My 1981 550 Seca,,, not stock.

So heres the story...

Bought this as a non running, "good luck with that", kind of project. It was missing a bunch of parts, sat for several years outside. I paid $150 for it, and knew it was worth it in parts alone. So I took a chance...

I tore it down, and first tested for compression, numbers came back excellent, and well withing spec. So next I tested the spark, and with a slip of the starter button quickly let me know the spark was very strong. I ended up with a better condition set of carbs, and shes now running very well.

Heres how she sits today, still a little more work to do yet, but I'm just glad its running...

 

nice looking bike

 

What's the front brake caliper from? Was there much modifying necessary?

And looks very nice too.

 

Definitely go with that tail section exactly where you have it. Just get a base and pad made to suit. Thinking of doing similar to rear end of my 650, as wife never goes on back of it. Was going to get a flat track seat but will now look out for a 550 tail. Might end up white and red too - to match my Bonnie.

 

Thanks, it has come a LOOONG way from when I bought it. Lots more to do though.

The front caliper is from a 96 FZR600, its not exactly bolt on... its connected to the fzr600 forks as well. The entire fork swap is fairly simple, but requires you weld the stem from the xj onto the lower triple.

My original forks were shot... not rebuildable due to heavy rust. Being 38mm, they are a good upgrade to the originals, but keep the bike fairly stock looking. The FZR upper triple is meant for clipons, which is what im using. Mine is about an inch and a half lower than stock due to the way I set the forks in their trees, you get about 2 inches of adjustability since the xj stem is about 2 inches shorter.

This was always my plan from the time I first saw it... I experimented with different tail sections in photoshop, and did a bunch of mockups using cardboard templates. I hated everything... except the stock tail. It does limit my taillight, license plate, and bettery mounting options though. It leaves very little room under it.

I wanted the battery in the tail so the area under the seat could be completely open. I think the tail makes the bike more than the battery... so I compromised.

 

Nice bike, dude.
MORE PICS.

 

haha, and I thought mine was a steal at $800! I could see it with a fatter back tire!

 

Get a Shorai Lithium Iron battery. They are slightly small than stock and way lighter than lead batteries.

 

I just checked their website Bob... looks like its only half an inch narrower, and a quarter inch taller, than the AGM I have right now.

I'll take more pics once I get some more parts in, and installed.

 

nice bike dude! are those stacks or open carbs, if so what are planning on doing? also did you clean up the wiring?

 

The "stacks" you are seeing, are the stock airbox rubbers. They are bell shaped, and serve to make the intake tract longer, both good things when not using the stock airbox. I plan to use some foam for filters, and keep the "stacks".

Finally got a new tail light. It fits the stock location damn near perfect. I did not cut anything to make it fit... it just fits. Its a integrated LED unit from a late 90 ducati flipped upside down.



I also got some "38mm" headlight mounting ears from ebay... they are not 38mm, and I had to modify them slighty with a hammer to get the right curvature.