For Sale 1981 midnight maxim (museum collection bike)

1981 yamaha 650 Midnight Maxim.4 cylinder 650shaft drive. This one is the "midnight maxim; A special model with gold trim and black chrome. Very few were sold compared to the regular maxims. Sat in our motorcycle collection for 14 years,!3,000 miles. Very nice and completely original except for a period correct Kerker 4 into 1 exhaust. Runs very good; Good Wisconsin title; Ride it work or to shows or put in your collection. $2495.00. S-K service; 100 clark st. Hatley Wisconsin.(715) 446-2225 446-2225

 

What motorcycle museum was that ?

 

Plenty of scratches/wear/tear for only 3,000 mi..... an Xj650 Midnight Maxim in new or near perfect condition would indeed be quite something to see in a museum collection. This particular one.... I wouldn't consider it that good.

-too much wear, rust on the tank, worn tank trim, wrong grips, master cylinder cap is leaky,airboot is not clamped to the #4 carb correctly, etc.....

 

Hey!
I now live about an hour away from Hatley.
The place selling the above bike ( http://s-kservice.com/ ) has a swap meet but unfortunately conflicts with my "Idiotfest" spring fishing trip . . . 35 years and counting!
When it gets warm I see a ride down to their place - looks interesting.

Their website says the bike has 13K not 3K miles and seems to indicate that it was in the 'personal museum collection' - which I read to say - 'it was one of the owners (who worked at a Yamaha dealership) private rides that didn't see a lot of road time'.

Who knows, if it was stored properly . . . . .

 

Well, I have some that have been in my collection for 18 yrs.... doesn't mean much---

I have some that have been in my collection for 6 years and I have 7 trophies - means a lot---

Typos can make big difference---

If it is supposed to say:
...14 years, 13,000 miles.-------

gee, that's a whole lot different than:
...14 years,!3,ooo miles--------

Where is the exclamation point supposed to be? Is the comma the typo? The exclamation point? Is the 1 missing by accident? Intentionally? Or by accidentally hitting the caps button on a standard keyboard? My tablets have the exclamation point at a completely different place......

Inquiring minds might want to know.....

Lots of wear/tear for 3,000 mi.
Typical for an average 13,000 mi bike

 

not a museum
S-K service; 100 clark st. Hatley Wisconsin is a Royal Enfield motorcycle dealership
S-k service specializes in clean vintage Japanese , British and European motorcycles, parts and service.

reminds me of the one for sale at at dealership we saw several months ago show up here


and KBB price
https://www.kbb.com/motorcycles/yamaha/xj650l-midnight-maxim-650/1981/
Excellent Condition $1,300

when purchasing from a dealer

then NADA prices at
http://www.nadaguides.com/Motorcycles/1981/Yamaha/XJ650LH-MIDNIGHT-MAXIM/Values
excellent at 2196
very good 1440

 

Although the forum title clearly says

1981 midnight maxim (museum collection bike)

 

Some people have private museums. Many motorcycle dealers also keep small on-site museums to help draw in customers.

 

yup but his web site states
has acquired and maintains a large private collection of the prime years of Japanese motorcycles with a few unique European models thrown in.

i would think if it were a museum it would have found a stock exhaust for the bike in its 14 years.

Dave your collection sounds more like a Museum

Daves carb clinic/Museum and banjo shop. Opening soon.

private collection vs Museum is a fine line. I think he is just taking a little poetic license to sell his bike.
"Most of Steve's collection is available for perusing and gawking at the shop So come down and see that 1970's bike ' you wanted as a teen (but could not afford) ." nice sales pitch

 

Yep, "poetic license" - plus only one post. Guys are trying to move bikes.

I know that I am close enough that I certainly will tool down there this spring and have a look around.
Why not? Like minded folks who appreciate older Japanese bikes. Plus good excuse to tell the wife I need to take a bike ride to the only real motorcycle shop in the area.

 

That Kerker was a hot setup back in the day.

 

my 550 came with one the headers rotted out muffler in good shape still

 

Oh, I wouldn't consider mine a museum..........maybe someday, tatwould be nice/fun. But its just a collection of many bikes raging from parts bikes to a few really nice ones and a couple that have gotte a bunch of trophies. The whole trophy thing started wit simply an idea to resurrect a couple a hopefully get one trophy for at least an "Honorable Mention" to justify the attemp at saving something. I was not expecting anything more tan that, but when the 900rk was awarded a 1st place then another, etc....... It became a 'contest' to see just how many it WILL get. I got a trophy, I'm more than happy. I do't mind getting more, though!

I AM having fun searching 0ut rare/odd parts, though!

Plus, it's really fun to be able to discuss comparisons, and be able to swap parts out just to see first-hand what really fits, and what doesn't----

 

when you buy parts and donate them to the museum plus the building you donate ...write off on your taxes
carb clinic a hands on educational museum for restoring antique motorcycle carbs

 

Lol

 

The price might be right if it has original exhaust. Sounds like bike sat with rotted exhaust until someone put exhaust on it and soaked it in armorall to make it shine
IMHO stock exhaust is a must for "museum " bike. And period correct exhaust for the Maxim is not a Kerker that was made to fit ! A MAC 4-2 would be more appropriate.
All of my bikes have original exhaust.

 

Mine too..... but then again, all of mine still have the original brake lines, too------

 

Just picked up two more of these bikes.

FWIW my first was a true private museum piece. Purchased about six years ago with 234mi on it today it has about 500 having been lightly ridden...on the original tires.

Had it at a show last month. Fired right up having not been started for nearly five years.

These two; keep one and the other going to Vegas I think.

Carry on. Know they are out there.

 

Nice!