Newb Question Highway Speeds sounds

I purchased a 1982 Maxim XJ650 YICS from a co-worker about 7 years ago, I rode it around town for a couple summers then just haven't had time to ride the past 3 years. After reading just about every post on this site I know I have to pretty much do everything on this bike as I have done 0 maintenance, and I know the PO (who only owned it for a year or so) only did oil changes and lubes.

I just have a few questions about the bike in general before I get started on tearing it down.

I got the bike up to 65mph once and it really sounded like it needed to be in a higher gear, but I was in 5th gear. I assumed at the time this bike wasn't a "highway" bike, but after reading all the stories on here, I'm not sure that is true now. Would a cylinder missing, or improper tuning of the carbs cause this sound?

I'm a big guy (250+) but the PO was a tiny guy and neither of us can get this bike to lift the front wheel off the ground (don't get me wrong, I don't really want to do this), but it just seemed the bike didn't have the power that most 650's have. I'm not looking for a bike that is insanely fast, but one that will let me get out on the highway and not get ran over by idiots doing 70 would be nice.

After a complete maintenance cycle, what can I expect this bike to do? Should it be able to run on the highway without sounding like I'm in the wrong gear, should I be able to pop a wheelie (even a small one)?

I can't complain about the looks of the bike, the PO did a wonderful job buffing up the tank and cleaning it very well. The side covers are a little sun faded, and the yamaha bar on the triple tree is de-chromed from age, but other than that, the bike looks in very good shape. Even the carbs are clean looking on the outside (tho I'm sure the insides are ugly). The engine is a little dirty looking, oil, dirt, road grime, etc.

The bike has been laid down once, but the only evidence is that the clutch handle ball is only half there, it's ground flat on the outside.

There is evidence that there was a fairing on it at one time thats missing, and there are no crash bars on the engine, I imagine these came off after it was laid down.

I'll post pictures of it after I have washed it (sitting in my garage for 3+ years untouched made it pretty dusty)

My schedule of repairs as of now is as follows.
Fix turn signal flasher, fix fuse box, new battery, change oil
Get it running, pass driving test, get license.
Check and replace brakes (they work, but not real well)
Tear down and rebuild carbs
follow thru on other maintenance schedules and see what else it needs.

BTC

 

The shaft-drive bikes aren't what you'd call "wheelie machines."

Don't go by sound on the highway, go by rpm. These are high-revving motors; "racebikes for the street" as one member refers to them.

"Cruising" speed is 5000rpm (+) which sound a bit frantic when one is used to slower-turning motors.

I put over 170 miles on my 550 yesterday, a lot of it cruising at 5500-6000rpms, it was 92*F out and the bike just loved it.

 

Thanks for posting the question and answer. I noticed with mine at just around 5500rpm I get a very small vibration in the throttle. Get a little higher or lower and it goes right away. Kind of like going to the Doctor and saying hey doc it hurts when I do this...and the doctor says well, don't do that.

 

Just wanted to say thanks for the info. I hope to at least get the bike running this week, my turn signal relays should be here today or tomorrow and I already have a new battery fully charged just waiting to get installed.

Will see how will it runs after sitting for several years, I probably should change the oil in case any gas seeped in over the years.

BTC

 

i dunno, my seca cruises at 60 around 4500, and then when riding on the highways, ill be blowing by cars and it doesnt sound too over worked, even with my loud pipes, and im a bit over 200

 

That scream from the exhaust at highway speed is great. Though it does take gettign used to. My jeep for example would throw a piston through it's hood at 5k rpm. The bike is just waking up.

 

We all look for 6th gear until we get used to them. Mine had a slight vibration (felt like buzzing) between 5500 and 6K. I would chose a different gear rather than spend any time there because it got annoying.

Red line is 9500, and the power really starts to come on at 6K. Don't be afraid to let it rev.

 

It's a cruiser, no wheelies.
It's an inline 4cyl. If it sounds like a stadium full of Vuvuzelas that means your team is winning. If you made the same sound from say a V-twin then yes, it would damn near be the last sound that motor ever made but these are a whole different animal.
As other posters said, look at the redline on the tach and don't be afraid to get near it.
I imagine that engineers pour their blood sweat and tears into a motor design. It's their baby, their pride and joy. Imagine redline as what a father says it's OK to do with his daughter. Now enjoy the ride.

 

I did get it running, after soaking the carbs in Pinesol, (wonderful cleaner by the way, wear gloves, trust me....).

I have gotten it up to around 5500 rpm a couple times, but in lower gears, I am still not ready to get it out on the highway yet, still need to get a better set of tires, and to check the brakes. At the moment the back brake works better than the front and I haven't checked for delamination yet, so as of now it's a neighborhood bike limited to about 25 mph. Hope to get the tires soon so I can do the tires and brake check and the same time.

Once I get that done then I will get it back out on a real highway and see how it sounds, and remember that it's supposed to scream like a banshee.

Thanks everyone,

BTC

 

Rev it up man let her scream!!!
but whats the deal with the vibration around 5500 rpms I get that too.
As far as wheelies go My 81 xj650 maxim can pop them. It's really just the rider on these machines becuase they sure have the power. If you do plan to pop wheelies adjust your rear shocks to the stiffest possition and add 15w oil to your forks feels better when the bike comes back down.
Have fun with her.

 

Not me man; I'm always looking for a 7th gear.

And I'll run the 550s to redline in 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th (but that's a ticket right there.) Redline in 5th is around 100mph, and though I haven't topped either one out yet, they pull like stink in 6th too.

REV IT. Keeps it happy.

 

In the process of tuning Plum, I learned that the vibrations on mine come AND GO along with the tuning process. When I get the 5000-5500 rpm buzz, it means one or two holes are out of adjustment.

We are talking tiny adjustments make it go away.

She can be totally snyced in and give me a buzz. I can tell after about 20 mile ride my hands are tingling slightly> "buzzed out".
Pulled the plugs, and #4 was lean, #1 was rich. About 1/8 of a turn and she is smooth as silk. They SYNC is much more pronounced vibrations so start there. (that's after cleaning the carbs and everything else others have said)

 

Well in my XJ I do have a 6th gear, and around 6000 rpm it goes over 120 Kmh

 

I like the way the Bike sounds when you lean on it heavy.

There are Highway Ramps in New Hampshire that are real long uphill grades.

It's exciting to be at the light, first in line, to have the Ramp all-clear and treat it like a Dino Run, ... watching the Tach and making shifts at 85-Hundred!

 

Yea you should be able to go over 65 no problem. I have the same bike (xj650j maxim) and I can get it up to around 70 in 4th no problem. At about 65 mph in 4th gear the bike is at 5500 rpm no where near the red line. Running correctly you should have no problem maxing out the 80mph speedometer. I'm a small guy but the bike had plenty of juice left when I was going 80.