Hi.

I recently bought what I was told was an xj 700 originally registered in the US then imported to the UK and now with me in Spain. The bike is in pretty good nick for a 25 year old but I'm not sure just what I have here. The manual show's a water cooled engine with radiator but my bike is air cooled (no rad). She also has a 4 into 1 exhaust system (no collector).
Did Yamaha make such a model or have I got a hybrid? Engine and frame numbers match the UK registration documents.

Would appreciate any information.

Mick Fahey

The only maxim that could have be watercooled was the Maxim X.

A 4 into 1 pipe is a common aftermarket for the stock pipe. Often you'll find it is a MAC - although some people did buy the flashier Vance and Hanes pipe.

There were 750s and 700s which I understand look almost identical. My understanding of the 700 model was that the US had a tarif on bikes over 750cc - so Yamaha built the 700 to skim under this tarif... *could have been a quota instead of a tarif... I don't honestly know all of the details there.

Anyhow - Canada as a result ended up with a few 700s.

What you'll need to do is supply the engine number - I beleive the CD has information on what the serial numbers mean - and someone could then tell you what engine you have.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help...

Also - some bikes had oil coolers - no chance you mistook the oil cooler for a radiator? It is a slim rectangular affair about 14 " wide and 5" tall. It mounts just under where the frame tubes meet... infact many of the Maxims which didn't have the oil cooler (650 maxim for sure) have been retrofitted by riders who wanted to keep their bikes cooler in the hot climates they lived in.

Cheers,
woot.

How about some pictures. That would make things a lot easier.

As woot said, the 700 was a special tariff fighting model produced by Yamaha. Basically, Harley Davidson was on the ropes in the early 80's. In order to survive, it lobbied the Reagan administration to impose a tax on all Japanese motorcycles over 700cc. Yamaha and Honda had been fighting it out for top spot, and a lot of unsold bikes were sitting in warehouses. Harley knew they were in deep if the Japanese went ape and slashed prices in order to get the bikes moving out the door. The top dog at Yamaha had to resign after this debacle, since it was his push to get to #1 in sales which led to the whole overproduction and backlog disaster. I remember a Honda full-line brochure from 1983 that had over 100 different models for sale.

In order to remain cost competitive in this market segment, the Japanese cut the displacement of their 750cc bikes to 700cc, to avoid the surcharge. Mostly, this was a US only deal, but a few 700's got into the Canadian market, since our market wasn't really big enough to justify a different model being produced just for us, in a low sales segment like a 750 inline 4 cruiser. The only 700's that I can remember coming north of the border was the 700 Maxim and the 700 Madura. The Madura was a two-bagger, ugly as a smacked arse, and promptly disappeared. The 700 Maxim was a cheaper alternative for people who couldn't, or wouldn't pony up the extra dollars for the full-zoot Maxim X (which was a 700 in the US, but a 750 here in Canada). It was pretty much the same beast as the 750 Maxim, but with the funkier Maxim X styling. I think you just have the Maxim X owners manual. Invest in the XJ-CD. It will have everything you need.

Thanks for the backgrounder - that was what I had assumed but nice to hear the whole story

Thanks for the replys. I have a few photos of the bike as it is now but can find no instructions on uploading them to the site.
Have ordered the cd as suggested and bought a cross reference program via ebay. Also bought an owners manual (xj700xn and xj700nc) which may be why I'm a little confused it has a small section on the cooling system, rad water pump etc.

Mick Fahey.

Hi.

What I have is the owners handbook for the xj700xn and xj700xnc. The UK registration only gives the model as an xj700, no serial letters or further id. Have that figured out now but still perplexed as to the exhaust system. The service manual (cd) is very good but it shows the bike with a collector and pipes up both left and right, my bike has a 4 into 1 system with the pipe and silencer (muffler) on the right side.

Really need a new muffler and all the gaskets but would like to be sure whatever I order will actually fit what she's wearing. She won't pass an ITV test until they are replaced. Most of you blokes seem to be in Canada or the states do you have an annual test over there to ensure your vehicle is safe to use?

If someone could point the way to uploading some photo's it would be appreciated.

Thanks
mick fahey

MAC exhausts make an after market 4 into 1 pipe. It exits on the right hand side. It is a common replacement for the stock system when the stocker bites the dust (rust or crash).

This link may or not work - but you can find the part by looking at bike bandit dot com.

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/prod...tion_Path~3.asp

I'm not too surprised it isn't stock really - unless it has yamaha stamped in little letters (usually on the back where it mounts to the bike) which would be more of a surprise honestly.

cheers,
woot.

Oh - yes - In Nova Scotia (CANADA) we have yearly inspections. In other provinces (Newfoundland) they test once for cars and that is it. Motorcycles there I can't comment on.

My bike's exhaust is leaking too - but I plan on patching it for the test and it should hold for another year - then I'll have to decide what I'm going to do with the bike. Tossing up the idea of completely overhauling it, selling it, or rat biking. I'd like to buy a new bike and overhaul this one but that is the most expensive option...

Thanks Woot.

I thought the system must be non-factory fitted. According to the yamaha spares cross match program I've bought the gaskets I need fit several different models including the 535 Virago so I should be able to pick them up here in Malaga. But I'll look again at bikebandit for the muffler.

Again thanks.

Mick Fahey.

Hey - no problem at all - glad I could help.

Happy hunting!
Woot.

I have the xj750 & xj700 Service manual which I bought on ebay and I don't think it's the same cd that has been mentioned here. How do I buy a copy of it?

Mick Fahey