Xjr 900 Project

WE were  going to sell the Er 5 Kawasaki  as it wasn't being used now the Bandit has finished .  It had 2 new tires ,new air filter ,fork seals and oil , filter and oil plus everything checked . Condition was very nice  30,000 kls .
I was browsing Gum tree and notice an add saying Xjr 900 in perfect condition  but too heavy for its new owner . Wanted to swap for smaller bike .
I sent him a message and never expected a reply . To my surprise he asked for pics and said "lets do it "
He assured me the xj was in very nice condition .
We arranged a time to meet at his place after he finished work . I got there 3 hrs early to check out the Xj on my own. I nearly drove off as the condition was poor .
After an hour of just staring at it I thought , its all there , its fixable and I don't want the er 5, I'll hang around .
I believe he actually though it was in good condition but couldn't see the weeping fork seals ect as he wasn't  mechanically minded .
I pushed it around and wasn't surprised he found it heavy because a 22lt tank full of fuel ,shaft drive ,weighs a lot . Also , a front tyre pressure of 18psi and a rear of 28psi doesn't help .

He gets this plus $200

And I get this .

Like I said ,I wasn't impressed .

It gets worse ,

He said "perfect condition"  

Perhaps he has a crystal ball, he can see what it's like after you've weaved your magic

Pads soaked in fork oil . It came with a rwc . go figure .

I'm surprised he didn't  kill himself .

I try and make myself feel better buy saying " its not a $60,000 car its a cheap bike " . It works and I start to look at the good things .
Its straight ,
Has new tires ,
No dents .
Paint work ok under dirt ,
Rust on forks not on the wipe area .
Has a clean air filter .
Rust comes off with wd40 and a light sand .
Good standard exhaust
Wiring GOOD .
Stearing head bearing ,dry but good .
Has new battery
Motor sounds good ,

I know nothing about bikes but even I cringed at some of those photos.  Think the one that came home in boxes in the back of your car was in better nick Gus.

ITs bones are ok though .
At last something clean

Pass the grease please

Thanks

Fork seals and dust seals get replaced ,sliders get a clean .

So ends day one .Tomorrow its new plugs  , i'm surprised the old ones came out of the head without taking the thread with them .

That doesn't even look like a week's work for you Gus. It will be a great tourer when you're finished (that will probably be around 3 o'clock tomorrow!)

Admit it, you love a challenge. The xj should be a decent bike once you've had it for a week or so

If you can turn it into something that looks like the xsr900 that'd look the part at least https://www.yamaha-motor.com.au/products/motorcycle/road/sport/16-xsr900

You're weaving your magic again Gus.
You have my respect.

This bike is giving me mixed signals . Who puts in a new air filter and leaves the plugs in this long . The electrodes are all different colours but I doubt that means any anything looking by their condition on the outside .

Take out the linkage arm to check bearings . Last time I had to replace some of these they were expensive .

Came out quite easily ,no way they were the right tension .Shock is big with chrome on the shaft .



THey looked like the steering head bearings , good , but could be introduced the Mr Grease .

I have no idea how to get a swing-arm out with shaft drive so I hope  those bearings are ok for a while longer .
Replace diff oil , its very clean . 250mm ,not much .
Find a sticker saying "next service due " 61,000 kls On the clock it says 68,000 kls but I think that's fine . A bit late but not a lot .
Engine oil looks exactly like you would expect a 7000 kl overdue oil change to look . Black in the tub but not actually too bad .
I don't have a spare filter so drain the used one ,inside looks spotless . Drain the oil out of tub ,no dirt .

Fill with mineral oil .
I take a pic of all the crap I took of the bike . Yamaha do like huge brackets to do not much.

There was one item that went to nowhere which I have no idea what it did . Maybe to a sat nav ,as there were signs of extras .Anyone know what this did ?
It looks like a relay of some sort .

Strange sump plug .

Judging by the rear rack and fairing bracket his (or one of the ?many previous owners) welding skills were as good as his mechanical skills.

#Tag wrote:Judging by the rear rack and fairing bracket his (or one of the ?many previous owners) welding skills were as good as his mechanical skills.

I was thinking that myself. That rear rack looks like it was cut and rejoined, possibly not originally for this bike.
Wouldn't want to load it up with those dodgy welds

Go to take it for a short test ride . Walk into shed, bike is sitting in a pool of fuel .Fuel line not quite sitting right onto filter,easy fix .
Get 50 metres down the road ,front end ,or is it the back ,no,its both ,feels terrible .
Have a coffee and head home ,total kls about six or at least seven .
Check front tyre pressure 18psi the same as it was the other day . I check for a puncture . NUP nothing .

I then realise ,I had checked the pressure the other day but forgot to add the AIR .That means the back will have 28psi still . It does .

Fit a new fuel filter ,wash it , a blow dry with the Stihl blower and a polish .All ready for another test ride this arvo .

And I only have to beat 7 kls .

Track day pressures. Get the knee down Gus.