'82 XJ750, my progress so far....

hi all,
a few pics of my project progress.







the sissy bar and ammo cans are mounted for an upcoming trip, will not be on for daily driver duties. thanks for looking!

 

i'd like to add that i've...
fabbed new side covers, a nacelle for the headlamp (still a work in progress), exhaust pipes, ammo can storage, and various other bits.
i've replaced the handlebars, removed front fender, re-purposed an old rear fender from something, added a sissy bar for trip storage, replaced orig gauges w/ vapor gauges and dashboard, handgrips, headlamp, added shock booties, fitted different seat (i know, i know, it's ugly but damn comfortable!), changed rear shocks, modified the frame and some wiring to accomodate new signal, brake, and headlights.
still to come...
military graphics, add'l paint on front forks, possible bottom to headlamp nacelle housing, fab up new seat, and remove old mirror mounts.
the backpack was found at an army/navy store and mounts onto the sissy bar perfect.
ammo cans, sissy bar and possibly the rear fender will be removed for daily driver duties.
i'm proud that most of the non-original parts you see were found at a moto salvage yard and made from scrap metal. thanks.

 

I like what you've got going here. Quick question: Could you tell me how much exhaust wrap you used on your headers? I just got a roll of 50'x2" I want to wrap my exhaust and also my collector. Do think the 50' will cover me?

 

i'm embarrassed to tell ya that i can't remember how much wrap i used. i'm pretty sure i bought (2) 50' rolls but i quick look around the garage couldn't locate a single piece and i know i've got leftover somewhere!
i'll look again tomorrow and post what i found (if i do).
thanks.

 

i absofuckinlutely love it!!!

 

nice looks mate i love the color

 

Love the style and the overall look.

Not sure that white tyre lettering works with the theme though.

Excellent work.

 

yeah, wanted an old school look but wasn't sure about whitewalls so i thought this would be a good compromise. not so sure about the lettering now either.
i'll post add'l pics after removing the rear fender, sissy bar, and ammo cans when i return from this weekend's multi-day ride. these "storage solutions" really change the look of the bike. i like it better stripped down a bit.
also, still not liking the nacelle shroud. it's a good start but needs a bottom and/or something else to complete the look. i think it's a good idea but my execution may be lacking.
thanks guys!

 

i really like the whole look of this bike. I even like the white lettering on the tires. You have done a beautiful job. Would you help me out with a question? I have a midnight and am looking into putting a new seat on it. I'm new to customizing bikes and have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to getting a new seat. Where do I start so I can get one that fits?

 

i have sourced all my parts from a local salvage yard or made 'em myself. i just recently bought a harley servicar seat pan at a swap meet and am planning on making a new seat for my harley softail.
i CAN tell you getting a seat to fit YOU is a journey. you can try seats off other bikes like i did and have great success (like the one on this bike) but i've haven't found a comfortable seat yet for my harley so i'm making it myself. and i can tell you that most of the fun will be building it.
i've read a lot of internet articles on seat building and figure the worst i can do is screw it up and if so, who cares? i'll just start over. it's not like i have a lot of money in it.....

here's an updated pic of the bike..


pic of the bike at Shiprock NM taken during a trip this summer....

 

Awesome picture!! That's a nice, clean look you've got going on there. I noticed you put the front fender back on...I like it!

 

yeah, i felt i had half a bobber and half an old school bike so i went all old school. i'm currently got my eyes peeled for some larger cover fenders for both ends.
thanks.

 

Simply beautiful (better look with the front mudguard - my 2c)
love the colour too...

 

Do you find the choke hits your tank when you crank the bars completely left?

 

dude that's sweet! how much was involved in swapping the guages

 

hey thorin the bike looks great!!!
Just a couple questions, first, what kind of paint did you use? Did you paint it yourself? Also, how tall are your risers? Im planning on doing something similar to my 82 650 maxim and I'm looking for ideas. Thanks

 

Bitchin !!

 

Not really my taste, but very well executed. Clean, simple, functional. Well done!

 

Are you preparing for Armageddon....where are you going to mount the Barrett .50 cal.....lol......

Nice and different....

Take a trip on the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray & Durango....prettiest part of CO in the San Juan mtn range....

 

Awesome bike. This is giving me a lot of ideas for my build. Is it just those points of contact for the sissy bar\ammo cans? Could
you post a picture of the bike without the back rack?

 

Cmon, four cylinders, four carbs, that thing needs QUAD .50s!

 

sorry for the delayed response.
i'll remove the swiss army backpack (yes, it really is) and take some pics of the mount locations for the ammo cans and sissy bar. the large flat piece of metal between the 2 ammo cans that goes over the rear fender I bought from home depot and bent myself. they terminate under the cans to stop vibration or shaking. really secures them solidly.
stay tuned pls.....

 

here are some add'l pics.
sorry it took so long, I've been blessed with lots of work.
it ain't pretty but it all works.
hope this is what you're looking for....

 

What did you do to get stright handle bars? Did you find an adapter to put straight bars on the stock tripple tree top?

 

those are one of the very few new items I put on the bike. they were purchased as new at the local salvage yard. the mount brackets I pulled of the carcass of another bike but have no idea what it was. it all bolted fine to the original mount locations.

 

Perfect, that was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

 

I really like your solo seat. Any idea what it came from originally (or maybe a brand name if not OEM)?

 

I dig it, I did this to my lil cm400 then promptly blew the rings out on the right cylinder.
So its sitting now.

How did it hold up to the rough terrain?
Suspension was tall enough?