New here...

Hey whats up everyone, my names Chris and from SF I just picked up a new to me 1982 XJ650 SECA I got it from the original owner who was a older guy who bought it brand new back then. The bike sat for 5 years and one day last week he walks by my friends house and offers it up, he told me and i jumped on it! I changed the battery bled the brakes and it fired right up! The bikes oil was changed before storage and everything was clean and everythign works! I hope to learn some things about this bike here and I think I am going to turn it into a cafe bike. Ill post pictures of it tomorrow!

 

Hey, Chris. Welcome aboard! got any pictures?

 

Hey Big Chris! Welcome from Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada! glad you found this site. Get ready for an eye-opening experience. You think your bike is ready to roll? well here is the bad news after 29 years those original brake lines have to go, sorry but Yamaha designed them with a 4 year life span. Then there is the possibility of rear brake shoe "DELAMINATION", this is not a joke, though it is not too awful common, it does happen frequently enough to be a concern. What can happen, without any warning, is when you apply your rear brake, it will lock up. And you know what happens if you just happen to be right in the middle of a turn; DOWN YOU GO!. It is recommended that regardless of the condition of your shoes, they be replaced. As for the front brakes, it is also recommended that both the master cylinder and the calipers be rebuilt as they can malfunction as well. Other advice, stay away from synthetic oil, it can interfere with the starter clutch. Check your valve clearances, the design causes the clearances to decrease with wear, you don't want to burn a valve or two. If you use the search feature you can find more details of what I just laid out for you. This site was created to help anyone who owns an XJ for free.

 

Welcome aboard Chris

You have a 1 owner, 1 year run, 82 650 Seca, and you want to instantly cut it up? And people wonder why the american dollar has been so devalued lately!!

It is your bike to do with as you wish, but please take a moment to find out exactly what it is that you have. There are guys here that would have to change their shorts if they got their hands on a bike like that. Me included!!

I realize that oppinions differ, but may I offer a few suggestions.
1. Plan your modifications carefully so that the frame is left untouched. It can be done with a cafe styled bike.
2. Carefully pack away all parts removed so that at some point in the future the bike could still be returned to original.
3. If you do not think either 1, or 2 are wise counsel. Then let me know. I am looking for a good set of those mufflers.

Now that the purist part in me is taken care of, and done with.

You will find just about anything you want to know about your bike here.
Some issues that need your immediate attention,

Brakes: Both front, and rear brakes need to be attended to in short order. outdated brake lines, old delaminating shoes, fouled outdated seals in the calipers, and master cylinder. Safety is a major issue. If you can not stop the bike. How are you planning on riding it?

Valves: One of the biggest causes for a poorly running engine in these bikes is the valves. Make sure they are checked, and properly in spec. You will need to do this in order to even begin to get the carbs dialed in properly.

Carbs: Make sure that when you go through the carbs that everything is surgically clean, and in top condition. It is not unheard of for guys to have to take the carbs back apart several times to get that last tiny bit of gunk cleaned out of the microscopic passages in these carbs.

Pods: If you are dead set on using them. Then study, study, study, and study some more on the issues that go along with pods on these CV carbs. It is a can or worms that can, and will make grown men cry. You may just change your mind.

Parts: If you click on the banner at the top of every page that says XJ4Ever. you will be taken to the section of our resident parts supplier Chacal. There you will find his encyclopedic knowledge conerning all manner of details about these bikes along with his parts catalog. Almost any repair part you may need to fix your bike can be found through him.

