Another xj550 seca cafe racer (project)

Hey I'm new here and just got a 550 seca that came in pieces. My plans for it are to make a nice, yet simple cafe racer. I have an idea of what I want to do and have already started with it so here's a short list!

Tune up

Ducati monster integrated taillight ✔

Shorten the tail section

Wire tuck

New tach/Speedo

Get a custom seat (on it's way)

Wrap the tank and rear fender in a dark matt blue

White stripe on tank/fender

Handle bars

LED headlight

New shocks in rear

Eventually front fork/dual disk conversion

Ride it, enjoy it and modify it as I go!

 

Nice start. How did you secure the tail light lens in the rear cowl?

 

I actually haven't yet. I just taped it in there to test fit it. I will most likely just make a bracket off the frame for it. Just had to do a bit of cutting and sanding to make it fit. I'm extremely happy with how it looks!

 

maybe start with valve shim clearance, brakes oil and filter change compresion test.
is the bike running?

 

Cleaning the gas tank now. Then I will try to fire it up. Has new oil, filter, plugs and we cleaned the carbs. All that stuff is on the list, we're coming into winter so I will have plenty of time to do it then. If it runs ok I would like to get a couple rides in before the weather hits hard here in Oregon.

 

if you get the motor up and running you will know if you need to proceed with the cosmetic things

 

It was my buddies bike. He said it ran great when he parked it a few years ago. I'm sure it will run. Might need a bit more tinkering tho first.

 

it is a good practice to check the viability /condition of motor first. make it safe then make it pretty

 

"Ran great when parked" is a common phrase which can be interpreted as "It used to work". Nothing more. You don't want to get deep into the project, fall in love with it, and then find that the engine is trash. That's a recepie for heartbreak. At minimum, you should ensure that it can turn over without interference and no stuck rings, and then make sure it has compression. Before you ride it, check out the brakes, lines are stamped with a date, and they don't last 6 years. Also take a look at the rear brake shoes to see if they have delaminated. And tires should be checked too.

 

Good advice above. Get it running safe (brakes), then running good (oil, carbs, valves, ignition). Only then think of modifying and/or cosmetics.

 

Yeah. I have already been working on everything you guys are telling me, except the info on the brakes, I didn't know about those issues. I pulled the plugs and spun the back tire with it in gear and the pistons moved freely, changed oil, pulled the carbs apart and cleaned them really well, the tires were replaced not long before it got parked and look great. I will try to fire it up this weekend and let you all know how it goes.

 

Brought the bike home this weekend. Got it fired up. It tried firing right off the bat. Messed with the idle screw a bit and got it to run but the throttle was stuck around 3000rpm. I was happy to have it fire off so easily, which was my only real goal this weekend. The bike only has 15,200 miles. My next step will be to rebuild and re-jet the carbs since I have the dreaded filter pods (didn't come with stock air box) as well as replacing the rubber boots the carbs connect to the engine with and checking the lifter clearances. Also need to replace my front brake line, as it has a flat spot on it from possibly rubbing on the tire

 

Also messed with the rear tail section a bit. Definitely not done yet. Just got the light wiring hooked up and mocked it up roughly for fun!

 

Good looking tail light mod.

 

Thanks man! It's got integrated blinkers as well! I have to add some resistors so the flash actually works tho. I'm stoked on how clean it looks in there though!

 

My seat came in and did some more cutting/mocking up of things. Also ordering new intake boots tonight. Excited with the progress I'm making!

 

What's the tank off? Original suits this bike better IMO if you still have it.

 

I agree a100man. It came with this tank. I will get an oem one eventually. I believe it is off a 79 xs650. I think that's what was written on the bottom. I'm just trying to get it running good and looking decent for minimal money right now.

 

XS650 stuff is generally in demand - should be able to sell or trade it for a seca tank!

