1981 XJ550 Seca stock to bobber: Project Bare Bones

This will be my second bobber project this year. I am designating this 'Project Bare Bones' for obvious reasons. No fenders, signals, horn, gauges, mirrors, rear suspension, etc. Just wheels... frame... motor... seat...

I picked up this 1981 550 Seca project bike last weekend. It has 28,000 miles and actually runs pretty well. Cosmetically it's not the best, but mechanically, it has some potential.

To return it to stock (which I will not be doing), it would need:
new gas tank
battery
front brake work
seat recovered
starter solenoid
paint, fit, and finish work

The fuel tank was hacked up and never finished by the previous owner. Because of the rust at the bottom of the tank, he tried to do some patch work. It sat for about 8 months after that. When I picked it up and put some charge on the battery, it started up and ran great. I rode it around some country roads for a while (using a gas tank of a yard tiller, lol).

I'm not sure if I will start this project right away, as I am finishing work on my truck. But for the time being, I will be pulling all the good parts off the bike that I will not be using. So if anyone needs any of these parts, make me offer(s). Let me know if you would like more pictures of specific items.

Here's a list of what I will sell off the bike - that I can think of off the top of my head:

Horns - some surface rust that can be polished out
Turn signals - good shape, polishing could help a little
Seat - needs recovered obviously, good pan
Rear inner fenders - good shape
Rear fairing - needs paint, no cracks
Front fairing - not pictured, good shape, needs paint
Side cover - needs paint, one small crack
Passenger pegs - dry rotted
Handle bars - good shape
Front fender - good shape, 2 chips, needs paint
Rear exhaust - no rust, good shape, I am keeping the headers
Rear shocks - good shape, 28K miles
Chain guard - good shape
Tail light - good shape, not cracked
Stock air box and boots - discolored
Mirrors - good shape, flat black, good mirrors
Center kick stand - uh huh, its metal, good spring
Kick stand safety switch - is goes click

There may be some other items I am forgetting, so dont be afraid to ask.

I am also looking for a different gas tank to use as well as a starter solenoid. So if anyone has anything for sale/trade, let me know.

 

Yikes.
Looking at the pics I thought it was a tank fire victim.

Well based on the other project looks like you should have no trouble.
Good Luck with it.

 

Stolen from the XS site:

Bobber XS Project

Here are some ideas! 'Busa front end, chain conversion, Triump single sided swing arm.

 

... WHoa WHoa... Chain conversion?? Call me Interested.

 

That Busa front end bike is pretty cool, very different.

Yeah, the tank was removed and set on fire purposely, in an effort to remove all paint and bondo. I guess the previous owner had a different way of doing things, lol

 

Nice project dude!! I have GOT to convince my wife to let me buy more of these old bikes and play with them!

 

Hey crath where are you from on the ill side i live in the st. louis area.

 

Hey crath where are you from on the ill side i live in the st. louis area.

 

I live in central Illinois. But I am in St. Louis quite a bit, I have a brother there on the Illinois side. I was there a few weeks ago, riding my bobber around downtown. That was a lot of fun with the loud exhaust boucing off the high rises!!

 

Where on this side of the river Crath? I grew up in Lebanon.

 

I'm very familar with Lebanon, home of McKendree College. I've been through there a million times. Lot's of little antique shops and what-not.

I grew up in Murphysboro, IL and moved up to Bloomington in March 2007. My brother lives in Belleville, IL, so I visit there quite a bit.

So when is the next bike show or cruise in around town that you might go to? I know they have a cruise in once a month at Steak n Shake and also at College Hills mall. Hooter's has something every once in a while too.

 

Thats a good question.... I'm not sure when these things are for sure. Combine that with the next month or so being busy and it might get later in the summer before I cruise over to one. That and I have got to get down to lebanon to help my dad get his old goldwing back togeather so I can have it.. haha. If you hear about a gathering, let me know.

 

I just ordered over $400 in parts from Chacal, along with some other stuff from the dealer here in town. I started on it yesterday and got it all torn down. I should have some pics up in the next few days. I still have all those extra parts for sale if anyone needs anything.

 

I saw you out on the 650 sunday... good lookin bike man!

 

haha, thanks for saying so. I was out riding for a good part of the day on Sunday, man it was nice out!!!!

 

Yea it was!! I was on my way to pick up my bike when I saw ya. Did some riding myself!

 

Here's some pictures of the fairing I have for sale for a potential buyer. Two cracks on the windshield. Besides that, it is in decent shape. It would require repainting though, some of the clear has come off. Someone at some point has done some structural repairs at the bottom with fiberglass and plastic glue. It has been painted front and rear since then. There are two mounting brackets on the back side.

Sorry, some pictures are a little blurry. My camera is not working so well

 

Keep up the good work! I love modifying these things!! Keep us posted!!

 

Here's some pics from work last week. The new owner, Troy and I will be working on the bike all day Sunday, so there will be more pics after that.

 

Looking good man! I wish I had a welder to do mods like that! I hate you right now