1982 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim from United States of America - Comments

I traded some old military rifles for an 83 XJ 650 last winter, and I also just bought an 82 650 that had been sitting for a few years for $425. I'm excited.

One question though. I haven't ridden either bike yet. I wanted to check the oil and I'm not sure what to look at. I opened the cap on the right side of the engine and it looks dry. How do I check it?

The oil level is checked through a small window behind the rear brake pedal. Put the bike on its center stand on level ground before you check it. There is a line on the top of the window to indicate full.

Gotten this 650 Maxim off a friend as a basket-case for free. Worked on it for a while, then went online on kijiji for a motor. Got a Seca 650 for $200 Can. running.

I have to say that changing motors on these bikes are a pain in the ass, but worthwhile for the spare parts.. the only thing is the shifter is backwards; 5th gear on the bottom.

When I was 18-years-old (I'm 25 now) I bought my first bike, a 1980 XJ 650, with tip money I earned serving tables at a restaurant. (It's Canada. We can serve and drink alcohol here at a young age.) At any rate. It had 25,000 k on it when I bought it, and I put on another 25,000 k in two seasons before the second gear started to go after I shifted while going up a steep hill. Whoops.

Anyways, so I went out and bought a newer V-star custom and gave the failing Maxim to a friend of mine, who subsequently ran it into the ground. It was a sad way to see her go, and I should have known better than to lend a bike to a guy who once rode 1000 k with golf clubs on his back and two missing headers. Let's just say he was about as mechanically inclined as he was safety conscious.

But I digress.

Three months ago I was walking down an alley and spotted a 1981 midnight Maxim 650. It had been sitting for two years, so I snapped it up for $80 bucks because the guy said he just wanted it out of his yard. And yea, the registry search came up clean.

Well damn if the thing didn't run just fine with a little gas, a new battery and some TLC. I picked up my old XJ from my idiot friend and I've been tinkering ever since. I tell ya, the best way to fix a bike has got to be having a parts bike standing by. Everything that's broken on the Midnight is working fine my old XJ.

Once I'm done the Midnight Maxim, I might even rebuild the engine on my old XJ, now that it's stripped of everything else. I've never worked on a bike before, and I'm having the time of my life. I used to wonder why motorcycle people always had parts laying on every available surface in their home. I guess now I know.

Anyways, I'd better go. The gas tank drying on my bedroom floor is ready for another coat of paint, and this carb isn't going to rebuild itself. Oh right, a question:

How hard is it to replace second gear? While I'm in there, should I just be rebuilding the whole engine?

AA.

83 650 Maxim.

I am experiencing power surge and drop from a clogged fuel or air supply. I am planning to clean the carb. Is there anything else I should look at? I have had the bike for a couple years and have not kept up on cleaning it, so it could use a good overhaul.

I am also looking for a fuel tank or gas cap.

Any help is much appreciated.

Cheers,

Ben.

I was just wondering what the oil capacity is for a 81 Yamaha Maxim XJ650?

Thanks

Robert.

Just bought my first bike - Red 1982 650 Maxim. Sharp bike, and the reviews for it were great. It has sat in a barn for the last 2 years. Iraq vet came home and is going back in the beginning of June. Sold it to me, he couldn't stand just letting it sit.

Some small cosmetic issues to take care of. Tank emblem is missing on rt side, left side emblem not much to look at. Which Yamaha tank badges fit, or are most the Yamahas of that era interchangeable (XS650, or other models including other XJ bikes), or are they specific for each bike?

Thank you in advance for your replies.

Hey, I just got a 1982 Maxim 650, but the problem is there is no title. The bike was abandoned in the house I bought, it needs work, but I think it will be beautiful with some time. How should I go about fixing the title issue? Any advice would be great. Thanks!

Just looking for a part for my 1981 Yamaha Maxim XJ650. I need a gas tank; just bought the bike and it has a leak...

Hi there, I bought 82 650 Maxim few months ago, love the ride.

This is my first bike and very easy to ride. It has lots of power in all gears. It works great, except, after going for a ride, letting it sit for 1/2 hour, then it's hard to start and seems to be misfiring when started and works rough.

Does anyone know what could be wrong?

Thanks.

Glen.

Hello... I just bought my first 82 Maxim XJ650. I have a question I hope someone here can answer. The steering seems to have a center-line notch to it (for lack of a better term). Turn the handlebars left/right and as you come back to center it almost snaps or falls in line with center. None of my previous bikes have had that sensation in the steering. At lower speeds such as a parking lot it feels almost like it fights you. Is this normal for this bike? Thanks for any replies.

I wouldn't think that is normal - have the steering head checked.

Great thread!

I am replying to AA from 22 May 2008:

Your question - When I am fixing second gear, should I just go ahead and rebuild the engine?

My answer - My understanding is that fixing the second gear issue takes a lot of tearing down to do. If you already have the engine out of the bike and in several pieces, why not? It's just a little bit more work to do and you will have a beautiful, clean engine. Good luck and have fun :)

Shannon.

BTW - I just bought an 82 Maxim for my husband to learn on. After cleaning the carbs and riding it for awhile, I am certain that I will sell my newer bike and keep the old Maxim. The only problem is that I feel my legs are too long for this bike. Does anyone know of a good conversion kit for forward controls?

Ride Safe.

Hey, so along with every single other comment on this page, I bought the 1982 XJ650 Maxim for $950 17,000 miles, with the only problem being a small dent in the gas tank, which I honestly don't think it's worth buying a new one for it.

Does anyone know where I can get new emblems for the tank, as well as the front beneath the headlight? The only thing I see on the Internet is wanting like $50 for a piece of painted plastic.

The rims that come stock on the bike are absolutely amazing, I love the black steel look with the stainless showing, it's beautiful. Also, the bike I bought had a Vance & Hines exhaust and you can hear a wizz from the headers, which honestly sounds like a turbo. painted the exhaust and headers up and about 30 hours of polishing the chrome, waxing the tank, and polishing every square inch of the bike (hey, if you're gonna own something, you want it to look as nice as possible). Now that I did all this, the bike looks like new besides the dent in the tank where it looks like some jack@$$ on the assembly line took his hammer and tapped the black gas tank.

There is a slight oil leak, but it only shows up when I drive 30 minutes or more when the oil gets thinned out, no biggie.

TIP: if you have a slight tear in the vinyl seat, what I found to work better to repair it isn't a vinyl repair kit, those things suck, but use a GEL SUPERGLUE, and hold it together for a few minutes. It works great, the seat looks like new now, no joke.

I just wanna show this bike off now, I love the style and how comfortable it is. If anyone wants to see a picture post your email address and I'll email you one. This site needs a picture link, I'd like to see what other people have done with theirs.

Like everyone here, I just bought a 1982 Yam 650, it is my first bike after my mini dirt bike as a kid. I love it! What a great bike to learn on!

Mine is also missing the emblems on the gas tank. but it doesn't bother me. I am wondering does it have a fifth gear?!?!?! Or can I just not count that high?