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XJ mileage

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Colin 85 700, Jul 7, 2018.

  1. Colin 85 700

    Colin 85 700 Active Member

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    I have a 1985 XJ 700 maxim, it has 33,000km on it, I regularly rev it to 6000, and never hesitate to bounce it off redline. I see some threads say that these motors will last 3-4x that mileage, I know yamahas are awesome, but will it handle that abuse for that long? I was thinking of rebuilding it with 750 big bore if possible, is it a waste of time? And are parts available regardless? I can't find new Pistons anywhere... Thanks for any feedback!
     
    Colin 85 700, Jul 7, 2018
    #1
  2. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    As long as you keep good oil in it, and do your regular valve clearance maintenance, you'll be fine.
     
    hogfiddles, Jul 8, 2018
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  3. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Well-Known Member

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    Lots of xj750 motors around to swap. Cheaper than a big bore kit.
     
    Toomanybikes, Jul 8, 2018
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  4. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    XJ700 and 750 are the same bore.
    The 700 is a hybrid of 750 bore and 650 stroke.
     
    Simmy, Jul 8, 2018
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  5. kerriskandiesinc

    kerriskandiesinc Active Member

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    When I was a despatch rider/courier, back in the UK, 80's,90's,........XJ's......CX500/650, GT550 Kwaks, and the occasional BMW were THE most popular bikes used, the XJ's were (mostly) my weapon of choice, and apart from the dreaded ( but hi mileage) Alternator chain rubber guide breakup/gear dogs interface nightmares, most of my XJ's were running happily well North of 120,000 miles.......one went to 240,000....original driveshaft, rebuilt motor (once), most hit 90,000 without ANY major problems.......and these bikes were ABUSED, time and mileage= money, so running around town, million gear changes per day, or cruising down the motorways and A roads.....at close to 95+MPH, day in, day out, all weathers, certainly tests a bikes reliability!!

    If I had to do it all over again, I'd pick an XJ.....given the choice, over almost ANY other bike of it's genre out there....
     
    kerriskandiesinc, Jul 8, 2018
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  6. Colin 85 700

    Colin 85 700 Active Member

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    Thanks a lot for the info guys! I usually run Castrol GTX 10w40, should I run anything special, I've never had a issue with Castrol, also anyone know the shim diameter? I have some but I know there are different diameters, if I pull it apart I want shims on hand. :)
     
    Colin 85 700, Jul 9, 2018
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  7. Colin 85 700

    Colin 85 700 Active Member

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    Also, is it worth swapping a 750? My 700 is Pretty spooky if your not carefull, and it runs mint, should I just leave it?
     
    Colin 85 700, Jul 9, 2018
    #7
  8. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Well-Known Member

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    Same diameter shim as bmw “k” bikes and some of the older cars. Any shop that services bmw cars will have them.
     
    Toomanybikes, Jul 10, 2018
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  9. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    My Kawasaki KLR also takes same shim size as the XJ's.
    Back to the question of keeping the 700 mill, if it's working well don't mess with it.
     
    Simmy, Jul 10, 2018
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  10. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Unless you'd rather wrench than ride. Summer is pretty short around here...
     
    MattiThundrrr, Jul 10, 2018
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  11. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Oil thread in my signature.

    29mm shims.

    Keep the 700. Yamaha stuck it to the man with that engine. There was a big tariff on engines over 700cc that year, so they built a 700 that made more power than the 750. :)
     
    k-moe, Jul 10, 2018
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  12. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    As k-moe stated the 700 was the Japanese manufacturers solution to beat the US tariff on any imported motorcycle bigger than 700, an effort to help HD. A peculiar aspect to this is that Canada still received real 750's during this time except your XJ700n which continued in Canada another year or 2 beyond it's availability in the US or presence of any US tariffs.
    Call it an XJ700RR. (Ronald Reagan)
     
    Simmy, Jul 10, 2018
    #12
  13. Colin 85 700

    Colin 85 700 Active Member

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    I heard the story of the tariffs to help HD in the 80's guess I'll keep her stock, if not just to Ride some history :)
     
    Colin 85 700, Jul 10, 2018
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  14. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    The Canadian air cooled xjs were 700cc, but the water cooled Genesis 5 valve engine was 750cc. They will not easily swap, and the Genesis definitely makes more power!
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2018
    MattiThundrrr, Jul 11, 2018
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  15. kerriskandiesinc

    kerriskandiesinc Active Member

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    Were the w/c Maxim 750's?? also 5 valve early genesis motors??
     
    kerriskandiesinc, Jul 11, 2018
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  16. ads1987

    ads1987 New Member

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    If I recall correctly, Castrol GTX is a standard engine oil, and I don't think it's JASO MA certified. You should be using oil with the JASO certification, otherwise clutch damage might occur.
     
    ads1987, Jul 11, 2018
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  17. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    The Maxim-X was a 700 in the U.S., and a 750 in Canada.
     
    k-moe, Jul 11, 2018
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  18. Colin 85 700

    Colin 85 700 Active Member

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    I ordered some Ipone 10.4, semi synthetic, will run that for a bit then I'm gonna change to Ipone Katana full synthetic. my oil goes black quick, probly from clutch slippage (I'm a mechanic I should know better for wet clutches) so I wanna flush with $35 gallon oil before I put in $70 dollar oil. I'm okay to run a synthetic in an old bike right?
     
    Colin 85 700, Jul 12, 2018
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  19. Colin 85 700

    Colin 85 700 Active Member

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    And yes the X models were all liquid cooled not air, both using the 5 valve head.
     
    Colin 85 700, Jul 12, 2018
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  20. Colin 85 700

    Colin 85 700 Active Member

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    And ummmmm after watching threads on clutches, and knowing I've now abused mine, what brand is the best for new discs! Lol! ;)
     
    Colin 85 700, Jul 12, 2018
    #20
  21. Chitwood

    Chitwood Well-Known Member

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    Synthetic oil tends to cause the starter clutch to slip or at least it can. You may be fine. Just putting it out there
     
    Chitwood, Jul 12, 2018
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  22. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    The key is to make sure that the oil is JASO MA certified, or compliant.
    See the oil thread link in my signature.
     
    k-moe, Jul 12, 2018
    #22
  23. Minimutly

    Minimutly Well-Known Member

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    I wouldn't use that Apple stuff...
     
    Minimutly, Jul 12, 2018
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