from Kearney, Mo

cruelhandchris · #1 07-21-2011, 08:05 PM

Hello all, I come from Kearney, as stated. I've got an 81 Maxim XJ650 that is my year round daily driver. I rebuild, tear apart, and salvage vintage jap and euro bikes in my spare time. I ride for one reason and one reason alone. To have fun! I am always down to hang out and meet new people, hence why I'm here.
Thanks, Chris.

The Junkyard Dog

earz · #2 07-21-2011, 08:19 PM

Welcome. Bike looks good. The XJ series are pretty cool. I sold my 650 a while back. Still have a xj700 as my main bike.

Here's the 650 that wasn't quite done, but is got passed on for a new project. (notice the Right side cover!! Pretty rare

)

cruelhandchris · #3 07-21-2011, 08:27 PM

Oh man.. That is really close to what I want to do eventually! Definitely love that, especially that exhaust! I had two of those side covers until I painted them

Did you just saw and recover the original seat pan? Also was the frame chopped off behind the seat there? I noticed in your sig about the triple. My buddy and I are building one into a cafe at the moment. He just threw an 850 engine we had lying around into it and some clubmans. I'll have to grab some pics of that soon

earz · #4 07-21-2011, 08:57 PM

Triple?? You talking about the XS? It's a parallel twin, but yamaha did make a XS850 that was a triple. Post some pics of the cafe project. I prefer looking at this old stuff with character a whole lot more than looking at all the new "shiny" stuff.

Yep, stock seat pan and foam cut down and recovered. I cut the frame right where the lower support tube sweeps up and attaches. I happened to have some plastic plugs that fit perfectly so it gave it a real "finished" look - but I've seen empty shotgun shells, beer caps, etc used to plug off the frame tubes. The exhaust is a Supertrapp 4-1 that I bought used for $100. It was ok, but all the packing was burnt out of it so it sounded pretty raspy. Unfortunately there was no way to repack the muffler. I had a build thread in the "Cruisers" section called "Here's mine" but I moved all the photos to a different album so all the links are dead. Here's a link to the album

XJ650 pictures by earz_cd - Photobucket

earz · #5 07-21-2011, 08:59 PM

And if you have two right side covers with the tabs still on them, sell one. They go for good money on eBay. I've seen them as high as $90-$100 if they're in good shape.

cruelhandchris · #6 07-21-2011, 09:02 PM

Yeah I part out these bikes on Ebay, The shop here has quite a few old yamaha parts up if you need any. mrfixitcycles.com check it out sometime, good prices!!!
All the xs650's I have ever got my hands on were triples.. That is a little insane. I'm definitely going to check out the build thread, it's good to see a fellow Yamahogger on here.
One more question (sorry to ask so many, this bike just looks exactly like all the scribbles I have jotted) The lock point on the pan is a little farther back connected to the grab bar on the passenger portion of the seat, how did you get the seat to lock down eliminating that portion?