New Acquisition

Tonight I purchased another XJ for myself. However this one may, or may not, make it back onto the road. It looks pretty beat up and neglected. It used to have a WindJammer fairing and hard luggage installed. But now, all there is left of those pieces are the mounting brackets. The headlamp is just held on with some chicken wire. And by the looks of things, it's been dropped on it's right side. Much of the cooling fins of the cylinders and head are missing on the right side. And there's a slight dent on the right side of the fuel tank. All this and the fact that it's currently not running, I think I received a decent deal on it. $100 and a clean title for this 1982 XJ750 Midnight Special. Since it does have a title, I'm debating on if I should part this machine out or try to salvage it and make it road worthy again. I really do despise these types of choices.

Anyway, pics will follow once the sunlight decides to show itself.

 

Ooooooo! Tough one, there. Might be worth saving since you have the title. Find another no-titled bike with good headlight/engine/etc. and go to town!

 

I'm in a kind-of similar situation. My project bike is missing the center stand. The PO put a 4 to 1 exhaust on it, and torched off the braket that the center stand attaches to so the exhaust would fit I'm guessing. I have the title for that bike. My donor 750's frame is in good condition and has the center stand, but I have no title for it.

Here's what I plan on doing once I get my bike running (if it's legal), swap out the frames and then grind and/or fill the VIN with bond on the parts bike frame, then smooth it out and re-stamp it with the titled VIN. Is that legal for me to do? I own both of these bikes. It sounds a little iffy to me, but I really prefer the center stand. I have kids, and it's much harder to knock the bike over if it's on the center stand as opposed to the side stand. I still have the bracket the PO torched off the project bike, I guess I could alway just have it welded back on, but I don't know if the weld would still be strong enough to hold up the bike. So the safer route seems to me to just swap the frame, get a new original style 4 to 2 exhaust, and re-stamp it with the titled VIN. I prefer the original exhaust look anyway. Anybody know if that's illegal? (No, not to prefer the original exhaust, though some may think so, but the re-stamping the VIN part). I live in Texas, I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

I guess it's not that similar to your issue, but I wonder if you could use your title in a similar fashion. Again, depending on the legality of doing that. It seems to be a very gray area issue to me. I can see both sides. I'll give the DMV a call Monday and see what they say.

 

hey collinswj, it is a felony to do anything w/ vin numbers let alone grinding/restamping, did you ever have the title to the other bike... ifso just apply for a lost title through your states dmv/sec of state. if not there if a company in vegas that can get you a title its like $250 but its title/plates. just a little infointernational title service

 

Why not just cut off the part of the bike that is bad. Then cut off the identical piece from the good frame. Then you can weld the good pieces to the titled bike and have your center stand back.

 

If you never titled it in your name you should check with the state. Here in MI anything over 10 years old and worth less than $2500 you can get a title by signing an affidavit that you acquired it legally. If a check of the database doesn't turn it up as stolen they issue a title.

 

First of all my apologies to wink1018, it wasn't my intention to hijack your topic. I guess I'll just check with the DMV to find out the process to get a title for the parts bike. I figured it probably was against the law, but it really seemed like a grey area to me. I do indeed have the title for my project bike, but i received the parts bike without a title from the same guy as part of the deal. Thanks for all the replies and keeping me out of trouble! :lol:

Sorry again to wink1018, I had no intentions of hijacking your thread. Please everyone, no more replies to my initial reply in this thread. if you feel the need to comment, just PM me and tell me how ignorant my idea was. Please keep all future replies to winks' original topic.

 

Here are some of the initial pics of the bike. I know some are not all that great. I'll try to get more pictures tomorrow. I was just really pressed for time today.



Yes, it's been dropped. Note the fins and the side cover of the crank.


Headlight assembly held in place by chicken wire. Note, there's a small bag zip-tied together with all the front end wiring attached.

 

Such a shame for such a once nice bike. That's a tough decision indeed. But I still think you got the better end of the deal. The more I dig into my bike, the more I realized I way overpaid. If you do decide to part it out, please PM me. I see a few parts I'd like to buy off you. Heck, you'd probably make your money back then some off me alone.

 

Not to seem like a vulture circling roadkill, but if you decide to carve her up I'd be interested in the tank, seat, and mounting hardware. PM with a price and we'll haggle.

 

I doesn't look 2 bad. i see what it would take to get running and then make up my mind. With all the work you would do to change the vin welding the lower frame rail on for the centerstand would be the same hasle but thats just me. Good luck.

 

I think I'm going to keep this one in tact. I'm hoping that the fin damage won't reduce the cooling too much. If it does, then I guess I'll have to rebuild the motor with another cylinder and head assemblies.

I came to my conclusion today as I was going over her and making a list of what she'll most likely need. Besides, after I actually sat down on that seat, I realized just how uncomfortable my 650's was compared to this one. I think I'll keep this 750 "Mostly Stock". And turn my 650 into a custom. That way I have a "Fun" bike for around town and a comfortable cruiser for longer journeys.

 

I think you made a good decision to keep her. It would be a shame to part out a bike with so much potential.

 

It looks like a plywood bike. Good one side!