New guy here from Okla. Just bought an 81 650 Maxim

Glad to see there is a forum for these bikes. My oldest brother had a Seca 550 in the mid 80s that I loved. I snuck it out a few times when I was 14-15 years old. I've looked for a few years for one as a project and happened on an 82 650 Maxim on my local craigslist for $500. Ended up getting it for $300 but its been sitting in a shop since 2008. Its the only early 80s Yamaha I could find in my price range with a title. He's going to bring it Monday morning and can't wait to get the carbs off and cleaned to see if this thing has any life left. I've been around bikes my whole life but this is my first shafty.

 

Nice! Lookng forward to progress pics and updates.

 

81 or 82 - you say 81 in the title and 82 in your post.

 

Its an 82. Guess I fat fingered the keys

 

You never know....it could be both. That PO guy does all sorts of strange things.

 

Been reading information overload hour and a lot more on this site since I joined. In the words of Number Five "more input" (Short Circuit movie)

 

After a lot of internet R&D. I'm going to build my version of an early 80s Seca 550 with the 650 Maxim foundation. I like the extra 100CC's, twisted spoke alloys, and the quietness of the shaft drive. I'm fortunate enough to have a very large bike salvage 30 minutes from my house and have bought parts through them for years. I'm going to put on 550 Seca body parts = tank, side covers, tail, and seat. I will rebuild the rear frame section to work. Paint will pay homage to my brothers original 550 Seca with white paint and red factory styled stripes. I will do pearl white and met. red. I may fab a solo seat and bring the tail in. I have been restoring and building street rods since 1992 and have a very healthy paint and body and metal fab/welding background. Not going to do anything till I check the valve clearances and compression. Then I will rebuild the carbs with new parts after a good soaking/cleaning. After the engine runs good, I'll then do all the brakes, hoses, etc. No way I would even think about getting on an old bike that's been sitting since 08 and run it down the road without going through everything. Skin does not like pavement and I know from experience.

 

Dress for the slide not the ride!!!

 

Getting close to painting everything for my little 1983 GPz 305. Its a resto mod. My dad bought me the same bike in 1987 when I was 15. I tried tracking it down 2 years ago but hit a dead end. I posted a want ad on craigslist and got this one and a parts bike. It seemed faster in 87 when I weighed about 90 lbs but when I get on that bike it feels like 1987 again. Well, except I can't get any cheerleaders to get on the back . I think every cheerleader in my high school rode on the back of my GPz. It was great cause all my friends had 125 endures and I could smoke em When its done I can start on the Maxim rebuild

 

What part of Ok? Live in Chickasha. Just got an '81 Seca 750 for $250. Good luck with your bike.

 

My Seca must be the best thing in life because it was free!

 

was delivery included?

 

Well, not exactly free, I bought the PO a cup of tim hortons finest brew, plus another for the delivery driver. and one for me equals six dollars canadian spent to aquire one lovely XJ

 

In my experience the most expensive machines are the ones that you get for free.

 

So far it has cost me less than a Bugatti. Im my experience, they and Dusenbergs are the most expensive. We'll see what I get up to when I really get going on it... "someday".

 

Wow. Just saying I had a similar situation.

 

I think what we're all saying is that either these bikes are undervalued, or we're all lucky SOBs!