1982 Yamaha Maxim 650 Bobber Project

soooooooooooooooooooooo freaking nice!

 

It really looks great.
Are you planning on a fork brace? These front ends need them.
Rear fender? If not, you need something to keep you from being de-balled if you should slip off the back of the seat while moving.

 

Fork brace? Maybe, what is the overall purpose?. And rear fender is a negatory. Falling off the seat is the last thing I'm worried about. I only really ride with one foot and one hand anyways due to the foot pedal clutch and suicide shifter. Ultimately this is my bike show bike. We have a lot of custom bike shows almost weekly where I live and they all are only just miles from me. I just enjoyed building things

 

Awesome built bro. How many gallons is that tank?

 

Are you going to wet-sand that orange peel out of the clear on your tank, or are you leaving it for a more ratty look? The striping looks good.

A fork brace keeps the forks from flexing, preventing additional stiction which would lead to a harsh, and somewhat less predictable ride. The factory fender has a built in fork brace, but there were (are?) stiffer braces made for it that clamp to the lower fork legs.

 

I think the tank is like 2 or 2.5 gallons. It's a peanut tank from lowbrow. And thanks!

 

No I'm not going to wet sand it. I wanted to keep it that way. And yeah it was really amazing watching the striping being done. Really is an art. And yeah I don't think I'm gonna put a brace one. I like the completely bare bone stripped down look. Don't really care how the ride is as long as I look cool doing it.

 

Real hard to look cool when you're sliding on the pavement.

 

Having both been there, and done that, I can guarantee that the bike will get at least a front fender after the first ride in the rain.

Looking back at the pics, I wonder how long it will be until the ignition key gets bent.

 

Okay, just be careful on it. Wet sand the clear and buff will get rid of a lot of that orange peel. Anybody notice how many new cars have orange peel in the finish these days?

 

I have an original Harley peanut tank off an old bike... not sure which one. I'm trying to bang out the dent on mine but everyone keeps telling me "it will blow up" because there are fumes in it. Is there anyway to cut it open and bang the dents out? (Would be doing cleaning of the inside while it's open along with re-sealing the tank).

I never put a front fender on mine. And I used to ride with Prada shades on for the longest time. I have em on in my picture but censored my face so you can't see it in the picture. Got used to it, then started wearing a full face helmet during night rides eventually. Nothing wrong with a little wiping of the face from time to time haha

...Will put on a very tiny one, one of these days. All jokes aside, it does get annoying when you're heading somewhere formal and you're the one guy with mud on your clothes lol

 

Just as many as used to. My '83 GMC had orange peel, as did my aunt's '70 Duster, and my father's '64 Volvo. I worked at a car lot during my highschool years; even the occasional Corvette would come in from the factory with at least some orange peel on it.

 

Yeah my father in law just got a new bumper and it looks like that. Me personally for this bike, I dig it. On other things not so much. And sliding down the road isn't cool, I was just quoting a great old school chopper rider who said that. Anyways yeah not to sure about the banging out the old tank deal. Plus front fender for when it rains. Doesn't matter. I ride rain or shine, cold or hot on my other Yamaha.

 

Just thought to hop on here and give a little update on the XJ. Its been a great summer here in MN so I have been doing some riding. I will say, this bobber turned out better than I could have ever imagined. It was a great bike to learn how to do just about everything on. I have just read and messed around with things to learn so much and to get things running perfect. Here are some new and final pictures of the results. It also seems that I cant be riding anywhere or go anywhere with out having someone who wants to stop and ask about the scoot and where I got it. It makes me proud to be able to say that I built it.

 

That is straight out inspirational, brother.

 

Thank you, I appreciate it.

 

Look's great.

 

Beautiful man, that looks great! I'd ride it.

 

Wow! Great work! I'm at the start of my build. Still trying to figure out the basics. I'm looking to build the bike for the same purpose, to be pretty. How does the engine run without the full exhaust and no factory airbox? Is it difficult to get running?

 

Very nice bike build what part of mn you from? I live in Willmar and got a 81 maxim 650 I'm working on would be cool to get together with some other people from mn

 

Thanks man , my bike runs fine without the full exhaust and having the pods. I'm sure it could be better but works fine for all my purposes.

 

Thanks, I'm from Coon rapids. I've talked with a few other people on here from Mn and we've all said the same thing. Either a summer ride or just a gathering would be cool to drink beer and b-s about bikes.

 

That build is a huge inspiration! I am in the very beginning of my first build, 83 XJ750, and am already feeling overwhelmed. Great job man!

 

Thank you! Its always nice to hear positive feedback. It was a very fun bike to build, and looking at it daily in the garage for this winter is killing me. I cant wait to ride this coming summer. Have a great time making your build and don't get overwhelmed. The guys on here are great help and ask questions. The only thing, is to make sure that the motor is sound before doing all the "fun" stuff. Any questions feel free to ask.

 

Hey mnrider, did you say you did the simple wiring? I have a few questions about it. Would like to pick your brain a little if you don't mind...

 

Yeah I did do the simple wiring, and feel free to ask.

 

What'd you do for the clutch? I'm looking hard but I don't see it.

 

That the one question everyone asks me when I show up somewhere with the scoot. On the right side where the clutch cable would go to, I turned it around and use my foot to "push down" the clutch and I shift with the hand lever on the left. Its a little tricky but I have gotten used to it now. I have tossed around some ideas for an actual foot pedal clutch but just haven't found anything I like enough to make. Its hard because I can't use the back brake and hold the clutch in at the same time. For safety reasons, I need to just make something and stick with it for this coming riding year.

 

Awesome build! New to the xj just started my first build loving it so far, what fuel tank is that if you don't mind me asking? Did you have to modify it at all?

 

That would be tricky, would hate to deal with that in a situation requiring quick response time!

I wonder if you could get one of those TC Bros forward control kits and adapt it to use the clutch cable. I think that would look good on the bike.

 

Thanks! It was fun to make. The fuel tank was bought from lowbrow customs. But just looking on there today to find a link, I don't see it anymore. and did I have to modify anything, yes. I grinded off all the old tank mounts and on the spine of the bike, I had to weld in tabs for the new tank.

Yeah that's why I try to ride the bike on back roads and roads with low traffic to help with that quick response issue. And I've thought about those TC bros forwards controls but with my seat being much lower and further back, I feel my legs would be resting against the motor while riding so that's why I've held off on buying them. The look, yes would be awesome. Maybe I should just buy them, and give it a try.

 

Slick man. Love love love that wheel paint.

 

It's trickier when you also have to manually adjust the spark advance, and pump more oil into the top end by hand. Ahhhh...the joys of motorcyles from the 20's.

 

Im trying to lower my bike, is this my only option of lowering it? Or can I order smaller struts?

 

The U-joint does not like the bike to be lowered by much.

 

Thank you, I appreciate it! I wanted to go for that classic rat rod black and red look and it came together well.

Oh I could only imagine. I have an older guy that I work with that told me before I started this build that 'you aren't a true motorcycle rider unless you have a footclutch'. He was real old school so he had a big smile when I showed up to work on this guy.

My bike isn't lowered at all. I had to weld the swing arm to the frame but before I did, I made marks where everything was stock with the springs on there. I didn't want to change anything with that shaft, and glad I didn't. It just looks like that because the seat is lower down.