Garage Find, 82 XJ 550 Maxim

Check out this '82 Maxim 550 I just bought from a co-worker. He bought it new, rode it until the rear tire wore out, and then parked it. It's been sitting for over ten years with 6200 miles on it. I paid $450 for it and it came with a new battery and some extra stuff. I did a quick cleaning job on the carbs and put in some fresh gas and changed the oil and filter. I just got back from the first ride, the 27 year old tires are a little scary but she's quite a sporty little bike. The carbs still need some fine tuning and the front brake needs work. If anyone is interested in buying the sissy bar or windscreen, let me know.

 

thats a steal...

i like my little maxim but its too small for me. doesnt look NEARLY that good either...

very good find!

 

It's pretty neat to see one preserved this well. This one still has all the reflectors and screw caps and stuff that normally goes missing. In the trunk I found a Yamaha locking chain that uses the same key as the ignition, I thought that was pretty neat.

I'm 6'1", so it's pretty small for me too. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. Somehow I got the idea to build a metric bobber, and that's what I got it for, but it would be a shame to cut it up. But on the other hand I would have a hard time finding a ratty one that runs well for the same money, so I may well do it unless someone comes along and offers me good money for it. I already have a restored GS450L that I never ride.

 

OMG! 8O
I hate you! LOL j/k
What a find..that bike is gorgeous!!! Great score on the beauty!!!

 

Where do you live interceptor?!?! I can find a ratty lookin' good runner 750 or 650 or 550 maxim and I'll trade you even up!!

 

if you decide you still want to make a bobber, then fog the cylinders on this one, drain the tank and carbs, put it on the center stand with something to support the front wheel off the floor but not set it on the rear wheel, cover it in a soft sheet, blanket or bike cover and LEAVE IT INTACT...

i believe it a crime to molest bikes in this kind of condition...

MY maxim runs as well as that one and isnt in as nice of condition. if i didnt want a 550R id offer to trade you...

 

Man that bike is cherry! It will be an injustice to chop it up. You can sell it at a premium and finance a bobber project easy. you can still sell the wind shield and sissy bar separate for even more money. By the way how much for the wind screen and do you think it will fit a 82 750 max?

 

I have to agree with the others. That would be wrong to mess up such a fine speciman.

 

+1. Don't cut that baby up, it's way too perfect. Replace the tires and rear brake shoes and triple your money back.

Don't ride it too much until you at least check the rear brake shoes for delamination: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html

Ya know, the biggest "drawback" to the 550 Max is the way the seat traps you and makes it hard for taller riders to fit the bike. (I have no problems with the 550 Secas, they have a flat seat.) You might consider picking up another seat off eBay and having it recontoured into something less radically stepped. A low mileage 550 like that is way too nice to cut up, and they're a blast to ride.

 

I agree, dont mutilate that fine example of a bike its age, its in too good a condition, sell it to someone who wants it for what it is not what it could be and get another not as good to carve up.

 

if i get my 82 550 tomorrow i will take that sissy bar and windscreen, how much you want???

 

That wasn't just a garage, it's a TIME CAPSULE!!! That bike is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Please don't bob it! Bobber projects are a dime a dozen. That 550 is a gem! It can only be original once, mind you.

 

Interceptor, I have a great idea! How about YOU keep the windshield and sissy bar and sell me the bike! I will promise to love, honor, and cherish it all the days of it's life!

Very very sweet ride! You will enjoy it immensely.

BTW the color is the same as my 750 Virago. Very classy.

Loren

 

Let me add to the chorus. PLEASE DO NOT CUT THAT BIKE UP. Sell it to a collector or put it in mothballs PLEASE

 

I'm normally all for chopping and bobbing, but i have to agree, she's just way to pretty to be put under the knife.

 

MAN are you lucky! My first bike was a garage find but it was a basket case! I agree with all of the others, clean it up, get it to run properly, check the brakes and replace the tires and triple your money if you are not interested in keeping it in it's present state. Such a pristine example of an original bike should be kept in it's original state. There are so many more bikes that are in worse condition or in need of saving that make better candidates for chopping up, and you would be saving those bikes from the scrap heap as well as making something unique to you, by you, and something that you could be proud of. Congratulations on an incredible find! She's a beauty!

 

After taxes, title, tires, brakes, and other parts I'm going to be into it for at least $900. I'm going to clean it up and try to sell it, but I don't think it's worth too much more than that. NADA has it listed at $1375 and KBB $1005. So if I'm really lucky it would give me an extra $500 to fix up a busted old POS for my project, or more likely I'll just break even and not get anything for my efforts, in which case it will get bobbed. The only reason for me to preserve this bike is for the love of bikes, but unfortunately my best financial option is to cut it up to build the bike I want.

