New Winter Project - XJ550 Seca

Now that it's close to the end of the season I needed another winter project!

Found a really decent 1982 XJ 550 SECA on Craigs List:

Runs! Idles too....
Good Compression
9800 miles
All Stock except PO already did all the rebuilds on the front brakes including a new ss line.
PO also included a new clutch and rear brake shoes (new in boxes).

Of course it will need all the regular maintenance and updates that all who visit this board are familiar with.

And yes that's my 82 650 SECA in the background. 3400 miles of flawless daily riding this season so far - Hope to ride tomorrow (Sunday daytime temp 55 degrees so say the weather folks).

Thanks to all who contribute to xjbikes.com!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78422942@N00/10628890844/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78422942@N00/10629140053/

 

Looks like a nice find

 

and that is a project bike why

 

Nice find! Ride it both with and without the fairing. I think you might be surprised.

That one's got serious potential.

 

That's a cool looking bike, good luck and keep ups posted on your progress

 

So for sure the motor seems solid, it needs a clutch real bad and the front forks are leaking as are the carbs, it's a project to me. I don't plan on a complete resto, but just want to update it as much as possible. I'm cool with a 32 year old bike that shows some of its age. The goal is to have a safe and reliable bike.

So for this winter I'll be doing the following:

Bars - the stock bars are the most in comfortable thing I've experienced, I've already found some seca 650 bars to swop out. I rode it briefly before purchasing it and then about 12 miles the next weekend and my wrists hurt!

Suspension - rear shocks are on the way and I'll be replacing the front springs and oil seals. Probably go with 15 weight fork oil. Rear brake shoes.

Motor - Check valves and replace shims as needed, new plugs, gen brushes, oil and filter change. Replace clutch. Adjust timing chain.

Fuel system - clean carbs, replace throttle shaft seals, fuel rail seals. Rebuild petcock, clean rusty gas tank. Sync.

Electrical - clean all connectors/contacts replace original fuse box.

Tires - the front appears to be an original, and the rear not much newer, they will be replaced before any further riding happens.

I'm sure I'll find a few other items that will need repairing, cleaning etc as I go.

Fitz, hmmm I'll probably have the faring off while I work on the bike so I'll ride this spring without the faring first then put it back on.....

 

Nice find, mind me asking how much you picked it up for?

 

RE: Handlebar: I'm running the "Euro" bend on my 550 Secas, it's very close to the original 650 Seca bar.

The 550 Seca and Maxim came with the same bar, and I too found it horribly uncomfortable. Too tall, weird angle.

Tip: when you switch to lower bars, you'll need a shorter clutch cable. A 750 Seca clutch cable is the perfect length and has the same inner cable:sheath ratio. You'll need a shorter upper brake hose too, but the throttle and choke cables can be re-routed to eat up the slack.

 

Price paid: $450 - good deal in my mind (the PO threw in the parts - clutch and rear brake shoes).

Fitz thanks for the tips and mtnbikecrazy, you've defiantly got balls to tackle that bike! We all know it will be worth it once she's running! I've read through all of your posts, thanks for sharing!!!

 

For sure a good deal! Esp. with the new parts and brake work done, and complete, and under 10k on the ticker!! deff jealous!

And thanks! Once i get it done i'll let you know next time i'm scootin around the cities on it!

 

Hey all - Just want to update you on my progress to date as it appears that spring might actually come to the upper midwest....

So I've been methodically working through the bike and have accomplished most of what I set out to do since last November.

The details:

Got the bars changed out, new clutch cable and re arranged the new ss brake line to accommodate the lower bars.

I've been through the suspension, new progressive springs in the front with new fork seals and 15 weight oil. New shocks on back. Bearings in steering head, swing arm and axels good. The steering head was loose and required a tightening - always to catch these kinds of things....

Went through the carbs, new seals in the throttle shafts and fuel rails. When the weather is a bit warmer I'll do a sync. Floats wet set.

Motor- new clutch and needed shims changed on all 4 intake valves, exhaust were in spec. Changed oil and filter.

Brakes - new shoes on the rear (no shoe de-lamination for those counting) new Ferrodo pads on the front. PO had done the mc and caliper rebuilds. Found that the PO had also FORGOT to put a cotter pin in the pin that holds the pads in place on the caliper...wow..... Rotor sent out to be blanchard ground to clean up the minor grooving and spalling.

Tires - ordered Pirelli Sport Demons. Decided to try these so we'll see once I can get out on the road....

Electrical - cleaned all contacts, grounds and any electrical connection. Ordered a "euro" H4 headlight replacement.

