Help with identification

Hello everyone,

I was hoping you could help me identify a parts bike that I recently bought. It was sold to me as a 1982 Maxim 550 in the paperwork. I bought it because I needed to replace some parts of the wiring/have some extra parts for my main project (more on that in later threads!), a 1981 550 seca.

I'm trying to identify whether this frame really came from a 1982 Maxim, since at this point I am pretty sure I was sold a hodgepodge bike. What's throwing me off is that the front has double disk brakes, which I only thought came in the 750 of that year, and that the frame itself seems to not exactly match other 550 frames that I have seen online, or my own 550 Seca. Also, the VIN sticker says 9/81. I would really appreciate the help. Thanks!

 

seca and maxim frames are different
dual ftont disc would.be a fork change or euro sold model
check the vin
http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/tech-topic-model-id-and-vins.14577/

JYA5K5 is a 81 to 83 maxim letter in 10 position makes it a 1982 built on 9/81
550's:

1981-83 XJ550 Maxim USA: 5K5
1981-83 XJ550 Maxim Canada: 5K6

1981-83 XJ550 Seca USA: 4U8
1981-83 XJ550 Seca Canada: 4U9

do you have a photo of the front forks

 

Thanks! That's what the vin lookup I used seemed to indicate as well. The other thing that was throwing me off was that the swingarm has 4U8 stamped on it, which, as you pointed out, is supposed to be the Seca code. Were the swing arms standard across models? I appreciate the help!

Here's a photo of the forks, attached.

 

These are US-spec Maxim forks. They are single disk - only one leg has the caliper bracket.

Why do you say it has double disks? Does the wheel have two?

 

the rim is designed to accept disc on both sides from the factory. the forks you photoed are maxim with the single side (left ) for the caliper. the swing are goes on both seca and maxim.

the seca code only applies to the vin. yamaha will use the same part number for all bikes that the part fits.
if you go to www.yamahapartsnation.com you can look up parts then click on part number and it will show you fitment.
parts assembly
http://www.yamahapartsnation.com/oe...700209bc7879c8/rear-arm-suspension-xj550h-j-k

fitment
http://www.yamahapartsnation.com/oemparts/p/yamaha/4u8-22110-00-33/rear-arm

 

Thank you, now I know where to look in the future!