Y'all like pictures... Right? My '82 550 Budget Build.

As a new member to this forum, and engulfing myself into this little scooter of mine (better than anti-depressants, right?) I figured I'd introduce myself, and share my poor excuse of a "custom build".
This is my '82 Xj550 Maxim. First and only. I bought this bike in... Hold on... 2007? From My dad's friend,who had it stored indoors. 46k, now 48k on it. I treated her like garbage; stored outside for a few years, didn't do the right maintenance I now know I should have done. I just thought "eh... An '82... What a POS... Who cares..." I was young and didn't have that appreciation I do now... She always smoked like crazy - loose tac cable, oil all over exhaust... I didnt care... Loose chain. Screw it. Pin it...
I'm lucky I'm here to write this.
Fast forward to last spring. Poor gal had been sitting outside, in every season to the extreme (East Washington is harsh, but nice), for AT LEAST 2 years... Almost sold her for $125...
A second baby boy came; I decided to put the booze down for good. I needed an outlet from a now postpartum, bipolar-suffering lover, and all the stresses that follow a new-to-sober father who just gained custody of his 7 year old boy as well.
Dusted her off. Plugs. Battery. Air filter. Oil. Sea foamed carbs. New front tire. Deep cleaned all that oil and road grime. Bam. She started right up. So bad leaks. No smoke.
I fell in love all over. I felt 21 again.
So here we are, a year later. A year sober. Bars. Pipes. Blinkers. Seat. Mirrors. Took plastic off. Cut some stuff off. Dropped the back. Painted things. Yah know. All that stuff. Budget Build.
Plans?
Nothing to the engine... It's a 550...
4-1 and pods (only if I really want to learn to re-jet... Is it worth it?)
Different Bars (z Bars)
Braided cables
(More) Custom seat
Removable 2-up w/ small sissy bar (just for my boys, or a small lady, if need be...)
Drop down to 9"
Rebuild brakes and front end
Gaskets (top valve and i think the clutch case? Have evidence of slight leaks)
Tires (they dont match...)
Mini speedo
Chain/sprocket
Carb boots (soooo bad... Side note-are vacuum leaks bad long term, or just power?)
Move electronics to an ammo box, saw someone on here do it. Stealing the idea. Sorry.
Any advise? Something I've overlooked or don't know about when restoring these older bikes? Again. Budget Build. She runs great, could use a carb tune I'm sure. And I read something about valve clearance?
Thanks for helping me out thus far, and more so in the future.

 

Well done to you, bike looks good. You won'tfind much encouragement here for cutting bits off your frame, or going to pods - for all the right reasons,but it's your bike at the end of the day.

 

Vacuum leaks are bad long term for sure.. it adds more air to the mixture. Forcing you to run lean on a bike that's already set lean from factory for emissions.

Yeah not much love for bobbers here.. nor pods.. and I'll tell you not to cut the frame. Well at least until you fix vacuum leaks, and have you checked your valve clearance? Definitely something you need to address before you grenade your bike from tight valves.

Also a good and detailed full rebuild of the carbs will have a huge impact on performance especially since you slapped pods on constant velocity carbs. No point to a bike if you don't have the proper maintenance done, especially a older bike. All of its easy enough to do yourself.

 

Who showed up in the middle of the night and put pods on my bike??? Air intake is all stock.
Yeeeeaaah, I noticed the strong influence of cafes here. It's my first bike, first build. I don't have the funds to build a cafe that I would want to call a bonofied racer... I do enjoy the look, and plan on finding another 550 to try something different with. This one is more of a science project/learning lesson. And you're right, I'll cut off whatever I want
Just need to order a new gasket before I go opening her up.
Thanks for the heads up. I'll make sure I find the person who put pods on my bike...