83 SECA 650 Cafe Project

FWIW, I have clearance issues with my drag bars on my 750 seca. I'm making my own riser section from the stocker handlebars to solve the issue without putting to much rise into the bars (thats why I wanted drags, nice and flat.) With the stock control pods/mirrors/levers/etc, I needed about another inch of clearance on the bars/tank. With my aftermarket levers/controls/etc, I only need about 1/2"

 

Ease:
You have a very nice bike. I've been checking it for a while and I'm interested in doing the clubman handlebar swap on my 82 XJ750RJ seca.

DO you have a photo with you sitting on the bike so that I can see the riding stance with this handlebar?

I might also consider the dragbar if the clubman brings the stance to far forward. I'm only 5'9"

I am also considering the clip ons that you currently use on your bike. They seems to have less of an agressive drop and perhaps more confortable position for your body/arms. Is this right? I would like to do the clip ons but they're a bit more expensive.

The other reason why I'm considering the clip ons is because with the clubman handle bar or even with a stock bar it prevents you from lowering the front suspension, and I also want to lower the front about an inche or so. Is this the reason why you went with the clip ons? so that it will also allow you to lower the front more?

thanks in advance for your reply.

 

Firts off, thanks guys for the comments, and to switch263 for bringing up a good point about the 750.

The 750 secas are a lot different from the 650's and 550's. You will probably have clearance issues with changing the stock bars over to clubmans.

OK, I'll post one, lol. This is a cheesy pic I took when I first put clubmans on the bike... Can't really tell the stance b/c my feet aren't on the pegs, but you kinda get the idea. Notice how far forward I have the bars rolled (for clearance).



... Before you ask, No, I don't ride in shorts. Photo op only. 8)

I'm 5' 10", so no big difference there. But the 750 is a bigger bike. Clubmans are so cheap it's almost worth it to get em and try it out for fit...
Buying clip on's is a fair investment, especially if you have to get a new MC.

The clip-on's used the way I have them installed have a much less agressive drop than the clubmans, as you mentioned. And you're right, it definately puts less strain on your wrists and arms. Also, if you wanted to have a little more lift you could try the high-rise version of what I have...

**However, these tarozzi clip-on's do not allow for your stock master cylinder!!**

You will probably have to replace similarly to what I did... a more modern remote system or something a little more compact.
Although a cheaper method would be to buy a straight drag bar and cut it in half to use as longer bars (see last pic in this post)... would allow you to keep the stock MC, but your clip-on's would be a bit long.

This is a good point, and yes, before I installed the clip-on's I could only lower my bike (with the forks) about 1/2". Since installing the clip on's above the triple tree I've lowered the bike almost another inch, Total is almost 1.5" drop... And yes the bike handles great.

You're welcome, I like answering these questions - I just hope I'm helping!

And just to add a bit more to the post here's a pic of clubmans vs. clip-on's on the 650 for comparison:





This is with the stock MC laid in place... it Will Not bolt on the stock Tarozzi's. Note how far the right handle is hanging off compared to the left...

 

Is the stock master cylinder too long causing a clearence issue or is it the brake lines that get in the way? I can't really tell from the pic (especially on my iPhone)

 

Thanks a lot for your answers EASE. I have a few thoughts on this.
My 82 XJ750RJ SECA, does not have the master cylinder on the handlebar, but behind my headlight. So does that mean it will be easier for me to do the swap wether I use the clubmans or the clip ons? I'm diggin the clip ons. And I will go that route if I don't have to mess with the MC.

 

Yup, that should make it easier!

Worst case scenario you would probably need an extended line to the remote reservoir.

Yes sir, that's the issue. it hits off the clamp for the clip-on because it's too long / too tight to the bar.
Brake lines are not an issue.

 

Nice bike. LOVE the bars - In the UK they are called "Drops" (As in dropped bars - at least where I come from).

I personally think the riding position you adopt with them is great. It's uncompromising.

The last bike I had with drops on was an 1978 RD250 DX, in 1982. You've reminded me of my youth!

 

Thanks Markie!

I have heard of clubmans being called drop bars before as well.

Glad my bike could help you remember your youth!

 

new guy looking to buy a super clean xj650rj help!

new guy looking to buy a super clean xj650rj help!

sorry if I wrong spot but I am new guy and I am looking to buy a cherry clean xj650rj - am am 43 now and had one as a kid-

what is the deal on the Canada bikes - I heard rumor that they were made in canada years later than the ones in USA?

 

Also, my fave bike on the site! What type of exhaust is that? Sorry if you already answered that...

 

Hey, this is the wrong spot to put up your want add. Try HERE for that.

Also, the Canadian XJ was made, I believe, one more year after the US bike. For example, mine is an 83 XJ650R, and I believe you could only get up to an 82 in the US. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks!
I'm still not 100% on the exhaust. It is a 4-1, but beyond that I don't know. I had posed the question to others on the site to help me in the past but can't remember if we came up with the answer... The pipe is an 'e-bay special' shorty reverse megaphone.

The combo works great, though. Get compliments on the sound all the time.

 

Here are a few pics from this sunday:

 

how exactly does it sound? does it sound like a rocket? or just more throaty than stock? I really like the looks of it

I also noticed that you have some sort of extension from where the headers end under the bike to where the muffler starts, what sort of thing is that? Store bought or fabbed?

 

It definately sounds more throaty than stock, but I don't think it sounds quite like a crotch rocket. Hard to compare it to the stock sound b/c the bikes came with a 4-into-2 with a collector, and now it's a 4-into-1 with a fibreglass packed shorty. But it is pretty agressive sounding.

The extension is fabbed, but it is just a reducer to allow the smaller muffler to fit on to the larger collector.

I brought the new pipe to a muffler shop, found a piece of exhaust tubing that fit just inside and had it stretched on one side to fit over the header... Cost: $0.00.

 

One More:

 

I don't know if anyone asked this yet but where did you get the rear cowl?

 

Bought a shell off e-bay, then modified it and glassed it to a replacement stock seat pan I also bought on e-bay and finally to fit the shape of the bike.

I'm sure I have a full build page on it but it is probably long lost in the archives by now...

 

Ease,
thanks for the tip! looks nice...maybe I'll start posting my mods now...

 

Read this a while ago, and now again today, I just want to say that is a really cool looking bike. I really like the clip ons. It looks like it is ready to race something just sitting there!

 

Thanks! To be honest I struggle with the idea of switching back to the clubman bars all the time, they're great on the 650 secas.

Thanks for keeping the thread alive streetbrawler.