fenders???

I know curiosity supposedly killed the cat but anyone know what Maxim front fenders will fit '81 Seca forks (if any :? ). Thanks...

skillet

 

from the looks of the forks I'd say the mounting is really close if not the same as my 82 XJ550 that I'm bobbing.

 

Unfortunately there's that Yamaha "family resemblance" thing again.

A lot of Yamaha bits LOOK the same but really aren't.

For instance the 550 Seca front fenders are the same as the 650 Seca, but the Maxims, big and small, are different. Not to say there may be even more interchangeability, but the exact width between the legs varies from model to model as does the angle of the fender to the forks and wheel.

Some fenders may actually bolt up but then be at a goofy angle, or not fit correctly between the fork legs. So just be careful is all.

 

ewww good point

 

I was pretty sure the answer wasn't as simple as the question sounded :cry: ...

skillet

 

Confirmed... the part number for a seca is 297661-001 the maxim is 299754-001. That means there is something different. It may be internal or length but they are different.

While the number is different I can't imagine they use to many molds for the XJ line. I would venture to say the lower forks might be the same as well as the tubes. Difference is most likely in the guts to make for a sport bike or cruiser. I could be way off base but it sounds easier for a manufacturer to pump out the tubes and lower and make the specific fenders and add different guts than have everything be different.

 

...however - the 750 Seca and Maxim both have leading-axle fronts (the other Secas do not WRT the other Maxims) so the fender alignment might work after all. Might also be that the 650 Maxim front fender would work too (also leading-axle; don't know off hand what wheel/tire size is for the 650 Maxim but the 650 frame is almost identical). I've even seen a photo of a 750 Seca with a chrome Virago fender. :wink:

 

THERE ya go. Another good example: the 650 Seca fender is exactly the same piece as the fenders on the 550 Secas. It came painted, as did the '82/'83 550s, whereas the '81 550 Seca fender was chrome. I've seen 650 Secas with chrome front fenders before, and they look great.

The leading-axle vs. centered axle may be the big distinction between the "cruisers" vs. the "sportbikes.."

 

Don't know what happened in this part of the country. You just never see any XJ bikes (even rare on CL)...

skillet

 

Front Fender Interchange info:

All of the following information applies to the 1980-1986 XJ series bikes only. We do not have any information about other version fenders, such as from XV or other Yamaha series bikes. XS series fenders typically tend to be about 1" wider than XJ series fenders, and will not interchange due to the lack of space in-between the fork tubes.

We do not have any information on the interchange of rear fenders.

Except for the XJ700, XJ750-X, and XJ900 models, the bolt hole size and mounting dimensions (where the fender bolts to the tubes) is the same between all models. The differences in the width of the fenders, at the mounting hole locations, is negligible. However, the "height" of the fender itself, relative to where it bolts onto the fork tubes, varies between different models by up to an 1" or so. Thus different model fenders may leave more or less "air space" between the fender and the tire when swapped between bikes with the factory original wheels and forks on them.

Additionally, the rotational placement of the fender may vary slightly between different models, and/or the "starting" or "ending" points of the fender in relation to the mounting points may differ slightly. Not only are some fenders "longer" or "shorter" than others, but their "length" relative to their mounting hole points may differ slightly.

All that being said, here is what we've found:

XJ550 Maxim and XJ650 Maxim use the exact same (chrome-plated) fender. XJ650 Midnight Maxim fenders are the same fender as these, but are painted black rather than being chrome plated.

XJ550 Maxim and XJ650 Maxim/Midnight Maxim and XJ750 Maxim/Midnight Maxim fenders will interchange, but are a bit "taller" (away from the fender mounting holes) than the XJ650 Seca style fender (about 1/2 - 3/4" taller).

XJ750 Maxim/Midnight Maxim and XJ1100 fenders are virtually identical; the XJ1100 fender is approx. 1" longer to the rear, and the radius coming off the fender mounting stanchion is slightly greater on the XJ1100. Otherwise, they're identical.

XJ550 Seca and XJ650 Seca are the exact same fender, besides the color differences. And, as Fitz has pointed out, 1981 XJ550 Seca fenders were chrome-plated, rather than painted.

The XJ750 Seca fender is the same as the XJ550 Seca and the XJ650 Seca fenders, but it has an additional slotted opening underneath the main triangular opening. Other than that, they're the same.

XJ650 Turbo fenders are the same size and height as XJ650 Seca fenders.

XJ700 and XJ750-X fenders attach completely different than all others, and will only fit these models. 1985 version fenders used a slightly narrower fender with a "rolled edge lip" feature not found on 1986 models, but are otherwise identical in overall shape and fit. The 1985 fenders are wider (by about 1/2") versus the flat-edged 1986 style fender.


XJ900 fenders will not interchange will any other XJ models.

 

xv 700-1100 front fender fits had 1 sitting on my maxim x rear fenders are different