First Bike. First Project. Very excited.

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to introduce myself and my bike. I have been looking for a first bike for a while, but I'm rather particular. I found an '83 Maxim XJ750K and fell in love. It's definitely a project, doesn't run, but I'm confident I can fix that little issue. l am excited to learn all that I can and hope that everyone here, has a wealth of knowledge, I can utilize.

 

CONGRATS and WELCOME from TN! Lots of info and members that like to help here!!!

skillet

 

Also welcome. I'm going to offer you the first bit of advice. Get a manual, at least a haynes, or a factory service manual, $30 or $75 well spent respectively.

Also, look at the regular scheduled maintenance section. The experienced gurus will basically tell you to do everything on that list. Your first instinct will be to get it running and ride, but it will need much more to be safe, and even more to be reliable. Anyone, with any experience, in the forum has learned that lesson one way or another. Just be ready, it'll likely be more work, time, and money that you first anticipated to make that bike road-worthy, but if you're willing to learn and listen, it WILL be within your ability to do.

Also, compression test the engine (and be sure to disconnect the TCI box when you do so). THAT will tell you if the bike is worthy of restoration. Everything else can be repaired, sourced, and replaced, but the rebuilding the mill, or finding a suitable replacement isn't something you want to be doing AFTER you restore it.

Good luck and keep everyone posted on your progress.

 

Welcome from the mitten state. Great XJ site here. I know more about my 83 Maxim than any other bike I have ever owned and it's all thanks to these awesome people. I read from the archives here often and always learn something new.

 

Welcome from South Jersey! Good choice in a bike, and definitely do ALL the service outlined in the maintenance FIRST. Post questions, search the forums and have fun.

 

So far I've ordered a Haynes Manual, ordered the known problematic electrical part the TCI, brushed off all rust, and touched up with rustoleum, and testing and cleaning all electrical connections. I plan on doing the restoration in 2 stages. A mechanical now, no shortcuts. And a aesthetic down the road, maybe winter.

 

Never hurts to have a spare TCI, but I wouldn't call it problematic. But unless you have skills soldering electronics (and some members on this forum do, I know I don't) there's no way to fix it, and isn't testable, so if EVERYTHING else in your ignition circuit fails, you can suspect it (some immediately suspect it without properly testing everything else). But it's a solid state ignition module, and isn't all that prone to failure.

Two stage restoration is a great way to go. I spent WAY too much down time, trying to learn to paint (still not done). I finally gave up, got another set of tins on ebay, slapped them on, and the prepped and half painted tins are still in boxes.

Make sure the mechanical stage involves COMPLETELY redoing the brakes, carbs, replacing tires, fork seals, bearings, and checking the charging system output. THEN put it on the road.