what to look for in buying used maxim

was looking to get this bike:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/mcy/1814592743.html

but have only been riding hondas
what should i look for on this bike/ what were known problems?
thx guys

 

Hard to say on that one... I'd be a little weary that the owner called it a "carbrater."

Others will have better advice. Especially since it's a bobber.

 

thank you for your input, though we all make spelling errors, especially on the interwebs

 

For the price, with a clean title.. go for it, especially if it runs. But beware of the fact that its a hardtail bobber. Your back will not like you much after you start riding it.

 

It's true. You can't beat the price... worst case, you could part it out for 5 times that amount.

 

yeah im a young guy( 20s) so the hard tail apeals to my wilde side lol, but yeah he said it runs, just needs a battery, even said hed put a spare battery in and let me drive it. i think ill pick her up. any known issues though? like the honda interceptors that had CRAPPY cam oiling

 

These machines are built pretty well in terms of "that one single thing that always goes" thing.

You'll want to check the valve shims and replace them if necessary, make sure all the electrical works, and you must check the rear brake for delamination. If the shoes have delaminated it can lock up your rear while you're enjoy a Sunday cruise. Shoes are ~$40 to replace, and easy.

I know there's some stuff I'm missing.

 

ask if he's ridden before he chopped it up. you want to know the gas mileage. the air box is gone so you can't check that for oil inside which would indicate blowby from weak piston rings. if his mileage is low. that's a good sign of worn out engine.

the last 3 bikes i have owned all got mileage of around 35-38 mpg. pretty lousy mileage considering they all got 60mpg when they were brand new.

looks like a lot of work to get it running. it has absolutly nothing to pass safety inspection except for the headlight if it works.

i was thinking about looking at that bike. it's been posted for a LONG time though. and everytime he reposts it. he drops the price.

that bike is in my neighborhood.

 

you live in az now as your location says utah? he said hes ok with a compression check, anyone know what the nubers should be? a good compression number will let me know if the pistons have blow by, again he said he can get it running for me.

 

in live in west valley city, utah. the ad you posted said west valley. LOL. i didn't pay attention to the 602 area code phone number.

my bike runs like a champ. but compression is 140 pounds. has blowby. gas mileage is only 35mpg. and lack of full top speed. signs of a worn out engine.

i did a compression check on the very first maxim i had in high school. it was brand spanking new. and if i remember right. it had 165 pounds compression. gas mileage was 62 mpg on that bike. that much i know for sure.

compression check needs to be done on a hot engine. wide open throttle.

 

why a hot engine? i always performed compression tests on cars while the engine was cold...

 

cold engines give weaker readings then hot engines.

when you drive your motor. does it run cold all the time or does it run hot all the time???

physics 101. metals expands with heat.
cylinder walls, pistons, piston rings will all expand. your rings will be pushed into the cylinder walls harder, making better compression. giving you higher readings.

wide open throttle is so that more air can enter the cylinders also giving you higher readings.

you want the highest reading you can get. not the lowest reading just becuase.

compression tests are NEVER done on a cold motor. specially in january when the motor is a block of ice. you'll get even lower readings then you would in july. when the motor don't get so cold.