82 XJ650 Insurance Question

Hello,
I am trying to insure my bike after I had it in storage for five years. The bike is a 82 XJ650 with the VIN# JYA5V200 0 CA004238.
Somehow my insurance company can't insure any XJ650 Seca. How can I find out what model my bike is? How can I find a correlation between Vin# and models?

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks ... Mike

 

Does it look like a maxim or a seca? If the tank is long and slender and the seat folds to the side it is a seca. If the tank is tear drop shaped and the seat lifts off it's a maxim.

 

For your insurance company, you don't own a Seca, it's a Maxim. See how that works? That is a little detail that a quick change of badges would fix. Most of John Q. Public wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a chrome toaster and a Seca. I wouldn't worry too much about it, tell them it is a Maxim (throw the badges on there just to cover your six) and argue the point if they say the VIN is incorrect for the model type. You can always plead ignorance and beg for forgiveness if it comes down to it. You don't know much about motorcycles and your just enjoying riding is a good line (hint, hint, wink, wink). Your bike is an '82 650 RJ according to your VIN, and a quick leaf through my Haynes shows all the parts (headlight set up, instrument bank, brakes) looks to be a Maxim with all the bells and whistles too. I'd get the service manual for your beast if I were you. Another option for finding out model is contacting the dealer. I've a funny feeling they could give you the answer quickly. Good luck!

 

Re: 82 XJ650 Model and Vin# correlation

Thanks for your reply,
I am sure that the bike isn't a Maxim. I am confused about the different model declarations like:
1982 XJ 650
1982 XJ650R Seca
1982 XJ650RJ Seca

The picture on the following webpage represents the bike I am talking about. They don't say anything about Seca.
http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_xj_650_1982.php

I am still wondering if there is a correlation between the Vin# and the different models for the 82 XJ 650.

Thanks ... Mike

 

Mike, your bike is a Seca judging by the body style of the machine in the picture. I would still suggest fudging it and slap some cheepy Maxim badges on it just for showing the insurance company. They sound pretty creepy if they won't cover the Seca. Have you shopped elsewhere for insurance on this thing?

 

Insurance can be a sensitive subject with riders, but I'll throw in my 2 cents.

I'm not sure which insurance company you're trying to go through, but the one insuring me didn't give a flying hoot about nameplate. They only wanted the nomenclature (XJ700 was used to "simplify things", but in reality it's an XJ700XN) and VIN#. The rest was all done by their computer, which accepted the data we gave.

Also, if you are in the US, there are a couple of deep discount insurers that will put a smile on your face compared to the mainstream insurers. For instance my auto and home insurer wanted about $600.00 per year to add my bike, but the company I am with only charges me about $45.00 per year for liability. (Dairyland Insurance Company if I remember right)

FWIW
Z

 

About the R and J.

The XJ 650 could be a maxim or a seca.
An XJ 650 R is a Seca... that's what the R says.

The XJ 650RJ is a seca that was built for 1982. My 81 maxim 650 is a xj650H... J is one year later than H.

Shop around for insurance... there are good cheap companies (local knowledge of your area I don't have).

 

I know Geico is like WeAreZilla says. They don't even ask what bike you have, they just ask for the VIN, which tells them exactly what the bike is.

 

I thought I would add this as it applies to insurance. Nationwide now offers a 10 percent discount on insurance to AMA members. Better yet they give your free AMA membership if you use Nationwide.

Here is what you get with your AMA membership.
American Motorcyclist Magazine
AMA MOTOW Roadside Assistance
AMA-Sanctioned Racing and Road Riding Events
AMA-Chartered Clubs
Racing & Off-Road Riding Instruction
Motorcycle Rental Discounts
Lodging Discounts
Auto Rental Discounts
The list goes on and on. Even if you decide not to have Nationwide as your insurer you should join the AMA. When I first got my bike last summer the old rear tire had a little air leak on it that must have developed during the ride. When I noticed that the handling was poor I pulled to the side of the road and become aware of the rear wheel air leak. All I did was pull out my cell phone and called the number on the back of my AMA card and 20min later there was a truck their to take my bike back home.

http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2006/Nationwide.asp

 

Good endorsement, I love to hear of businesses taking care of their customers the right way!

 

Howdy everybody,

First of all thank you very much for everybody’s feedback.
Sorry for the amateur type questions about the Seca. Six years ago I brought the bike from Germany over to the US. Over there nobody talks about Maxim or Seca. It’s just a XJ 650. I think the Maxim was only built for the US market and is rare in Europe. Back then I had no trouble at all with the insurance in the US. I just told them that I had a XJ 650, and I have to admit I did not know any better. In the mean time I rode the XV920 and now it’s time for the Seca again.
I received an online quote from Geico: $244 per year. My experience with insurances is that you only get decent deals if you have everything with a single insurance: Home, car, bike etc. But I could be wrong – Happens actually all the time.

Thanks again for all your replies

 

I went to progressive for my XJ550 Maxim, I have the state minimum on there and it only costs me $75 a year. I would suggest giving them a try. I don't have my car insurance through them either.

