1985 Yamaha XJ700 Maxim X review from United States of America
"Even now, at 20 years old, the MaximX is a runner, for those who are fortunate enough to own one"
What things have gone wrong with the motorcycle?
With the age of my bike, the carbs have needed regular attention. I'm hoping a recent carb rebuild will cure those pains for a while.
Speaking of age and rebuild...
I recently rebuilt my "X" from the ground up, with the exception of the engine and drive-train. It was needed from normal wear and tear, age, my maniacal driving style, and the previous owners' lack of proper storage.
I didn't do the engine because she was (and is) running very strong. There is no obvious reason to open it up.
In spite of that, there was plenty to do on the rebuild. This included paint, bearings, gaskets, cables, coils, wires, fluids, and more.
General comments?
I have ridden all varieties of motorcycles, and this by far is the best all around bike I've had the pleasure of riding. Most people are completely shocked to see just how quick she is, especially when they find out her age. It looks like a small cruiser, but has the heart and soul of a dragster/sport bike.
Maneuverability may not be quite on par as the super-bikes, but she's very close to it. I've seen photos of an X driven by a racer on a closed circuit, very nearly parallel to the ground in a turn. I definitely have fun with her, but not that kind of fun.
The first couple of years I owned her, I considered her just an ol' putt-putt bike. But more recently I've realized her performance and worth. They were only built for two years, 1985 and 1986 - XJ700XN and XJ700XS respectively. Those north of the border in Canada had the fortune to get the exact same bike, except theirs were 750cc X's.
The liquid cooled, five valve configuration on the MaximX sets her apart from all the other XJ's produced, namely the Maxim and Seca.
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| Fast, smooth, and reliable! |
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| A Classic Cruiser with the heart of a sport bike |
| Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1985 |
| Year of manufacture | 1985 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Acceleration marks | 10 / 10 |
| Roll-on Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Handling marks | 9 / 10 |
| Braking marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 8000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 33000 miles |
| Previous motorcycle | Kawasaki 454 LTD |
| Date of Entry | 13th May, 2006 |