Bike Newbee sayin' Hi!

Hi Everyone,

Just got back from my third ride this year (apart from a couple rides to work). My wife and I got our license last summer and bought and 84 Maxim and 84 Shadow. I checked out a couple bikes before deciding on the Maxim but once I heard the sound of the inline 4 in the cruiser frame, I knew it was what I wanted!

I don't know anything about bikes really and living in a condo prevents me from tinkering away. I'm hoping to find a good mechanic that doesn't mind me getting in the way and seeing what's what.

My bike has 29,600 kms on it and runs pretty strong. I put 5,000 km on it last summer. It's going to need some maintenance to put it back into shape so I'm learning what I can from the forums. I didn't realize that the carbs were a constant maintenance issue!

I had to replace the battery this spring too. The shop I deal with insisted I needed the YB14L-A2. Well, surprise! The polarity was different from the battery I had in there! I had a YB14-B2! Everywhere I look suggests the A2 so I can see why they thought it was the right one. I'm curious if it's because I have an '84. I think the last year the XJ750 was sold in the US was 1983 ?

Anyway, I've stretched the positive cable to the other side and it just reaches. I was worried about any arcing since the pos and neg cables touch each other but it didn't seem a problem today. Should I worry about this?

 

I would be concerned the stretching the cable it will probably fail eventually. Others have run into the issue too. Seems some cross references are wrong.

Chacal has a great post on deciphering Vins to see what you have. It should be in his section at the top of the forum

 

I'll check it out as soon as we get a sunny day here :cry:

On another note, I went through Chacal's email listing all the parts (must be an easier way to do this) but only saw one exhaust replacement. Mine has a crack developing on the left side. It sounds kinda cool when I'm leaning into a turn and opening it up a bit but I'm going to have to replace it some time. Are there OEM replacements or will I have to go for the 4 in 1?

 

Welcome Beanz
enjoy the community

 

For exhaust look on Ebay or use a parts locator service.
If money is not a problem you can find stuff pretty easily.
On the cheap it gets alot harder.
But factory exhaust can be had.