1985 Yamaha XJ700 Maxim X review from United States of America
"The 700 Maxim has been a reliable bike, fun to ride and excellent value"
What things have gone wrong with the motorcycle?
The carburetors are somewhat difficult to keep clean and tuned. It could be because I don't put a lot of miles on it. It's best to add some carb cleaner to the fuel regularly and fuel stabilizer in the winter. The bike is a little difficult to start when it's cold. It will start firing on 2 then 3 and finally the 4th cylinder. Other than that, this has been a very reliable bike.
General comments?
I bought this bike new in 1987, although it is a year model 1985. The dealer had this 'factory surplus' bike on sale for only $2,000. I have certainly gotten my money's worth of fun over the years!
The maxim is fast and responsive. I was surprised at how well it performed in the high elevations while visiting Colorado. It zipped over the mountain passes at 70mph with no problem. It climbed to the top of Pike's Peak with power to spare.
I've kept this bike in my garage the whole time I've owned it and it still looks great. When I bought it, I never dreamed I'd keep it for 22 years. My son is proud to ride it, even though it was 'born' before he was!
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| This bike is an excellent bike, but not for beginners |
| Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1985 |
| Year of manufacture | 1985 |
| First year of ownership | 1987 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Acceleration marks | 10 / 10 |
| Roll-on Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Handling marks | 9 / 10 |
| Braking marks | 10 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 1 miles |
| Most recent distance | 13812 miles |
| Previous motorcycle | Yamaha 250cc |
| Date of Entry | 17th January, 2009 |