Yawn.... another bike build... XJ

[jetmechmarty]

Find a photo of a 1983 XS650SK. (I'd do it, but I'm on a portable device) IMHO, that bike has a very good balance of black and chrome/polished aluminum. That was a low price point motorcycle too. It has the chrome, but the engine, and even the carburetors were painted black.

The SG in the photo is of unknown origin. Someone emailed the pic to me a long time ago. I must like it, since I kept it.

[crazy steve]

Just a quick update....

Finished stripping the bike to the frame and pulled the motor which is now on my homemade stand (http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35683), did the badly-needed valve adjustment, then looked at the trans... yep, definitely needs the 2nd gear fix...

Pulled the gears, looks like both first and second need work. The second gear shift fork doesn't look too good either, as the PO tried 'holding' it in gear and burned the fork pretty good. I've got a 'spare' '80 motor I've been kinda-sorta stealing parts off of, looks like a few more might be gone soon...

[crazy steve]

A update on this project.... I have been busy. Repolished all the aluminum (see this thread: http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37241 ), powdercoated almost all the small painted parts (still have to take the frame down to have it done), adjusted the valves on the motor and did the 2nd gear fix. The motor's compression came up nicely with the valve adjustment; 180/180/160/180. Those valves were tight....

Got the motor cleaned up.... started with this:



And after many hours with solvent and small wire brushes and a repaint...





I decided on a mostly black motor for this one. Almost ready to install...



.. but I still haven't decided if I want black or stainless bolts for the cam cover. The cam cover is powdercoated, I sanded the powdercoat off the fins/lettering, working my way up to 3000 grit.

Next installment, it should be going back together...

[Cobia]

That engine looks awesome Steve. Lots of polishing on those covers and it shows good too.

[WMarshy]

Wow Steve, this motor is super. I vote for SS cap screws, I just think it would set off the rest of the engine... What paint did you use on the engine?

[crazy steve]

... What paint did you use on the engine?

Mostly the same as I used on the SG; TrueValue XORust (brushed on) on the cylinders and head, some black high-heat engine paint on the cases. The brush-on paint will need to be 'cured' once I get the bike running, I detailed that in the SG thread.

[WSL91]

Steve,

Since you have solicited opinions, I very much like how this bike is finished:


I think the XJ could turn out just as well.

I like that picture. Looks like a modern version of the 1100 since the fenders are painted and the seat and side covers have had some work. I think the ugliest/dated thing about my XJ has to be the seat. I wonder what the specials would look like with a 17" rear wheel and low profile radials. Too bad the front rim is so darned narrow.