XJ sales numbers

I'm curious if anyone has information on which XJ "overall" model (by engine size, since I realize there were many models within that parameter) was the best selling XJ?

Another interesting factoid, but possibly even more unknowable, is what percentage of XJ's are still running, and what models have most held up the test of time.

As you can tell, it is a boring lunch time for me....

 

If you do a google search of this site using the command :site xjbikes.com after your keyword, you will find a few threads with that information.

 

Good subject! While I have no idea about the "standard" or Max's, in 1982 Yamaha built a total of 5,000 to 5,500 Turbos but that number dropped substantially in 1983 to 1,500. Over on the Turbo forum, we kicked this around for the better part of a year a couple years back and I believe that the consensus was that out of the 8,000 in total built, there was less than 1,000 Turbos tagged and titled in the world today.

Definitely not the bike that in huge demand. Paul Miller sold a PERFECT one with just over 2,500 original miles and it barely broke 2 grand....shame....



Jeff

 

My guess would be the xj650 maxim based on what we sold back in the day. Faster than the Honda, nicer looking than the Suzuki and a nice low seat height.

 

The XJ650 also seems to be one that is commonly posted about/inquired about on this forum, which indicates they may have the most, or near the most, still in use or under restoration.

 

Also, the xj650 maxim was available from 1980-1984. The xj750 maxim and the xj750 seca was produced almost as long. Many of others were only two-year bikes, and some were only one-year bikes

 

650 and 900 Secas seem to be the most rare. Or maybe they aren't showing up around here cuz they know I'm looking for one... 700 and 700x Maxims must be fairly rare as well due to the fact that they were a US only model. And midnight Maxims. And xj400s... I think we're going to need a bigger garage over here... I need one of each.

 

I think I have at least one of each......

 

XJ700N sold in Canada. They continued for another year here even after they discontinued sales in the US, 1987 I think, maybe 1988. I agree though they are more rare than others.
1982 marked a year when Yamaha planned to surpass Honda in NA sales. They produced way more bikes than they could sell (or did sell). I bought a new 82 Turbo in spring of 84, $3,099, this was marked down from the MSL of $5,799, almost 1/2 price. At that time the showroom was full of 82's. I bought my current XJ650 Seca used in 89, at that time I had about half a dozen to choose from locally, all under 10,000 kms, all for about $1,000.
Those were the days.

 

We have Maxim X in Canada and have seen many here just in Vancouver.
We have the very rare Xj750rl

 

I bought my '83 XJ550 Maxim brand new in 1985. Got a similar deal - XJ550, windshield, backrest, engine guards and foot pegs, and 2 Fulmer helmets for $2000.

Dealer closed up the place sometime in the next few years!

 

I don't think that's quite right.....US didn't get te 85-86 xj750/xj750X, or the '84 xj750rl. We only got the 900rk for a few months, but the rest of the world got it for YEARS......

 

Air-cooled Maxim XJ750 ceased to exist after 84. All were 700's even up here in Canada.

 

The xj750 maxim was available in 1985-1986, as an air cooled model, just not in the USA. The 85/86 700n ,70ooxn, 700s, 700xs were all available in the USA, the 750s, and the 750xs, were NOT available in the USA unless someone was willing to pay extortionist tariffs.....

Air-cooled
700n - xj700 Maxim 1985
750n - xj750 Maxim 1985
700s - xj700 Maxim 1986
750s - xj750 Maxim 1986

Water-cooled
700nx - xj700 Maxim X 1985
750nx - xj750 Maxim X 1985
700sx - xj700 Maxim X 1986
750sx - xj750 Maxim X 1986

I believe that is incorrect. I think the people that have one would probably disagree, as well.

 

OK, who here has an 85 or 86 XJ750 Maxim (air cooled)?
I believe England didn't see any Maxims so unless Australia and NZ got them then I can't see where they would be.
South Africa?

 

There are pages, and pages of posts from owners going back to the early days of this site. Most of them are from Canadian owners.

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=1985+xj750+site:xjbikes.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8


As an aside; I had not seen a Seca 750 for over twenty years until I bought mine, then I was suddenly seeing them all over the place. There's even two others in this little cow-town that I live in. I hadn't noticed either one (I've lived here for well over a decade), and one of them belongs to a neighbor.

 

There may have been some post-1985 air-cooled XJ750 Police bikes, but that's about the only ones that I can recall..........

 

I stand by my statement, there is no such beast as an air-cooled 1985 or 86 XJ750 Maxim. As far as I know the Maxim was targeted for North American buyers so if Canada did not get them and the US didn't get them they don't exist.

 

I stand corrected.
Second row, middle.
http://davesbikebrochures.weebly.com/uploads/4/8/4/5/4845046/1985yamaharangebrochurecanada.pdf

 

That is an 85 XJ700 Maxim. It was still for sale in Canada in 87, even after the US ended the tariff and consequentially the 700 era.

 

Back to the intent of the original post, few can argue the XJ750D fuelly is probably the rarest of all.

 

Yes, hence my standing corrected.

 

I am glad that I got an Xj700X mainly due to that it runs quite well.
Besides I have only seen two others in Oregon over the last five years.

 

Guys, I'm interested.
What about factory "mistakes". Does that add to value? You know, like screwed up batch of pennies if you're into coins?

For example, I am renewing a top end on another engine and I noticed one "extra" hole one the bottom of the cylinder block. Looks like factory guy made a mistake drilling holes.

(Swears in japanese, check if super is watching and flips the block to right position.... lol)

 

Sold in 87 because Yamaha had a buttload of 85's left in showrooms all across Canada . The 750x was so much faster for a few bucks more. I've seen so many more "X" models here than airheads.

 

Even rarer than my Xj750rl? Only 850 or so for the world.

 

So true, around my parts there are tons of XJ750-X.

Wow, I had no idea of that. Again, they are quite common here, just a current sample of my local classifieds:

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-sport-tourin...ca/1274558902?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-street-cruis...50/1271173626?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-sport-tourin...50/1268975078?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

 

Wow! That first one! Hot damn!

 

Yes. That was my reaction in late '83 when Cycle World ran an article on the new '84 models.
Yamaha fixed all of the cosmetic issues that I had with the model. It's a shame the changes came a bit too late.