updated 900

Sanctuary Motorcycles of Japan does incredible work updating the old standards of the 70's and 80's. A long look at their website and you'll see bikes with upgraded forks, brakes, exhaust systems, reworked motors, and trick oil coolers. Another great website to visit is Bikeexif They feature some of the latest custom builds from around the world. Perhaps you discovered us there. Great folks. Ride safe. JF

Carbs being rebuilt, valves adjusted for 1983 Yamaha XJ 900Seca

My local shop, Hinshaws Motorcycles in Auburn, WA has pulled the carbs after the fuel tank was discovered to have a recurrence of rust. Fuel tank rust is one of the major problems in old bikes. The rust makes it past the fuel filter and clogs the carbs, therefore needing another rebuild. I thought I had the problem solved in April of 2007 by having a local shop seal the tank. Boneheads didn't remove the rust, only sealed over it. With time the rust penetrates the 'seal' and comes back with a vengeance. Now the tank is off to Fuel Tank Services www.fueltankservices.com in Florida to have the job done right. This may take up to three weeks. So while the tank is out, bike in shop, new carb intact boots ordered (can only get them through Yamaha), valve adjust, (in video I stated valve job-wrong, just adjust), new vacuum lines, carb drain lines, fuel lines.
The seat was sent out as I mentioned in earlier post for new foam at Sargents. www.sargentcycle.com Should be back any day. Stay tuned for more fun. Jon Fife

Yamaha - 1993 FJ1200ABS

1983 XJ900 Seca SST Shocks

Here is one of only two pictures that survived a camera malfunction. Shot a bunch of pics upon the arrival of my 1983 Yamaha XJ900 Seca in February of 2007. The bike was purchased off eBay from a seller in San Francisco. Only 14,000 miles, but as you can see from the picture on the right, rough. Notice the amount of corrosion on the wheel and rust on the shock. You can barely see the swing arm and a rusty spot where the battery leaked acid. Note to self, always have battery removed prior to shipping. The photo on left is from two weeks ago. This is a picture shot through the shock spring, at the shaft. It's hard to see in the photo, but shock oil is everywhere. The bottom cup, which holds a rubber stopper, was soaked. Our website gives the details of how I sent off the stockers for rebuild. GP Racing did a great job, but these shocks are pretty much non-rebuildable. GP did what they could and told me some parts for rebuild are just not available. So on my ride last month to Mount Rainier, on a very beat up road, the pogos blew. Previous post shows oil that had overflowed from the cup onto the final drive. Also note the 'neck' on the shock reservoir. I mentioned in a Facebook post that new shocks are being ordered. At the top of the neck it bends down 90 degrees, at this bend the shock passes by the frame, with only a 1/16 inch clearance. The width of the neck is about 1/4 inch wider on new shock than stock shock. That's a problem, won't clear frame. Everyone I talked to wanted to sell me the shocks and mount them with reservoir mounted toward the rear, or upside down. To me, it just doesn't look right. A local shop, Wasco, is the 'go to' guys for all things frame repair. Richard, the shop owner has a plan. The frame can be 'pinched' for the clearance needed to mount the new shocks. Currently bike is in the shop for carb clean, rubber hoses replaced, and valve adjust. More pictures and post, as parts and bike return to the road.

Stock shocks died!

Here is the evidence of blown shocks....shock oil that leaked onto the final drive.