XJ750RJ Seca Cafe Project

Re: Lowering and modifying my XJ750RJ SECA

LOL, that's exactly how I feel now. But I paid $65 for the parts shipped. That is actually cheap if you consider the price of a real brembo Master Cylinder ($350 and up in some cases) I'm just thankful that MC did not take a poop on my while I was riding. Some one recently told me not to be cheap on Tires and Brakes on a bike. I'm sure other things apply as well.

I contacted the seller and he said he would refund me the money. Let's see what happens, I'll give him a week or so.

There are a few other things I'd like to do to the bike, but I'm really hurting for $$$ now. But sooner or later I will get the tank, fender and fairings painted.

 

Re: Lowering and modifying my XJ750RJ SECA

So it turns out the guy will not give me my refund until I send him the junk MC I got from him first, and that could take 2 weeks thru the mail, since this part has to go all the way to Thailand. I also would have had to pay for the return shipping myself. So I was not about to take the chance of me sending (wasting my more money) this part back to him and maybe not get a refund at all. So I told him that he was lying and asked him why did he not mentione that he required a return of the item on his first email when he said that he would give me a refund.
I told him that if he did not return my money within 24 hours I would leave him very negative feedback and report him for selling cheap, fake, knock off parts that are a danger for anyone who purchases them and ride motorcycles. Guess what? 6 hours later I got a complete refund. 8)

I tell you what. Sometimes you gotta put your foot down. :x

Anyhow, this is my new (new to me. Used but good) REAL brembo MC. It needs some touch up paint but it works great. I even had a chance to see how good it works when a car decided to jump out in front of me.

 

These are just some update photos after my Gauges swap. From the big BOX to these from Mikesxs.com








Next in store:
Install my supertrapp 4 to 1
Install my Cafe seat.

 

glad to see you did what every owner of a customized max/seca should do. DUMP THOSE REDICULOUS STOCK GAUGES!!!

 

Awesome.
Maybe next paycheck I will hit up Mikes... Threatening to for too long.

 

Thanks guys.

And now.....
The next step, the seat of course:

This ones are from me mocking up the seat on my parts bike (another xj750) to test how it fits and looks. (I like it)






Pardon the mess in my shed.

This is the making the seat bracing/brackets/support on my running bike.


My 10 year old helping out.






removing the stock seat hinges.






welding the brakets.





finished and waiting for the seat.








I should be finished by saturday. I'll post more photos later.

 

4 hours of this and that but it's finished. Tomorrow I'll install a set of clubman's handlebars.

Next comes the xj650 tank and some custom side panels.

Cheers everyone!

 

I really like that tail light especially with the cafe back like that. You need some sort of cushion but other than that its looking great and the clubmans and tank should make a big difference, Any ideas for the paint yet?

 

Well, I am on a budget at the moment. So I used apliance (refrigerator) paint for the tail section. I am planning on doing the same on the tank and fender. the paint is supposed to be chip proof etc... let's see how it holds up. I'm also asking a buddy of mine if his brother (an auto body guy) could do my tank seat and fender. Once he get's back with me I might just let the guy paint it. I took it for a ride yesterday and man, it feels nice, Now that the seat is lower i'm not leaning down as much and the stance is just right and way more confortable.

I have the cushions on the way. Eventually I will get a nice upholstered seat in there. but for now the cushions I ordered should do. Heck even sitting on the seat as is wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

 

I got my little hard cushion for the meanwhile until I get the seat upholstered after I get the seat , tank and front fender painted.

Still working on my side panels, they're going to be very nice. No sneak peeks on that yet. LOL

Here is the bike with the clubman's, and temp. seat cushion.










Let me know what y'all think so far.

 

WOW! Love It! Was it hard to hook up the gauges?

 

SECA750: It was easier than I thought. But I read a lot on that wiring schematic on the Haynes manual. But I also got a lot of help from Robert (the moderator) on this board. A lot of the guys here step up to give you a a hand when needed. They're a great bunch of guys. The tach was the easiest. The thing is keeping your rear lights and brake lights working after the gauge swap, and figuring out how to wire up for the headlight. But like I said, it was easy with help and a voltmeter too. if you decide to do the swap I'll be glad to walk you thru it.

 

Very nice xulf13, modified not mutilated.

 

...now you have to trimm the front fender and change the tank.

 

My 650 seca tank is on the way, And I was already thinking on shortening the front fender. One step at a time, or I'll trip all over myself. I have 4 projects going on at once.

 

This is my bike as of today.
I installled my 4 to 1 supertrapp exhaust. I get a much better response, seems more torquey. I also shortened the front fender about 1 1/2" in the front and back for a total of 3"

I modded the stock 750 Seca tank and painted it, I also added the stripes today. Still need another 16 to 18" more to do the front fender. I have a whole other tank and front fender that I will eventually do a lot nicer, I'm thinking silver.

