82 xj550 streetfighter project

i have an 82 xj550 and have decided to follow in brianwarner's footsteps and customize my bike

i've gotten rid of the handle bars they were way too big
and i've painted the fender. i will be cutting the fender soon though


Im thinkin about doing a fiberglass tail too but not positive on what to do for sure, ive photochopped up an idea though, let me know what you guys think



i dont want to go for a cafe look at all with it which seems to be really popular and the handlebars are staying theyre off of a seca and i LOVE em on this bike

i have the outline for my fender penciled on and plan on cutting it and repainting soon

 

or maybe something a little more difficult to fiberglass up

 

I like this one.
It doesn't look rat, more hitech.
Maybe go even shorter on the length.

 

i tried it shorter i didnt like it as much it didnt feel as aggressive

 

I think shorter, with the tail angled up more would make it more aggressive, then lower the front a bit, but take note that this will change how the bike handles a bit, although mine is lowered almost 1.5" in the front and raised 1" in the rear, now it can corner almost as good as my GSXR :mrgreen:

 

you could possibly use a tail off a 2000 R6, cut the width down to that of the stock tank and mold it on to the stock seat pan so it bolts on to the bike, similar to what I done, hard part would getting an R6 seat to fit into the stock tank... just a few ideas for you...

 

i dont think it would be too bad to get the seat to fit onto the tank if i fiberglass it, which is my plan http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5801

and lowering the front and raising the rear definitely appeals to me but i have no idea how to do that... would i need different forks and rear shocks?

low: did you end up using the r1 tail or was it custom cause i saw it mocked on there and it was my inspiration to use a sport tail but then it was painted and looked a little different

my other inspiration for fightering was my buddy's gl500

 

lowering the front is just a matter of moving the shock tubes up more in the triple, raising the rear can be done with longer shocks, or moving the shock mount further towards the front of the swing arm.. or you could weld up a new rear frame that sticks higher to give the bike "the look" of being raised

 

i can shorten the tail but i can't do much about raising it with the frame cause i dont really want to cut the weld for the shocks, but what about this:


its a little shorter in length but theres no height difference

still to come:
Headlights
Turn signals
Bar end mirror
exhaust
tail fiberglassing
bondo tank and repaint
powder coat rims
steel braded brake line
new clutch cable
take off center stand
different pegs
and any other suggestions that i deem worthy

 

low: how does the r6 exhaust sound on your bike do you only have one pipe on there and the other one just straight? ive been thinking either a sport bike exhaust or pipes off of a harley sportster

 

fender is cut and painted

 

Fender looks cool.
Looks like it could use to be closer to the tire, though.

 

ive thought about that, i'd like it closer to the tire but i'd have to fab something up becuase you cant put it that much lower without hitting the tire and the holes that are already there get in the way if you dont put it low enough

 

looks nice!

 

Just rolled over 10k yesterday



so i thought i'd paint something...
i chose the gauges


roughed it up with some 320


3 coats of flat black


and voila! black gauges

 

same thing I done with mine, I believe it looks much better, you're next step should be the replacement of the huge signals and headlight

 

lol those chrome gauges looked better IMO, but what ever

 

depends on the style of the bike, If I had turned mine into a chopper instead I might have kept them chrome but most of the chrome would have been painted ...

I'm not a "chromasexual" :lol: :lol: ... that's what the HD riders are called here with everything chromed out :twisted: :lol: :lol:

 

I plan on a lot of black on the finished product, keep it simple if it gets messed up a $4 rattle-can can fix it

 

chromasexual, lol, but chrome is nice, u have to admit, its one of the few gifts from God.