XJ of the Month, February 2013: Z0006cli's '95 XJ600N
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:21 am
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A very big thanks for those who voted me for XJ of the month of Feb 2013, I am a rookie compared to your guys, many thanks.
Here's a brief overview of my - Project Midlife Crisis - 1995 XJ600 SecaII converted to a quasi "N" - Project
My name is Clinton and I live in Sydney Australia. My XJ600 journey started in Jan 2011, when I was researching what second hand bike to buy. I wanted to buy something I could restore. I had a limited budget, limited resources, a small single garage with one 10Amp socket outlet, bad lighting and a bear minimum of tools. With this in mind I new what my limitations were. During this time I found this forum and got hooked, I saw what could be done on the XJ600 platform. My intentions were to buy a XJ600N, but I soon realized a very limited number were brought into Australia. But the fearing version, the Seca II, was readily available. So that was it, I would convert a Seca II to a "N" with a few minor changes to meet my expectations. The plan was the bike would replace my scooter and would be used for daily commute to work and back. A daily round trip of about 19 kilometers.
In May 2011 I purchased a faded red, dirty, rusted, broken fearing, bent handle bars, dented exhaust etc etc etc - 1995 XJ600 SecaII with 75000km on the clock. Still purring after all those years. I bought it for $1900 AUD. I was hooked.
Sorry for the poor photo:
I searched in vain for XJ600N parts, but that was not a problem neither, there were many other nice parts I could buy on eBay and similar sites around the globe. And so began the conversion, local prices in Oz is way to expensive:
- Headlight from the UK
- Headlight brackets from eBay US
- Indicators from Japan
- Front indicator fork mount brackets from UK
- Rev and Speedo gauges from Japan
- Mirrors from Japan
- Stabilizer brackets to mount my Speedo and Rev gauges from US
- Frame filler covers - under the front of the tank from UK - took months to find these
- Hooter Japan
- 4 into 1 exhaust from US
- Clutch plates from UK
- Overhead Cam cover from US
- Rear hub sprocket rubbers
- Rubber hand grips from Japan
- Handle bar height extensions
- Seiko center steering nut mount analogue clock
- Carb mounting rubbers from US
The bike stayed this way for about 18 months. I hardly rode it. Then in November 2012 I sold my scooter to get funds to start the restoration.
I wanted to complete the restoration in two months - just before Christmas.
I removed the passenger foot peg mounts and various clips and brackets found on the XJ rear end frame.
I removed the rear plastic mudguard / registration plate mount.
I removed the fearing mounting brackets from under the tank and behind the head light.
I was tempted to remove the central stand mounting, but decided not to, I might purchase and install it in the future.
I stripped the bike and had it soda blasted:
Then I gave the parts to a friends dad to spray in 2 Pac paint, I wanted it 2 Pac, because this bike is going to be used for daily commuting, the paint needed to be durable.
- Jet black tank + side covers + front mud guard
- Gold rims and calipers
- Saturn black frame, forks and handle bars
- Silver gloss foot peg mounting parts
I sprayed the engine aluminum silver and cast iron silver - a local Australian engine enamel spray.
I Rit dyde my indicator and start unit and reargrip handles, then put it all back together, fabricated a number plate bracket system and took it for a test spin 4 days before Christmas 2012 :thumbsup:
I would never have guessed how much the residue of the soda blasting would affect my progress! It got in everywhere, tank fuel tap, front and rear brakes and eventually would end up in my carbs, all of which had to be stripped, cleaned and serviced.
Recently I increased my rear shock height by fabricating extension brackets.
I will systematically replace all the exposed nuts and bolts with stainless steel parts, I am not in a hurry, this will happen over the next while.
I also plan to purchase 17 front and 48 rear tooth sprocket and chain set.
A clear LED type back tail light.
Here are a few final photos with different lighting conditions:
A biiiiiiiiiiiig thanks again for voting me XJ of the month for Feb 2013.
[/center]A very big thanks for those who voted me for XJ of the month of Feb 2013, I am a rookie compared to your guys, many thanks.
Here's a brief overview of my - Project Midlife Crisis - 1995 XJ600 SecaII converted to a quasi "N" - Project
My name is Clinton and I live in Sydney Australia. My XJ600 journey started in Jan 2011, when I was researching what second hand bike to buy. I wanted to buy something I could restore. I had a limited budget, limited resources, a small single garage with one 10Amp socket outlet, bad lighting and a bear minimum of tools. With this in mind I new what my limitations were. During this time I found this forum and got hooked, I saw what could be done on the XJ600 platform. My intentions were to buy a XJ600N, but I soon realized a very limited number were brought into Australia. But the fearing version, the Seca II, was readily available. So that was it, I would convert a Seca II to a "N" with a few minor changes to meet my expectations. The plan was the bike would replace my scooter and would be used for daily commute to work and back. A daily round trip of about 19 kilometers.
In May 2011 I purchased a faded red, dirty, rusted, broken fearing, bent handle bars, dented exhaust etc etc etc - 1995 XJ600 SecaII with 75000km on the clock. Still purring after all those years. I bought it for $1900 AUD. I was hooked.
Sorry for the poor photo:
I searched in vain for XJ600N parts, but that was not a problem neither, there were many other nice parts I could buy on eBay and similar sites around the globe. And so began the conversion, local prices in Oz is way to expensive:
- Headlight from the UK
- Headlight brackets from eBay US
- Indicators from Japan
- Front indicator fork mount brackets from UK
- Rev and Speedo gauges from Japan
- Mirrors from Japan
- Stabilizer brackets to mount my Speedo and Rev gauges from US
- Frame filler covers - under the front of the tank from UK - took months to find these
- Hooter Japan
- 4 into 1 exhaust from US
- Clutch plates from UK
- Overhead Cam cover from US
- Rear hub sprocket rubbers
- Rubber hand grips from Japan
- Handle bar height extensions
- Seiko center steering nut mount analogue clock
- Carb mounting rubbers from US
The bike stayed this way for about 18 months. I hardly rode it. Then in November 2012 I sold my scooter to get funds to start the restoration.
I wanted to complete the restoration in two months - just before Christmas.
I removed the passenger foot peg mounts and various clips and brackets found on the XJ rear end frame.
I removed the rear plastic mudguard / registration plate mount.
I removed the fearing mounting brackets from under the tank and behind the head light.
I was tempted to remove the central stand mounting, but decided not to, I might purchase and install it in the future.
I stripped the bike and had it soda blasted:
Then I gave the parts to a friends dad to spray in 2 Pac paint, I wanted it 2 Pac, because this bike is going to be used for daily commuting, the paint needed to be durable.
- Jet black tank + side covers + front mud guard
- Gold rims and calipers
- Saturn black frame, forks and handle bars
- Silver gloss foot peg mounting parts
I sprayed the engine aluminum silver and cast iron silver - a local Australian engine enamel spray.
I Rit dyde my indicator and start unit and reargrip handles, then put it all back together, fabricated a number plate bracket system and took it for a test spin 4 days before Christmas 2012 :thumbsup:
I would never have guessed how much the residue of the soda blasting would affect my progress! It got in everywhere, tank fuel tap, front and rear brakes and eventually would end up in my carbs, all of which had to be stripped, cleaned and serviced.
Recently I increased my rear shock height by fabricating extension brackets.
I will systematically replace all the exposed nuts and bolts with stainless steel parts, I am not in a hurry, this will happen over the next while.
I also plan to purchase 17 front and 48 rear tooth sprocket and chain set.
A clear LED type back tail light.
Here are a few final photos with different lighting conditions:
A biiiiiiiiiiiig thanks again for voting me XJ of the month for Feb 2013.