What do I do with the damn XJ?

[Gazdaman]

Well, when I crashed the other day I bent the right handlebar severly, broke the throttle/mirror.

Now turns out the forks are twisted, hopefully just inside the yokes though.

Some options open to me are:
Repair back to normal albeit with a black top fairing rat style.

Put some clip-ons on it, streetfighter headlight, no fairing. Ugly as hell.

Break it and sell for parts, with a 72k km engine, not worth much, fairings knackered, not worth fuck all.

Any tips on getting it back on the road cheaply much appreciated. If I could just put some renthals on it I would, but it uses silly 2 piece bars.

Gaz

[instigator]

Just put some new forks on (from a breakers) and hey presto...better and cheaper. Breaking it would only mean more bother.

Can't you just nab some clipons from other bikes or are they of a specific diameter on the fixings

[White Noise]

Have you searched around for second hand forks?
if you can get them cheap, repair the bike cheaply and use it like you don't mind dropping it
or is that how you ride it at the minute?
WN
____________________
Buy my wife: 96' Yam XJ600s (Diversion)
Wing Commander White Noise - SE Clique
Riding Tip #86: See God, then back off a bit: Problem is i haven't seen god yet, just a close up of tarmac on revett straight

[Gazdaman]

I think the forks would be fine if I just loosen off the yokes and put them back in true.

The handlebars are specific, and I got quoted £39 for the right bar, and the throttle inc postage.

But on a £425 bike with an engine that's on its way out I'm not sure if it's worth the effort.

Gaz

[bish777]

depends how bent the forks are? Loosen off the clamps, and striaghten the wheel out, see how it goes. My XJ600s were bent i just twisted the stanchions so they were bent in the same direction.

as for the fairing, rat it!
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GSXR1100J

[Gazdaman]

I think it probably makes most sense to put it back to standard.

Spray the fairing black, new handlebar, then ride it until I kill it.

Then scrap heap it. Cuz it sure isn't worth anything!

Gaz

[stinkwheel]

Exhibit A.

Kawasaki gpz500s bodgefighter. Total parts cost 80 quid for fancy bar clamps to replace silly 2-piece handlebars, alloy drag bars, headlamp fairing and new grips. All delivered in 24h from Busters.

Total fitting time 45 minutes using existing front subframe.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[White Noise]

LMAO, class directions Stinkwheel!
WN
____________________
Buy my wife: 96' Yam XJ600s (Diversion)
Wing Commander White Noise - SE Clique
Riding Tip #86: See God, then back off a bit: Problem is i haven't seen god yet, just a close up of tarmac on revett straight

[Gazdaman]

now those bar clamps I do like!

Any more info on those?

Gaz

[stinkwheel]

You have to specify the fork diameter, they just clamp on round the fork stanchion. You need at least 25mm of exposed stanchion to get a good hold. Choice of high or low rise (low rise in my piccy).

https://www.busters-accessories.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=RAA
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Gazdaman]

£35 each?

Christ, that's an excellent idea, that'd be really usefull, that's another option boys and girls!

Gaz

[Josh|RD125LC]

Maybe you should now be looking into putting alot more time into your TZR?!? Get that beast on the road and looking sweet, you'll be saying "what XJ?"
____________________
Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[epz]

[Kickstart]

Hi

At £40 for a new bar and the throttle bits, just replace them. By the looks of the fairing I would just leave that well alone and not even paint it (likely to look even worse painted matt black), maybe at most using a bit of glass fibre and resin to hold any broken bits together.

If you start playing with different bars then you open up the possibility for having to replace hoses cables for longer ones, having switchgear which no moves around the bar, etc. All things that can be fixed, but not reallly worth the hassle if you just want to sort it out cheaply.

Chances are that the forks are just twisted in the yokes. I would rather hope it would take more than that to bend them.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Gazdaman]

Well, I am going to put it back to standard, but the top fairing is being sprayed. I'm not too bothered about looks, but I can't stand such deep scuffs everywhere, it looks awfull. I'd rather have a rat-black fairing than a standard but f*cked one.

Thanks for the advice guys, I may even put some XJ900 bars on which are adjustable .

Gaz

[Kickstart]

[Gazdaman]

(I've already started taking the stickers off)

I would post the damage, but it's EXTREMELY obvious it's damaged.

If I were to attempt to sell it, I doubt it'd sell for any more than £150, the bike is knackered, so I figure I may as well ride around with a black fairing than a very very scuffed (on both sides) red one.

I've found a whole albeit non runner of an XJ600 near me, I may buy the whole thing, and put all the plastics of that on mine, (dented my tank aswell).

Or I may just ride that!

Gaz

[Kickstart]

Hi

Depending on the condition that could well be worthwhile. Make one good runner from the pair and have loads of parts left over.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Gazdaman]

All depends how much he wants, my engine is very much on the way out as it is. If I can pick it up for <=£100 then I'll do it.

If I can put his engine in it, assuming it's done fewer than 72k I can scavenge the other bits it needs, only bad thing about it, it has a bent frame, which is no problem to me, my frame's fine.

Thanks for the input guys, very much appreciated.

Gaz

[Josh|RD125LC]

I hope Mr.TZR is still on your books!

Get that baby going.
____________________
Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[Gazdaman]

Don't worry, I will, keep an eye on my progress on the website in my sig, I'm just waiting till payday till I can afford to plough more money into it.

I'm £42 into my nonexistant overdraught at the moment, which sucks donkey balls.

Sourced some fork tops for it, just need to clean the carbs, new exhaust gasket, battery and chain, and it should be worthy enough to take for a short illegal thrash!

Then it's down to getting it MOT worthy, which should just mean sorting the completely f*cked electrics.

Gaz

[Gazdaman]

Just managed to pick up everything I need, bar a mirror for £40.

I love ebay

So now a set of pattern mirrors, and I'm back on the road.

Need to twist the forks back into place aswell and all will be good.

Gaz