Introduction and stock question

What an awesome place this is. I've never owned a motorcycle - grew up working on old broncos and scouts. Couldn't bring myself to buy a new motorcycle with my love for old things.

I'm a young buck - but just bought an '82 650 maxim for a few hundred bucks. It ran but not well when I bought it a week ago and now I can't get it to start. Been a couple years since it was driven. I've learned a LOT about what to check and how to clean up some things on here. I like to be educated before I jump in. Thanks everyone.

Does anyone have a list or images of a 100% stock '82 650 maxim? My bike cosmetically is in great shape but I'm trying to figure out what the PO did to it - as several images I've seen of the same bike look very different.

Also I've never seen a bike with 2 petcocks, mine has two. Are these for two carbs a piece or something? Haven't gotten it all apart yet.

Thanks!

 

Post up some pics of your bike and we can help you identify what might be different.

 

Stock looks like this:


In 1982 they were also available in red.

Only one petcock on all of them.

 

Mine has blue a tank with no emblem. These really strange forged bars. Totally round gauges. Two petcocks. Also a disk brake on rear and BOTH sides of front wheel.

This is the only picture I have right now - out of town. Will take more tomorrow.

 

Short answer is it's probably an 1100, not a 650. That would explain the cast bars, rear disc and two petcocks.

Get the "shorty" VIN off the top of the transmission and let's get it decoded. http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14577.html

 

This is a picture of my wife's XJ1100 it's not stock, The engine should not be black, the tank should be burgundy and the back rest pad was added.

From your picture yours looks to be mostly stock except the sissy bar and rack, looks to be and aftermarket add on.

 

Well crap! Haha title says 650 - was going to make it a 'brat' style bobber-cafe.

That being said - I have found very little about the 1100's - tcoop you have several, do you like them? This is my first bike - will ride about 10 miles to work.

What are the advantages/disadvantages to this compared to say a 650/750? What about customization? I'm not a welder so I wont get crazy but want a flat seat and some euro/daytona bars.

Thanks for the info guys! Will check the VIN when I get home tomorrow.

 

if it does turn out to be a 650 with a rear disk conversion I would be interested in how that is done.

 

look on the cyl see if its 653cc or 1101cc. if the tile says its a 650 check the numbers make sure they match the title

 

Well that would be a first...goes in to buy a 650 and ends up with an 1100
Welcome to the forum!

 

can i have the extra 450 cc's?

 

Hey Gentlemen,

So I wasn't able to get any pictures this morning before work, but was able to check out the vin. Its a model 10m which would be the 1100 - pretty crazy.

VINs on tranny, tree tube, sticker, and title match. So thats weird. Thanks for the link Fitz!

Oh and jmilliken - those extra cc's are all yours if you got a running 650 or 750 for a trade haha.

Also:

 

I love the XJ1100. I wish it got better MPG than 35-40 (The XJ750 gets around 50).
The XJ1100 is more comfortable (to me anyway).
The XJ1100 tends to have an issue with the second gear (I currently need to fix it on my wife's bike but for now I just shift past second gear) the fix for that is found here http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5090
The XJ1100 rear master brake controls the rear caliper and the left front caliper. The front master controls the right front caliper.
The XJ1100 is a lot of bike for a first time rider, treat it with respect.
There is not a flat seat made for this bike (you would have to do it yourself)
As for different bars you could get a top tree from an XS1100 Special to be able to put 7/8" bars. I think it might be possible to pull the square bars and add risers for different bars also.

 

But, dang, a pretty good looking 1100 for 300 bucks, that's a great find!!

 

tcoop thanks for the thoughts!

I can tell you've worked on yours a lot. I know NOTHING about xjs and am getting my feet wet taking this thing apart. How does maintenance and tuning compare to say an XS1100 or even one of the XS triples? Valve shims and carb tunings is what I've read most about. How do those procedures compare to some of the other yamaha bikes? I decided I definitely want to stick with yamaha or Triumph and am comfortable with mechanical processes.

This will be my daily driver so I'm not looking for a long term project in this particular bike, but would like to pick up an XS750 or similar for a restore project once I get this thing running well.

Thanks!

 

tcoop thanks for the thoughts!

I can tell you've worked on yours a lot. I know NOTHING about xjs and am getting my feet wet taking this thing apart. How does maintenance and tuning compare to say an XS1100 or even one of the XS triples? Valve shims and carb tunings is what I've read most about. How do those procedures compare to some of the other yamaha bikes? I decided I definitely want to stick with yamaha or Triumph and am comfortable with mechanical processes.

This will be my daily driver so I'm not looking for a long term project in this particular bike, but would like to pick up an XS750 or similar for a restore project once I get this thing running well.

Thanks!