 

$450 for the bike...
$150 for tires...
$50 in brake parts...

$650, call it $700 for some shop supplies. youre going to pay taxes and title REGARDLESS if its this bike or a beater so thats not a legitimate expense. let us know where youre at so we can direct a buyer your way, or heck maybe one of US is nearby enough willing to preserve something so nice...

i know if I wanted to build a T-bucket hot rod i wouldnt take a factory new (or nearly so) 1927 Model T and cut it up, knowing i could find beaters that would fill my needs for a donor vehicle...

again, you dont have to do anything to it, but put it up in the corner of your garage until you find someone to buy it...

 

heck, you want a nice running ugly bike to chop, i have a honda cx500 that would make a nice cafe!!

trade you, plus i would give you some cash to cover for the ugly!

http://fortwayne.craigslist.org/mcy/1319957546.html

 

It is a legitimate expense. I already paid it and if I sell the bike I don't get it back. Then if I buy another beater I have to pay it again. If I don't keep this bike then I had no reason to buy it, other than to flip it and make a profit, in which case tax and title fees must be considered. FYI it was $125.


I'm in eastern PA near Allentown. I'd be happy to sell it as-is to someone who wants to preserve it. There are too many people who say things like " I'd buy it if I had the money". Well if somebody has $1200 they can take it home. I don't expect anyone will be knocking down my door. I'll also consider trades or trades+ cash.

Jon

 

OK, OK.... I won't cut it up.

Here are a few more pics, she's naked again.









Jon

 

you could get 2000-2500 here in ontario for a bike that clean!!! It's in way better shape than mine....

 

man if i had a few extra bucks i'd give you some cash and my 82 which you wouldn't feel as bad about bobbing. . . just outside my reach

 

Just to let you know, I just posted this pic as my desktop wallpaper for inspiration on what my 750 max can some how look one day. That thing is a museum piece!

I THINK I AM IN LOVE. Realy.... I feel like 16 again looking at this sweet thing.....SIGH

 

I realize this thread is old, but for what it's worth:

In '87 I had a friend who worked at the local Yamaha shop in WI (we'd raced enduro for several years together). I needed a bike that was cheap and dependable at the time. He sold me an '82 Maxim for $800 with just under 4000 miles on it. A week later my roommate bought a 650 Maxim (not sure of the year but very similar), which barely walked away from my 550.

So back to the local Yamaha shop, and for $100 the cylinders were bored and new pistons added. Not sure what all else he did to it, but it was much faster after he was done. I raced every 750 around and even some 900 Kawasakis and beat them all. (I was young and stupid then.)

Then I took a job in New Mexico. I rode the 550 Maxim back and forth from NM to WI roughly every other weekend for 4 years and put 150,000 miles on it. It was my only transportation and even rode it through a WI winter. (Did I mention I was young and stupid then?) Never needing to replace anything but chain & sprockets and tires. Sold it to a friend in NM for $600, and last I knew he was still riding it.

I've owned roughly 30 bikes over my 52 yrs. Looking to buy another one now (in Australia) to replace a '03 BMW R1200CL (too much bike for the city) and the '82 550 Maxim is still one of the best bikes I've ever owned for dependability, handling, and performance for it's size. I found this forum while looking for a good picture of it to show the wife.

Point being that these Maxims are bullet proof.

If I'd been in the USA and seen this post at the time, I'd have seriously considered buying it "as is" myself and shipping it to AU. Not sure what these are worth today, but the sentimental value for me was worth the $1200 you were asking - knowing how it can be modified internally slightly to make it a heavy performer. Sure hope it wasn't cut up as it'll never match the handling of the stock bike.

At any rate, if the OP sees this post - Thanks for making my day and bringing back some very good memories.

 

Lucky Bum

 

old thread but still a beautiful bike, i wonder what ever happened to it

 

I sold the Maxim on Ebay, for $1600 I think it was, to an older fellow in NY. I took $600 of that and bought this '95 Kawi GPZ1100.



I sold the Kawi for $1200 and picked up a '78 GS1000 for $800. Had 44,400 miles that looked like it was pulled from the bottom of a lake, but I turned it into this:

 

That's one wild lookin' GS. Nice work!

 

I'd like the sissy bar but man that bike is cherry don't cut it up

 

That is nice work on both those bikes.

Sure glad the Maxim was sold without chopping it up. If that older gent has half the fun on it that I did on mine, he got a steal.

 

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

$450.00 You know ol' fitz has been in tears since reading this post (hehehe)