Zen and the Start of Motorcycle Maintenance: Yam XJ750 Maxim

[Pernig]

Hey all,

Went on the bus to look at a bike yesterday, ended up buying it and it's sweet as a nut. Only got one vice with it and that is that it's running rich. There seems to be too much oil in it but the oil is good so gonna drain some out tomorrow. Also gonna empty the float bowls. The guy who I bought it off also noticed this when he took it to the MOT and if i can't solve the problem myself he'll set up and balance the carbs for me for freeeee .

It's a clean, original bike. Not a spot of rust, couple of minor things but it's great for a bike made in 1991 . It's a shaft drive and the engine is proper open plan so i'm looking to do a bit of servicing to it myself, on my quest to become a zen biker . I don't want to molest it by adding any tacky cruiser bits, but what do you think I could do to improve it without spoiling it? I don't think a tankbag would look right on this bike, so was thinking like leather saddle bags or something. Maybe a light tinted flyscreen to go on the headlight just to improve the ride on the motorway. Whatever I get, I've skinted myself on the bike so it'll be a while before I buy some goodies anyway :p.

I only have the dealer's photos at the min as someone thought it would be funny to spill water on my phone at work . So will post some more pics soon!
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H100 Breaking for spares

[Doovy]

wow, that looks amazing!

ive always wondered with these sort of bikes how comfortable the angle of the handlebars are when you grip and accelerate, seems different to being at a 90 degree like most bikes (possibly not sports bikes though)
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Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[reu]

Bike looks nice tbh
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125cc Pitbike <sold> Aprilla Mx50 <current>

[FreshAL]

Nice.

[Pernig]

Glad you all like it :p. Done about 300 miles already! I drained a tiny bit of oil out of the engine and am buying a new air filter to see if this improves the running and makes it less rich. If not it'll be off with the carbs for them to be set up right. Still no proper pics yet .
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H100 Breaking for spares

[Pernig]

Been riding the bike for almost a week now, and i've also discovered a few new things about it:

The air-cooled four cylinder engine makes 81bhp, and the claimed top speed is 130mph, although the speedo stops at 85, which could be licence threatening. More on that later. I'm running Avon Venom-X tyres, they seem very grippy and I haven't gone out of my comfort zone. Anyone got any knowledge about cruiser tyres? The forks are good, but I find the shocks can be bouncy and wallowy on bumpy corners when I up the pace. I guess it's not made for thrashing though! It's very comfy, but the windblast after about 70 on the motorway is pretty harsh. I'm still undecided on that flyscreen.

On Thursday I drained a slight amount of oil. It's running a little less rich, but still not perfect. I've ordered a K&N to replace the dirty air filter so hopefully that should get things running like a treat and give it a bit of a roar . It does 130 miles to the reserve, between 15 and 17 quid to fill it up. Not a fantastic tank-range but about the right time to take break so it's all good.

Yesterday I rode straight from work in Skegness to my Mum's in Preston. The A-road riding was fantastic. A lot of fun and i showed up a few unsuspecting cars including an Impreza WRX . I overtook him on a straight then he thought he'd try and do me on one of the crawler lanes coming into Louth. With the surprising acceleration of the bike he had no chance . I left a gap for him to pull in front of me at the end of the crawler lane but by this point he knew who was boss .

Playtime over and onto the motorway. Without a fairing, I knew the motorway riding was going to be uncomfortable, but the bike handled it brilliantly, with my sat-nav telling me I was doing 102 at about 7.5k rpm in top (redline is at 12). Didn't dare push it any further because as soon as I started off on the M18 it started peeing down with rain! I got rather wet indeed .

After a quick stop at Doncaster North services to put waterproofs and hi-vis on, it was time to get going again. The bike cruises nicely along at >85mph . When it stopped raining and the roads dried out i started hiding behind cars' slipstream in the top lane, only problem being if you follow the fast cars they tend to pull into the middle lane to let you pass. So of course I obliged by overtaking the majority of them . By this point I was very, very wet and I wish I'd packed a pair of waterproof gloves. I will remember this for my next journey .

Four and a half hours and one waypoint i forgot to delete in my sat-nav which resulted in a long detour later, I arrived. It was a good journey, although I was very wet, and a bit cold. I'm going back on Wednesday morning, prey for me that the weather is going to be better .
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H100 Breaking for spares

[Mal]

Wind blast and tank range sound very similar to my first bike - a 1998 Yam XVS650 Dragstar, though more than 70 mph was only bearable for about 5 mins and then after another 15 your backside went numb from vibrations.

Iirc, I used to have Continental Milestones on the Dragstar, about 8k out of the rear and 11k ish out of the fronts. Not sure if they are still made though or what their replacements are if they're not.

Mal
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Current: 2002 FJR1300, 1999 Thundercat, Previous: 1998 XVS650 Dragstar

"In the end we're all just chalk lines on the concrete - drawn, only to be washed away."

[Pernig]

[Pernig]

I added a K&N air filter. It now has a rather loud induction roar . Tonight I am to add a triple cigarette lighter and USB socket which was on the GPZ, and the quick charge interface for the Optimate. Will let you know how I get on later . More photos can be found by following the link on my sig.
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H100 Breaking for spares