ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE!!!!!

So I'm still in the process of rebuilding the transmission in my 1981 XJ650 Midnight, and i thought it might be a good idea to get some spare parts. So I put an ad up on craigslist asking for parts bikes and whatever.

I got a few responses, but nothing of good value to me until last night.

This woman had a 1980 XJ650....She sent me pics, it looked damn good. How much I asked.................FREE!!!!!!! Turns out she retired from where I work now approx. 30 years ago, and just wanted to pass the bike on to someone who at least knew what an XJ was.

So without further adieu,

Here she is:

 

Oh, I forgot to mention. This one starts, runs, shifts through all the gears, stops, and stays running until I turn her off.

Small things to-do:
I need to bleed the brakes, they are really weak.
New gas cap.
Passenger pegs.
New side-stand.

 

Where the hell did you get the good karma from? Great find!

 

Unbelievable!
Good one on you, dude!

Ah bull-eaves you done got uh giff fron da Laud!
Kin ah gits uh Hay-menn hon datt!

 

AMEN Brotha.

Ok so I just rode it with the wife.

Couple of little things since this is the first time I have really officially ridden an XJ....

1) Is there a way to tighten up the rear suspension?
2) Has anyone sheared off the turn signals on purpose, and put aftermarket ones on? (pics of the latter?)
3) If the clutch is kinda choppy on a gradual engage from stop, the clutch-pak is probably worn out?
4) How much is the clutch lever supposed to move? (this one is like 2" tops, whereas my ZZR600 is around 4" of good feedback)

That it for now I think.

 

NICE!!!!!

What exactly did your ad say??

"if you have an older XJ and don't give it to me, I'll kill a kitten" ??

 

"Tighten up" rear suspension: Replace the original KYB shocks (garbage when NEW) with a set of Progressive Suspension 12-series shocks and you can choose between standard and heavier springs.
You could switch the turn signals for newer-style Yamaha blinkies and they would probably bolt right up.
If it's been sitting a long time, you'll want to pop the clutch apart and give everything a good cleaning before you decide what actually needs replacing.
Clutch lever travel doesn't seem right, see above comment...
Now whatcha gonna do for parts???

 

In my BEST Napoleon Dynamite voice:

"LUCKY"

Great find!!

 

So I cannibalized the tach cable from my midnight-in-work, turn signal cover, adjusted the clutch, changed the oil, and voila....put about 100 miles on her tonight. Quite the happy guy (my girl's happy too)

 

very nice find!

 

how sweet is that !?
great find, and dont forget to pay it forward

 

Haha..Wicked....Congrats...I love hearing stories like that....!!!

 

i must have missed this post the first time. thats so fn sweet!

 

OUT-standing...

and quite the looker! oh yeah the bike is pretty good too!

seriously, you did well young Jedi...

 

You should have tried for a discount on that one. She looks sweet and the bike is not bad either.

 

I am completely jealous!! Very good find, my friend! Now, if only I were that lucky... LOL

 

Thanks guys.

Now that I have 1100 miles and counting on this bike since I got it, I see where the devotion and patience comes to keep them running.

 

I'm still paying off karma debt, I got no such luck. It could be raining chicken soup, I go outside to open my mouth to get a taste, and I'll get hit with a boulder. Sort of Wiley Coyote karma is what I got. Glad to see someone get a solid done to them.