Los Angeles area - new to biking - XJ650 service

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new rider steps away from my license. Finished the MSF course today and waiting for that waiver so I can shoot over to the DMV. Getting my insurance adjusted accordingly. And now ready to get my bike going.

Over Labor day I picked up a 1980 XJ650 Maxim. My friend test rode it and said it was in good shape. He then rode it the 60 miles back to where I've had it in the carport and covered at the house. I've taken it around the block once but know it needs a good servicing. I don't know enough yet to ensure that it's in the prime for weekend/commuter activities. Hell, I don't know enough yet to even get it to start now because of some mechanical/electrical issue that keeps her from coming to life.

Does anyone know of a good LA area shop/mechanic to take my Yama to once I get AAA to jump her?

Thanks
-c

 

Chris,

I am also new to riding. There is a lot of knowledge here and folks are incredibly willing to share their knowledge. You might want to get a battery charger, just to make things a bit easier for you, instead of waiting around for AAA. I have only had the battery fail me once, but ten minutes on the charger was enough to get her going.

 

Welcome to the wacky, wonderful world of XJ's.
Glad to hear you took the MSF course, you are wise, and when you get your certificate you will be certified to drive 15 mph in a parking lot . . . Do NOT stop learning how to drive safely (David Hough's Proficient Motorcycling is a good follow up read).

Do NOT waste time trying to find a mechanic - the best mechanic for your bike is YOU (and your backup support team here at XJBikes). Read the following and follow the links within it.
http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/the-information-overload-hour.27544/
It is overwhelming, but do not fear, you have some basic safety items that need to be gone through and refurbished before you can even think about riding (besides you current 'no start' condition).

Plan on spending around $800 and a good chunk of your time to make the bike safe and reliable.

As far as the no start goes; don't sweat it until you verify that your brakes are safe, your tires are safe and that your valves are inspec.

 

Excellent call on the charger. I picked a small one up this evening after work and gave it a quick 15-min session. It fired right up! I had pushed it to the front of the driveway where there was an outlet so I was able to take it for a short ride back to it's parking spot- an enjoyable 30ft ride! And as a short fellow, I finally got my technique down for an efficient way to get that center-stand down. When I've got time this upcoming weekend, I'll let it have a few hours to get it charged and we'll see how long she'll go for and if I can get it running again without the charging unit.

 

Welcome aboard. If you're serious about this please don't ignore the advice given. There is possibly 30+ years of neglected scheduled maintenance that needs to be done. You'll learn a lot about your bike here.

Gary H.

 

Thanks for the advice and support. From another reply, I did the battery charger route and am in the midst of learning a bit about the whole electrical setup. The next immediate thing I can probably do is figure out the turn signal issue.

Prior to the purchase, my mechanic friend had a look and agreed that it needed some maintenance but was impressed with the engine's and overall upkeep of the bike that was that old. I'll ask for his assistance on the valve inspection. The tires appear to be new, the front disc brake appear to be solid and the back drum is just a bit squishy at the moment. Clutch felt a bit lose, but I've tightened that up a bit. I've drained and replaced the oil. A new filter is on my list as well but the old one isn't in that bad of condition at the moment.

Making sure it's ready and safe to ride is the top priority at the moment in my new motorcycle world. DMV is next up as soon as that parking-lot certificate arrives followed by insurance. In the meantime, I've got plenty of reading to do!

 

And...

Members aren't the only ones that view this site. Don't encourage bike thieves. Hope this helps.

Gary H.

 

Duly noted! The original owner (military man) kept a detailed service log in the back of the original manual. According to those records, the last service report was at the beginning of '13 @18k miles. The O is currently reading 20,016 and the 2nd owner (another military man) said he didn't really ride or service it in the 6 months he's had possession of it.

Now that I'm the owner, I'm going to be doing everything I can to make sure that my new bike is in excellent working and safety condition before adventuring out. Safety 1st!

 

There is a link on this site on how to get the bike up on the center stand

here it is
http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threa...for-new-riders-or-new-to-center-stands.27464/

 

I checked that post and initially tried a similar method. At 5'6" this method didn't quite please me. I ended up putting a slight bend on my left turn signal that was already out. My current protocol is simply putting my left foot on the center stand while sitting and then giving a slight backwards roll as I push my weight onto the stand. Closest to a kick start I suppose I'll ever achieve but it certainly works for me.

 

See? You're learning already! YOU can learn to do everything yourself. WE are here to help you if you ask, listen, and do. You can work as fast or slow as you wish, we're here when the questions arise. If you ask, don't listen, don't do, or argue, that's when problems arise. You don't need to find a mechanic. You will become your own mechanic...... And the training is free!!!! Find another shop that will teach you all about your bike for free ?!?!?