1. Some members were not receiving emails sent from XJbikes.com. For example: "Forgot your password?" function to reset your password would not send email to some members. I believe this has been resolved now. Please use "Contact Us" form (see page footer link) if you still have email issues. SnoSheriff

    Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

XJ650 cafe project - Which Radian parts will fit?

Discussion in 'XJ Modifications' started by jwmaxse, Nov 23, 2010.

  1. jwmaxse

    jwmaxse New Member

    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    I have an '82 XJ650 Maxim that I've always wanted to turn into a Cafe style bike. I ran across a good deal on an '86 Radian last night that seems to have a rebuilt title and is a little rough around the edges. I'm leaning towards parting out the Radian instead of rebuilding it.

    I have several questions around what parts can be swapped to the Maxim without too much modification.

    - Will the entire front end/triple tree bolt up?
    - Will the 6 speed tranny bolt up to the 650 engine?
    - How about the swingarm, will that bolt on?
    - Would the chain assembly fit inside the frame?

    I'm sure I'll be able to answer some of these questions on my own by tearing both bikes apart, but I thought I'd ask first in case someone knows off the top of their head.

    The main reason I'm looking at installing the Radian parts on the XJ is due to the rebuilt title on the Radian. In the end I'd like to have an XJ with dual front disks and a larger front and rear tire. If the tranny and chain assembly all fit then that would be icing on the cake since I've always wanted another gear on the XJ.
     
    jwmaxse, Nov 23, 2010
    #1
  2. jwmaxse

    jwmaxse New Member

    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    jwmaxse, Nov 23, 2010
    #2
  3. iwingameover

    iwingameover Active Member

    Messages:
    2,145
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Maryland
    You can't change the transmission on an XJ they're part of the motor.

    The rest I don't know about.
     
    iwingameover, Nov 23, 2010
    #3
  4. jwmaxse

    jwmaxse New Member

    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    That's good to know. It looks like I'm striking out on the front end swap as well. The Radian and XJ forks are the same size, but the triple trees aren't an easy swap into the XJ since the bearings are different, amongst other things. I might just have to part out the entire Radian after all.
     
    jwmaxse, Nov 23, 2010
    #4
  5. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    418
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    You can't "change" a shaft driven XJ650 to chain drive with some simple bolt-ons.

    The Radian has a great deal in common with the 550 Maxim; with bigger (shaft-driven) XJs, not so much. Very little as a matter of fact; swingarm will NOT interchange, as it is part of the driveline on the shaft-driven bikes.
     
    bigfitz52, Nov 23, 2010
    #5
  6. jwmaxse

    jwmaxse New Member

    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    I thought the swingarm/chain swap might have been possible if the tranny was seperate from the engine, but I now know that isn't the case. I'm not all that familiar with these bikes, so that's why I asked. Since almost none of the parts (besides maybe the forks with brakes) will bolt up I'll probably just part the thing out.

    As far as turning the Maxim into a cafe style bike, I'm going to look at an FZ600 front end instead since the entire triple tree may bolt up. There was lots of interesting info on the link below regarding front end swaps:

    http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=236
     
    jwmaxse, Nov 23, 2010
    #6

Share This Page