UK based owners

I own a 1980 XJ650 (UK), live in the North East (Teesside) area.

Recently joined the VJMC, are there any other VJMC members out there.

 

hi i am in doncaster have a xj 550 seca 1982 usa model and am a VJMC member .

andy

 

Hi Andy,

Might see you around in 2020, IB to Donny is about 80 miles.

David

 

hi i go to squires cafe in the summer ,

andy

 

Not been there since 2000 with my zephyr

 

New member here from Blackpool, recently bought a 1980 XJ650 Seca in 1000 bits, it was only £150.
Picked up a second engine as mine was missing barrels and Crankshaft bearings. Type 2 (black) and type 3 (brown) seem to be impossible to find in the uk.

The second engine is from a XJ650 Maxim but hopefully with a bit of luck I’ll Frankenstein them together.

Ambitious for my first project though
Hoping to have a Cafe Racer/brat style when it’s finished.

Cheers Adam.

 

Keep your head down nettleship, some people (who didn't get that many seca 650s) are not too keen to see them being cut up. To be fair they are a nice looking bike as original. I have one, slowly collecting the bits to make it roadworthy, then will start the proper resto.
The 650 maxim I have will be anything but original, and as for the 900 framester, who knows, will I ever finish it?
Lastly - be careful - the seca was solid mount, maxim rubber mounted ( I believe), not sure if the castings are the same in this area?

 

Thanks for the heads up. I had a feeling id get that kind of response! The part are just so hard to get hold of and what is available cost the earth.

I’ve had a read about the mounts being slightly different. I’m sure there is a bit of shaving required on the maxim mount and it slots in.

 

I'm from Blackpool and found the site after buying a 1982 UK XJ 750 Seca from ebay after a nostalgia outbreak.. I had an '82 750 Seca in 1985/6 and my Dad had a UK XJ 650 in the 80s.

The bike's had a bit of a refurb by the previous owner and had an engine swap, new pads and shoes and brake hoses. It's also had a carb clean and setup and an oil and filter change.

I'm just in the middle of checking my XJ over - there's an electrical prob as it's undercharging - and have a few bits and pieces arriving from Yambits next week. I'm hoping it'll all go to plan and will be ready to ride in a couple pf weeks.

Chris

 

Hi all, I live in County Donegal Ireland. I rode Bikes in the UK from age 16 (1975) Untill moving to Ireland in 2007. I've had a step through 90, AJS, CZ 150, CB 125, CG 125, CB 175, RS 250, CB 650, GS 850 G, GS 1000 E, GSF 1200 (Both the GS 850 and Bandit were sold just as I came to Ireland as I didn't think I'd survive Donegal roads) Now I'm 13 years 'dry' and time to resolve that with a 1980 XJ 650 Maxim I. She's in pretty good shape and certainly good enough for the summer we have,(Covid travel permitted). Having apparently laid up for a while, and now brought in from the Netherlands, she's been given a bit of TLC here, ready for launch within the next couple of weeks. This site is a gold mine for tech and balanced info. Happy out in Donegal.

 

Two things I've had from Yambits which I didn't use as supplied. The original type fusebox - the wires were pityfully feeble, and the ignition switch - again the main wires were feeble, but if you have an original switch you can swap them, of put your own in.

 

Thanks for the info - I'd been looking at the fuse box to see if it's better than my existing one. I've just ordered a front axle nut and washer, a rear brake adjuster kit and some rear suspension nuts from them.

I've already got a spare stator, rectifier and brushes that came with the bike so I'm hoping that one of those things is going to fix my charging issue - finger's crossed!

 

Looking back at this thread, 40 UK members have given their locations, there are more that haven't. Geographically, the furthest apart are Aberdeen (NE Scotland) & Plymouth (SW England), just over 600 miles. East to West, there is Whitby to Blackpool, 160 miles.

Hopefully, in the future, when we are out of Covid lockdown/tiers etc., is there any interest in a meet up, be that national or regional.

 

I'm in Tegryn, North Pembrokeshire, Wales. Should be a long way from the SouthEast?

 

The furthest SE member who has given their location is Ipswich, that's just over 300 miles from Tegryn.

