1981 Yamaha XJ550 Seca FS on CL...

Ran across this 550this on the Maryland CL. For $800, looks like it could be a sweet deal, but even after banishing the R75 to the shed I've still got no room in the garage for another bike.

 

THat bike looks like it was hit in the rear... or is it just me? The tail section looks like its bent up...

 

I agree. If you go to look at it, see if there is any paint flaking or rust on the rear tail of the frame.

 

Interesting. No, I've got no room for another bike at this point, so I won't be going to see it. The CL listing does however, have additional photos linked to full size photobucket pics.

 

There is definitely something "amiss" with the rear of the frame.

The taillight lens should be essentially horizontal; it's pointing at the sky.

It ALMOST looks like maybe somebody transferred all the Seca parts to a Maxim frame (which would explain the need for the homemade sidecovers, the Seca ones wouldn't fit.)

Either that, or something horrible befell the frame.

 

What looks even MORE stupid is the exhaust is upside down and on the wrong side. The side cover is missing the front part over the airbox, and it appears that the side cover has also been shortened towards the back of it.



Dave

 

Great lesson; you guys rock. Almost makes me want to call the seller just to find out what the @#$% is going on. Wonder if he (or she) bought it like that...

 

It's not a 550 Seca sidecover. Dunno what it is.

There's something really goofy about this bike.

 

The bike has definitely been hit in the rear. Look at the way the seat is folding. The exhaust is on the correct side. My Supertrapp and FZ 4 into 1 systems all come out on that side. I bet the bike was rebuilt from a wreck and the bent frame wasn't fixed. I wouldn't ride it. It is a parts bike.

 

What if somebody had swapped all their Seca parts onto a Max frame?

That's the only "non-wreck" scenario I could imagine...

 

Looks like the gauges are flat at the bottom. My guess it's a max convert.

 

The rails on the rear of a Maxim frame still go straight back like on the Seca frame. Only the mounting brackets are different. From my experience working at a motorcycle wrecking yard, that upswing on the tail was caused by a rear collision. The Maxim also didn't have the mounting tabs for the rear grab bar like you can see in the pic.

 

Paz, I can see the little "instrument panel" with the voltmeter/fuel gauge peeking up inside the fairing, so they're Seca instruments.

ZH, I do believe you're right; the unused mounting tabs give it away don't they?

The frame has to be bent. You're right. It's nothing more than a parts bike, and missing the most unobtainable bits no less! (Sidecovers and stock exhaust.)

 

yeeep, i'd stter clear of that one - a goofy battery cover and a fugly 4-1. Not to mention the frame issues as previously stated

although the side covers arent THAT hard to find - I only paid 70 bones for both side covers and the rear cowl

 

ah see what you mean. Hit it is then.

 

Welp the listing has been taken down now.

Gonna feel bad for the poor guy if he shows up here all excited about his new xj just to have us tell him the frame's a goner.

Unless you have seen a few xj's, I could see how it being overlooked.

 

Yah man, perhaps he seen us here picking it apart lol.

I want to see what they did to the seat to get it to actually close... They mustve done some hacking there too!

 

From the pics, it looked like the seat lock had been removed.

 

hi everyone , this is my project so far , everyone welcome to have a look brendanbennett.blogspot.com

 

Welcome!

Luckily your bike is indeed not the same one! The one above that the OP posted was involved in a crash!

Post up a new thread, can't wait to see another XJ saved!