I think this passes as a semi road worthy bike to ride around.










I'm happy with it and I'm liking it. Thanks to all who've helped me thru the process and who encouraged me. (pretty much everyone who's replied or comented on this thread)

 

That looks awsome. Most of the time I dont like the cafe look but this is nice.

 

i love this thing im not that much of a cafe fan but you built this one just right very nice

where did you get exuast?

 

Thanks for the coments guys. The exhaust is a supertrapp. I'm not sure if they make it anymore or just the muffler itself, whether it was just added to a 4 to1 header or what. I had the whole thing laying around in my shed along with my spare parts bike (another 750 seca), I just sanded it down, and gave it a fresh coat of high temp exhaust paint and slapped it on.

 

the bike looks great. i also have a 81 750seca but can't find a rear cafe seat that will slide in, yours is awsome looking were did you get it, make it? i am dying to put different gauges on, found the one's i like but realy skeptical about tackeling that big square computer and the mess of wire in the headlight bucket. if you have any advice on that i would love a pm. i bought clubman bars but did not fit, not wide enough have to look for a diffent pair. once again love the look exactly what i am trying to line up the parts for a winter project.

 

looks good, like the drag bars. had a hard time finding replacemnt front forks for my 81 750 seca should have just used another bikes since i going to cafe it this winter any way. post new pic if you have lowered the font end and what you used. how hard was it to put in the round front light? iwant to get rid of the square gauges too.

 

Fatman123: I got my cafe seat from carpy at cb750cafe.com
Those can also be found on ebay for around $150 or so plus shipping. just go to ebay and type cafe seat. You just gotta search harder. That's what i did. they don't make things for OUR secas. you're going to have to find something that works. measure your frame width and ask the seller for his measurements, etc.... Trust me I know it's hard and even costly. It took me a few months to gather the parts I wanted but in the end it pays off.

Even what I have did not just slide on. You gotta figure out how you will mount the seat and make it stay in place etc...

Also, if I can tackle removing the square computer gauge box, then so can you. Just read the schematic on the manual a few times while you use the restroom, (might as well load your brain with good info while you unload LOL) it might take a few days, prepare your self and make sure you don't do a hack job with your wiring. I used solder for every single wire, and shrink tubing. So if you look behind my headlight everything looks proffesional.

Just go for it. I cannot start writing a detailed how to because I really don't rememeber everything I did , but it was simpler than I thought it would be. your main concern will be getting the headlights and tail lights and brake lights running. There will be some rewiring needed in that area but it's all done withing the bucket. About the bucket swap. Get the parts you need, Brackets you want, headlamp and bucket you want and swap buckets it's really simple. you will need to find another location for your horns though, or get different ones. I modified my stock horn brackets and mounted them on my frame in front of the tank and exhaust pipes.

My clubman's fit just fine even on the stock risers. I just removed my maxim risers and mounted them on my stock risers. I got my clubman's on ebay. there are two or three types available. I got these. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0395674711

Again, write down the measurements.

If you want to lower a seca 750 You will have to losen the triple tree and slide the forks down, remove the air filler sleeves and ring, then push up the forks all the way through until it clears the little holes on the sides where the sleeves go over. To be able to do that you will need a set of risers that place your handlebars back an inch so your bars will clear the forks. That's why I used the maxim risers. the problem is that every once in a while I would hit a big pot or hole and my forks would dive too much and my fender would slightly bottom out against the horns and the bracket that holds the wire harness that goes onto the headlight bucket. it wasn't too bad but bad enough to scratch my paint.

I liked it better and it handled fine without issues because the drop was not drastic. I heard you can solve the problem by making your forks stiffer by adding heavier weight oil in the forks. I might try that someday, but for now, I'm happy with the way the bike looks feels and performs. plus the clubman's look better without the risers.

I hope this helps you a bit. I got some tips from many on here, but in the end, You're the one that's gotta make it happen and figure it out. Post some pics of your ride and start a project thread. Cheers!

 

Beautiful bike, man. nice work

 

Thanks for the compliment. Beautiful AKIRA avatar. Man I love that bike.

 

thanks for the info. i have been looking at carpy,s stuff.
wachted a few of his video's , love what he's doing.
I will get in touch with him about the seat. as for the wireing thanks for the info, will be my winter project.
very new to the bike seen but fell instanly inlove with cafe syle cant wait to get started. hope it comes out as nice as yours.

 

I'm sure if you take you're time it will come out even nicer. There is nothing to it really. But doing your own work makes you appreciate your bike better and makes you care for it more IMO. Hope it turns out well and keep us posted with a thread of your build.

