1982 Yamaha Maxim 650 from United States of America

Summary:

Great all around cruiser

Faults:

The one and only real problem I had with this bike is when I first got it running after sitting for a few years, I couldn't get it to run right. It would sputter and pop under acceleration, and die at a stop. After a few days of troubleshooting, I accidentally fixed it when I ended up draining the tank and filling it with premium gas. It turns out, mine just will not run on regular.

Also, I think with 32,000 miles it could use a valve adjustment.

Brakes are noisy.

General Comments:

Love the look, love the feel.

Don't understand why people complain about the lack of power. For any practical purpose, the bike has all the power it will ever need. I weigh 270lbs, and have no complaints about the power. People looking for lots of horsepower and superb handling, should be looking into a street bike, not a cruiser.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th August, 2012

1982 Yamaha Maxim 650 from Canada

Summary:

Super handling with big bike comfort

Faults:

Bought this bike from a nice old lady who used it for her display model. She decided to retire, sold her bike accessories store, her collection of Indian Chiefs, some Harleys, and this bike.

It has a full wind jammer fairing, coffee cup holder, built in stereo, leather handle grips with 2 ft leather whips. All needed for our cold Alberta weather.

Lots of smooth inline 4 power, not any of that shake and rock and roll V configuration. A lot smoother ride than my newer Honda 500 Shadow. Miss having 6th gear though.

General Comments:

The brakes need some work. My 6 speed Honda 500 shifts smoother.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th June, 2011

1982 Yamaha Maxim 650 from United States of America

Summary:

Reliable and great looking

Faults:

Head gasket leaked at 29,000 miles.

Fuse holder brackets are brittle.

Seat has some cracks.

General Comments:

A little hard to start if not used after a couple of weeks.

Front air shocks hard to pressurize to specs.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th August, 2010

1980 Yamaha Maxim 650 from United States of America

Faults:

Had to replace the brake switch for the front brake.

General Comments:

Have yet to have any problems with the bike, other than the brake issue stated above. It is my first bike, and was very easy to learn on.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th August, 2010

1982 Yamaha Maxim 650 from United States of America

Summary:

Great 1st bike

Faults:

Here's a weird one. I put the kick stand down while the bike was running and the bike shut down and the battery died. Does the XJ 650 Maxim have a kickstand shutoff? What the heck?

General Comments:

Really like the bike. Bought it for my daughter and she's loving it.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th July, 2010

24th Jun 2018, 10:29

There is a switch designed to kill the engine if you put the bike in gear with the kickstand down.

1982 Yamaha Maxim 650 from United States of America

Summary:

This is the best bike I have ever owned

Faults:

None.

General Comments:

This is a great bike, I have owned it for 2 years, adding 10000 miles to it. I have changed the fuse box out to blades, added a 750 gas tank for more miles, customized the exhaust, removed the headlight assembly and added a billet chrome headlight, and added an auxiliary driving light. This bike rips.

If you can't keep up with a 750, you have something wrong. I have been to the line with a few, and have not been let down by my old Maxim.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th June, 2010

1981 Yamaha Maxim 650 from United States of America

Summary:

Worth owning and riding everyday

Faults:

Tach wire broke.

Signals blow fuses, an electric issue that I am not willing to rewire the bike to fix.

Everything else is great. That's it.

General Comments:

It has a very nice motor. Good pull from a stop all the way to highway speeds. Need to drop a gear to make strong passes at highway speed. It is faster than most people think.

I would not say it handles well. Top end speed of about 110 with over 20,000 miles on it. Speedometer does not go that high, I was riding with another biker when we wanted to get the approx top end speed.

Not good off road. Gets stuck in mud easy, and bottoms out like it was made for on road use only.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 14th May, 2009