difference between a maxim and seca?

All I ever see when trying to compare the bikes is pictures, and I notice secas seem to have rectangular mirrors, vs the maxims round ones...
I have never seen a seca up close to be able to compare it to my maxim either. I am just curious.

 

Different frames, side covers, tanks, brake light assemblies, fenders, front brake assemblies, tire sizes to name a few. (Comparing same year CC to each other that is).

 

I sent to Niche Cycle on Ebay to get a new complete 4 into 2 Exhaust for my XJ650 Seca. They had it listed as fitting a Maxim or Seca 650. When it arrived
here in Australia the right side headers and pipe with a turn out muffler fitted
but the left 2 header pipes and muffler would not. I contacted Niche Cycle and
they had me send some pictures of the problem and found that the system would only fit on the XJ Maxim. They were really good and fully refunded my
money. The system was a MAC.

 

The Seca was the "sport" bike here in the USA; for the rest of the world, it was usually just the standard model in whatever size and not called a Seca.

Then, for the USA market, we got the "Power Cruiser" Maxim, a more cruiser-styled (Harleyesque) bike with a lower seat height and the appearance of "extended" forks.

Which size XJ, we might be able to be more specific.

 

Don't identify the Maxim vs the Seca on mirror style. My 81 Maxim has rectangular mirrors. I bought the bike new in 81 so I know they are original.

 

I see I see. Thank you all I had no idea. So the Maxim is a lower slung more cruiser style, and the Seca is a more sporty bike.
Sound right?

 

And it is good to know that parts are not always interchangable.
I have an 81 Maxim 550, are parts from a 650 or 750 usable on my bike in case I need to replace anything?

 

A resounding "NO" on that one, very few parts will swap from the chain drive to the shaft drive bikes. You can safely buy Seca 550 engine parts, but you really need to stick with Maxim 550 for almost everything else.

Some things like relays, switches, mirrors will work from the bigger bikes.

 

Good to know. As far as it stands right now, my bike is in great condition and wont need any replacements. But as I am new to motorcycles I am still learning how long to trust things... especially on old bikes.

 

"Consummable" parts are not an issue on these bikes at all; we have chacal (XJ4Ever) plus Yamaha still offers pretty much all of the "wear" items (althugh at sometimes exhorbitant prices.) TIME is right on the interchangeability, even the two models of 550 have a few major differences and almost nothing in common with the bigger bikes (with a few exceptions.) Engine and driveline are nearly identical however, but different from all the shafties.

There are a couple of things you do need to at least check; be sure you check your rear brake for delamination, you have to pull it apart and look, not go by pedal feel: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html

Depending on the mileage, you need to keep a close eye on the rear chain, especially if the bike has been sitting;

and also, again dependent on mileage, you may need to do a valve check/adjust. This service was required at 3000 miles initially, and every 5000 thereafter. Because it was generally too daunting for most riders and quite expensive to have the dealership do, it was often simply ignored. If that's the case, continuing to ignore the need can and will eventually cause valve problems.

Valve checking adjustment procedure here: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=1 ... art=0.html

Since I'm often accused of not missing an opportunity to post pics of my bikes, I'll refrain. Check my gallery for some pics of 550 Secas to compare your 550 Max with.

 

Thanks a lot Bigfitz. I will take a look.
The bike is kept at my parents house near Tahoe, and my brother in law and neighbor just tuned it up and cleaned the carbs and everything for me before I came up for Christmas. It looks great, sounds great, and today I was finally able to take it out on the dry roads, and out onto the freeway where I could really feel it.
Since I am not up here to ride it all that much, I just have my dad start it every couple of days and just let it run. That is the best I can do with it for now, unfortunately.
I would love to ride it down to San Diego, but not sure if I have the money to take that much time off work and get it down. Plus I posted about a year ago that I planned to do so, and was told by most of you veterans on here not to do it with a bike that old unless I make sure it is all in perfect running condition.
It is waaaaaay better now than it was then, so I am not so afraid to take the ride... But we will see.

 

Has anybody taken the rear brake apart and looked at the shoes???

GOTTA DO IT. It happened to ME which is why I posted the thread in the first place: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html Then got no less than SEVEN pages worth of responses, with a whole lot of other folks who also experienced delamination chiming in, even a couple who had minor crashes as a result, plus a couple of real close calls.

DO NOT ride it any more until the rear brake is checked. Honest.

 

also to add to metal bob's list are (comparing 750 to 750 here) the Seca has an 18" rear tire to the Maxim's 16" and the Seca has improved suspension on most models (rear rebound damping adjustment, air pre-load forks)
I wouldn't be surprised at all if they dropped in slightly hotter cams as well but don't hold me to that.

The secas were the last of a dying breed of "Sport" bike when honda and kawi were making interceptors and ninjas respectively. That's the style that became the new definition of "sport" relegating the Seca's to "sport touring" status. I like to think of mine as the two wheeled equivalent of a vintage Mustang. Fun to ride, pretty damn keen in it's day but doesn't hold a candle to bikes produced as little as 5 years later. (and of course the turbo secas would be a Merkur Xr4ti in that analogy, way more expensive and a little bit better)

 

Ahh, but he is comparing 550s. Most of your comments are indeed spot on, and let me add that they DID drop "hotter cams" in the Seca.

Actually, the 550 "Seca" (the "standard" to the rest of the world) came first, so the 550 Maxim got milder cams.

No real difference in suspension bits on the 550s; the Max has a larger rear brake, and "swirly" wheels.

For ME, the biggest difference is that with a very few minor mods, I fit the 550 Seca just fine; ain't NO WAY I can shoehorn my lanky self onto a 550 Max.

 

I'm new to this site n my 17 yr.old son had a 1980 something 550 maxim gave to him as a project bike,he has no clue about building or rebuilding anything motorized n now he's in juvey and wants me to fix it ,thing is , it's been crashed n burned litteraly but I can't seem to locate the Damn wiring harness,⛽ tank,seat or even coils,I'm just an ol'hippy in West By God Virginia who cuts timber n can't get out much , anyone got any idea where I can get some parts? I or we would greatly appreciate any help it's his first bike,I've been riding since 11 yrs old n working on all brands of bikes ever since,thanks for your time,peace!

 

Keep an eye on the buy/sell here, cycle salvage places may have some items, xj4ever (Chacal, supporting vendor, link on the top right; fantastic service, and the catalog is a treasure trove of information) will likely have much of what you are looking for, and the pieces to rebuild what you have.

 

Please start a thread for your bike.