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80' xj 650 budget bobber

Discussion in 'XJ Modifications' started by johnlaw, Mar 27, 2010.

  1. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    That's what I'm thinking about for mine eventually. I'm thinking some 12"-15" Z-bars and forward controls. The FC's might have to wait until next year though. I need to figure out how to mount the new bars though.
     
  2. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    How much did that run you? I havent' found a local shop near me that will touch a bike with carbs yet :D That's fine with me....just means I have to learn more. I was fortunate with my gsxr. I got them close enough on the first try.
     
  3. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    I would have to try forward controls... It seems you are either sitting on your tail bone or your taint...I don't know which would be more comfortable.... please don't make me explain the taint.
     
  4. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    [​IMG]

    Here goes with the video hope it works...... no the child was not so close to the bike his hearing was harmed.......he just really didn't like it!
     
  5. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    I think I could have cleaned the carbs but I am glad I didn't attempt because the were way worse than needing a good cleaning. They were missing parts, and contained many broken parts/ needles that I probably would not have noticed. Mechanicaly I spent $1100 on the bike. $250 to $300 of that was probably on the carbs... to me the headache I did not have was worth it.
     
  6. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    hahahahahahahaha......you made that poor baby cry.

    The bike didn't sound too bad. I think it might be a tad bit louder than I want to go though. Not really sure what to do with the exhaust.
     
  7. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    if I had $1100 to spend on the bike I would do the same.... unfortunately I only have dust coming out of my wallet at the moment :D
     
  8. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    Keep shopping you might get lucky and find a decent runner for $500 or so. I bought mine for $200 with no idea if it would make a runner or not. The exhaust is honestly not that loud. One would sure think it would be. It is completely tolerable at 55mph (or 70mph) Its way better than some full exhaust piped Haley's Ive ridden. It on par with a race piped crotch rocket. I will go shoot another video since I am on a roll. Give me 45 min or so guys then check back.
     
  9. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    I don't need to keep shopping. The '83 I just picked up IS a good runner and it only cost me $600. I just need to clean/rebuild the carbs and work out some kinks and start hacking it up :D

    I'll be on here all night at work until 7am, so take your time on the vid
     
  10. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    Hacking is deffinetly the right term! Hold your pants for more video boys!
     
  11. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    video's are loading........ I have one of the bike idling and running up through the rpm range........ and for volume/ camera comparison a stock 2004 Honda Rubicon Foreman. It should give you guys a good idea. I keep getting distracted by Gran Torino....God Damn I love this movie! Eastwood at his best! "You would think the cold weather would keep all the idiots out!"
     
  12. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    I just watched that last week for the first time. It IS a good movie.
     
  13. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    While waiting for the videos to load I will take this time to jack my own thread. If it did not get dark on me I would have gotten video of my other love.... Diesel trucks. I have a 2003 Duramax with a stage 4 Ingelwood transmision( Mike Loverich is the king of Allison trannys) and engine Tunned by DSS Performance with EFI Live, l am running 550 hp and 1000ft of tourque. I have a 3/4 ton truck that runs low 12's in the quarter mile. The black smoke really makes my belly button pucker.
     
  14. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    [​IMG]

    Here is the bike....Rubicon following shortly.
     
  15. munkiep

    munkiep Member

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    been a while since i looked at this post. bike is looking damn fine
     
  16. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    Its doing alright..... I have to do the front fork seals..... and maybe the 1-4 coil....other than that its been a lot of fun. Its fun watching people look and go "what the hell is that."
     
  17. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    Here's the comparison...........

    [​IMG]
     
  18. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    I have exactly $185 into the hacking portion of the bike.

    $145 dollar seat.......$20 in pipe and some odds and ends in welding material.
     
  19. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    If I could weld I would be going with the hardtail right away like you did, but for now I'm going with a bobber seat, 10" shocks, new bars, and then figure out what I want to do with lights/signals. Not too much money invested there.
     
  20. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    I will weld where do you live? If not I would say welding is 70 percent ownership 30 practice.......that means its pretty easy especially if you know someone who owns a welder! I did all mine with a friends 115 volt Hobart wire feed.........In all cheapness one of the best things a person can do is take a welding class at their local votech.......probably for less than $75. Damn good money spent.
     
  21. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    Yeah, the local Tech college here offers a class. I already checked. I just need to make the time to take it. That's why I am just going with the 10" shocks for now to lower the arse of the bike. Next year I'll hopefully have the skillz to dig a bit deeper and make the bike better. This will do for now though....I hope.

