Me and my New XJ750 Maxim and I mean NEW!!!

My Name is Chris. For years I wanted a XJ. I didn't want to buy an old bike with lots of miles on it. I wanted a new bike.

I spent years wishing Yamaha would put out a new, 'retro' XJ so I could get a new XJ.

I searched and search for a good bike. I found a now 68 year old man who bought a new XJ750 Maxim. He found it was to big, so he put it in the garage. His son told him if he just let it sit, it would wreck the bike.

The dad started the bike once a month, drove it around the blocks and put it away. He did this for decades.
The bike has only 6,100 miles on it.

When we came to look at it, we could hardly believe it!! It looked like it came off the showroom floor!!!!

I bought it for half of what he was asking.
I am now, the proud owner of a new, just broken in Yamaha XJ750 Maxim.

Here is what a new XJ looks like.

 

Omg that is clean, have you eaten off it yet

 

Haven't eaten off of it yet, but I did drink a Root-bear while driving down the road from Walmart after getting a new battery.
One slight thing that kind of makes me sad is he lost the manual.
I think it has the original tires (still has the nubs on it). They have slight checking so I need to get new ones. Any suggestions online where to get good, cheap tires?

P.S. When you say, "Clean" you forgot to add "and shinny." The chrome shines.

Chris.

 

Shinko tires from bikebandit.com.

 

Gawd damn she's pretty. Mind me askin what you paid?

Welcome to the site, I also have an 83 750 and my name's Chris too, lol

 

He was asking for $1,600. We offered $800 and we settled on $1000.
This bike is fast. I like the sound when you accelerate.
Chris.

 

Does anyone know why Yamaha only made these bikes a few years? I think the XJ1100 was only two. Why didn't then make them longer?
Chris.

 

That price is a steal.

 

Very nice mate, you did good!

 

I hope mine will look that good after I'm done with the restoration.

 

Very nice, i'm pretty sure those aren't original rear shocks tho. Hopefully there's nothing else that they forgot to mention.

Looks NICE! grats!

 

Nice score was that the one on Craig's list? That someone posted the end of last week.

 

Now CATCH UP ON ALL THE NEGLECTED MAINTENANCE. IT'S NOT brand new!!!

Check the valve clearances; they should have been checked at 3000 miles and I highly suspect they weren't.

You don't replace 30-year old tires because of weather-checking; you replace them because tubeless tires that old are DANGEROUS.

Despite how well it was stored, you NEED to check the rear brake shoes for delamination before you ride the bike anymore: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html

The front brakes will need to be rebuilt. Brake hoses had a four-year lifespan; caliper and master cylinder seals TWO years. Just because there're no miles, doesn't mean everything is "good to go." IT'S NOT! And if you just start riding the bike because it looks so new, you're going to have problems and could get hurt. I got my '83 Seca with 7100 miles on it; and it took 11 months to go through it and make it reliable and safe to ride. SITTING for 30 years takes its toll on a bike even more than had it been used during that time.

DO NOT ride it on the original tires or with the original front brakes; and until you've inspected the rear shoes. You don't want to wreck it.

 

What a deal - - welcome to the site !!

Those look like original rear shocks.

+1 on Fitz - pull every bit of normal maintenance.
Use only motorcycle oil. Even your final drive needs a change.

 

Those are indeed the stock shocks fyi.

the only thing i see that looks like an add on is the extra splash flap on the front fender as well as the upgraded king/queen seat.

 

Aside from the windshield obviously, lol

 

Chris,

You did luck out! It often takes so much time to restore an old bike to look this good. YOu dodged that bullet. Hopefully you can still maintain the tradition this bike has and you will keep it garaged. If not, it'll show its age all too soon. Still, you have a museum quality bike to thoroughly enjoy.

Welcome to the group!

 

Awesome find! And please listen to what Fitz says about the maintenance items. You (and your bike) will be glad you did.

 

Welcome to the forum and very nice bike indeed.

 

1. I think it was the one on Craigslist.

2. I'll try and get the tires changed and maintenance done asap. Had it up to 91mph so far (35mph zone). We found a 1982 date on the tires. We put Armeral on them to help soften them up. They seem rock hard. My friend says the bike will feel a lot better with new tires. When I fly around a corner it seems as if it's going to wash out with the hard tires.

3. I see an old pamphlet by Yamaha with a seat that looks just like the one I have.

4. "and you will keep it garaged. If not, it'll show its age all too soon." Wow, this hit me like a ton of bricks. After I read this, I looked out and see it sitting in the parking lot on a 100* day. I don't have a garage. This is really a bummer for me. I wanted to keep this in good shape for a long time.

5. Yours will look nice after restoration but not this nice. Sorry.

6. The shocks are stock

7. I thought XJ's came with square gauges, square handle bars and square headlight. I got round everything. How come?

8. Why use only motorcycle oil, it's way more expensive.

9. After I hit 91mph, I took my hands off the bars. When I started slowing down, the front wiggled back and forth. What causes this?

10. I kind of wish I didn't get it now (Should of looked at the Seca in Seattle for $1,000 obo). Seems like I have to do to much work on it. I didn't want to get one like that.

Chris.