1981 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim review from United States of America
"This is a great first bike for a new rider such as me"
What things have gone wrong with the motorcycle?
Difficulty in getting engine to stay idling well at proper RPM.
Original turn signal flasher failed.
Carburetor holders dry rotted and cracked.
Rubber intake tubes got hard and shrunk.
Plastic retaining ring that keeps rubber diaphragm mounted to carburetor slider split.
Carburetor floats out of adjustment.
Chrome has begun to rust bad in places.
Front brake caliper piston was seized.
Starting motor brushes worn down severely.
Headlight relay had corrosion inside and was hanging up.
Clutch cable frayed at hand lever end.
Fuse holders loose and broken.
Steering head bearings have a notch worn in the race.
General comments?
At times when I've got the carburetors all synchronized and it seems to be idling well, this bike is a pleasure to ride.
Being a direct drive, it's very responsive when I crack the throttle out on the highway.
This is a relatively easy bike to work on.
I'm disappointed that I haven't found any accessories such as side boxes for this bike anywhere.
I am thinking about making custom boxes from fiberglass.
Recommended reviews
| Excellent |
|
| The bike has timeless beauty |
| Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1981 |
| Year of manufacture | 1981 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Acceleration marks | 8 / 10 |
| Roll-on Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Handling marks | 7 / 10 |
| Braking marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 21000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 25000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 2nd September, 2008 |