Name That Seca! UPDATED pics&info

Right on. That muffler can looks like a cannon mounted back there. I love it!

 

That picture was 2.5 years ago.

But on a serious note, pretty much the only parts still used from the original picture is the frame, swingarm, engine and seat frame. In the next few months the even the engine will be replaced.

 

Yeah.... taking in strays can become a problem. At least the bikes don't pee on the walls like cat collectors have to deal with.

I don't have a problem with taking in strays.................oh, wait...........eighteen different bikes here now in various stages of stray-dom.

"Uh, doctor....I think I have a case of MAS -- Motorcycle Acquistion Syndrome."

"I'd suggest you go find another bike, and do it quickly".

Thanks doc..! Hey, you know anyone that's got a bike laying around?"

Dave

 

I finally talked to Scott today. Says he has owned the bike for 6 years and has rebuilt it twice, last being 3yrs ago. Evidently he's got nearly any entire parts bike too. Turns out he wanted $700 for it all. ...no thanks

He did however give me a lead on his buddy's bike. He said it was a '96 Yamaha Route 66. Recently inspected and only needs front tire and back brakes. Guy wants $300. He said the dude was in a hard spot and just wanted rid of it for some quick cash. Google says its actually a 250cc virago.

Anyone familiar with these little bikes? Sounds great for the Mrs. and if she can't hang I'd love to make a wicked little hardtail bobber!

 

get us some pics of the parts bike, too, and possibly try offering him 500

dave

 

My 2 cents...

Any used bike is just that, used. Unless you buy it from a dealer restorer, you will have to replace some things on it. No bike or auto for that matter is buy it and drive it without some upkeep costs. So, I will explain my position on the matter.

The bike I "really" wanted was a 2007 Yamaha Warrior. Best deal I could find was $7000 for low miles and blue/silver flames paint. Disappointed there, I also really want a Harley Softail custom, but I refuse to pay 20 grand for a bike. Then, I got interested in the Yamaha Vmax. Now the Vmax is very similar mechanically to the Maxim. It is 4 cylinder, shaft drive and has the center stand that I almost refuse to not settle for doing without. Best buy I could find on a Vmax was a 2004 for $5500 in need of TLC. Also, cruiser style is a must as I can't stand crotch rockets and would kill myself on a dirt bike.

Note that every bike I was researching was getting compared to the 81 XJ650 Maxim that I fell in love with as a teenager. Now, this finally began to sink in. I was in the market for a "new" 81 XJ650 Maxim and had a price range from $5500 to $7000. As luck would have it, I had been sharing my love for the XJ's with a buddy at work who is a panhead fanatic. He went home to Kentucky over the weekend to visit family and bring some of his bike collection home. When he got to the barn where he had then stored, he shot a pic and sent it to me.

There in the dimly lit dusty decrepit barn sat a 1982 XJ750 Maxim. I really could tell much by the pic other that it was a Maxim. He asked if it was what I was looking for, and I said well, it looks very rough, but it is similar, why do you ask? He said, well, it is mine. I had it in the barn and completely forgot about it even though we have been talking about you looking for one for so long. He said he was going to bring it home and I could come look at it.

So, when he was nearly home he sent me a message, and I drove to his house. There on the back of his Ford sat one of the roughest 82 Maxim's I have ever seen. But something about this one just kinda set a hook in me. I asked him for the history. He it used to run really well. It was fast and reliable. They stored it for a couple of years, and hadn't been able to get it running since. He couldn't get the bike to fire. I asked how much he wanted for it. He said $100. I knew at then I could make ten times my investment in parts if the bike turned out to not be build-able. So, the bike never touched the ground from Kentucky to Talladega Alabama. I backed my truck up to his tailgate to tailgate and brought her home.

So, found the issue with fire to be the safety switch, and dry compression test yielded numbers of 147/142/145/147. I knew at that point I had a good plant and this baby would rise again. Now, some people have invested huge amounts of money in restoring bikes. To sum this up. Just as darkfibre mentioned above, I will have replaced/renewed everything on this bike short of the frame, swingarm, engine, tank, and side=covers. As bad expensive as this sounds, when it is said and done I will have invested less than $3500 in this bike and it will be new from end to end. I will not have a more sound machine if I bought it new from the factory and even well below the afore mentioned $5500 to $7000 budget range. Also, being that I am the one doing all of the work, I will use the attention to detail and meticulous care that you do not always get at shops.

 

Mook, you're gonna turn that into a beauty. I can't wait to see what you do with it.

Dave F

 

And THAT is the "key to the highway." Everything else is just details. LOTS and lots of details, a lot of patient work, and probably not as much money as you might think.

 

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/mcy/2891734695.html
think about it, do you really want a 250

 

Thanks guy. HA, no Tim. I wasn't in the market for a tiny bike, haha. I don't know, sounds like it might be worth a look anyhow. I think it could be a fun hardtail project.

As for the link, I emailed that guy on the 8th when the post was made. I have yet to receive any correspondence... Ideally, I'd like to get a 750 or 900. I've never seen any 900s around here though, for sale or otherwise.