-Kevin

 

Mikes, age my play a huge role in the price of your insurance. I have Progressive right now as my insurer and pay $426. Now you must take into account that I live in an urban area and a 23 year old male. I could have gone with their basic plan for around $220 but that did not have uninsured motorist protection. To get the $220 basic plan I would have had to sign a waver stating that if I am in an accident that is the from a uninsured driver that progressive does not have to pay.

 

I added my bike on with my car and truck for only $11.00 a month, liability only. Here in NC. I'm with GMAC.

 

The 5V2 model codes says this is a 1982 XJ650RJ Seca.

 

Just some more comparison, I got the following quotes on my '81 XJ750rh. I'm 32 y.o., took a MSF course many moons ago, and theoretically have 9 years experience.

For $25k/$50k coverage (Bodily and Property):
Geico - $117/yr State Farm: $165/yr

For $50k/$100k
Geico - $200/yr State Farm: $185/yr

State Farm doesn't give discounts for anything - despite the fact all of my other insurance is with them. So for lower limits, Geico wins. For higher limits, S.F. does.

Still deciding what I'm going to do.

Holy jeebus, Progressive is $75 for those higher limits - $110 less than S.F. Why is this? Should I be afraid?

 

I not sure how much the size of motors affect it, but I am running a 550 not a 750, who knows.

 

OK, for what it's worth I'll give everyone a little more detail on my insurance company. It has saved me a LOT of money over the years, and maybe it will help you too. This is only good for people who are in the US.

As mentioned in my previous post, my main insurer, State Farm, wanted to charge me about $500.00 per year for liability coverage. In the 15 years I have been with them, I have NEVER made a claim. I have two cars and my home insured with them. To be honest, I'm nearly certain I could get the coverage much cheaper elsewhere, but so far I've stuck with the "family tradition" with this particular agent.

Now for my motorcycle insurer. The name of the company is Dairyland Insurance Company. It's parent company is Sentry Insurance. The coverage I have is for $20K/$40K, 43 years old, urban area, 1985 XJ700XN. Total premium is $45.00 per year. I started out with an agent of theirs, through a local motorcycle dealership. I signed on with them out of the blue, with no verifiable riding experience or safety course. I didn't buy the bike from the dealership with which the agent worked, and I don't even think I had the motorcycle endorsement on my license yet.

Their number is 1.800.526.4252. You'll have to maneuver through the menus to get to an customer service rep, but once you do they will give you a quote and one of two things may happen -- The rep can refer you to a local sales agent in your area, or, the rep can transfer you to their direct sales. If you go the way of their direct sales, they can insure you on the spot, with a credit card.

You may also go to the Sentry Insurance website, but I'm not sure what steps to take, or what the results will be.

I should point out that I am in no way associated with this company (except being covered by them), nor will I gain anything from this endorsement or any referrals. I called customer service, just like you might, to obtain the information above. Just trying to help my fellow riders, and maybe save you a buck or two.

Z

 

Also my impression was Dairyland is one of the oldest Motorcycle insurance companies..

I went Gieco due to the quick online experience.. 5 minutes and i had my insurance card printed.. (they do check by phone etc also.. so Credit card not required)

 

FWIW, I went w/ Progressive. The whole process, even printing out temp insurance cards, was about 5 minutes as well. And $105 less than Geico for (apparently) the same coverage. I still feel like I'm 'missing' something - like I got too good fo a deal. We'll see, I guess.

 

I use progressive.

26 years old, live 20 miles outside a metro area...

$126 a year, seperate from my car insurance. Progressive wont put a bike on an auto policy, it has to be seperate...

 

Use Progressive as well. 84 bucks a year for liability only. Car insurance is thru Metlife, but they dont consider the bike an auto, so it doesnt count towards multi-vehicle discounts. It would have to be a separate policy. Also 26 years old, married male, 40 miles from Wash DC.

 

I went with Farm bureau cost me around 85$ yr. 22yr. 1st bike

 

Good Choice!! I am a Farm Bureau agent!!

 

My truck ins. @ Farm Bureau so naturally I called them... just today in fact.. to insure my bike to get it on the road. Agent told me they don't do bike ins. and would have to go to a outside agency and then have to chage me a brokerage fee so it was best if I simply called Progressive directly.

Subsequently... I did and have hooked up with liability and uninsured motorist coverage for $98 per year. I'll buy the tag tomorrow then finally on my way. ;^)

 

You guys have it good.Up here in canuck land the cheepest I could find was 750.00 per year 37 years old riding bikes since age 16 legally and no claims.
What ticks me off the most is that because I didnt have a bike for the last 3years they all said that I was a new rider also 750 is 250 more than I paid for the bike
Good luck getting her on the road

 

I live in Canada... and my insurance is $200.00

 

and your insurance company would be?

 

I've heard that Ontario rates are much higher than the rest of the country - I'm in Alberta and insured through TD Meloche Monnex for around $150/year for a 1983 XJ750 Maxim.