    I DID go and buy a shitty HF 90 amp/110v flux core welder. I'm no good with it though :D Haven't practiced with it much. I need to get some time and pick up some scrap metal. All I have is sheet metal and that didn't go well.....
     
  22. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    OH, and I'm in Hope Mills, NC... where are you?
     
  23. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    All of my welding experience came from high school shop.. I have some experience from votech,(trained as an electrician) but that is where I perfected gas welding and repeated everything else.
     
  24. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    waaaaaaaay up in Wisconsin! Just turn down your welder, start slow and build up.... you might amaze yourself!
     
  25. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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  26. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    what IS your avatar???
     
  27. streetmaster

    streetmaster Member

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    Yeah the bike fits you quite well at 5'6, im 6'0 myself and 220lbs.

    I'd like to see your buddy at 6.1 on it as well, and if it does'nt look to small under him, i'll probly go with turn'in mine into a riggid.
     
  28. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    Sold the bike.... :cry: ...but picked up an xs 650 for the next project. In the middle of moving but I will start a new thread for the new build later this summer.
     
  29. Hasersys

    Hasersys Member

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    Hey, Love the bike. I am in the middle of hardtailing my bike. The person I got it from a year ago did a very bad job at cutting the back end off, but for $300 and a full year of riding it I got my moneys worth. I am wanting to drop the rear about 2" from stock. I am curious as to how much you had lowered it. You may have mentioned it and I just missed it. I am cutting about 2" forward of the support tube under the seat. What are some issues if any that you had lowering it.
     
  30. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    How much did you get for the bike? Post up a pic of the XS and then a link to the build thread in here, so those of us that followed this one don't miss it.
     
  31. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    I lowered mine about 5-6 inches. Just go slow and tack things in place to see how it looks.
     
  32. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    Sold the bike for 2k. Dude from St Paul who bought it was going to put on some ape hangers and forward controls. I told him about the forum, and he said he would post some pics.
     
  33. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    MY bike projects have been put on hold.. We sold our house, moved in with my parents..... now we finaly found a place we agree on.... moveing in July 30th.

    Best part is new place has a heated and air conditiond shop/man cave just the right size for hacken and wacken on bikes!
     
  34. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    Decided to shop for another maxim to molest. There is a pile of em to pick from up here, just a matter of a little overtime.....and then sneaking it into the shop! I probably just won't give the wife a key to the man cave, then she will never know!

    I saw one 650 on craigs list in minneapolis with a 115,000 miles! Be fun to check out and see how the motor sounds.
     
  35. koolaid5

    koolaid5 Member

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    good idea. I first hid my seca behind the shed and then finally moved it into the garge. I've stood RIGHT next to the thing talking to my wife and she never said a word for weeks. Last night I was watching biker build off with my son and he got all excited about it and started talking about my "chopper" in the garage. I took him out and let him sit on it. Then he told my wife all about it at bedtime. THAT'S what it took for her to finally notice it....hahahahahaha Then I just told her "that's the same bike I've had forever...I just did a few mods." to which she replied.... "oh, ok..."

    Did you ever get pics of your old bike with the apes on it from the new owner? Toss up some pics of the new house and mancave when you move in.
     
  36. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    The kid that bought my old bike said he was going to get on here and do some pics...haven't seen em. I lost his number so I just posted an add on craigslist to see if he will answer back. I'm sure at the end of the month when we move in I will dig up his info.

    I think I am going to go the same route with the next build except I might go with a solid seat no springs.

    I was digen around on craigs list and looken at bikes... came across a few ironheads that a guy could get into for about $2000. Then I researched what kind of money goes can go into the motor...... you could inherit like $5000 worth of problems on one of those things! I think I will keep burning rice!
     
  37. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    I'm at my buddies dad's shop today helping him with another friends Duramax tranny(EFI LIVE SMOKED ANOTHER ONE!) My buddy is flushing out the tranny lines with brake fluid and the shop stinks. In walks grandpa with my buddies kid (the same one that didn't like my bike) he gets one wiff of brake fluid and starts balling.... I don't think he is going to make much of a shop monkey!
     
  38. SpiritofAA

    SpiritofAA New Member

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    I'm getting prepared to bob a 82 xj650, using the same hardtail setup you show here. Just curious, did you bolt both sides of your rail or weld the right side to the swingarm?

    It looks really good.
     
  39. johnlaw

    johnlaw Member

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    Welded the right side.
     

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