New Member

Hey everyone! New member here but long-time lurker. Last summer I picked up an 81 XJ550 Seca and several weeks later I found an 83 XJ Seca that I purchased, intending originally to use as a parts bike. I'm into these bikes for a grand total of $90. My wife is pretty sure I paid too much! Anyway, I'm looking forward to using the collective wisdom in this forum to get these back out on the road.

BigFitz will appreciate this. I pulled the back rim off the 83 to inspect the brakes. As I did pieces of the shoes just fell out, completely delaminated!

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... les003.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... les053.jpg

Anyway, I'll keep you all posted on my progress. It may not be as quickly as some but I will get them done!

 

dang, those are in nice shape for 90 bucks total. whats all wrong with em?

 

and fix them both, one for you and one for the woman - then i doubt she'll think you paid too much!

 

They are awesome! I cant wait to see them all fixed up and gorgeous!

 

WELCOME from TN!!!

skillet

 

The PO of the 81' Seca was in a wreck years ago when a cager pulled out in front of him. As a result, it now has a 650 front end on it because that is all he could obtain at the time. I beleive it also needs a clutch rebuild and missing a few parts here and there like the speedo cable. As a result, not sure how many miles its got on it but given that it was only on the road for 6 or 7 years, it should be relatively low. It spent all but the previous year sitting in a garage so its condition is decent.

The 83 Seca has about 40K on the clock. The PO (not the original owner) started it a year ago but since I got it, I've been in the process of cleaning carbs/tank etc (checking valve shims) before I attempted to start it myself. It has far more cosmetic issues that need to be attended to. I'd originally purchased it with the intent of using it as a parts bike but decided that since it was running most recently, it might be easier to get back on the road.

 

Welcome from VA!! I would fix them both just in case you get tired of one color, you can ride the other.

 

Regardless of the history, I think you got the deal of the year award. Very nice.

 

Nice find. Welcome to the club

 

Well, the 81 turned out to be not as great of a deal as what I haed originally thought. I was looking it over last night and discovered a hole...in the crankcase that was covered over by the PO with JB Weld. So the motor is bad and will just be a donor bike to the 83 Seca. Its too bad as it was such a nice looking bike. I'll take what I need from it and sell off the rest if anyone is in need of XJ550 parts.

 

It would be interesting to know exactly what shape that 81 is in, it might be worth getting the hole welded. Just about anything can be welded. Probably wouldn't cost that much either.

 

Secatic,

I'm still new also. Nice looking bikes. I believe if you get one of them running you will want to get the other one running as well. It kinda' bites you like that. Ditto what Skillet said...Welcome from TN.

Gary

 

DuoDS, I wondered about welding the hole closed as well. It is about the size of an eraser head and is right next to the cover. I also noticed that one of the slots that the cover screws in to is also broken off and only 3 hold the cover on. Not sure that is an issue as these are mostly cosmetic as I understand it. For now though I am focused on getting the 83 up and running as I sold my only running bike to finance the rebuild.

I have to give a big shout out to Len at XJ Forever! I don't know when the guy sleeps! He answered all my questions promptly and my parts were on my doorstep within 3 days of placing my order.

 

Welcome to the show,

Another good possibility for the 81 is to see if you can pick up a replacement engine for little.

 

Well I had a mixed day acquiring Seca parts today. The other night I found a couple of turn signals on Ebay that came to about $22 including shipping. The ad said, "See pictures for further details. Seems to be in a serviceable condition. Does have minor cosmetic issues associated with dismantling and wear."

Well, I received them today and the chrome plastic on one was duck taped together and cracked open on the other. The lens itself was the only salvageable part of the signals. I just looked back on the Ebay photos on my desktop computer and I realize now that you should never make Ebay purchases from your cell phone. One image clearly shows the duck tape although it doesn't show the cracked housing on the other light. I hardly would consider these to be in "serviceable condition". Fortunately, I have two good chrome housings that are missing only a good lens.

The good part was a find I made on Craigslist. I'd first seen the ad a couple of weeks ago. I finally connected with the guy who is turning his XJ550 into a cafe racer. He was just trying to get the parts out of his garage so I made an offer of $30 for all his 550 parts. For that money I got two mufflers that were in much better shape than the mufflers on either the 81 or 83 Secas. Although one does have a dent neither have any holes like all the others.

I also got two turn signals that with the aforementioned lens' will complete a signal set for one bike. I also got a chrome front fender which although I didn't really need, I might end up using. I got two center stands, foot rest mounting brackets, rear foot rests, a speedo cable;wiring harness and switch for signals, horn, as well as some miscellaneous other Yamaha, (non-Seca) parts including an odd light bucket.

Not everything I got in my box of goodies will be useful to me but perhaps others on the list can benefit from my good fortune? As I (re)build the 83 I'll try and make available to others here on the list, parts that I know I won't be needing.

Overall, I felt like I did pretty good on this although I will be sure and rate my Ebay seller appropriate to the level of crap he sold me.

 

After all that, replacement Yamaha-pattern "modern" signals look so much better.

Look at the pics of my '83.

Personally, I need a pristine #2 headpipe if you end up with an "extry" in VGC. Good find on the mufflers, that was one of my biggest challenges, and I had to do it twice.

I'm glad to see you're putting the '83 back on the road; I like that scheme the best of all.

If I were you I'd hang onto the "tins" from the white bike (tank, tail cowl and sidecovers.)

 

I do like the look of the modern replacement signals you used. I now have a stock set I'll need for one bike build and I can always put those on the 81 if I move forward with a restore on that bike.

Fitz, your bikes are what I use for inspiration. I'd considered at one point cafeing the 83 but I saw a post of yours that convinced me to keep the bike mostly stock. It remains to be seen though, if I will add the decals back on after repainting. This is kind of a budget build and those are an extravagance to me right now. I had to sell my only running bike to finance this build and have to spend wisely.

I saw a link in one of your posts for the low bars you used on the 83 but cannot seem to relocate the post. I'd appreciate if you'd post that link again for me.