Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj650

I've been on here a little bit without much posting. I'm a 19 year old Mechanical Engineering Student from Pennsylvania. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone on here. I got the bike in June and rode it how it was for the rest of the season and started working on it this winter. The bike has a lot of new/used parts on it thanks to ebay and chacal. New paint, carb boots and brake pads just to start. Let me know what you really think and if anything should be different. Be honest, I can take the truth!
Thanks Everyone!

Before


After

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" xj650

SWEET ride, I know u just love it.
Cant beat that shaft drive.

I'm a former resident of schuylkill county loved cruisin those mountain roads & redlinin it on 81.

Let me offer a suggestion: dont let your bike sit over winter without runnin it at least once a month. This will keep fresh fuel in the carbs. I also found that a little Yamaha carb cleaner goes a long way. go to a dealer n get some, dont cheat.
This simple procedjure will will keep u ridin long n happy

 

looks great!!!! do you do the paint your self?
Also, I plan on going to michigan tech for mechanical engineering this fall after highschool. How do you like it? I'm oging into something agricultural or motorcycle related, seeing how the auto industry is taking a giant poop.

what paint did you use fore your exhaust, its far more glossy than the stuff i'm using, and i really like it.

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

Very nice!

 

Very nicely done. I've never really taken notice of tank trim before but with the shiny cases, beautiful paint, and flawless badge for some reason the tank trim just really finishes it up to perfection.


Now I'm jealous!

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

Hi 600 what a fantastic job.
I would be a bitch to mention the wrinkly seat cover, so I won't.
It just reminds you what a great bike this was back in '82, I think if Yam' started to produce them again they would sell.
Well done. Wiz.

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

You sir have done some very nice work! Being an XS guy the only thing I changed on my XJ was the turn signal lenses. I didn't like how fat they are. Made the signals look like they belonged on a backhoe or school bus. I bought some lenses for a XS which are about 1/2 inch thinner. That got rid of the industrial look and made it much more sporty looking. They fit perfect and all I had to do was cut the screws about 1/2 inch. Like I said you have a very nice looking machine there, Enjoy it!

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

I think this is an amazing bike! Looks great! You've actually made up my mind on which exhaust to put on mine. Enjoy! Maybe we'll see each other on the road sometime, I ride the NE extension quite a bit.

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

Looks great. We'll done mate.
I'm an engineering grad from PA, 7 years ago, but I'm a sparky. Good luck at school.
Thanks for sharing the pics.

Have the NGK lines I see helped performance at all?

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

WOW 600 very nice job. You have taken an old girl and made her pretty again. Gonratulations!

Now, guys be gentle on me please I have seen more than a few bobers on this site that I like but I appreciate more it when one is taken back to its original form such as 600's.

600 you have done a fine job there - something to be proud of the only thing I would add to your bike is an original exhaust system. College budget probably wont allow that so you might consider something aftermarket in chrome.

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

I have to disagree with Rob on the exhaust, but if you decide to get rid of it, I'd be willing to come get it. Please PM me.

 

BEAUTIFUL! I also really like that gold, full-length tank trim on black tanks.......

 

Nice job! Now whup-up on that valve cover and get it looking as nice as the rest of the bike.

 

Amen Chacal. The gold trim was the first thing I noticed too. 600, did you paint the jugs and cylinder head or just clean them up. If you just cleaned them up how did you do it? From the pictures they look showroom fresh while mine look pretty oxidized gray and the head bolts have some rust around the edges.

Again, just a beautiful job.

Wamaxim

 

fantastic job on the bike . clean as a whistle.

 

Nice job! The handlebars are hideous though. Buckhorns just ruin a bike.

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

Schooter- Got it painted by a friend who owns a body shop. I wanted this part to get done the right way. I like engineering so far, it is just an extreme amount of work. Most people do not make it in engineering. My class started with 100 people and now its 25 and I'm a 2nd semester sophmore. The exhaust is painted with rust-oleum High heat ultra. The megaphone on that exhaust does not really get hot at all.

Wizard- I really wish new bikes were produced that weren't v-twin cruisers or crotch rockets. Not to much in between.

WesleyJN1975-I am for sure keeping that exhaust for now.($$$$$$$) Also I really like the sound of it!

rnice-Those lines were on the bike when I got it, so I can't really tell you if there was a performance upgrade. Sorry

chacal- Thanks for the parts and recommendation for the trim!

wamaxim- Just cleaned...for a long time! I used a scotchbrite with water for a little, then a long time with mothers polish.

bigfitz52- You're my hero!

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

Looks great. We'll done mate.
I'm an engineering grad from PA, 7 years ago, but I'm a sparky. Good luck at school.
Thanks for sharing the pics.

Have the NGK lines I see helped performance at all?

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

What's up with the old tank badges? Do you still have them? Are they available? Or were they shot? Thanks.

 

Nice job, I am working on mine, i hope it turns out half as nice as yours!!!

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

Those are the same badges!! With a little new paint and clear coat. That's just one of the college budget details of this project.

 

Beautiful bike...

Have the carbs tops chromed again. They'll finish off a great restoration.

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

Wesley,pm me...I have a set of badges...cover shipping and you own them.

 

Nicely done!

 

awesome job dude really like it

 

Not only have you done a fantastic job on your bike, I'm extremely jealous of the beautiful farm country behind the bike. It must be great to have all that space to "do it right" and do it once.

I like the exhaust. What kind and where'd you get it?

 

Just beautiful 600, takes me back! Inspiring!

 

Uhmmm, I'd be very careful of posting pictures like that around. I am sure that the museum you stole it from is looking for it ...

:-;

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

I would add to your bike is an original exhaust system

I second this notion. I am a stickler for stock bikes. Otherwise, very nice job, good looking bike.

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

sushi_biker-It's nice to live out in the country, but the donkey's across the street get annoying when you're trying to sleep. For the exhaust it was on there when I bought it but I'm almost positive it is a Mac 4-1.

 

Very nice job. Are your steering head bearings in as good a shape as the rest of the bike?

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

I see you are from south central pa? where exactly, I'm in Winchester va, not too far from the pa line.

 

Re: Before and after pictures of my newly "restored" 1982 xj

David3aces-They seem ok???

mcrwt644- I'm about 20 minutes south of York. Has there ever been a xj ride in the pa md va area?

 

I'm still struggling with how gorgeous that engine looks! You shined it up by hand but would similar results be achievable by using a soda blaster?

I want my engine to look as nice as yours but I don't want to have to invest the time as the springers(salmon) are starting to run in the Columbia river and it's tributaries so I am going to have some distractions coming up soon.