Introducing Plum Crazy

After a LOT of work and too much $$$ she is finally on the road.

I wanted a different color and I'm pretty sure I got that.

This thing was ROUGH looking before I started but I can't find many photos of the rusty heap prior to my attack.

And of course I fogot how to post photos and I'm too tired to figure it out!
Sorry, you'll have to go to photobucket

http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll16 ... 5755bd.pbw

There is still a couple bits to polish and replace but I'm not far from completion now.

 

I got a message from photobucket... My action has Failed!

 

Me too. The gallery link has a picture. (Actually, the gallery link says 1/10 pictures, but there are only two pictures. Is that binary?)

Plum Crazy looks very nice!

 

I think I fixed the link...and figured out how to add an attachment

 

Looks nice, I like it when we customize our bikes, makes em unique, you got a sweet lookin ride there

 

i was able to view the slideshow and i can only say this...



WOW!

i like it. i like it alot....

 

I do have to say, from first hand experience, this bike is beautiful. Definitely a class act.

 

Mike, looks awesome! Glad you had a successful trip up here and back. the pic doesn't do it justice....it's so much nicer up close!

jgb1503, glad you could come! Hopefully she runs better each day now. Hey, let me know where you got those bowldrain screws... I gotta get me some like that. They look sharp.

 

I like those screws too (once you actually tighten them down that is).

I got those from Chacal about a year ago when I was rebuilding that set of carbs you saw as a bunch of parts in my bag, lol

 

Turned out looking real nice Mike!

 

very very nice!

 

very nice! it's nice and clean looking.

 

Thanks for the nice comments guys.

I'm pretty happy with the results. There are some "not perfect" spots but at least I know it runs.
It would have been a major bummer to put all that effort into making it look good and then she wouldn't run.
Now that she's on the road I can work on the other little details.

 

and you only know about those spots because you've been over every inch of your bike like white on rice... I'm bettin' 99.9875% of the people who admire your bike couldn't point out even one spot! Very nice job indeed. I like the way the back wheel is like a negative of the front both in color and in form...( I hope that makes sense) that's pretty cool!!!

 

Nice looking bike! You've done a fine job.

mikeg

 

VERY NICE mike,

Am I the only one that had silver yamaha emblems on the 85' tank? I rarely see them. AMost I see are in gold or did mine fade? Not that they are on there but some day I might like them back on but gold won't look right to me. Again nice job looks great!!

 

My first one had silver emblems so they aren't faded.
It was the deep metalic blue with silver badges.
I've seen other pics with the silver also....did the black ones have silver badges?

Len will know the answer I'm sure!

 

mine was originally the dark metallic red, the original owner after getting in an accident had it repainted the dark metallic blue color. I only ever had one badge as the second onwer dropped the bike on the trail and lost one. THen some freakin idiot stole the other off my tank and scrathed the heck out of it. Thats the main reason my bike got painted.

 

mike, nicely done. I'd like to see it in person when I'm in in the philly area in a few months. The badges....silver badges came on the blue maxims, and gold came on the maroon as well as the black versions. I believe this was true only with the 85's as the 86's came with a 'yamaha' badge similar to what the earlier maxim's had.

 

mike, nicely done. I'd like to see it in person when I'm in in the philly area in a few months. The badges....silver badges came on the blue maxims, and gold came on the maroon as well as the black versions. I believe this was true only with the 85's as the 86's came with a 'yamaha' badge similar to what the earlier maxim's had.

 

Excelent job, can you make mine look like that?

 

Hey Bob,
Drop me a PM or email when you are going to be back in the area.

mlew...if you saw how bad this was before I started, you will understand when I say anything is possible.

Just ship it up along with a blank check and she'll be ready in about 10 months.....ok 12 months since I'd rather be riding than wrenching in the summer!
As long as you have good airbox covers, 5 valve carb covers and a couple other bits that are unobtainium you'll be set. Most of the other stuff can either be painted, purchased, or polished.

 

What did you use to mount the trunk? I have one sitting in my garage and can't come up with a decent way to mount it without some kind of water-jet.

 

I built the mount from scratch.
It's stainless, and I have a plasma cutter to cut it into the shape I needed.

I also added another cross member on the frame under the fender to give the mount a lot more strength.

I wish I had the time, and I'd make you one or at least give you some drawings. I could take some pics pretty easily if you are intersted.

The trunk isn't the most stylish thing, but it makes the bike SO MUCH more functional for daily riding. Great place to keep the rain gear, spare pair of gloves and all the other stuff I need to tote back and forth to work and job-sites.
It easily doubles the amount of miles I can ride instead of drive.

 

lLooks to me like are plenty busy enough. Bike looks absolutely fantastic. You do some nice work. Keep the pictures coming.

 

Mike,

I agree with you about the trunk which is why I have one on my bike. It may not be pretty but it's so damn handy! I especially like the extra brake light.

mikeg

 

Man! That is one of the best looking XJ's I've ever seen. Absolutely beautiful. Looks as good as new.

 

Mike, I know you waited until after left to finish this bike...just kidding. I look forward to seeing it when I go to see my parents after I get back. Maybe the wifey's and kids can play while we chat??

 

It looks great! What percentage of new vs cleaned and painted would you say you put on it? To give me an idea of what I'm looking at, because the only thing mine has going for it right now compared to yours when you started, is it doesn't have the hole in it.

 

There were about 6 parts that I didn't touch :lol:

I had a good instrument cluster that I was able to mix and match.

You need good chrome or need to buy replacements if you can find them.
I didn't find a place that was remotely reasonable with re-chroming parts.
I think I spoke to four places that wouldn't touch my rusty exhaust, and this exhaust is actually off X2 so I'm still searching for a perfect exhaust system.
The carb covers and airbox covers are very difficult to find and almost impossible to restore.

Frame was rusty so it got acid dipped and powder coated but you could easily paint and clear coat it too.
A LOT of the parts were glass bead blasted and clear coated (wheels, forks, top of triple tree).
Most everything else was painted or just polished.

I splurged on the air shocks from Len.

Side note: I am lucky enough to have a pretty full shop of toys...compresor, welder, plasma cutter, blasting cabinet, overhead crane, running hot water and heat so I have a bit of an advantage over the members that live in an apartment complex.
I also had X2 to ride during the reconstruction so I didn't have any real pressure to get her on the road.

 

That is one good looking bike, outstanding.

On a cautionary note though, you probably should not wear your favorite green and yellow plaid 1970s sport jacket and matching trousers when you ride this bike. Of course, come to think of it, you probably shouldn't wear that stuff on any bike, in fact you probably shouldn't wear those duds at all. OK, here it is, burn the green and plaid sport suit, and don't breath the fumes from the fire. And move the xj back. I burned a polyester suit too close to my bike one time and it wouldn't start for weeks.

But seriously, very sharp bike.