XJ Build thread.

[trbig]

The title says "XJ build thread", but I see you're taking away just about everything that distinguishes the XJ from the XS. Maybe a better title of "Turning an XJ into an XS"?

[Yard Dogg]

As far as electronics, yes. I don't like all the extra circuits on the XJ, or the huge gauge cluster. I changed the seat and fender for style and comfort. I do have an XJ gas tank though it's just not pictured. My old one sprang leaks so I used the standard tank temporarily. Other than the gauges, wiring, seat and fenders, it's still an XJ.

[fredintoon]

Hi Dogg,
ignore the man. You can tell how good a thing you got by how much it's picked at by the envious.

[Yard Dogg]

It's okay, I see he has about 5 XJ11's in his signature. He's right in a way.

[Yard Dogg]

I'm sort of not liking my blue frame now. I hope that once it's all together, the tank and fenders tie in the frame with the rest, cause right now it's looking like a sore thumb to me. Opinions?

[DGXSER]

Not sure what color your painting the rest of it. That candy blue is an attention getter, so it depends how prominent you want the frame to be. Typically the frame is meant to kind of blend into the background, your is going to shout "HERE I AM". If that is what you want, then you got a great color for it.

[jetmechmarty]

I'm sort of not liking my blue frame now. I hope that once it's all together, the tank and fenders tie in the frame with the rest, cause right now it's looking like a sore thumb to me. Opinions?

While trying to picture this in my head, (hard to do) I think it will look good if the tins are the same color. If they are something else, then maybe it will look like a sore thumb. Typically, frames are repainted in black or silver. On stripped down cafe bikes, sometimes they use red or gold. On those, the tins are gone and you focus on the frame anyway. That's my opinion, but I'm not much of an artist.

[crazy steve]

My personal opinion is if you're going to paint the frame a non-traditional color, you have to think about where you want the 'focus' to be. On a cafe-type, the mechanicals are usually the main point of interest, so having the frame as part of the focus can be good. On almost any other style, either traditional black or a very dark color works best IMO. If your tins are going to be the same color as the frame (as it is now), a darker blue would have been my choice. Particularly with the mostly-black motor. If you go to a silver motor (at least the cases if not the cylinders/head), FD and maybe wheels, that will move the focus away from the frame to a degree.

One other bad thing with a colored frame is it will show dirt/grime much more, making cleaning more of a chore.

But one mans ugly is another mans beauty, so it's up to you...

[trbig]

Other than the gauges, wiring, seat and fenders, it's still an XJ.

LOL. Really not trying to crack on you. What happened to the rear shocks? That's definitely one of the pluses the XJ has over the XS. And also, you mentioned tuning the carbs in earlier posts. Do you have the YICS tube blocked off somehow to be able to do that?

[Petersg_99]

This is going to sound wacky, but I think if you put more blue on the bike the frame wouldn't be so obvious. If you paint the FD, the drive shaft, maybe the wheels, forks, and calipers blue the frame would just fade into the background...

You've started down this path, go over the top, what do you have to loose?

Yellow accents would really pop on the blue...

I like the blue though.

I'm sort of not liking my blue frame now. I hope that once it's all together, the tank and fenders tie in the frame with the rest, cause right now it's looking like a sore thumb to me. Opinions?

[Yard Dogg]

The air shocks were not on the bike when I got it, unfortunately. They're on the wish list.

My paint scheme from the start has been the same candy blue color on the tins. I will paint the base coat silver, then I was thinking of 2 thin silver pin stripes down the center of the tank and fenders, and one more pinstripe coming from the front of the tank down into the side plates (still have to make them). From that pinstripe down I was thinking of white pearl realistic ghost flames. The fenders would be blue and have the 2 pinstripes down the center.

Option 2, is white pearl ghost flames over all the tins with 2 silver pinstripes down the middle.

I also have some large block "XJ" stencils that I made for the side plates which will be pearl white with eggshell metallic. I have also made some "ELEVEN" stencils which I may paint on the tank, or I could use them to make custom polished aluminum emblems. They are about the same size as the emblems and are a cool futuristic block font.

To flame the all the tins will take more time and I'm not sure if it will be too much. I think it may look better than breaking them up though. Decisions.

I'm also thinking of tearing the bike back apart and adding another coat of blue to it to make it a little darker, such thoughts are evil though. I missed a few areas. Sucks.

It is starting to look better with the addition of more parts installed. I set the tank on it last night and was falling in love with the look. I think I should press on and leave the frame alone.

[tcoop]

I like the idea of painting the tins, final drive and the mags the blue. I like the blue color but it does make the final drive and mags look old or out of place with that frame. Yellow high lights would look good.

[Yard Dogg]

I've been slacking on my bike but I finally have some progress. I made some wire frames for molding my side plates and seat pan. They are going to give this XJ a unique look. Tonight I will cover them in cloth and tomorrow I will put the resin on. The seat will be shaped as much like a saddle as possible for "Maxim" comfort.

[Yard Dogg]

This should give an idea of how the side plates will compliment that sexy XJ tank. I'm trying to improve on the factory appeal.

[fredintoon]

I've been slacking on my bike but I finally have some progress. I made some wire frames for molding my side plates and seat pan. They are going to give this XJ a unique look. Tonight I will cover them in cloth and tomorrow I will put the resin on. The seat will be shaped as much like a saddle as possible for "Maxim" comfort. - - -

Hi Dogg,
you mean the wireframes will be built into the FRP mouldings?
That's a good way to strengthen the edges.
But if you are going to free drape the laminate, that didn't give me the shape I wanted the one time I tried the technique,
it sagged down like the old grey flannel drawers that Nellie wore.
What you could try is sanding URETHANE foam panels (not styrofoam, the resin melts it) to the shape you want,
clipping the shapes into the wireframes and laying up over them.
After the FRP sets up you can scoop the foam out or leave mebbe a 1/8" foam thickness and lay up a layer of FRP on the inside to make super-stiff panels.