First Motorcycle: '82XJ650 SECA

hey everyone,

been lurking here for almost three months now, since i won the ebay auction for the bike pictured below.

I go to MU in columbia, missouri, and found this bike on ebay in south central iowa for $322.77. It ran(barely) when i went to pick it up, and the guy selling it said he didn't really know the owner but he had ridden it.

It's taken me this long to whip it into shape for three reasons: summer classes (Calc II and Dif Eq) are kicking my butt, I have nowhere to work on it here, so it's been back in KC and I've only got to see her on the weekends., and... waiting on parts.

Ebay auction was here:
eBay Motors: 82 xj650 SECA

Work done so far:

Replaced the exhaust, battery, clutch lever, tach cable and plugs
Rebuilt the master cylinder
Drilled out & retapped seized master cylinder cover screws
Taken carbs off for inspection(did not clean at this time, looked alright)
Sealed the engine side carb boots w/ silicone(temporary fix)
Red-koted the gas tank
Taken apart front brakes and cleaned
Synched carbs (using $5 carb synch how-to on p3 of the FAQs on this forum)
Cleaned air filter
Changed oil, filter, and driveshaft oil

I waited 5 or 6 weeks on the master cylinder rebuild kit from a place in kansas city before i finally told the place to forget it and ordered it from chacal. I had it 3 days later, and was riding it 3 days later. The last things I did were new plugs and synching the carbs, she was a cold natured bitch before that and now she starts first time, every time.

To do this week:

New tires
Plates
check rear brake pads

This summer:
Add windshield
Recover seat

This winter:
clean carbs
adjust valves(that'll be new to me)
Replace sidecovers
tear down and paint

I've got 90 miles on the junk tires already(this past weekend), and i should have new Kendas on it and plates by this friday evening. I absolutely love this bike. Granted, I've only ever ridden dirtbikes before, but I don't see why anyone would ever want to get rid of one.

Just wanted to share, and ask for some opinions.

I think i might ride it out to California in a few weeks. Any opinions on windshields, and anything else i need to do to it to get ready for a trip like that?

I know I'm asking for trouble taking a fixer upper i just bought so far, or riding that far while still so green. There's only one way to learn, though, and you only live once.

joe

 

Welcome - What is the purpose of the bungee cord?
Looks like a good find. For your trip you want to be sure the bike is in top shape as best you can. Windshields are personal preference - I like one - I have had enough junk hit it I'm glad did not hit me

 

You might want to check the valve clearances and adjust if necessary. The trip alone will account for nearly one valve adjustment interval; I'd want to start safe in the knowledge I wasn't gonna burn a valve riding across the desert.

 

bill: the bungee cord held the side covers on. they're in pretty poor shape, various cracks, wear marks, broken edges, missing mount posts & grommets. The hunt for new ones is getting higher on my list.

fitz: checked out your valve clearance pictorial. doesn't look too hard, great job btw.
I assume my non-YICS 650 will be largely similar to your YICS 550 in that respect?

so i'll need to order a set of clearance tester plates of known thickness, tear it open, check the clearances, put it back together, order shims, and then open it and change the shims?

I'm planning on leaving august 7th, there ought to be enough time to wait on parts twice, chacal has been very fast.

joe

 

only thing i would suggest is to carry extra cables. Clutch would be the most inportant...

 

Side covers can be expensive I saw a plastic repair kit on web where you might be to rebuild them.

Valves should look identical - not a hard job.

 

Update:

checked the valve clearances last weekend.

exhaust side:
.008,.008.007,.008

intake side:
.006,.006,.006,.006

oh, baby! i was looking forward to getting those shims out without that special tool about as much as i was looking forward to paying for new ones. my valves ought to be just fine for another 15,000 miles.

anyway, that clears this weekend for another project: replacing the front steering bearings(there's a daaayngerous detent right in the middle at the moment. I'm sure you guys have seen it before.) I'm also going to test fit a cafe-style windshield and a set of drag bars and clubmans. If the mockup goes well friday night, i'll buy the parts and it ought to be that much sportier by saturday afternoon.

I was gonna ask if anyone knows if you can get a colortune locally? I have a sneaking suspicion i'm running lean.

 

5000 miles, not 15,000. Gotta at least check 'em.

