Aloha

Hello everyone.
I found this forum recently after having purchased my first motorcycle- a 1981 Yamaha 650 Maxim. It is a damned sturdy bike, as you all well know. The guy who owned it before me had it garaged for two years before I bought it. We drained the tank and put new gas and a new battery in it and it started right up with the first touch of the button.(And at about 1/2 on the choke switch too.) Most damage was cosmetic, as the bike got knocked over while in the garage.(He said he didn't dump it. I believe it. There are no scrapes or anything on the sides. Only damage was one bent peg and a broken front brake lever.) I went to the local scrap yard, even though they don't often have motorcycles. Lo and behold they had an older model Yamaha two-banger. I grabbed all the lights off it, and the brake lever that I needed, as well as some other compatible parts(The peg was the same style make, but the sizing was a tad too large.)
I'm afraid the guy didn't even know what he had. He kept calling it a "maximum." It is really easy to add those couple letters on. I need to replace the air box, and I will need to put new front brakes on by next year, but at $200 dollars, I feel like I committed a robbery. Sure I put some money into it, and have some more to go, but jeepers creepers. He had all the electrical redone so that it used a newer style fuse system, he replaced the headlight with another style( I'm changing back to a bigger light though. it's way too small as it is now.), he put Harley short pipes on it and a bunch of other little stuff . There is some more little stuff to be done, but I think that I am going to tackle that myself. I got the Haynes manual, and soon I intend to get the XJ cd(The one with Xref). After I get them both, I intend to do a thorough cleaning of damned near everything. Today is oil-change day. Also trying to procure a replacement air box(Thought about going with pods but it just seems too much of a hassle.)
Anyway, that's that. I am 22 years old young man from Upstate/Central NY who just got his first bike. I look forward to future times on the forums.
Sincerely,
Marko

 

Sounds like you grabbed a nice deal there Marko. Its certainly worth putting a little money into the end result will be well worth it.

I have a good airbox for you if you need one.

 

That would be fantastic. I am having trouble finding one. The only local place quoted me nearly $120 USD. Ebay is void of them at the moment.(They have other years and such, but I don't know compatibility as I haven't gotten the Cd yet.)

 

Welcome and good score Marko.

 

Marco, I have a good airbox from an '82 XJ650 maxim I'm sure it will fit the '81 (it looks just like the one on my '80 Maxim).

I bought it along with a bunch of other XJ parts a local guy was selling. I would be willing to sell it to you for basically the cost of shipping & handling. I have to find out wha it would cost to ship something this size from Georgia to Hawaii and PM you.

Its not heavy just sort of bulky and would have to be packed _very_ well so as not to get SMASHED en-route.

 

If Marco isn't interested in the airbox I would be. (It had a little fire before I got it.)

 

Okay... and I mistakenly assumed Marco was in HI (I guess cause his subject said "aloha" hehe) but shipping to NY state shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'd guestimate somewhere around $15 - $20 bucks, so lets say $30 should cover my packing and shipping efforts. PM me if you want it Marco ... otherwise it's yours Gamuru.

 

Welcome Marko, How about some pictures?
Sounds like you got youre hands on a real steal of a deal!

 

I will get some pictures of it soon. I think it is going to be an "Oh by the way" vehicle for a while. "Oh by the way, this needs to be fixed." Seems the deeper I delve, the more stuff I find wrong. The guy who had it before REALLY didn't know what he was doing, and the company that did the majority of work on the bike when he owned it will not be touching it now that it is mine. However there is a certain soul found in "Oh by the way" vehicles, as opposed to brand new and plasticky.(Though I have never myself actually bought a brand new vehicle lol.)
On a side note, does anyone know a good source for front brake pads and rear brake shoes?

 

Ok looks like we need another air box for a 650 Maxim.

I have one out in the shed. It's not likely to ship in time for this season, but whoever doesn't get the one from Konti PM me.

 

BikeBandit.com has a full line of brake accessories including brake lines. Shipping isn't too shabby either.