Gday from new XJ racer in Oz

Gday all,

I found this site recently after picking up a 1980 XJ650 to race in next years Post Classic Racing Association here in Australia. I bought the XJ from eBay not long ago as I want to start racing and it was already race prepped with log book. Unfortunately it needs a little more work than the item description had led me to believe, but its nothing I cant do myself and with a little help from my friends and a great XJ forum.

After a short ride up the road, I was able see what was good and what needed work and as a result I drew up this To Do list for the coming weekends:
- get the old stale fuel out of the tank and carb bowls,
- change the plugs,
- change the oil & oil filter,
- adjust the clutch (maybe even replace it with a Barnett kit)
- replace the front brake master cylinder
- add braided brake lines
- add slotted front rotors
- straighten up/align the front end
- add some flat bars
- sort the wiring / guages / tacho cable

I also want to change the colour scheme. Its not that I dont like the yellow, but the paint is not as nice as the pics suggest and also I feel like Im riding someone else bike. So Im going to spray the tank white and add the Yamaha racing stripes in red, front fender red and rear ducktail either white or matt black.

So thats my long intro. I'll keep you updated with the progress if anyone is interested and Im sure I'll have some questions as well that I'd be appreciative for any help with.

Cheers

 

Welcome to the site.

Nice looking ride. I kinda dig the color/racing stripes, but I understand wanting to make it YOURS.

 

+1 on the Barnett for racing especially.

I'd keep the bumblebee look, but I was a huge KR fan back in the day.

Takes some serious attachments to race a shaftie, especially in the company you'll be in. Good on ya.

 

any rules against putting a turbo on it?

 

very sharp looking. great job man!

 

Not sure about the land of Oz, but here you can only run a turbo in Post Classic racing if they are a factory fitment

 

Welcome !! (rear brake check !!)

In an attempt to reduce rear gear friction, you could try Lucas oil.
What are you allowed to do to the engine, or what is your class CC limit - because you could fit a 900 engine in there !! Or 750 parts too.

You should read thru this guy's posts -

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=7135.html

 

beauty of a seca you've got there. I especially like that front fender, much cleaner than the ugly stock fender.

 

Welcome to the site, I think the white-red-black scheme will look great. Shoot us some pics when you get it painted. 8)

 

Gday All,

Thanks for the welcome

Here is a link to the PCRA website http://www.postclassicracing.com.au/

I'll be in the P5 Forgotten era for bikes 1973 - 1982. There are sub classes within this category to allow for different capacity engines. The open class is 750cc+ engines.

Basically, the rules are that any parts you use should be "visually indistiguishable" from the OEM parts of the day. Therefore, not upside down forks for example, but you can change the internals of the engine as much as you like. You can change to 17" diametre rims but rim width cant exceed 4.5".

My ears are wide open to any performance suggestions anyone has. Im interested in knowing what 750 or 900 parts will fit or even if there is a straight swap for bigger engines into my frame. I am allowed a biugger engine as long as it falls within the year range of the class

 

The "750" is actually 748 CC's which would keep you out of the "open" class - and if you keep it a secret, the 900 (891CC) parts all fit inside your stock cases, with a bit of Dremel work, and installing the rod bolts the other way round. The year range of the 900 starts in 1983.

Advance your timing a tad using a file on the locating spots and rotate.

Custom cams cost a small fortune, but you might want bigger carbs.

Raise the compression (do you have to run pump fuel??)

 

Thanks for the info T2R. Do you know how much work it takes to get the 750 in the 650 frame?

 

It's pretty much a drop-in (since you don't have the "Maxim" model as a donor in Oz), use the 750 carbs, or re-jet the 650 carbs (I'm doing that job right now), use the 750 ignition parts (TCI), buy new exhaust gaskets.

Yamaha even made a model with the "650 Seca" chassis and the 750 motor. They also put the 750 motor in the "Turbo" chassis, and the "900" chassis.

 

You need to loose the center stand. Race bikes use axle stands. You'll save a few pounds and costs nothing.

 

Hey all,

Happy New year!

Just thought Id put in an update on the XJ650 Im preparing to race this year.

First thing I did was straighten the front end. After mucking around with a few things, it turned out that the bottom triple clamp was bent. I was relieved when I fixed this as I was beginning to think i was the frame.

So while the front end was out of the bike I replaced the steering head bearings. I probably should have gone with tapered bearings instead of sticking with the original ball bearings, so if anyone has done this please let me know if its worth it.

Then I put on new slotted rotors, braided brake lines and a master cylinder from n SV650. I havent got the brakes working yet as I want to rebuild the calipers and fit HH pads.

I also replaced the handlebars and mounted a tacho.

Then I decided to strip the paint and redo it. I didnt want it to be show-standard and I didnt want to spend much money either. Infact, I had in mind that I'll be doing this again when I throw it down the road so wanted it of a standard that I could repair it easily without the repair standing out like dogs balls. So 2 cans of stark white, 1 x red & 1 x white primer, paint stripper and some sandpaper and I was ready to go. I bought the red yamaha stripe from eBay and I still need to get a YAMAHA sticker in black before giving it a rattle can worth of clear.





Next on the list is to rebuild the front brake calipers, replace the clutch and then get to work on the carbs.

 

Since you're going racing, if that's not the original front fender (and I would hope not, weight-wise) then you'll need a fork brace unless that one has a built-in one like the stocker. (Hard to tell from the pics.) The original Yamaha fenders had quite a stiff inner strengthening bridge; if you fit an aftermarket fender without one you really need a fork brace.

 

Just a suggestion. add white to the front fender in the same pattern as the tank to tie it all in. Bikes lookin' good :wink: