82 Kawasaki GPZ750 only $60! I've got to relocate the front mounts back and up to drop it a time bit up front and bang out the rear to drop a little bit and create a bracket. I also order a rear fairing from a 82 Seca 650. to trim out the seat and hide the side rails beyond the shock mount.
Keeping in mind I'm going to ride a passenger.
1) I think it'll look better lower..Do you think I can lower this bike front and rear and how much?
2) What kind of shocks can I convert too that won't cost a small fortune to still ride 2up? Air shocks kit or from another make/model?
3) Is there a kit available to lower front forks?

 

If you're going for the cafe look I wouldn't lower it. If anything I would make it higher.

 

Thank you. I was thinking about too.

 

In the box of spare parts I got for this motorcycle they was a set of shocks 1 inch taller I put them on the back, it looks a lot better. I think it's more level now..what do you think?thanks for the tip! hopefully I can just leave it this level.

 

Looks good to me.

 

Took some 1 inch angle and leveling the line across the bike. I still haven't decided to buy a long flat based straight seat with thicker rear section to ride 2up or use a tubular loop seat base extension that angles up maybe conforming to the shape of a Secca tail faring. But then I would have to have a custom seat made. Any comments or advice let me know. Either way I have to make it to ride 2up.

 

I like the two examples above where they followed the existing frame lines with their seat pans. I'd love to see a build thread on those.

 

Hi. I'm Matti. Apparently you haven't been warned.

 

I'll snap some photos and upload them this weekend to show the progress I've done on my seat pan in my build thread.

 

Me too. It would save me lots of work if I can find a Seca gas tank that wasn't destroyed or very expensive.

 

Here's a shaved foam and black tape mocked up seat idea. I'll make the base but I'm going to have to find somebody to put the foam and a upholstery. Do you think?

 

OK folks. I found a Yamaha 550 Secca rear fairing. I also found a seat Secca seat that I have shortened in the front to accommodate the gas tank. Fairing and seat overall length is approximately 5 inches shorter than a Secca. I did not want the faring to stick out further than the rear tire. I'm going to take a little thickness out from the front of driver section padding so what does it ride so high up on the gas tank. It would make the tank same it would make the tank seem taller. I guess it just looks like a stock Secca with the Kawasaki Gas Tank. How does that look to you guys?? should I make the seat more narrow?

 

I'd narrow the seat at the rear so it blends in to the tailpeice (gradually, starting at the front of the passenger area (or midway if you will ride two-up often)). Don't narrow the front or it'll not belnd into the tank well, and it won't be comfortable at all.

 

Not bad. The rear part of the seat (passenger seat) looks a little high to me for my tastes. But the front part of the seat works. No need to narrow that more.

 

I did almost exactly what you first post shows when I modified my 750XJ, the build thread is here

 

Thanks guys that's exactly what I expected to hear. This is kind of a shape I'm going for and blend it into that fairing. The challenge now would be to remove width from the rear section by FIRST removing volume from the center of this plastic seat pan and reinforcing with metal plate. Then I can remove the volume from the actual foam. then I can remove the volume from the actual foam And I will still have the original seat pan edge to secure the fabric and to Lay tight along the faring.

 

You can always build a seat from scratch. I have a rough outline in my build thread. Took a little bit of time, but I love the end result. Follows the exact shape I wanted.

 

yes. thats why I bought this one, inexpensive eBay deal, so at least i had a good plastic deck i can "modify" and didn't have to build a metal or fiberglass one from scratch.

 

Oh I see. Good plan. Work smarter, not harder.

 

Essentially converting a Maxim to a Seca - you are man to be admired..

 

lol..i'm not done yet. A maxim to a Seca and now a Seca to whatever and wherever direction it goes from here. We'll see. where time and money take me.

 

It's kind of amusing, my first 750 was a Maxim, and I set about customizing it pretty quick. Then I got a Seca, which I'm just starting to build now.

I hadn't thought about it, but it occurs to me that I've largely turned my Maxim into a Seca, and now I'm looking at basically turning my Seca into a Maxim. *Sighs*

 

I made it as narrow as I could. I think I took a little over 2 inches out of the width and I took a lot out of the thickness As well.

 

Finally after several months I got back to working on this thing created the Gas Tank mountains. Tacked in place it work great very stable.

 

Oh. Mountings.

 

Ah, that makes a lot more sense now

 

sorry, i didn't read my voice to text..."mounting brackets". Not mountains.

 

'scool. I was gonna blame autocorrect.

 

that front mount might end up rubbing a hole in the tank..

 

thanks..yes as is, i'm going to trim that area with sone type of plastic, hard rubber or nylon thin edging and open up the mount gap to fit over it.

 

can you not just relocate or re-purpose the original mounts?

 

I think I’ve heard of that place, it’s near Utica, New York.

 

looking good

 

would that be Dave's house?cool I might need one

 

Here ya go, 85 xj700n hardtail w/ stock seat, streched 12 1/2 in, cut and baffled the exaust, air pods, jetted up. Suicide shift,hand clutch