 

COOL BIKE!! VERY COOL. I LOVE THE SLAMMER CAFE. THANKS FOR THE PICS THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT

 

Here are the most recent photos I have of the bike. I just got a rear dunlop 404 tire mounted. made my diamond plate aluminum panel.

It came out good, but wasn't sure if I liked it so I made plain aluminum panels as well. Unfortually I only have one photo with the diamond plate panel.

This one:


These are the other ones I made out of aluminum sheet. I am thinking on painting them black as well pretty soon.





This is also my new tank decals I had a buddy of mine make.





If anyone needs decals, let me know, this guy can make anything, even custom stuff.

 

very nice, i like!

 

Man that thing turned out beautiful. Does anyone want to trade a Seca for a cruddy maxim?

 

What a great looking bike! Thanks for the pics.

 

thanks for the kind comments guys.
I finally Installed my new ignition switch (something Bill and I were working on doing before he passed away) in order to install my chrome riser one piece top. And I ordered this Chrome tripple tree bolt to go along with the scheme. I tried polishing my tripple tree, but it got sorta dark colored. It did not stay nice and shiny, maybe I'm supposed to use some special polish or something? Oh well, it doesn't look too bad.

Here are some pics:






and my soon to be gone Super trapp:

 

Sweet bike. Great job. 8)

 

hey! do u wanna sell that super trapp?

 

schooter: If I sell it it will only be the muffler itself, not the 4-1 header. But you'll have to wait until I make sure the exhaust tip I put on works out.

 

oh i wanted the header, nvm

 

Xulf, I gotta tell you again, the bike looks great. I LOVE the checkered design. It's awesome (like Hoss Delgado!)

How do you like your mirrors on the outside?

The reason I'm asking is that I'm a big dude, wide up top and I can't see crap behind or to the sides for that matter on my xj750 with the stock mirrors. Figured since I'm getting your drag bars, you can recommend the same mirrors if you like them, no?

 

very clean looking bike. nice!

 

Thanks again for the kind words. I really, really, love my bike. I get psyched just looking at it and makes me want to ride all the time, specially while at work.

Barzu, I really like my napoleon bar end mirrors. but first let me warn you, I had bout some cheap chrome ones from ebay, like $35 shipped for the pair, they are nice and worked ok, but the tightning system sucked. the metal piece inside broke and they would not hold up very well. Another thing is that, with the cheap ones, as soon as you went over 3thou. rpm's they would shake like crazy, i mean you could not tell if there was a car behind you or not. EVERYTHING was distorted. With these, they still shake, but not as bad and only after 5500 RPM's or so. I filled my bars with lead and it took about 75% of the shaking off. I was going to get some bb's or pellets, but I went with bird shot. bought a box of 25 shells, for 7 bucks (way cheaper than buying enough pellets to fill the bars) and I took the time to open every shell ( just cut the plastic top or pry it open) (don't mess with the back or the primer. ) and filled a bowl and then the bars. I can see very good with the mirrors out the sides. But I think they sell stock type mirrors with longer and/or taller stems. Ask Chacal what he has, I'm sure he has something.

 

Beautiful bike, nicely done! What made you change your mind about the 650 tank swap?

 

Well I bought one, but it turned out to be badly dented under the paint as I started to strip it. So since there arent many 650 seca tanks around I just decided to stick with what I have and I have grown fond of this tank now. I don't think I would swap tanks. There are somethings I would change about it but I think it looks alright for now. This winter I plan on stripping it and repainting it and do a slight make over.

 

d00d, I've told you before. The bike looks SIIIIICK. I absolutely love it, the gauges are too cool! Fantatsic, bro!

If me and my brother ever cruise down to NC, we're looking you up!

BTW, your jacket is sweet. You like? If so, where did you get it? I've got leather, but am looking for something lighter.

 

Barzu, the jacket was a gift from my church pastor (he rides too, actually a lot of people at my church ride) Anyhow, it's a used Joe Rocket stage 3 jacket. it's a summer jacket, very well vented, until you get stock at a light. but it's really good and I use it all the time. it has a windbraker attachment that slips on the outside for when it get's cold or if it rains.

I like the jacket, but I don't like how it makes me look like a football player LOL.

AndBTW, any time you decide to come down to my neck of the woods. We will ride for sure.

 

Dude!! That bike looks awesome!! You should put a before/after pic to see the drastic change. It is so cool that you ride with people at church. We actually have a Bike Ministry. We have shows onece in a while and all the bikes are porject bikes.

 

I'm about to pull the trigger on a set of clubman bars, as well as am interested in lowering the front in a way similar to yours.

Do I need to change my cable length for the brake and clutch by doing so? I will need risers, correct? how far back will I need to move the bars, and do you have any issues with rubbing against the tank with the clubmans? I'm slowly building up the courage to start working on my bike as well, but my lack of tools here in seattle is very rough.

