Hi New here with a 81 XJ550RH SECA project

Just wanted to say hello to you chaps. I just picked up an 81 XJ550RH SECA for a project yesterday. Drove 400 mi round trip to get it. I am in to Z1's and KZ's and own a 76 KZ900 which I have restored. You can check out the project thread on that one here if you like (http://www.kzrider.com/forum/11-project ... n-the-road). Have owned a 86 FJ1200 back in the early nineties. Liked the power on the bike but it wasn't very good on the curves. Hoping the XJ550 will be a nice little bike for the twisties. This was advertised as having no body parts and no title. Was pleasantly surprised to find that he had the tank and tail fin;but no side panels. So I will be keeping an eye out for the side panels and would also like to replace the exhaust. Would love to get my hands on a chrome Yoshimura 4-1 from that era. Have a plan for getting it titled. Although it won't be easy. Looking forward to getting some of your expertise and hope I can help in return if I can. Will post pictures when I can.

Joe

 

Shoot me a pm, I might have a couple of things you need - ex. Side pannels

Welcome!!

 

Aw well as I have a 4-1 that you might be interested in. Maybe we could work something out in trade for your stock exhaust.

 

Thanks for the PM Chris. Look forward to the other photo.

Joe

 

Sadly, I am not able to post any photos. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. The file format is JPG and the size is less than 1 meg. I am browsing and adding the filename but nothing seems to happen. Not even the post itself is getting posted. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I am using IE8. Thanks

 

Just use Photobucket or some similar service.

 

X2 on photobucket -

photobucket.com

make an account, upload the pics, and then just copy/paste the

 

Thanks gents, that worked. Here is what I have to work with:

XJ550 PHOTOS

 

getting closer, is there a place with a bunch of link codes?

heres what it looks like in photobucket:

 

DSCF2516 by KZJOE900, on Flickr

 

Or in your case:

 

Thanks for the help with the photos guys. Now that I have the picture link working, I just had a question about the exhaust. Is that a SECA exhaust or one of a Maxim? If it is a Maxim exhaust, can I just replace the tail pieces from a SECA to be fitted on those headers?

 

In all honesty it looks like we both started on pretty much the same platform! Even the same tires!

Nice KZ btw!

 

Thanks for the info mtnbikecrazy55, I'm new to flicker. I shall use the direct photo links you describe from here on.

And tks for the kind words on the KZ, LOL.

 

Also - sorry to aihiliate your thread - but heres a seat for a decent price, it also has the male seat latch portion still attached so one less thing to hunt down:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-Yamaha-XJ5 ... c5&vxp=mtr

The guy making my seat cover is super reasonable, i can hook you up with his contact info if you would like.

 

The headers and collector box were the same for all 550 secas and maxims. The mufflers were the only things different exhaust wise - those mufflers however, aren't even off a maxim - but rather some aftermarket slip-on.

Heres a seca with stock mufflers:

 

I actually do have the seat. Cover is gonzo but can be upholstered. I was hoping to find a pre-made cover on the net. But if the guys is reasonable that would work to. But I need to focus my funds on the mechanics before I get into the cosmetics. Please do send me his contact info. Thanks in advance.

 

I dunno, those look like Maxim mufflers to me... (on OP's bike, not the red Seca.)

Sargent's will do a "stock recover" for about what it would cost to buy a new cover + shipping. http://www.sargentcycle.com/custserv.htm

They did both of my 550 Seca seats; and I couldn't be happier. Highly recommended.

 

Gosh I absolutely love these 550's. Even though I love the maxim x for its power I love the look of these.

 

I'm with you Ryan. I've been secretly looking for one as my next project. Better yet, if BigFitz would ever consider selling his Toxic Asset, I'd be first in line with cash in hand.

Tony

 

XJOE550.

Welcome to the Club.

Gary

 

On the topic of the seat cover, I sourced mine at B&H Specialties. They have them for quite a few Yamaha models.

Here's the link for the Seca 550's:
http://www.motorcycleseatcovers.com/ord ... YAMAHA&HP=

I ended up going with the premium long grain in black for my bike.



Tony

 

You may be right - All the 550 max's i've seen hace had the slash-cut tips like such:


but under further searching, looks like they came with the others as well:



So looks like they came out with the slash cut's in 82 My bad

 

No, sir you are CORRECT. Good catch.

MY bad. The blue bike in the pic above has aftermarket mufflers, it doesn't count.

A quick check of my resources shows that like the Secas, all 3 years Max used the same muffies. SLASH cut.

Some more Googling tends to confirm that they are in fact, 650 Maxim mufflers. I don't think any aftermarket mufflers had that "bell bottom" flare. Too expensive to produce for anybody but MamaYama.

 

well shucks, must have been the wheaties i ate for breakfast

But nice catch on them being off a 650 max - makes perfect sense.