81 Seca 550 owner here.

Hello everyone, my name is Pat and I've been lurking for awhile.

I just got back into motorcycling again after a 23 year layoff. I've been riding again for almost a year now.

I have been looking for a pristine example of an 81 Seca 550 for awhile. It was my HS dream bike. It's not an easy task to find a nice original one. I did find one that has potential, I think.

I bought this from the original owner for $500.

He purchased it new on 05-81. He put 3k miles on it that spring and summer. He parked it and it sat untill 94. He got it running and rode it that summer. The bike has been sitting ever since.

It has plenty of surface rust all over. Alot of the aluminum is pitted. It has half a tank of gas still in it, and the inside of the tank is rusty. I poked around in there with a paint stick and the tank is still solid. The crankcase is full of oil, I guess that's good. The milage is correct

The good things are that the bike still has it's original parts. The bodywork is in really nice shape. The bike had never been laid down, but it did fall off the sidestand once. it left some very minor rash on the side the fairing by the reflecter. It has all the original documentation, bill of sale, warrenty folder, and owners manual which are all in pristine condition. It even has a little security chain that is keyed with the ignition and seat lock. It's never been used.

This is the first time I've ever attempted to bring an old machine back to life, and I'm psyched.

I'll have lots of Qs in the next few months and lots of part requests I plan on a complete resto.

I've got pics, but photobucket doesen't seem to work here. :cry:

 

Actually its a nice looking Seca. I think it has all the earmarks of turing out to be an oustanding bike.

I would pull off that tank and carbs ... don't even attempt to start it on what's in there. Completely clean the fuel system and the carbs... there are ways to get the rust out of the tank (do a forum search). I bet the rest is pretty much cosmetic. You should plan on pulling the brake caliper and rebuilding it too... trust me. The new seals are inexpensive and the master cylinder needs to be flushed and new fluid put in and bled.

Its a nice looking bike I'd like to have one like that to restore.

 

I just re-read your post and it just sunk in that it hasn't run for 13 years! I might pull the plugs and squirt a little light oil in the cylinders and turn it over by hand. While you are rebuilding the carbs turn it over by hand a few more times then drain that old oil and put new in.

 

Welcome to the family. This site is a great help and inspiration for XJ owners. You have an excellent bike to clean up and ride. It looks like it mostly needs a lot of elbow grease.

 

Thanks kontiki.

I plan on a complete nut and bolt resto. I've always wanted to do one. I will probably rebuild the motor since I plan on going through everything. I think I've got enough skills to get alot of it done myself, and with the collectives help of course. :wink:

Thanks for the welcome RangerG.

I'm going to be looking for alot of parts before she's ready to be ridden. I imagine I could clean her up and ride her, but I won't. I'll wait untill she is right.

This bike has alot of sentimenal value to me besides wanting one in HS. I lost my best friend on an 81 550 like ours. This was back in 83 out in SoCal. He taught me how to ride and he was a great friend. I think about him alot since I've been riding again. This bike is going to be for my friend Eddie Andresson. I'm going to restore it exactly like I rememder his was. He was a Mechanic at the Kawasaki dealer in Victorville so there were plenty of mods done to his bike. I remember he was always getting parts. Wish I could find a Cal-Fab swingarm. :lol:

I'll be needing plenty of help on this project. I already have the inspiration. :wink:

 

Congrats pjb03, and welcome. I have the same bike and they're a load of fun. Definitely worth your time and effort. Many of the parts are available through eBay. This site is a great resource for XJ info, and the people here are great.

 

Kind of a pessimistic speedo you guys got in the US. Our Canadian model goes up to 140 MPH. (240 KMH)

 

Welcome to the XJ source! There are a lot of great folks here that are more than willing to help with the cause.
You've definitely got a job on your hands, there. Shame the way it was put away with no protection from the marine air environment. People in Florida should know better!!
eBay will be your friend, that's for sure, but there is a Wanted/For Sale forum on this site, too.

Keep us posted on the resto job, that's a sweet bike.

Dan

 

"Kind of a pessimistic speedo you guys got in the US. Our Canadian model goes up to 140 MPH. (240 KMH)"

I know, the 85mph speedo doesnt cut it. I recently got a handlebar mount for my GPS and found out that:
A)The factory speedo is only off by just over 1 mph.
B)The XJ550RH is capable of AT LEAST 122 mph in basically stock tune.

 

the 85mph limit happens to coincide with the years of a good majority of our bikes - 1980-1982 or so. It was imposed in the U.S. by Joan Claybrook (what a hag!) with her motor vehicle safety act BS. At the same time, speedo's had to emphasize 55mph as well as top out at 85mph. Needless to say, the tamed speedo didn't help sh*t, so it was abandoned in '83, forever to be known as the "Joan Claybrook Memorial" speedometer.

Even the fastest production sport cars of that period had 85mph speedo's. Some manufacturers kept using them for several years after... stupid.

 

Thanks for the welcome, Dispatcher.

I'll be needing alot help from all the knowledgable people here, especially the 81 Seca 550 guys.

Thanks, Dan!

Actually I found the bike in NJ. The owner said it was always in a shed or garage.

I've been using ebay already. :lol: I have a shift lever and a rear brake lever on the way. I also have a friend in Japan who is starting a motorcycle and motorcycle part exporting business. He got me my 07 Japan only body kit for my ZRX. I think he will be able to find me those rare parts, possibly NOS.

I cleaned her up and the body is beautiful. I got rid of the ugly backrest/rack. Pinched my finger between the tail and rack. It was either scratch the perfect tail or bleed. I chose to bleed. The sidepanels are like new. The fairing is a 9.5. The tank will be restored. Besides the rust inside. The pearl white finish has yellowed compared to the plastic.

 

I am biased, but damn, that's an awesome looking SECA! Once the chrome is cleaned up that bike will look fabulous! I'm pretty proud of my bike but your body panels are in better shape. I'd think that some rubbing compound or polishing compound will clean up the yellowing on the tank. A couple years ago I parked my bike with a full tank of gas and it expanded and leaked down the tank and left side panel. I polished out the tank but I was going to lose the paint on the side panel so I did the best I could and left it. If I can be any help let me know.

 

Thank you, Sir.

I'm sure I'll have lots of Qs for you in the future.

 

Me likey. Good luck!