83 Yamaha XJ900 - Kit

[dossbag]

I used to have an XJ900 in UK before I moved to the USA, in fact I had to sell it before I moved. I always missed it as it was a fantastic bike, but I just couldn't find them over here.
I discovered the government blocked anything over 750cc to try and bolster the Harley industry, but 1,000 of these bikes were shipped over. Mine is number 71 Some guy had used it for racing, so it was set up as a racing bike. Then moved it on and the next guy took it all apart and then decided it was too much trouble to finish and put it up for sale.
I risked divorce and nabbed it hehe.. No contest.

Trailered it home and showed my buddy.. he thought I was insane.

But I saw the potential. Sorry if the pics are too big. Not sure how this will come out.

[dossbag]

I guess they are a little on the "big" side. I can't change them from work, but I'll make smaller when I get home.

This is how all the engine parts came... in separate boxes.

[dossbag]

I threw it together just to see what I had and what I needed.. Rear setts had to go, it had racing tires, racing shocks, no main stand needed back light assembly, controls and sensors had been bypassed. Not too bad really I picked up a lot of this from US eBay, but had to get a lot from UK because of the scarcity of parts here.

Here is me in England on one of my last rides on my original

[dossbag]

Here is the assembled bike - nothing really bolted on or functional, just that I wanted to look at what it would look like.

[dossbag]

Great potential!! And after a couple of months and a steep learning curve, I got the engine to fire on my 2nd try. Mainly because the choke wasn't on 1st time. It sounded rough but was a good sign that the beast had life

I sprayed it up to the British spec and added the trim. I'm really pleased how it came out. I got about 750 miles on it now.






Unfortunately a clutch stud snapped and destroyed all the clutch side, metal everywhere. I flushed all the bit's out and replaced everything and it's back on the road but as the back wheel locked up I dropped it and still have some cosmetic work to do. I love this thing. It is very quick for a 33 year old bike.
Thanks for getting this far

Jeff

[Weldangrind]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing the build with us. Did you spray it yourself?

[dossbag]

Yes I did, Thanks
Black Granite Metallic.
Standard clear coat on everything but Eastwood 2part epoxy (in a can) on the tank. I found better fuel resistance with that.

[cheesy]

[Adjuster]

Nice. You must know what your doing to be able to turn that box of pieces back into an engine.


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[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by dossbag

Standard clear coat on everything but Eastwood 2part epoxy (in a can) on the tank. I found better fuel resistance with that.

That was my next question. Thanks.

[SpudRider]

You did a good job.

When you have time, please do reduce the size of the photographs.

[dossbag]

OK Spud all set.. refresh if still showing huge. Sorry about that.

[SpudRider]

Thank you. The thread is now much easier to read, so I read it all again. You did a very nice job.

[Weldangrind]

Much better. Thanks!