First ride today. Another XJ gets back on the road.

After about 490 hours of work over the last 16 months. My XJ900 is ready for the road.

I got a temporary registration permit, so I can ride to the shop for a roadworthy certifcate, and then the registration office to get it registered. The nearest shop that does roadworthys on a Saturday is about 45 minutes from my home - so is the registration office. So I took it for test ride and to fill the tank. I havent been able to test the clutch or gearbox in the driveway. So I'm a bit nervous if it will run all the way to the shop, after all the things I have worked on. I got this bike from the wreckers yard, and it was not a runner, at the time.

Today is sunny and mid 30's celcius or high 90's. The engine fires up almost without the choke, the weather is so warm. Warmed up the engine and up the steep driveway to the street under its own power for the first time in how long? Rode up and down the street a few times. My street is single lane and quite hilly. Got up to about 25mph and 3rd gear, and shifting at about 3500rpm. Back to the driveway and turned the idle speed knob at the back of the carbs, which was about 1400rpm. Idling fine now at 1000rpm. So far so good, rides and changes gears fine. Rear brake feels a bit wooden, the new pads will need some time to bed in. The front bikes feel fine, and will improve as the new pads bed in also. Headed back along the street and onto the main road.

First to second gear at 3500rpm, and opened the taps to 7000rpm, through 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and i'm doing about 55mph, and I haven't gone into top gear yet. Woo hoo! This engine has got some power. On to the side road, which goes up the hill to the fuel station. This road is hilly and very curvy - a good test for the suspension and brakes. And the new tyres have to scrub in too. The engine pulled like a train up the hill. No sign of wobbles or anything either. Filled the fuel tank, almost full, and to my surprise, the fuel gauge works.

Headed back home for now, and I'm so happy. Can't thank everyone on this site enough for all the help on the servicing procedures, and Chacal for the parts to overhaul the brakes and suspension, valve shims and the colour tuning and carb synching tools.

Now I'm wondering whether to wait until next Saturday, or take Monday off work, and get it registered. My council rates are due soon - $1350.

 

Awesome! Congratulations. A few small things will probably crop up, they always do; but it sounds like you've done it.

Good job. PICTURES?

(When I finished my '81, I took Monday off...)

 

Thank you, I'm very happy. The excellent details on this site shows that a dead bike can be brought back to life. I have taken some pictures, but I'm on a relatives pc at present, so I can;t load any photos to the site. My pc is off the air as my phone line is down. I'm waiting for the telco to come out and fix it, which may be Monday. I'm wondering if the possums around here have chewed the cable off the pole. It runs underground, but must go up a pole somewhere.

 

Congratulations railtrolley..... it seems like you'll never get there and then you are... that was me xmas '08. It sure feels good.

 

Congratulations. That first ride on a bike that has been brought back from the dead is one of the things that keeps me coming back to this kind of project. Good luck and enjoy your new ride.

 

Congrats there RT nothing beats that feeling of success and how about posting some pics of that trolley? Can't see much in that avatar

 

The first time it fires up......truly one of the great feelings! Congrats!

 

Good work, nothing better than bringing one back from the dead...I too would love to see pics if you get a chance.

 

Another CONGRATS! Great feeling ain't it...

skillet

 

It is a good feeling to do that much work to it and then be able to ride it and show it off. Like the others said......pictures, pictures!

 

Ain't that the truth!!!

O.P., Ride safe!

 

Congrats and enjoy !!!!!!

 

Re: First ride today. XJ gets back on the road. Pics added

Phone line fixed today. I'm back on my pc. Here are some pics I took on the day. I haven't done much yet to its appearance, and the paint and panels look a bit scruffy. The alloy parts could do with a shine. The new Metezler tyres are still shiny and have the pips on the treads.

I've rang around a few shops, but looks like I have to wait until Saturday to submit it for a roadworthy certificate.

How do you get the large pictures I have seen on some postings, without the frames around them?

 

Smart bike. My 600 is styled so much like the 900.

To get large pictures, open a free account at a picture hosting web site (I use photobucket.).

Upload your pics to them and then "Resize" and use "Standard sizes" "Large". In a box on the lefthand side there will be a "Direct link" with text like http/railtrolleyspics/24363....8. "Copy" this then when you want to show the pic on your XJ post, click on "Img" and a box pops up where you "Paste" the link. Hey presto.. full size pictures appear in your post.

 

or even better yet, resize them yourself to 1024X768 then upload; when Photobucket converts them for you they can lose some resolution, depending on original size and resolution.

 

Spent too much time on a scambaiting forum!!! That's why I do what I do!!