Any details that I might have missed, or glossed over will be attend to shortly by the other guys that know a bit more. I am sure that I left something for them

Ghost

 

Thanks for the heads up but im not going out and racing the bike tomorow I just got it up and running and I plan on replacing the master cyl with a new one and I am going to do a rebuild on the calipers as well and with that is changing out the rear drum shoes. With this older bike i was already planning on staying away from syn oils. Even though the motor oil was super clean upon inspection i still plan on rebuilding the whole motor to clean up the case and check everything. I will use the search button as I am not a noob

 

Please lets not get into a american dollar debate. With that out of the way I do want to make it a cafe bike as it is mine and no one elses but i do plan on doing my mods tastefully. As I said in my above post i am going to do a rebuild on the motor itself. I also plan on breaking the entire bike down to get rid of the rust that is on the frame by getting alot of parts and the frame sand blaster and powder coated. I also mentioned that im going to get another m/c and going to rebuild the calipers. I will rebuild the forks as well durring my build same with the carbs. I dont know yet if i will use pods but that im not sure yet and I will deal with it. Also if your upset with my intentions i wount tell you how much i paid for the bike you will loose your cool! Also whats a good condition muffler? I plan on changing them out.

 

Welcome to the club Chris. This is the place to be if you own an XJ.

 

Welcome from Brisbane Australia ... enjoy !

 

Here are some pics for you all

 

Welcome.

 

One thing this place has is a lot of repetition, Ghost rewrote just about everything I wrote. Guess it's something we have to live with. Very nice looking bike.

 

Welcome Chris - pretty good lookin' bike - mine is undergoing "rehab" as we speak.....one more thing [there's always "one more thing..."] check the date marks on your tires - the PO of my XJ rode it up to my house in October.....front tire was "314" and the rear "439" ...Jul/Aug 1994 and Nov 1999......very scary with the early delam of the rear shoes...........those tires on your XJ look as if they have good tread life - but do the date check...

Dave

 

Hey Chris, are you sure that's an 82, I thought that all the XJ's had a YICS motor and you don't have YICS. Is the sticker on the steering head still readable?

 

First off. My apologies for the letting my purist side come out. I am sure you can understand how aggravating it can be trying to find good quality bikes to restore. You are absolutely correct in that it is your bike to do with as you wish. But you really know how to hurt a guy. A very nice starting point you got there. The cafe style should look really good on it.

As far as what you paid for it. I could probably give you triple the amount, and still have plenty of room for a nice profit. I like dealing with old guys also. They just do not have a use for things any more.

Those muffers are easily what I would call good condition. Shoot me a PM with your price, and we will discuss it privately.

Keep us posted on your progress. We also like pics, pics, and more pics!

Ghost

 

I'm pretty sure the '82 SECAs didn't have YICSs engines for some reason. In fact here's a snip from our friend Chacal:

<snip>

Strangely, the 1980-81 XJ650 Maxim and XJ650 Midnight Maxim models, as well as the 1982 XJ650RJ Seca models, did NOT use the YICS system. It has also been reported by some owners that some very early model 1982 XJ650 Maxim models did not use the YICS system.

</snip>

Nice bike, BTW. I'd love to luck into a find like that. Did you get this for free? I don't think you mentioned a price. Just curious

 

Nice score! I have to agree with the Ghost though. It would be a shame to alter such a nice and complete vintage bike as you have there.

 

the sticker on the neck tube is still readable and its born on date is 6/81 and also it being a SECA makes me believe its a 82 since supposedly thats only when they for sale.

 

It wasnt free.... but put it this way i didnt have to lie to the wife about how much it was and when i told her she thght i was lying lol

 

Heres a few more pics for you guys... also real quick should I just stick with this same thread for the entire build?

Original sales form from when he bought it...


Owners manual, I also have a service manual




Heres a before and after, this was done today at work...

BEFORE:


AFTER:

 

Nice job on the buffing.

The 1980 and 1981 XJ650 Maxim, and the 1982 XJ650R Seca used the same 653cc non-YICS motor.

The 650R was only sold in North America in a 1982 model year, although some carried over to be sold in later years, but was a "leftover" 1982.

Serial numbers started at 5V2-000101, 5V2 being the model designation from Yamaha. You have the 309th 650R to be imported into the U.S., the lowest serial number I've seen.

There are lots of us on here, even 650R owners, that are very jealous of you right about now ! LOL

Hate to see it modified, but it's your bike, and we love all XJ's, so when you run in to problems just ask, we're still more than willing to help.

Oh, and if you decide to get rid of that rear fender, let me know.