1986 xj700 air cooled

Hey guys, this is my first post ever here and I'm wondering if someone could help with identifying the factory paint color from the VIN, if that's possible. The VIN is JYA1NJ002GA000271. I've looked online and cant seem to find any info. It has been repainted. But its sagging on the tank and I would like to restore it to original color. Thanks.

 

vin does not have color codes in it

 

XJ PARTS CATALOG, SECTION O: EMBLEMS, STRIPES, DECALS, PAINT

 

So theres no way to tell what the original color was? Or is there a code somewhere else on the bike?

 

Nope, the only place the original color would show is on the original sales invoice.

Look on the INSIDE of the plastic frame side covers or the underside of the tank or fenders..........factory overspray exists in those areas, which usually doesn't get fully covered by a re-spray. On the side covers, you might even have to peel back one of the warning decals to see the original color.

In the USA, the 1986 XJ700 Maxim air-cooled models were either red (Code MV Red-E-Sparkle) or dark blue (Code MW Bluish Black)......but I'm not 100% sure if these same colors applied to the Canadian air-cooled models (they probably do, but....). Your VIN indicate that your bike is a 1986 air-cooled Canadian XJ700 model, which is pretty rare, not many of the air-cooled 700 versions made it into Canada (they mainly got the water-cooled bikes).

 

Actually they are pretty common here Chacal. I'm unsure of the last year of production (88?) but Yamaha Canada continued to import them here a year after they were discontinued in the US. Funny how something that started as a solution to US politics ended up successful in the Canadian market.

 

Quite a few out west , I have 2 Xj700n parts bikes right now

 

Well, I learn something new every day! Are all of these air-cooled models really the Canadian 1FH or 1NJ models?

TMB: what are the serial numbers of those bikes...the highest s/n will give an idea of the minimum number of them made (OP has s/n 000271, meaning it is the 170th one made).

 

I've only ever seen 85 and 86 xj700(x) models. Is it a fact that they made them until 88?

 

I think the problem was Yamaha had so many carry over bikes dealers had them to sell until 88

 

2 bikes
Jya1fh008fa000389
Jya1fh002fa000680

 

Interesting.........what is the build date on the 000680 bike?

 

Oh now you ask , Bike is out at the barn.
If I remember the bikes were done in batches of same colour for a range of serial numbers. Honda did a similar thing with bike of the 80’s.
One that was very good for that was the 84-85 cb750sc nighthawks all the red ones serial numbers 00101- 00450 had the bad cam chain tensioner and all the blue ones 00451-650 had bad alternator chains

 

Sounds like a real winning marketing strategy there.........

 

Regardless of the original colour, my 85 700 is the Red sparkle, and where the paint is still good it's beautiful. I would opt for that colour over the dark blue, it's quite eye catching.
I'm re painting mine this winter, but I'm going to do something custom I think.

 

That is why there are so few of them left .

 

Well, winter is over and I made my color decision! Forgot to post it though. I was taking off the badging on the tank (which had obviously not been done when the bike was repainted last time) and inadvertently uncovered the original color! It was a much darker red, with metallic in it! Much classier color. So I had all the painted parts blasted, repaired and painted that color! I'm so happy with the results!!

 

Sounds great, we need some pics pls.