Simmy's Naked Turbo Project

Thanks, missed that pic!
The 900 is pretty roomy "down there", but equally, the airbox hole is massive too, and there is some clearance between the xj900s tyre and the swingarm to get the hot gasses up. Altenatively, the 900s swingarm could be persuaded to fit, and this has loads of room - where the monoshock lived.
So the oil checkvalve is needed to stop the hot oil seeping through the pump - both of them...

 

I just re-read the ride reviews from that Cycle Guide road test of the Turbo. This Larry Works guy seems to agree with me.

By all rights, the Seca Turbo should be up near the top of my list, since it’s based on one of my favorites, the XJ650 Seca. But it’s not. The Turbo Ls appealing in its own way, but any resemblance between the Turbo’s Rocket Boy looks and the smooth, balanced styling of the XJ ends at the fact that each bike has two wheels and four cylinders. Beyond that, how each 650 approaches street duty is as different as night and day. The normally aspirated Seca makes up speed in comers, while the Turbo—though not as top-heavy as the Honda CX Turbo — feels somewhat ponderous in the twisties. Not enough to keep you from going fast; just enough to make the straights seem more attractive. Call it plain pigheadedness, I won’t argue. But a real turbocharged Seca, one without the slab-sided plastic, would suit me to a T. —Larry Works

 

Awesome build! Well done throughout.

This is exactly what I wanted to do with my RJ (in the late 80’s!) I remember that article - agreed!





There’s a couple XJs locally on Craigslist now....might have to make some room with the FJs...

 

Thanks @fj1289
I hope to have a major update in another week or so.
Paint and graphics are done just need some clear-coat then I can put the body pieces back on.

 

The XJ650SecaLJ/RJ Hybrid is complete.
This project took me exactly 4 years from start to finish.
Actually its 99% finished, I need to refinish the handle bar switches, already bought new decals for this.










Here is the parts list in addition to a Seca Turbo:

FZ600
front wheel, axle, brake rotors, calipers, forks, fender

XJ650RJ
fork crowns, headlight and bracket, instruments (RJC electronic tach),mirrors, signals,
oil level switch & diode pack,
tank, seat, tail piece, side covers, tail light, rear fender, frame tabs, rear section of frame,
valve cover, oil pump covers, grab handles

XJ700N
rear wheel

XJ900RK
rear shocks

Aftermarket Stuff
Walbro GSL395 fuel pump
BoostValve boost controller
Check valve in oil scavenge line
Venhill SS brake lines
Bridgestone BT45's 110/90-16 & 130/90-16 (same size as Radian)
RaceTech fork springs
Barnett clutch springs
BDesigns.ca custom decals

 

Wow! Great paint job!!!

 

Extreme like!

 

Beautiful sleeper. The casual observer would never guess there's a turbo on it.

 

Exactly, I thought about tarting it up with Turbo badges but this is better to keep the deception.
It’s still a numbers matching Turbo, if I play with more displacement I will build another motor and leave the original alone. It sure is lighter.

 

You did say your color choice would be unique, and that it is.
Looks awesome!

Tony

 

Thanks for the compliments guys. I’ll be honest and admit I had planned to paint this silver in homage to the 2 bikes it’s founded on but with some green tint. At the painter’s I started looking through the paint samples and saw the metal flake greens and couldn’t resist.

 

That turned out great. I love the color you picked out. Just the right amount of metal flake in the paint. Not long till riding season. I hope to see it person soon.

 

Wow! That is pretty. No way any of the modern bikes look any better than that. The lines are just right, thank you Yamaha, and your colors and accents accentuate those lines perfectly. As smooth and nice as Norton Commandos. Well done Sir!
John

 

Lookin good Simmy!

 

Thanks John, though this is the 1st time I’ve heard smooth and Norton Commando in the same reference, LOL, they look good but riding those things is like putting a wet finger in a light socket.

 

Very nice. Understated, I like that.
Cheers, 50gary

 

I have the Seca horn bracket and the Turbo frame is tapped for the bolts but the weight of it is a rude joke. Eliminating that and removal of the centre stand saves a lot of weight. I’m sure by lowering the bike with 16” wheels the stand will scrape in corners.
It’s only there for the pics.
That 16 on the front really quickens up the handling and the 16 on the rear raises the revs by 250 RPMs which helps to bring on the boost sooner, this based on cruising at around 5 grand, boost hits hard at 6.

 

As for the riding I cannot comment but the lines are right and smoothly blend. Looking at more modern, and many others not so modern, they have too much styling and are trying too hard. These are "just right", what should be there, what needs to be there and just nice, not too light, not too heavy looking. And they just "fit" the rider when on them.
John

 

No doubt about it, the 650 seca has something nice about it and you've added to that, so hats off!

 

Thanks @Minimutly and @Fuller56 , I agree the 650 Seca (550 too) has stood the test of time the best of all the XJ's from the 80's.
How many Turbos would Yamaha have sold if they had built this instead of that fiberglass abomination?
Perhaps they should have offered both and let the market decide.
The idea of a turbocharged middleweight to compete with the litre bikes I think was lost on them.
The Turbos were just a fad to display their latest doo-dads.
In all honesty they are a crazy thing to ride.