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Are we all modifying all the XJs?

Discussion in 'Hangout Lounge' started by Bosen, Jul 24, 2019.

  1. Bosen

    Bosen New Member

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    I see a bunch of threads about bobbers and other mods - just wondering if some (most?) of the folks here love the XJs as stock - or, because they are on the older side, are some mods necessary?

    I am not knocking anyone's decision to modify ( in fact, I am inspired by it), just curious :)
     
  2. Franz

    Franz Well-Known Member

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  3. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Many of us like them stock, or with bolt-on-bolt-off modifications.
     
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  4. Timbox

    Timbox Well-Known Member

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    Yes they are nice looking and riding bikes stock.
     
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  5. Craig B

    Craig B Active Member

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    I do as little as possible and only when necessary.
     
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  6. JPaganel

    JPaganel Well-Known Member

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    I can't think of any mods to an XJ that are necessary outside of replacing the fuse box. Done that on every XJ I ever had. But that is not visible, doesn't give you modder cred.

    I am really not a fan of either the cafe racer or the bobber styles. Uncomfortable seats, painful riding positions, and fenderless tires spewing dirt at you are hardly improvements.
     
  7. Jetfixer

    Jetfixer Well-Known Member

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    I like a stock bike myself.
     

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  8. Bosen

    Bosen New Member

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    Hey thanks, everyone!
    I am a fan of the stock bikes as well, I just see a ton of attention being paid to the modified bikes (and many are beautiful and inspiring).

    I am still considering what to do with my bike - whether or not to attempt any mods or to just try to keep it stock and in good shape.
     
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  9. Bosen

    Bosen New Member

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    I am concerned about those same things - plus the actual time, effort, and money that would go into a serious mod.
     
  10. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    one thing to consider about a modified bike is the cost you would be lucky to get back half the money you put into it
    even just fixing up and keeping stock you would be hard pressed to get your money back.
     
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  11. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    Modifications should depend on what you are starting with. Say you find a trashed bike that is just engine and frame, that's a great start for whatever you can imagine. It breaks my heart to see a nice surviving bike chopped and hacked up. I have seen too many of them end up un finished and forgotten.
    I like them both ways but lean more to the stock looking ones.
     
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  12. Tim O

    Tim O Active Member

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    Stock all the way...
     
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  13. Chitwood

    Chitwood Well-Known Member

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    One of each. Or multiples of each. I actually do not own a 100% stock XJ. One is close except for the 4 into 1 exhaust that was on it when I bought it, and missing the right side mirror because it had no mirrors when I bought it and haven't weaseled my way over things in the garage to get it off the parts bike. The other one is close except for the bobbed rear fender, LED turn signals, LED tail light, and bar end mirrors. We wont even go into the 3rd one. Unless I count the parts bike, besides the pieces that have been robbed off of it everything is factory issue but I digress.
     
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  14. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    All of mine are as bone stock as I can be, except for one. That one is because of a previous owner starting to heavily modify but then feeling he got way in over his head and sold it. Since that was already chopped, I'm going to continue that direction with only that one
     
  15. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    Bone stock is perfect. Looks good, runs good, rides good and easier to work on.
     
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  16. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    Bone stock is perfect. Looks good, runs good, rides good and easier to work on. Oops! Didn’t think the first one posted.
     
  17. cgutz

    cgutz Well-Known Member

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    Original owner. For the most part, factory stock....
     
  18. May_J_Aaron

    May_J_Aaron Josh May

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    I’m heavily modifying!
    It’s more of an inspirational project that I learn as I go and challenging to try something way out of my comfort, turning out very well so far!

    I personally did not like how mine looked stock, I’m also 31 so perhaps my genre is more biased towards certain styles and artistic design but I’ve seen several stock rebuilds on this site that I found very impressive and looks amazing!

    Looking back, I would have saved a lot of time and money by going for a more bobbed cruiser style than the Cafe/ Brat style since mine is a Maxim.

    I would highly recommend swapping out the stock tach/speedo for the Acewell gauge with the speedo cable adapter ;)
     
  19. cgutz

    cgutz Well-Known Member

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    Mine is stock off from the day I drove it out of the showroom (except wear items like brakes, tires and cables).
     
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  20. Bluegray57

    Bluegray57 Active Member

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    Purchased mine stock. Even had the Yamaha tool kit under the seat. At first I wasn't sure about the king/queen seat, but it has since grown on me. I did the fuse box upgrade as many have suggested. There's another rider in town that has a stock KZ650. We had parked next to one another at a shopping center one day and it created quite a buzz from onlookers.
     

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