MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750

So I'm new to motorcycles and can't legally ride my 82 Maxim 750 yet (and haven't tried).

I'm just curious how fast - assuming stock? setup and semi optimal everything else - in FIRST gear before I should shift?

I learned on a tiny rebel/similar 250...

Actually let me clarify that - How fast can I go in 1st (w/o redlining) ???

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Ummm,

When your elbows bend again it's time to shift (j/k) Be careful, that 7-fitty is no rebel

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Yeah - I was in the passenger seat while the prior owner drove it around the storage place... LOTS OF PICKUP!!!

No worries I'll be practicing and probably popping the clutch and killing the motor plenty before I'm road ready

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Just got the joke! Haha very funny and probably true :wink:

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Normal ridding i would say 3500 to 5000 rpms
Hard riding 7000 to red line 8O
(I would stay in the first range until you get good at ridding)

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

red.....shift......red......shift......red.....u get the idea!

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Thanks everyone but I was curious how fast I might possibly cruise around in 1st gear w/o the need to change gears?

In other words how darn fast is this thing in first gear?

I learned on a meager 250 rebel/similar after all and 2nd gear was like 20mph or something like that...

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

I did a little 'speriment for you on the way home. Note, this is with a 750 Seca, and they are geared a little different. But I hit 30 mph at 6k in 1st - a little algebra and you get 45 mph at 9k.

But that's not cruising...if you are cruising around a neighborhood at low speed - shift to second and get a feel for that. First is just to get you going. It gets really jerky (drive line lash) if you let off the throttle then get back on it.

If you really open up 2nd, you can blow past 60 in a hurry, so be careful. The power band starts to move and feel strong at 3k - 5k pulls even harder - but once you hit 7k - ROCKET SHIP!!!!! It'll be VERY different than a rebel so take it slow and don't get carried away. If you just want to cruise around, shift to keep it between 3-5k.

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Learning to ride a Motorcycle by riding it around the block is a Bona-Fide "Right of Passage"

You learn to get it going and get laughed-at by the neighbors.
One guy will threaten to call the cops if the pipes are really loud.

The trick is to set the Bike in motion ... using 1st (Low) Gear.
Once your moving along OK ... SHIFT into 2nd.

I it a whole lot easier to say out of trouble by getting OUT of 1st and into 2nd ::: (Or even 3rd) ::: so that you won't have the Engine revving way up and the bike being a little difficult to control.

(( You can even start-out in second ... like we all have ... thinking we are in first, at a light, ... and embarrassing ourselves as the horn of those in a hurry ... remind you how slow you're going!!!))

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Thanks for the info/comments ManBot and Rick.

We did frequently shift to second during the training course. I just didn't realize I SHOULD shift to 2nd regardless of CC's when cruising around and getting use to the MC.

Oh yeah the MC is different and feels about 2x heavier - I had to park it on my walk way and roll it up the curb. (To close to house to friction walk it safetly).

I do have a few larger parking lots close to my sub division I can put around it after I drive the 0.5 miles from my house

P.S. Some neighbors may laugh at me but at least 2-3 close to me own or use to own MCs and the stock pipes are rather quiet

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

First is jerky, shift to second. First is good to high forty's. I learned on dirt with a friends GS550 so I wouldn't hurt it too bad. Umm, that maxim is no rebel, on two cylinders it might be a rebel.

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

I think it FEELS twice as heavy because it IS twice as heavy...or darn near close to it

And in regards to first vs second, I think 2nd is always the gear to shift in once you get the vehicle going. I hate lugging my wife's stick-shift PT Cruiser around a parking lot in first. Probably the only reason they do that in the MC course is due to the parking lot size and the speed would really be lugging the bike in 2nd. But for any actual ROAD driving (and hopefully you'll be doing lots of that soon) first will just get the bike moving. I know I was shifting into 2nd all the time on the rebel in my MSF course...the instructor nicknamed me "speedy" 8)

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

By the 2nd half of the 1st day (of 2) on the bike, we were expected to be in 2nd... but 2nd on a 250 is SLOW

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

haha...maybe it was 3rd I was trying to get into...I remember the speedy part tho...mostly because everyone else there was older...and slower. I was a 17 y/o little punk having the time of my life learning for the first time while everyone else except the other 17 y/o had ridden for a while but couldn't learn to do half what the instructor told them.

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Make the Machine ...
Yours!

Look at the Shifter Pedal.
See the "Adjuster" between the Pedal and the Shift Shaft Connection?

Look at the Threaded center Rod carefully.
Examine the threads and then Loosen the two Hex Nuts and turn them toward the Center Knurl Wheel.
Lube everything.

With the Bike on the Center Stand, ... determine if the Shift Pedal Height needs to be raised or lowered for you to be able to move your toes to slip under the Pedal to move the Shifter Pedal Up (⬆) ... or, have your foot above the Pedal to press the Shifter Pedal Down (⬇) to change Gears and also Select Neutral.

Turn the Knurl moving the Pedal Up or Down as needed.
Find where you can make the transition with ease.
Lock it up by tightening the two Hex Nuts.

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

WOW thanks for the shifter tip!

BTW I found the original tool kit under the seat today - I was like "COOL"

I'm actually shocked how stock looking the Maxim is... Pretty sure the front and rear turn signals are generic replacements but I don't care.

Though I have to figure out why the right is not blinking. But that is for another day semi-soon.

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Big Hint for the New Guy:

Get .. A .. Genuine .. Yamaha .. Factory .. Workshop .. Manual!!!

Comes with the Owners Manual Information in the Front.

Explicit "Play-by-play" Instructions how to do Maintenance and Repairs to the whole Bike.

The money you spend on the Manual, ... you will SAVE the first time you open the cover and do something yourself you don't pay somebody to do for you.

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Link Please Rick? Or ebay?

Aren't those manuals in the XJCD?

After checking the gallery they may be OEM style front turn signals but they are new.

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Same with your control handles. Make them fit you not
the other way around. It's a good idea to tighten the ft brake and
clutch levers with enough give so if you drop the bike, the levers
will turn instead of snapping off. Keep the mirrors tightend
the same way-you want them to move not brake.
Be sure to adj the kill switch to a position thats easy to reach
with your thumb. 8O
It's ok if you loose balance at fist. I'm like 5'6" and my xs 1100
seat height was about 2" higher then it should have been.
I spent a lot on t-signals the first few months I had that bike :wink:

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

there's an old dirt-bike trick...i can tell you that it's alot easier to re-adjust your levers when they move than it is to replace them when they break...great suggestion but do make sure that they are tight enough that they don't move around when you are riding.
as far as learning to ride the big bike? imho if you did well on your rebel this is a natural progression...same thing only bigger.
it should really be no different than your rebel as far as how fast to ride, how fast to cruise, etc...the only difference really is that you get to your cruising speed a little faster than before.
it's good to personalize your bike (maike it fit you) but i'd say get out there and enjoy it, ride it, and be careful

ride safe and enjoy

 

Re: MC Newbie Question - 82 Maxim 750 - Fow fast in 1st gear

Sweet I THINK I found the manual online (pdf) and its supplement. (Took over an hour on Google).

XJ750J right? for a 15R 1982 Maxim

I still plan on getting the XJCD but this will get me started.

Are we permitted/encouraged to link such manual (especially if listed on another forum)??

 

Link to Yamaha Manuals from Yamaha.

http://www.yamahapubs.com/index.do

The so-called XJCD is a Criminal Enterprise.
As a Forum Moderator I don't promote activity subject to violating Federal Law subject to Federal Prosecution.