1983 XJ900 Frame

Puchased a 1983 XJ900 RK to turn into a cafe and the frame is crap. Was wondering what other models are enter changeable with this engine.

 

Best option it to pick up a good frame from a wrecker. My old frame was cracked near the side stand and couldn't be welded properly. Scouted around and found a frame in pretty good condition. De tabbed and powder coated it and now I'm near the end of my cafe project...pic attached. It's worth the effort to find another frame. I think I paid around AUD $250 which also included the centre stand in better condition than my old one.

 

How bad is it?
Since you'll be cutting a frame anyway, may as well cut one that isn't perfect.

 

Well....here is a picture someone already chopped it all to hell. But do y'all know if a xj750 frame would do the same trick?

 

Nice bike man!

 

Damn those are some ugly welds... would definitely source a different frame, that one is scrap!

 

Hi sweet looking bike I'm looking at doing the same making mine into cafe racer and was wondering where you chopped yours and also where you got the seat from.

 

So would another xj frame work or do I have to get a 900.

 

Xj900rk and xj750rl are the same frame......but I'd be very reticent to cut up an even rarer frame......

 

If you're cutting and welding, anyway----- who cares?

 

Just grab a grinder and undo that work, then build the rear frame however suits your needs. As long as the frame is straight you've got a good platform to build on.

The welds look ugly, but that's because they weren't done with a TIG. Heck, a fair number of the ugly ones are from the factory.

 

Hi Reece,

I cut the protruding tabs off the frame where I think there might have been some original body work mounts so that the front down tubes were just the tubes alone. Also cut off the seat lock tabs and a couple of other smaller useless protruding tabs.

I also cut off the rear "hoop" from behind raised fender mount just behind the original seat. An earlier pic of the build shows the rear of the frame attached here.

The seat was made by a local upholsterer. He mainly does furniture but also recovers bike seats. He made this seat after we had a chat about my requirements. Seat is in aged brown leather with a furniture plywood base. The back of the ply seat was angled to suit the fibreglass cafe seat base and then glued and screwed in place like a piece of furniture. The upholstered seat is attached to the fibreglass base by a couple of strips of heavy duty Velcro.

 

Think I'm gonna take your advice. Was planning on learning to weld anyway. Guess I'll just practice on some other stuff before I go a melting metal on this thing.

 

Thanks heaps CafeBlack this helps a lot gives me more of an idea.

 

Aint that the truth... my brother inlaw the AWS inspector would have a field day with some of the welds I have seen on my bikes. On my XJ750, on one of the sides where the swingarm attaches, there was about an inch of wire sticking out with the telltale little ball on the end, where the wire feed stubbed out, not unusual, but surprised it made it past QC. There are enough defects on all three of my Yamaha bikes that would cause them to not make it past a visual inspection.