Super xj550 Progenitor Maximus de Chacal

Chacal's the man!

1982 XJ550 Maxim, with 3,000 miles, all stock except for air pods.

Today after 2 months of fiddling, rebuilding the carbs, adjusting, ordering new jets, and the application much colorful language my xj550 finally came back to life. "What the heck, it's nice out I thought, "Let's go for a ride." Little did I know what was in store ...

Instead of behaving like a piped RD350 with a light switch for a throttle it now lights up with a flick of the start button (1/2 spin) and settles into a steady 1100 rpm hum. It accelerates smoothly with a force hard to comprehend for a stock engine.

With new larger #117.5 mains and #37.5 pilot jets this bike has been utterly transformed from it's temperamental, formerly high-strung adolescent self to a refined brute with real bite. A few weeks ago it wouldn't rev past 5500 in 5th without flattening out with low power like a boxer that's all in.

Now after re-jetting:
Down the I-10 access road it flew easily reaching 65 mph in 5th gear before I could even think. Crack the throttle open, shift into 6th @ 7,000 rpm and the bike leaps forward like an F-15 shot from a catapult. Suddenly trees and signs become a blur; the exhaust/intake note rises to an unearthly howling wail and 90 mph comes up real fast.

At full power the front end gets light. And while its no R-6 its time for dual front discs I think.
I had no idea that the little Maxims were such sleeper bikes.

Still in a state of shock and amazement after 2 incredible rides.

Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo -
The drop excavates the stone, not with force but by falling often. (Ovid)

 

GOOD story man.

Where exactly do you live that the weather is "nice out"? Most of the country is at or below 0F!

 

In the South somewhere. Good post! I'm looking forward to taking the XJ550 for a ride as well, soon I hope!

48f this morning here in Houston, TX. supposed to warm back up this week to 65f.

 

CRAP. Looks like the secret is out. They run that way stock, too---howl and everything (although the intake component of the howl is much less I'm sure.) I LOVE that 6th gear surge up past 90 when you hit the powerband just right on the upshift from 5th. (See why I was so adamant about figuring out how to get rid of the 85mph abomination?) The 550 weighs less than 420lb, and makes just over 50 chain-driven HP. And that little motor gains revs like a weedwhacker, even in top gear.

They're addicting.

 

Oops fitz - yep the thrill is on.

Wintertime's our trade-off riding season. It may be nice in Tucson at 72F now yet this balmy weather becomes but a distant memory by July with our SW summertime temps of 106-112F. When we lived in Phoenix one couldn't ride if it got to 120F or more [48C]. Anyone for being cooked on a rolling barbeque in a blast furnace?

In our summer most riders from the Old Pueblo get their rides in before noon. Experienced riders into survival wear a special Evaporative Cooler Jacket sold by Cyclegear $29 US. You throw it in the bathtub for a soak first.

 

I'll take 106F over minus 8F anyday. I was born at Luke AFB, I am familiar with the climate. What I oughtta do is move my sorry old tired ass out of here and back there where it's livable.

I'm beginning to realize human beings shouldn't live anywhere you can't run around outside naked for 5 minutes with DYING, 365 days a year.

 

Ok BF we know what you really mean... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckuYENHgC6s