Another new member

Hey guys just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Ted and I've got a 82 XJ550 Maxim project bike.

I don't know a whole lot about these bikes so I needed to find a good source for info on them. I was searching for photos of XJ550's and came across a link for this site. It looks like a lot of good info here so I joined.

I bought my XJ last spring. Over all the bike is in good shape but the engine is seized. I haven't had a chance to tear into it yet so I'm not sure why the engine is seized. The guy included a spare engine with the bike but it's a larger engine ( not sure on the size yet ) and it's a shaft drive instead of a chain drive. So I don't know what, if anything would be useable off it for my bike.

Since I'm going to be pulling the engine out I plan to tear the whole bike down and go thru everything and clean it up and repaint it. I would also like to modify it but I'm just not sure what direction I want to take it yet. And this was the reason I was searching for pictures of XJ's. I'm torn between a cafe racer and a bobber. I do like blacked out bikes so there is a good chance I'm going to do that whichever way I decide to go on the build.

Anyways here's a picture of my 550.

 

MNTed,

Welcome to the Club.

Gary

 

A 550 is a different beast from the rest of the XJ line. Nothing from your parts engine will fit your bike. The engine itself will also not fit.

 

Get it running right before you start cutting it up.

 

Hey MNTed, I'm SDTed! :lol: Whereabouts in MN are you located? Can't be too far away from me.. I'm in Sioux Falls.

You definitely came to the right place for info on your bike. There's plenty of great info here and great members always willing to help answer your questions as long as your willing to take your time and do things the right way.

Good luck with the project!

 

+1 on what fitz says. Legally in your name, get it running well, get it stopping better, licenced, insured...THEN HAVE AT IT!!!!!!!!!!
If you want good solid advice and even tutorials with pictures search for fitzs' posts. Actually, if you look up 550 in the dictionary you'll see his picture! See what I mean! 8O

Man, I've got wayyyyyyyyyyy to much time on my hands when I have the day off. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

:lol: You'll also see him under Brake Delamination and Valve Clearances. :wink: Thanks for all the help Fitz!

 

Jeez, you MUST have too much time on your hands!! He'll if you keep that up, I'd be happy to send you some case covers to strip and polish!

 

I will have send him some as well

 

Don't blame me if they get lost in the mail! :wink: :wink:
New eBay listings coming soon! 8O 8O
:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

Thanks for the welcomes.

Guess I'll either list the parts engine for sale or save it for a later project. :lol:

The bike is in my name. It came with a clear title and I transferred it and got it registered the day after I bought it.

I will get it running before I do any cutting on it.

I'm in a small town just north west of Faribault. It's about a half hour south of the Twin Cities and 7 or 8 miles west of I-35. It's a drive to Sioux Falls from here. I'm been out to Sioux Falls a couple times buying car parts.

This looks like a great site so far. I'm sure I'll be asking plenty of questions when I tear into the engine.

 

North of Faribault? That's practically next door to the Cities, by MN standards.

There is a bunch of forum members in the TC. Welcome!

 

I'm guessing Montgomery. Place yer bets!

Ok, so I went to St. Olaf so I know there area pretty well, so I might have a edge on Fitz, this one and only time.

 

Close, that's where I went to high school. :lol: