[Ease]

I just picked up a 1982 Yamaha 650 SECA with hopes of turning it into a CAFE RACER (Yeah i know, shaft drive sucks)...
I think cafe bikes are awesome, and I love the old badass look... Oh, and I'm 21 years old.
Anyway I was hoping to get some advice on where to start, what some easy cheap mods are, and where to start looking for a solo seat / cowl... the bike now is in showroom condition (but I plan on changing that very soon) And My best friend is a motorcycle mechanic who works at a chopper shop (He just picked up a 1977 Honda 550 four)... So im up for just about anything... except for spending all of my cash.
SO if anyone has any suggestions, a similar bike (pics), or some good websites / catalogues / fabrication ideas, please reply.

Thanks, ease

 

[FR]

Ease, just my opinion here, but that bike was at about the stylistic low point of the US Yamaha line. The pinwheel design wheels suck. Drive shaft sucks. I don't think you'll find a seat that would blend with the gas tank design. Not to shoot you down, but I think you're starting with the wrong bike, or you're making a lot of work for yourself. I'd just throw some clubmans and rearsets on it and call it done. Or sell it and get something with some soul.

FR

 

[RookieGeorge]

For a Seca, you might look toward the Brits and their 'streetfighter' designs. Lots of good stuff in the Bandit line would translate to a Seca, in my opinion. (Just don't do one of those fugly 'insect tail in the air' things they do...) Clip-ons, dual naked headlights or funky LED setups, and as little plastic as you can stand in the wind.
http://www.banditmania.co.uk/2005 OCT ON/john_whitmore.jpg

 

[SilverTone]

Ease, we're of likemind as I have done just what you are thinking about. There is potential in that build. Have alook at what I've been able to acheive. I think the 82 XJ650 RJ begs to be cafe'd. It's all about that 8" headlamp.

and

This was one of the finest GT bikes of its day, and even though shaft driven, it is fun and smooth as shit. It'll blow the doors off any CB. Though it's look is not traditional, you can still acheive a cafed bike. People are always quick to stop me and talk about the bike.

Go for it. Don't let any one cloud your vision. As Einstien said, "great sprits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."


Edited by - SilverTone on May 10 2006 12:29:01 PM

Edited by - SilverTone on May 10 2006 5:15:51 PM

 

[Ease]

RookieGeorge, Thanks for the advice, that bandit is nice but not exactly what i'm going for.

SilverTone, Your bike is EXACTLY how I see mine after i'm done (a winter or 2 later). Great job.
The "sucky" wheels (as stated above) look awesome powdercoated flat black... I'll be painting mine as soon as i get the time, and i think im gonna wrap the chrome pipes in black fiberglass.

I hope you don't mind giving advice or giving up your secrets because i plan on picking your brain on a few things... Most Importantly, Where do I get a seat like that, those bars (I had previously planned on just inverting mine), the 4 into 1 exhaust, AND the fender eliminator?

Oh.. and is that a bigger rear tire? I was thinking on picking up some supermoto-style tires for it but i would really like to go larger in the back... How big can I get away with?

Thanks for the inspiration, My normal e-mail is [email protected]

Again, Beautiful Bike.

Ease

p.s. This is what im starting with... windshield and mirrors are gone.

Edited by - ease on Jun 07 2006 5:25:26 PM

 

[SilverTone]

Ease,

Pick away, pick away. It's been a fun project and I have way to go yet, but I'd be happy to share what has, thus far, been accomplished. I got the same shit when I was after the Seca with a cafe in mind. But the vision was there, the price was right and I am very happy with the bike. Hang in there.

I'll fill you in about your initial questions a bit later when I have more time time write.

By the way, your pictures didn't come through. Would you mind sending them to my email address. Click on my screen name for the address.

Till, then...

 

[joe c]

i say nice looking bike there. very cool.

jc

 

[Geeto67]

there is some chopper company that makes diamond plate inserts for those pinwheel style wheels. Apparently some chopper guys like them for old cb750 chops so this is one way to dress them up.

 

[n/a]

quote:Originally posted by

:lol::lol: Hahaha, cant believe it! I was going to say -Exactly- that a minute ago! :lol::lol:





Hostels worldwide
- Cheap Hotels Barcelona

 

[Dr. Zorko]

Hi! I'm new to the forum and I thought you might like to take a gander at my '82 XJ650. I'm at a turning point where I may sell the bike or go further down the cafe road, so to speak. I have it set up for sport touring at the moment, but I was thinking of making up a bobbed tail piece fitted to a spare seat pan. May do up a set of rear sets as well. Currently the bike sports a BMW fairing with K&N clubman bars (inverted, I know, I know! Blasphamy!)and a four into one header from MAC. I painted the pipe with a VHT paint for wood stoves called "cast iron". Makes it look like titanium! Yup.

She's been a great bike. Not a drop of oil on the ground in the four years I have owned it. Very reliable. Can't sell...musn't...Gasp!

"When monsters loose, boards must be tight!"

 

[magnetoczar]

While I love the old traditional stuff, I've also come to appreciate some of the unorthodox bikes that have been modified. Building a bike is an expression in art. Don't just bolt "cafe" shit on and expect to be satisfied. Look at it in terms of symetry, colors that work together well but are out of the ordinary (I like metal colors), unusual uses of components. Look at all the Harley "choppers" out there, they all follow the same formula, yuk! Be different, mix and match, fabricate, run unorthodox pipes. Funny, but anybody worth a shit these days, will stop and look at a well done boneyarder' and walk past the bling-bling credit card overdone piece's O' shit.

Go for it, and then let's see the pics'

Dgy
500 Triumph bobber on the way

 

[Ease]

The bike looks great (in even better condition than mine when i got it).
I've since gotten rid of the 82 XJ650 RJ I mentioned in my first post here. But, Not to worry, I bought an 83 XJ650 RJ.
I love this bike, as it is or as a cafe bike.
I have a solo seat and clubmans on order, a 4-into-1 exhaust, and plans for a custom paintjob (Might just put black primer on it for this summer), rearsets, a sportbike-style muffler, new rear shocks, etc, etc, etc.
As was said before, just do whatever the bike inspires you to do and keep us up to date on what you do.

Here's my bike as it is today:

I'll be posting my progress on here whenever I get finished with a mod.

Ease

Edited by - ease on Jun 07 2006 5:27:46 PM

 

[Dr. Zorko]

Does anyone have a list of aftermarket exhaust systems (4 into 1)that will fit a '82 XJ650? I had a hard time finding one. The only one I could find was a MAC. Anything else out there?

Also, how do you guys get your photos to show up in your postings? I must be missing something.

"When monsters loose, boards must be tight!"

 

[Ease]

Not sure about the 4-into-1, mine had it on there when I got it, so I never researched it at all.

As for the Pics - just sign up for an account at http://www.photobucket.com and upload whatever pics you want to post... They give you an address for each picture you upload (then paste that address betwen the "(img)(/img)" code - square brackets - on the post).

I think your problem is the capital letters in the "img" code on your post...

Edited by - ease on Jun 11 2006 09:18:05 AM

 

[Dr. Zorko]

Thanks Ease! That was the problem all right. Here they are again:

"When monsters loose, boards must be tight!"