 

Pop Rider: what kind of bike do you have?

If it's a seca like mine, or any xj for that matter... if you're going to swap handlebars, there will be more to it then just the bars. in my case I ended up swaping the whole brake Master Cylinder to a bar mounted one, and to even do that I also had to replace my ignition switch for one off of a maxim. If you're going to lower the front you need some risers that will move your mounting position about 1" back so that the forks can slide up and not hit the handlebars. the handle bars will get in the way if you leave them on the stock riser. And yes the bars will slightly hit the tank, but that also depends of what angle you mount them at. if I had another 1/16 to 1/8th of an inch on either side I would not touch at all. but I can still lock my handlebars in place, so it turns that much.

For the clutch cable, all you gotta do is remove the tank and re route the cable so that it's not kinked.

 

I have a seca 750 like yours, but I thought you replaced the master cylinder due to the change in gauges and headlight. is there anything in particular to consider when swapping master cylinders? I saw you went from a junk R6 one to a brembo one.

 

Poprider,
My swap was do to the headlight. I pretty much did the bars alone at first. It was kind of hard to make that brake cable work. It made the brake lever pretty stiff and unconfortable. I tried getting a shorter cable and such, but while doing my headlight swap i discovered that the stock master cyilinder location got in the way, unless I used some really long after market headlight brackets that looked like a backyard fence hinge. LOL

I originally bought drag bars so those are smaller than the clubmans. you might be able to use your stock master cylinder cable with the clubmans, but I cannot guarantee that you won't need to make it shorter.

I honestly don't think it's worth spending the money to shorten a cable or buy a shorter one, when you can get a GOOD or New MC for less then $80. then another $45 to $60 for new stainless steel brake lines.

Anyhow. I was trying to do everything on the cheap, and it was not the way to go. As you know I got the cheap knock off of an r6 master cyl. Then I ended up buying the real deal.

I have seen some good master cylinders for duel front disk aplications at mikesxs.com for around $80. maybe you can go that route.

If you have time, get the handlebars, ($33 shipped)

Measure then how long your lines will have to be to be sure. I can give you my measurements. They will be the same lenght weather you later get risers to lower your bike. because when you raise your handle bars by an inch or two, you are also going to lower your bike that much to compensate for the amount the handlebar was raised. When doing this, swap fork oil to s heavier weight oil to stiffen up the forks a bit more, because you will bottom out your fender against that thin bracket that acts as a loop to hold the electric harness ro your headlight bucket.

 

super helpful, because my goal was to get the bike looking almost exactly like yours is now.

I bought a set of clubmans, and all I really want to do now is get the bike lowered a bit in the front, and install the clubmans. If I don't plan on changing the gauge cluster and headlight for a while (current funds are going to be spent on things like a new clutch, new starter solenoid, etc.) I can keep the current master cylinder setup? This bike is basically a daily rider (I have a BMW M Coupe that I can drive, but am trying to keep miles off of it, and my reasonably long commute to work makes the bike appealing. I squeaked 62mpg out of it one week) so my upgrades will be small and far between, and needing to be done in a few days tops.

Where did you get your risers? I just want to finally not be sitting so bolt upright, as it's uncomfortable for me with all the buffeting, and tucking on the stock bars looks silly Also, when you did drag bars/clubmans with everything else stock, did you need to shorten your brake or clutch cables? I've never done that sort of surgery, so I have no idea how it's done.

 

poprider:
You would be able to keep the current MC set up, but will more then likely have to get a shorter brake cable made. AGAIN, in my opinion, that's a waste of money, because the money you would spend to have one made or for you to buy the tools to make one properly would be around what you would pay a new set of SS brake lines. I would just save up and get the bar mounted master Cylinder to avoid wasting money and doing things twice. I'm telling you this from experience. I wasted money and time trying to do one thing at the time. At least you know all the things you need to get in order to do it in one shot from reading this thread. I didn't know, because the only other XJ cafe bike on this forum at the time was EASE's and his is a 650 SECA and already came with bar mounted MC. and the round headlight.

The risers are off of an early 80's maxim, STOCK. I got them from ebay, they pop up every once in a while, you just have to be patient and save $30 or so for when one comes along.If you search for MAXIM RISERS and nothing comes up, you may want to search for a MAXIM tripple tree, and it will include the risers (that's how I found mine)

In regards to your clutch cable, the stock one will be fine. All you will have to do is disconect the cable at the lever, remove the tank and re-rout the cable thru the right side of the frame pass it thru just under the right side tank rubber mount thru the front under the tripple tree then straight to the lever again. This will give the line a nice flow and reduce any stiffness cause by trying to keep your line where it was with the drag or clubman bars.