 

Still working on the bike here and there, when I get a minute. I started working on relocating the battery box between the frame rails in front of the pods, as well as cutting off the back seat bracket to make one that doesn't rise as much so it will work better for the new seat. I also ordered new mufflers and they should be here tuesday. My business is finally starting to slow down so I should have a bit of time to make more progress in the next few weeks. My new intake runners came in last week so my goal this coming week is to pull off the carbs, mount them up, go through the carbs top to bottom as well as re-jetting them for the pods/new exhaust. Will also most likely get new plug wires this week.

More pics to come of my progress soon!!!

 

Played with the battery box tonight and wiring. Thinking I might build or find a box to cover the wiring harness till I have time to build another, simpler harness. I'm open to thoughts or suggestions on this. Also I took the carbs off and the butterfly valve on carb 4 was open resting, also came across a bad vac leak on carb number 2. Getting new jets hopefully tomorrow for the pods/exhaust then will throw it back together and see how she runs!

 

If you have the carbs off the bike and your not going to take them to church, you're wasting time even putting jets in. You already have them out, tear them down and do them right. You will thank yourself later. Unless I seriously missed something previously in this thread, which is entirely possible.

 

No. You didn't miss anything. Also I am completely familiar with the whole take them to church post. I've read through it once already. But it only takes me a few minutes to get the carbs on and off the bike and if I can put them on and get it tuned decently then that's a chance I'm willing to take to ride it for the next week or two while I still habe decent weather. Winter will be here in no time and at this point I don't have time to "take them to church" as I only have enough time to work on the bike 10 to 30 minutes at a time maybe twice per week.

I will do that in a few weeks though. But for now it's at least worth a shot to slap them back on and see what happens. If it is nothing good then it will just have to wait a few more weeks.

 

Fair enough. I can understand your situation. Been there enough. I'm still hoping to get a few more riding days before the weather prompts them to put down some of the dreaded salt which will hault my riding til spring time. Not sure my wallet is ready for the winter bike fixing season though haha

 

minimal wiring

 

Awesome, thanks Xj550h!

 

On a side note, my mufflers came in today! Can't wait to mount them!!!

 

Other side

 

Here's a fun thought. Make it so the rear tail section disconnects quickly and a different tail light mounts right up under the seat, so I can run it like this too...

 

looks sweet

 

Same old story------ever notice they all " ran great a few years ago"?

Heck, they all ran great at one time. Even a Yugo ran great at one time. Maybe ONLY ONE tine.........

I STILL haven't found anyone that says ' it ran crappy and that's why I parked it a few years ago", or "it stopped great a few years ago"

 

^^^ You're just a big ol ball of rainbows and sunshine, aren't you???lol.

Anyway I was having some wiring issues after moving my battery so I started doing the simplified harness yesterday. Going well so far!

It's been almost a month now since I last worked on the 550 Seca, due to going out of town on my honeymoon, then having to get caught back up with work after returning.

Hoping to get the harness done next weekend and get the seat, rear tail piece, tank mounts and exhaust mounted shortly after.

A friend of mine who owns an auto body shop offered to do the prep on the tank and tail, before I wrap it, so I will take him up on that. Might just have him go ahead and paint them a color I like instead of doing a wrap.

Also I haven't had a chance to fire it up again since replacing the intake boots and fixing a MAJOR vacuum leak so hoping to get to that point again after the wiring is done.

Cheers!

 

It has been a while since I've updated on here. There has been some changes with my build. For instance I now have a motogadget m-unit with the Bluetooth that I am installing. I'm about 90% done installing that so far. Also I got new bars, levers, controls and a new headlight for Christmas, then recently found a deal on sportster rear suspension. Got everything on except the headlight. I need to figure out what gauge I want to run and I think I'm going to get the M-buttons soon as well, to finish out the upgrades and wiring. Then I hope to get it fired up and work out the tuning. Hoping it is done within the next month, as riding season is already upon us... Anyway, here is a photo of how it sits right now...

 

It's coming together nicely - keep the pics coming.

 

Thanks! Will do. I hope to get the m button ordered this week.

 

Got the bike all wired up with motogadget M-unit blue and M switches! Mounted the tank and seat permanently today. Now I just got to Mount the rear fairing, tail light and exhaust and I should be about ready to try and fire her up!