Hello from a NEW member and New Maxim Owner

Hi everyone from here in central Texas, Just bought my first XJ650 Maxim this last month, 1982 with 19,300 original miles on it, well maintained and garage kept it's entire life.

I live in the country so it's impossible to keep clean, but I'm really enjoying this bike, I've had a couple older bikes in the past, but this is by far the best I've had, hope to ride this one for a long time.

Happy safe riding wishes from Texas.....

yamafella

 

Well, you might want to start by visually inspecting the rear brake for signs of delamination: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html There's no way to tell other than look.

The next thing you might want to consider is this: Unless you have irrefutable proof that the valve clearances have been attended to on schedule (initially at 3000 miles then every 5000 therefter) check them NOW before you end up with some serious problems as a result.

Then go look at your front brake lines and see what manufacture date is embossed in them. They were rated to last 4 years.

Unfortunately, "well maintained and garage kept" doesn't necessarily mean "safe and reliable."

Check the brakes asap. STAY safe.--- Fitz

 

Congrats on your new bike and finding the XJ world here as well! Very good advice and information is within these pages. I was always a Honda guy until I got my XJ. I am very impressed with the mechanics and design of these bikes - made me into a Yamaha convert for sure! They've been building them right and smart for longer than most.

 

Thanks for the advice bigfitz52
Brakes seem fine on the bike other than front pads getting a bit thin, haven't checked the rear shoes yet, wont be riding much in the winter so I plan to replace both front and rear brakes in the spring before I really get cranking...

Bike was serviced and had everything gone over this last spring, carbs cleaned and sync'd new tires all fluids changed, running syn. oils in all areas, new tires, Dunlop 404 front and rear, less than 700 miles on them, It does seem to have a slight bit of a clunk in the rear Dif. when taking off, no noises or clunky sounds anytime after take off whether shifting with or without the clutch, no vibrations at any speed or anything I would consider out of the ordinary, just that little clunk, I know there will be a little slack that is taken up in the rear just as the clutch is released, but I'm just not sure if the amount mine has is normal or more than it should be.

I'm used to chains and not the shaft drives so I'm not sure if what I'm hearing is normal or if it has an issue back there..... Shrug.

MercuryMan

I have owned Kawasaki once with bad luck, I've owned Suzuki dirt bike, and Yamaha, never owned a Honda, had family that had Hondas but one of my uncles owned and operated a Yamaha dealership from late 60's through the mid 90's so I grew up on what we called Yammer Hammers, my uncle actually disliked Honda's above all others as far as working on them, he always said that in almost all areas the Yamaha's were a better design for performance and ease of repair when there was a problem.

He built many race bikes and did some pretty amazing things with the RD's back in the day.

I've had a couple other brands but the Suzuzki and the Yamaha have given me the best most reliable service of anything I've owned, I do like some of the new Hondas though, that Fury is a real eye catcher if a fella like the stretched out cruiser bikes.

Thanks again for the great advice, and please comment back on my concern with the slight clunk at take off on my 82 650 Maxim.

Peace, yamafella

 

Welcome to the XJ world. There is a ton of resources on this site and everyone doesn't mind sharing their knowledge. Congrats on the new bike and welcome again from VA.

 

Don't just ignore this because it seems difficult.

 

[quote="yamafella" wont be riding much in the winter [/quote]

You get winter down there?? Noooooo.....WE get winter!!!! Welcome to the world of XJ "live in the garage" folks.....A ton of good advice [i.e. bigfitz] Enjoy...

Dave

 

Welcome from Colorado, you're gonna love it here, with all the great help and advice you can accomplish any task associated with these bikes. Have fun.

Massimo

 

Hi Yamafella, for the rear end clunk, there are two places that may be worn. The first and easiest to check are the drive splines which drive the wheel, next and a bit more of a hassle, are the drive shaft splines. I, as a young man who owned a BMW, neglected to check my shaft oil level, (you don't have an oil bath for your drive shaft, just grease.) and I had a very expensive repair because I didn't have a special BMW tool. Just be aware that drive splines are often neglected, because of "out of sight, out of mind"

 

Thank you very much LVSteve2011

I just hope it isn't something major, it isnt a real harsh sound but it's obvious that there is some slack back there so I'll be going into it before long to see what I have going on, probably go ahead and replace the brake shoes while I'm at it also.

Thanks again....
Peace

 

Yep.... we get what [we] call winter, but I know it's nothing compared to what you guys have way up there, I just dont know how ya'll do it, of coarse we had 90+ days of 100 degree or greater heat here in central Texas this year with a severe drought alone with it, that has been tough on us down here but we are used to that kind of heat, I imagine our heat would hurt you kinda like your cold would really hurt most of us, we have thin blood down here.....

And yes, I can see already that this place is going to be a God send for me, I'm really enjoying just seeing what others are doing or have done with their Maxims on here, I belong to a couple other forums that I really enjoy, I have one of those cloned GY6 Honda power Chinese Scooters I've done a lot of tinkering with and I have 3 motorized bicycles that I really enjoyed building and of coarse riding when I have the time to just take off on a 12-15 mile round trip on, they all cruise at 30-32MPH so that is good fun on a bicycle, nothing fancy just fun and functional little 2 wheelers......

If it has wheels and an engine I can have a ball on it, been that way all my life and dont plan on changing at this point either..LOL!

Peace,

You get winter down there?? Noooooo.....WE get winter!!!! Welcome to the world of XJ "live in the garage" folks.....A ton of good advice [i.e. bigfitz] Enjoy...

Dave[/quote]

 

Thank you for the warm welcome, heck I already love it here......

Peace

 

welcome from florida yamafella, 50 is cold to me. thats why I broke down and got a spitfire S06 windscreen! (and some chaps)
the valve clearence check is easy bigfitz has done a jammin write up with pics thats easy to follow.