You're lucky; numbers like that mean your PO (or one of them) at least knew a little something.

 

Must have been a few PO's ago, it had twisted up chopped exhaust pipes, a ripped up seat, and tires that couldn't have been usable in the past 10 years.

still, though, I'm counting my lucky stars. This bike has enough expensive parts queued for purchase already.

question: does anyone notice anything of a break-in period when pulling a bike like that out of the mothballs? I've got about 950 of my own miles on her, about 900 of them in the last 7 days, and i swear that motor pulls harder every time i sit on it.

I'm planning on putting another 1000 or 1200 miles on it in the next week or so before i embark on my last bit o summer fun.

Springfield, MO
Lamesa, TX
Pheonix, AZ
Los Angeles, CA
Flagstaff, AZ
Denver, CO

I just realized that if i stick at 2000 mile intervals, that'll be four oil changes in a month. sheesh.

 

The motor is clearing itself out and like you said, "breaking in" again. Keep up with the "too frequent" oil changes; I've got almost 1K on my '83 after its reawakening and I've noticed the same thing. I've also noticed some really interesting gook and sludge with each oil change; I did one when I got it, and one at about 700 miles; and I'm gonna do it again before it hits 2K, it already looks "murky." Takes a while to flush 25 years of neglect away.

 

I haven't had internet access since sometime shortly after my last post. It was shut off at my old house(roommates downloading movies), and it just got turned on at the new place.

Anyway, since then, I've:

Rode back to kansas city.

Changed the steering bearing. This was pretty intense as I ended up taking off almost every part of the front end. It was scary looking at a big pile of parts with shit hanging off all over the front end and knowing that I'd rode it there and had to ride it home. This was also eye-opening, as these two tiny metal parts made the bike come alive. With no huge dead spot in the steering, it felt like i'd taken the motor and put it into a whole new frame, night and day.

Put on a Viper cafe fairing and a set of clubmans. I was told they'd be uncomfortable, but experience has been that that doesn't set in until riding for more than 6 or 8 hours

Rode home.

Did a lot of joyriding around columbia.

Rode to kc and back to see my gf.

Rode to california and back. The bike had a few problems, some very minor, some life threatening, and some engine threatening. It didn't, however, give up on me, and i was able to make the whole way, ~4500 miles. It was a truly awesome trip, I'm going to reserve the next couple posts for the details, since I'd like this thread to eventually contain the entirety of my SECA story, save a very few questions mechanical in nature.

Moved into my new place.

Turned down an offer to buy the bike.

Today, I started what i intend to be a complete restoration, with an eye towards the cafe style. I plan to take it down to the frame, to dismantle every assembly, and clean, paint and polish every part, piece by piece, and come good weather next spring have a BRAND NEW XJ650RJ.

Today, I took off the half fairing, the seat and tank, the electronics immediately over the engine, the carbs, the battery, the boots, the valvecover, the exhaust, and got the bolts holding the top end on loosened. This was about two hours total.

I'll be working on this from when i get off work or class(5pm tuesday through friday) until dark(about 8:15 here at the moment) either three or four days a week until the bike is completely in pieces, then start working on individual parts inside during the foul weather months to come..

I've got access to a full machine shop, as well as a good friend(who does beautiful work) who's offered to both paint EVERYTHING and to plug weld two exhaust stud holes to be retapped. Both guys are back in kc. I also have basic tools here. (thanks, harbor freight!)

Anyway, wish me luck. I have to get to fixing my bicycle, seeing as how i won't be riding a motorcycle to class anymore.

 

This post reserved for trip details.

 

This post reserved for trip details.

 

Hey whats up man I live in Kansas City, MO. and I think you got a great deal, how was the trip?? if your ever around town give me a e-mail and well ride! I have a yamaha maxim xj550 1981.
casinoog@yahoo.com
Enrique

 

Hey whats up man I live in Kansas City, MO. and I think you got a great deal, how was the trip?? if your ever around town give me a e-mail and well ride! I have a yamaha maxim xj550 1981.
casinoog@yahoo.com
Enrique

 

Hey whats up man I live in Kansas City, MO. and I think you got a great deal, how was the trip?? if your ever around town give me a e-mail and well ride! I have a yamaha maxim xj550 1981.
casinoog@yahoo.com
Enrique