[8SpadeEpiphany]

So for the past 2 months I've been working on a 1982 Yamaha Seca XJ650L. I bought it for 600 bucks with 26k miles on it. It looked terrible 80's style. Which is fine for some, but I saw the tank and instantly knew I was gonna have to make her a cafe racer.

http://www.iremotorcycles.com/IMG_0429.jpg
This link is exactly what she looked like, though the one in the pic is a bit cleaner.

So it had a few gasket leaks that I have since replaced but have been having some electrical issues that I'm repairing right now and waiting for a new solenoid to come in. You guys know with this old bikes, sometimes parts take forever.

Here are a few pics of what I have so far, I have a video on youtube.com of it also, but it hasn't been fully uploaded yet. Let me know what you guys think!!!

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/45004577/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/45004405/

 

[8SpadeEpiphany]

Here's a vid of the bike too. It's a little dark but you get the idea.

 

[jaimesix]

I love yamaha Secas. I had one like this one, a 550 ( although mine was white with a red stripe, opposite color.... and off course, I had clip ons and a 4 into one..)

My dream was the bigger brother, the 650:

Check this one out! a Seca 650 cafe bike:

I am looking for a second bike to cafe. I like variety, I need to have another one, and better, 2 or 3 more, to enjoy biking like it should. Yamahas , and Seca Yamahas are on my shopping list.

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[8SpadeEpiphany]

Awesome, yeah I'm debating getting a front fairing. I want the four in one exhaust before hand of course. I already have the individual air filters on the carbs, clubman bars, and the cafe seat, so its the last thing on my list for a while. Almost there. As soon as I get the exhaust I need to rejet and then I'm money. I'll have some more pics up as soon as I have them.

 

[rdrce698]

Sweet!! how about some pictures from the side

698

 

[8SpadeEpiphany]

Yeah I have the 4 in 1 exhaust in the mail and the front fairing. Because of the holidays I dont think ill be getting them untill late next week, if not later. As soon as I have them installed, I'll post some pics of it just sideways.

 

[8SpadeEpiphany]

Yeah I have the 4 in 1 exhaust in the mail and the front fairing. Because of the holidays I dont think ill be getting them untill late next week, if not later. As soon as I have them installed, I'll post some pics of it just sideways.

 

[jaimesix]

That is cool. The four into one will give it a nice look, and will add to performance, perhaps not that noticeable performancewise , but sure it will be a healthier bike, better exhaust gas riddance and less weight.

Wating to see the pixes.

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[jaimesix]

That is cool. The four into one will give it a nice look, and will add to performance, perhaps not that noticeable performancewise , but sure it will be a healthier bike, better exhaust gas riddance and less weight.

Wating to see the pixes.

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[Ease]

8Spade, I'm cafeing an 83 seca 650.

So far I have clubmans, 4-into-1 exhaust, bar end mirrors, cafe seat. Hoping to get rearsets in the future, and wouldn't mind doing the 4-Pod setup... If so many mechanics didn't tell me it was too much of a hassle.

I cant see putting a fairing over that sweet 8 inch headlight, though I'm considering a windscreen off a ducati monster or buell... something small to keep the wind of the gauges.

How did you find setting up your bike with the pods and exhaust? (assuming you have your exhaust by now).

Hey By'

 

[Ease]

Just checked out your pics, I like it. I have a similar seat and taillight on mine. And im in the process of painting it black with a stripe.

I'm going with a checker stripe like the new thruxtons and pin striping around the indentation in the tank with silver (the area you have painted white).

I've been considering painting the frame and engine silver and polishing the outer cases as well.

Thoughts? Keep me posted on your progress, good to see someone else with a similar project.

Hey By'

 

[jaimesix]

Any pixes???

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[8SpadeEpiphany]

Yeah I havn't had issues with the 4pods, I think it's because I put them on when I did the engine rebuild. So I was able to tear out that ass ugly air box and do that all then. I havn't posted updated pics yet because I havn't gotten the 4 in 1 hooked up yet, or that front fairing. Then I'll take some side pics for you guys. I'm really stoked that other cafe racers out there are working on xj's, not that Im not a fan of the CB's but its good to stick out a bit and deviate from the norm as we are right now. Kudo's to us! I'll post some pics as soon as I get the 4 to 1 and fairing in the mail. Until then gentlemen, keep the rubber down.

 

[teighlor]

cool bike...would be cooler with smaller turn signals though.....

 

[jaimesix]

I want to see some pictures. I guess you forgot to turn on the light!! It is very dark in there.

Must be very cool, I can only wonder... untill someone turns on the light....LOL

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[Ease]

8Spade, If you ARE worried about the turn signals, I re-located and shortened mine.

(Pardon the old pic / unfinished bike)

Cut off the original seca turn signal at the taper then knocked it into itself and fastened it to where the handle used to go.

I have a better pic on another comp if you want to see.

Hey By'

 

[8SpadeEpiphany]

Nice bike. I like it. I will totally do what you reccomended with the turn signals. I think I will ditch the front ones completely because they are totally in the way of the vintage fairing I ordered. I will get my exhaust in tomorrow so I will have that installed on saturday and rejetted early next week. My project is almost complete! Then there will be mucho pictures for you guys!

 

[fairhb]

8SpadeEpiphany,

I was thinking of starting a similar project with my xj650 maxim. I was curious where you found your seat. Do you know if it would fit a maxim? Because the gas tank on my bike needs replacing (rusted through in a couple of spots), I was hoping to find something seca like, but it seems the only bolt compatible tank is from the xj750 maxim (not a big fan). At least that is what I have found so far. Do you know of any cafe like tanks that fit the maxim? Or anyone reading this for that matter.

Any insight to these questions would be greatly appreciated.

/FairHB

 

[8SpadeEpiphany]

As far as the seat goes I had to drill my frame and come up with a custom mounting setup using large screws and metal spacers. You can see in the pictures what I'm talking about. It has that curved/uprisen frame in the back so made mounting kinda ruff.

So an update on the project. The engine shown in the pics below had to be replaced. Piston ring blew and scraped up the cylinder wall and 3/4 of the ring got lost in the engine somewhere in who knows how many pieces. So rather than find the ring and fix that cylinder wall etc, it was gonna be much cheaper and time effective to get another engine. I just got it yesterday and I should hear back from the mechanics on the condition of the engine. I know it has good compression etc, though we will see if she fires and how well. In any case, here are some pics! I got some flush mount turn signals so I dont have those huge yellow lights (still shown here). When I get it all done I will have some new pics up for you guys.

Just cut and paste the links:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/51864150/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/51864319/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/51864410/

 

[LiLBull]

large lights on the street are ok you just need to pull(unscrew) the light off the arm cut the arm closer to the seat and put it all back together.

Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.