Lots of cleaning! chain, sprockets, undercarriage all quite dirty/oily so I've spent a lot of time just cleaning up all the gunk.

So here she is waiting for the wheels to come back with the new Pirellis:


Spring is coming by mikesphotos1, on Flickr

 

Ooh ooh ooh Fitz is getting a warm fuzzy!

NICE WORK so far.

Tip: re-route the stock throttle cable OVER the frame cross bar just above the carbs to eat up some of the extra length from lower bars. I had custom upper brake lines made; and discovered that a Seca 750 clutch cable has the same inner-to-outer cable ratio and is appropriately shorter.

Want to bring that chain guard all the way back to like-original? Mother's Back-to-Black will do the trick.

 

Good deal. Thanks for keeping us updated.

 

Be sure to check that the cotter pin is in place on the brake torque rod closest to the brake pedal. Mine was missing and I didn't know it was missing for about two years. Then go over all the nuts and bolts for tightness. You never know what the previous owner may have missed.

 

Thanks all for the tips. Trickiest bit has been routing the clutch cable. The one I've got on there is about 2 inches shorter than stock. Fitz how did you route yours along the frame and find a point to fasten it so it doesn't t hit the exhaust pipes in front but also keep a nice smooth radius?

 

Drool...

 

Just got the rotor back from being spiffed up! Couldn't find anyone in our area who has experience machining rotors, specifically blanchard grinding, so I sent it to schumannmotorworks.com in Portland, OR. $52 plus shipping - nice job and ten days round trip.

The results:


IMG_1855 by mikesphotos1, on Flickr

 

shiny

 

Ok so FINALLY went for the first ride of 2014! Still a bit chilly (42F) but the snow and ice is off the roads and we had a good bit of rain this past week that has washed a lot of the salt/sand off....

First ride with all of the upgrades to the 550 too, the new springs/shocks are great, no more front end dive. Brakes are solid and the front with the newly resurfaced rotor and new pads is stopping on a dime with change left over!

Took it really easy as the tires are new but already the rubber feels really solid. Tomorrow is going to push 60F temp wise so I'll be out for sure.

Couple of shots....



Idle with enrichment on...



Running for the first time in 2014 - started right up in 42F temps...



Still some snow around...

 

Damn dude, that bike looks beautiful.

 

Been riding the 550 quite a bit and really like this bike! I'm liking it more than the 650, particularly in the city. It's lighter weight and shorter length makes it really easy in city traffic, particularly dodging all of our potholes.

The engine loves to pull to it's redline and is smoother than my 650 - probably the rubber engine mounts on the 550 vs the 650 ridged mounts.

I won't be selling the 650 anytime soon, it's definatley my choice when riding 2-up, but these 550's are really something....

 

Yeah they are.

Did you find the little metal clip on the frame tube to keep the clutch cable away from the pipes?

Now ride it a bit more; then put the goofy fairing back on and go for a ride. I'm betting you'll take it right back off and leave it off.

Now, about those horns (if you decide to leave the fairing off...)

 

Probably wait on the faring for a bit, I much prefer the looks of the bike without it. Yes, think I got the clutch cable sorted, it's working really well.

Next big thing is to try and find one of those racks for the bike, you bike looks awesome and that rear rack fits in nicely.

Hoping it will warm up a bit this afternoon, probably take the 550 out for a ride.

...oh and yes those horns, where did you find 'em? I really like how you tucked them up next to the headlight.

 

The rack is a GSM "Sportrack" which was a period accessory. Although GSM is still in business, they no longer make motorcycle luggage racks.

They do however pop up on eBay occasionally. That's how I found mine.

The horns are by a company called Acumen in England. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acumen-12v-Moto ... B009T48RJO I bought them directly from the manufacturer, but I can't find their website at the moment thanks to Google's insistence on being helpful.

I mounted them in the stock locations.

 

Nice looking ride

 

The luggage rack is pretty useful, but if you can combine saddlebags and the luggage rack.. that'll be the ultimate touring machine. If only there was a way to mount some of these smaller saddlebags on.. http://www.vikingbags.com/motorcycle-un ... lebags.htm
I really like them cuz they have locks, but i don't wanna drill in and let it hit my tire..
Anyone have any suggestions besides bunjee cording a dufflebag to the luggage rack LOL

 

Great looking bike.

Really like those horns fitz - how do they sound?


Also Fitz,not to threadjack, butttttt with those bar end mirrors, did you have to cut your grips?

 

This thread is getting me awfully excited to get cranking on my 550 project again

 

This is my dream garage, a 550 and a 650 seca ready to go... I want to be like you when I grow up