SECA conversion?

OK, maybe an odd questions, but here it goes.

Can a Maxim be converted to a SECA?

Are the frames basically the same? Fork rake the same?

Are the differances cosmetic?

I've got an '82 Maxim XJ750. Really like the SECA versions, but the deal on the Maxim was good....

If I were to find an early 80's SECA parts bike would tank/seat/side covers/rear fender swap over?

 

hi murc, what do you like about the seca over the maxim?

 

Apples and Oranges.

Cruisers and Sporty-Bikes.

Don't waste your time buying a Parts Bike and trying to hack something together.

Wash the Max.
Sell it.
Buy a Seca.

Or ... be like a few of us.

Own one of each!!!

 

First off, hope I'm not opening a can of worms here...

Basically it's just a visual styling thing for me. If I was to walk into a Yamaha dealership in 1982, and looked at the two bikes, they would have sold me the SECA.

Forgive my ignorance here, but it doesn't appear that there is much (if any) mechanical differance between the bikes (Oh crap, did I just unleash the hounds....I did mention my ignorance right?).

I'm happy with the Maxim as a first bike, but really prefer the early sport/touring look of the SECA vs the cruiser look of the Maxim.

So..If i were to find a SECA parts bike, and was in need of a winter project, would it be do-able?

I'm really just brainstorming here. For this to happen I'd have to stumble onto a dirt cheap Parts bike.
I have a long history of not leaving well enough alone. Have a hard time leaving things as they rolled off the assembly line. :lol:

 

That's to easy. :lol:

= Divorce court: I can actually imagine some benefits, but Top Ramen gets old! :wink:

 

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

 

Is yours a conversion?

Mine.

 

no, is yours.

 

i really don't see too much difference between your bike & mine, I like them both.

 

It's the wheels--Wiz, you really did turn a Maxim into a Seca, didn't ya?

 

My only complaint about the Maxim is the Handlebars. I have stockers which are, to me, too long and too wide.
I really don't feel comfortable making tight turns without being able to push forward and counter the steering. With those Cruiser handlebars, I don't feel like leaning-out over the gas thank is the right vector.

Id like to be able to push it closer to the front of the tank and headlight.
Doing that with the stock Max bars has you bending your elbows, getting all out of shape and makes it look like you are trying to deliberately fall-off the bike rather than keep-in tight with the center of gravity.

I've experimented with adjusting the stock bars up and down a little bit, but there's really no place to put them that make you feel as confident as you need to be to lean the thing right over good in a decreasing radius turn.

So, rather than putting power on and slicing through the benders; you wind-up riding the front brakes and slowing down because the upright riding position keeps your from being able to get low enough on the tank to keep yourself over the engine.

My heavy Seca900 has bars that let me get right up forward and keep a tight line. You can really lean-over a Seca frame and not have to worry about betting all bent out of shape. You can stick to the bike and not feel like you are watching the bike make the turn. You get G-forces working for you and can get low, pull and push the bars and negotiate a tight turn dragging a footpeg if you have too.

 

i know for sure you can swap the tank over, you should be able to swap side covers and seats and such. Worst case scenario is that you have to make some tabs to bolt things to or remove some tabs to make room.

 

ILL TRADE!!!!! i hate my seca's looks, and want to chop it (or just make it look like a maxim)

 

Is this the Maxim or Seca model? Mine looks just like this, and my neighbour and I are in a disagreement about which model it is...

 

That's a Maxim- triangular side covers, round headlight, no cut-away in the tank (teardrop tank). I'm a newb, so I'm sure someone can point out other differences. Here's mine- '82 XJ750 SECA, missing a couple of faring pieces (they're on now).

 

So, in other words, my neighbour is right in that I have the Maxim model, although I have the square headlight LOL

 

Yeah, I don't know, I haven't committed all of the permutations to memory yet, but I do know that mine is very close to stock, and that Secas of that era had the rectangular headlight and the knee niche on the tank (etc). Maxims I'm less familiar with.

 

That Red Seca with the Luggage Bags is "Suh-wheat lookin'"

Clean and pretty. I hope it goes as good as it looks!

 

Thanks Rick! Me too, but being it's my first bike I'm not sure I'm much of a judge as to it going as good as it looks. I'm still getting used to the engine running at 5k in 4th at 50 (or something like that). It sounds like she's working, but as I understand it she's just getting going. :wink:

 

Just getting up to speed at 5-Grand ... that's the XJ-Engine for you!

These engines are the grandchildren of the Inline-Four's that Yamaha used to dominate Racing in the late 70's.

They are supposed to scoot right up the Power Band to their Red Lines without worrying about being heavy handed on the throttles.
As long as you keep an eye on the Tach and don't run them for too long onto the Red area ... you are good to GO!

 

Seca's have an 18" rear wheel, compared to a 16" Maxim
Seca's have one type of camshaft, the maxim has a dulled down version of the same(Slightly)
Seca's have a 4-2 collector under the bike, maxim has (2) 2-1's
Seca's have diff forks(air pressure for EACH, whole diff asymbaly inside, leading axle design)
Seca's have a diffrent brake set up too.

Purchase the XJCD's and you will thank me. It has a xRef of parts between bikes.
Many parts are interchangable between the bikes.

 

I'd love to purchase the CD!
I emailed the US source for these (multiple times) to confirm he still exists, is at the same address, etc, and can't get a response back.

Check has been sitting in a stamped envelope for about a month now.

 

Rumor has it a email is a bad way to get info about the CD- mail your check and it will come (or so I've heard).

 

The game shouldn't be played that way, If he is busy then someone else should take the job. Its not that hard to answer your email.

 

Just exactly why people seem to think that they cannot survive without a certain Compact Disc is way beyond the limits of my comprehension!

It's a CD, for cripes-sake. You do not need it in order to keep the bike going.
A Manual is all you really need.

Having a Manual is Old School; I know. But, I'd rather have a Manual on the shelf or in a drawer of my tool box than a CD, any day.

I doubt, very seriously, if there is anyone on Planet Earth, who has obtained, from the lawful Copyright holders, license to duplicate and publish material contained on the Disc.

Yet, instead of purchasing a Repair Manual from a legitimate source; you send-off money to those who have knowingly ripped-off the material from its Authors and profit by breaking the Law.

If there is one sentence or one illustration protected by Copyright; the whole thing is just a money-making scam by low-life pirates.

I am ashamed to have this site promote the contraband.
It's a crying shame!

That is what I think and I am not about to change my mind!

 

most of the manuals are re-prints & rip offs.
i downloaded mine in pdf for small $s & i recon whoever scaned that lot deserves some compensation.

 

No they don't!

They deserve to be prosecuted and fined!