When we are allowed out to play, would you be interested in a meet up.

 

Yes of course

 

Chester is halfway between Tegryn & Ingleby Barwick.

 

Yeh, I was in Chester for work, decided to drive up to Keighly to look at a vmax trike - it took quite a bit longer than I thought...
And yes, I did buy it.

 

Hello everyone.
I currently live near Cardiff, recently moved down here from the North East. I own a 1986 Radian 600 that I am rebuilding/restoring.
This is how it looked when I bought it, 3 hideous things in my opinion.
1. The white frame
2. The handlebars
3. The aftermarket twin headlights.
My aim was either a cafe racer or flat tracker, but I am more leaning to a more stock look.
Dayglo Dave mentioned Ingleby Barwick in one of his posts, a place I know well.
I will be picking the brains of other members for technical advice and where I can obtain parts that I will need.
The YX is now stripped down and most of the paint has been removed from the frame.

Cheers Andy

 

Nice platform to built a ratbike.
Perhaps this year again 'near' your place when the flue is overcome.

 

I am Steve from Whitby - come by here and I will show you the good roads and the best fish and chips!

 

I grew up near Whitby, Sneatonthorpe to be precise, near the new mine. Good to hear from a fellow Yorkshireman.

 

I did a few months at that mine before I retired (yesterday!)

 

I'm sure the mine will be a big benefit for the Whitby area.

 

HI just signed up tonight does anyone know where there is a reasonably priced 550 seca, i had a new one in 81 and wouldnt mind having another even though i had a bad experience with the first thanks

 

Just noticed, my first post on here was 8 years ago. Still riding my 650 every day and it just gets better and better (or my knowledge does?). These bikes are so good for DIY maintenance and almost impossible to break. It's due for historic vehicle status this year and I fully intend to keep it going until I drop. All the best

 

On 1st April 2021, I'll be applying for historic vehicle tax exemption on my 1980 4K0 (UK) XJ650.

 

another thing you have to watch yambits on is the clutch cables, i got one off them for a yam i had at the time and it turned out to be four inches longer than standard

 

Yamabits dont seem to stock anything for XJ6's. I Struggled to get a front sprocket nut and washer. I finally got 2. First one off ebay and it has no nut locker on it, it came from Poland too. The second from Morotrcycle Products and its too big! Spoke to a engineer chum who said it be fine to put the old one on but to tap/die it and clean it up... Guess it will have to do till I find a new one!

Anyhoo does anyone know of any decent yamaha stockist at all?

 

Cmsnl are good, and will ship to UK. If @chacal was in Europe it would be easy, importing from the States is too painful.

 

Fowlers Bristol

 

Seconded.
Fowlers were good until the stupidity of Brexit screwed the prices.

 

Had a look at Cmsnl, looks decent site and seems to have a lot of parts.

Prob now being that I was all chuffed I managed to finish fitting a new chain - However, just the other day, I had to adjust the gear lever until it was going into all gears and thought I had sussed it (when the chain was off). When I went to try it today with the new chain on, it wouldnt go into 1st and when I put it in 2nd it cut out. My first thought being a dodgy switch for the side stand, however as it is now not going into 1st, difficult to get it back to nuetral, and into gear 3 upwars. Im wondering if my clutch needs overhauled.When I returned to my bike couple months ago before doing any work on it, the same thing was happening ie could only got to 1st and second, but changing the clutch cable and adjusting both the cable and the 'gear shift foot pedal' seemed to do the trick when the chain was off.

Its a mystery to a total DIY motorebike mechanic wannabee/noob :-D

Any perspectives on this clutch issue would be appreciated.

 

Is the chain over-tight?

 

I checked the chain after I fitted it with the guidance of Haynes manual, so I guess that bit is ok.

 

Back to the OP, is a UK meet of any interest.

 

I am up for it let us know where and when.

 

Skipton (Bolton Abbey Station) on Tuesday 7th September 2021.

 

Still working on my bike won't be ready by then still have to sort the valves and exhausts system out but will let you know when it's ready for a long trip out and about.

 

Ok, Skipton would make a good halfway house between Ingleby Barwick and Liverpool. If others chip in, the location may change accordingly.