xj550 brat project

my first bike. Lots more yet to be done.

 

Looks great man!! Big fan of the black and red.

 

Thanks for the props. This bike was already painted when I got it. I cleared out the battery area and adjusted lights welded up the brackets for the tail etc. But I am thinking to re design the paint. Here is my idea. Would be interested to hear if others like this better.

 

I like it either way, except for the seat. it needs more padding in my opinion. what can you tell us about the air filter?

CN

 

air filter is by K&N I found the EMGO's do not fit. The K&N is custom built to the 550's tight carbs. I will get you the part number when I am back in town. It fits real nice.

 

What kinda of tires are on your bike?

 

Shinko 705's

 

here's annother design I am considering. Gotta make a choice as I like them all. If anyone has seen annother design let me know. Going for a slight modern feel but still a little retro too. Obviously 81 is the year of the bike.

 

You need more XJ550s my man,

What's up with the dual-purpose tires, is that a trademark of the "Brat" style?

Marcel "Still 2 feet of snow" White.

 

I have to say. Other than the seat I really like your bike the way it is.

 

Mwhite,
Moto bars and an off road appearance seem to be common among the brat bikes I've seen. I'm a motocross guy so the look appeals to me I guess.

 

Thanks RPHRIDER, I just have the seat there as a temporary. I still need to paint the rear section and have a proper seat made. My biggest issue w/the bike is a nagging idle speed issue. Cant keep is settled down. Trying to find an answer that sounds the same as my problem on this site. Anyone that could shoot me a link would be awsome. Seems to stall if it sits at idle, I can blip throttle and it settles down to 15k, but as soon as I ride it shoots to 4K and pulls me. Yikes.

 

I really like the black and silver idea. I think it looks very good. It looks good the way it is though too. I like the duelsport tires on it. I thought about putting them on mine as well because I live around a lot of back roads and roads that have a little gravel on them sometimes, especially this time of year since they put stuff on the road during the winter. Good luck, looks good.

 

The idle issue might be ur idle screw is turned up to far to keep it idleing. I think when u turn that idle screw up it makes it idle off the main jets more. I'm having same problem with mine. It doesn't idle very long unless I turn the knob up then it won't idle back down very quick after I give it throttle. Might have to check ur pilot jets to make sure they are not dirty or wrong size or something. If anybody else knows anything about what I'm saying please chim in as I would like to know myself.

 

I like your bike but I'd argue your classification.
What I've seen of the Bratstyle builds is slammed to the ground, long flat seats for 2up riding, small tanks and fat (firestone) tyres

Kinda like this:

 

You are probably right. I am looking into it more and seems scramblers and dirt trackers tend to be more of the off road look. Really people online call everything a Cafe but to me Cafe bike run clubman bars or slip on style. Mine is just my own, not exactly copying one bike, more or less I am trying to work with the sway in the XJ's frame. I like how it's coming along. Now I've burned countless hours chasing my idle.

Hate to say it but I am super frustrated. Love the bike but just can't solve the idle issue. Did valves to spec, Cleaned every part in carb as in the thread shown by BIgfitz wet sync'd on bench, ran through the vac sync with a MotionPro sync tool. Finally got an idle to happen but shoots back up as soon as I ride it 2 seconds. I'm loosing hope but it seems like there is a smoking gun somewhere. I would expect a blatant air leak but can't imagine what's left.

 

I also replaced the intake boots w/new ones and used yamabond4 between gasket and motor. Strange though if I spray intake boots w/ starter fluid I get and idle rise??? Seems impossible to be getting through these seals and new boots. All the vac tubes have new hose on them too. Crazy deal. Wondering what to do next at this point.....

 

when you are spraying the fluid do you think the fumes are just making their way to the air intake under the seat and that is what is making it idle up? have you tried turning your idle screw back down a little bit? when you turn that screw up it makes the bike idle faster but also makes the bike not want to rev back down when u give it throttle because when you turn that screw up it is making the bike idle off of the main jets. try turning it down and see if it will still idle. i hope somebody that knows alittle more about this will chime in and either agree with me or correct me if im wrong. hope that helps a little

 

Well I have tried a specific test. I dribbled starter fluid over the throttle joints. The bike idles up. Then tested the same way vis dribble iver the boot joints, no change in idle. I believe I have a leak in my throttle shafts. Oh goody.... Looks like I'll have to break down the rack. But at least it appears to be the smoking gun I've been hoping to find.

 

Anybody understand how to make a purchase on this site? I need parts but there does not seem to be a cart button or anything. Pardon my ingnorance if it's somthing I missed.

 

well im not sure but i think anything you find on this site for sale is going to have to be arrange by you and the person selling it. i dont think there is anyway to buy through this site. just through the person selling it. hope that helps. maybe also try using a propane torch without having it lit instead of the starter fluid. it might work better for you.

 

I think you're talking about buying from XJ4ever.
The guy you want to PM is "Chacal"

No shopping cart, no online store, just lots and lots of satisfied customers.

 

UPDATE got the bike running nice. Blew out the fuel screw chanel all the way to the jet. Used carb cleaner then air pressure. assembled it w/new orings on the fuel screws. It works!!!! So much work to get here but thank goodness I have a bike that idles now and runs w/out pulling. I'm really pumped.

 

Oxide- you are right. My bad. Thanks for the help on that.

 

Those are all beautiful. How does one choose?