Motorcycling on the CHEAP?! *Update, bought the $300 bike!

[Bama67]

Alright guys, I have been motorcycle-less for about a year. Pretty much the entire time I have been having a HARD time not being able to ride. Well, my brother-in-law came over to the house the other day on a super clean, low mile 85 Honda Shadow 500. Well, I took it for a spin and had a blasty blast on it. Surprising to me since it had MAYBE 50 hp, and my last bike was a tweaked Bandit 1250. He paid $500 dollars for it, and I commented "I can't imagine having more fun (legally) for $500." To which my wife said "Well, if you can find one for $500 you can get you one."

My BIL, said that his buddy he bought this bike from had another one he is trying to sell. It is a 1982 Yamaha Maxim 550, in great shape, not sure on miles, he called his buddy and he said he would sell it to me for $300. He said is that the only thing it need is the carbs cleaned and synched. I know how to clean them but I don't know crap about synching 4 carbs, especially one with the YICS system that the Maxim supposedly has. Anyone familiar with it? How much would it cost to pay someone to do?

I guess what I am wondering is, can I do any better for $300? Hell, I figure for that much, if it doesn't work out I can part it or something and get my money back. Is there any better bikes I could expect to find for such low investment?

From what research I found, these 550 inline 4's have 50 something hp, and a 6 speed tranny. Should be fun.
 
What would you do? Here is a pic. Thanks Ya'll



Update, I bought the bike, see next page for pics.

[DrMikey]

Buy it. You can't go wrong. Synch'ing the carbs is easy; you can make your own vaccuum guage or buy one for around $30. There should be plenty of WOTL to guide you.

[cbolling]

Just Buy it!!!

[JimWilliamson]

That bike looks to be in good condition for the age. I don't see any seat cracks.

Don't think you could go wrong.

[1000lbs]

Yup, buy it!  That looks like a clean example in the pics.

That was my very first motorcycle and what got me started riding some 18 years ago.  From what I can remember the YICS shouldn't be different from any other carb sync.

[JReazor]

Buy it! If you don't, tell me where it is so I can go get it.

[Frankienuckles]

Yep, buy it! Get a manual for it to make any needed mantainence easier. Ride!

[Bama67]

Sweet!    Thanks for all the quick responses. I didn't find much out about it online really, so I was afraid it was some black-sheep POS or something. I will definitely get it then! Only problem is I will be out of town for two more weeks AGHHH!

Not in love with its looks two much but I could always cafe it possibly? I know that cafes are done to death, but not here in South AL, I don't think I have ever even saw a cafe-style bike here.

[Andrew]

Right on

$300 Dude Buy That Bike!!!!

For the money you will have one heck of a smile to $$/mile return

[Justin]

http://www.nadaguides.com/Motorcycles/1982/Yamaha/XJ550J-MAXIM/Values

Based on the image and description, I'd call that very good condition for the year (or at least between VGC and GC). So yeah, $300 is a good deal IMO

[Bowtie76]

Buy it.
My first bike was an 83 XJ550 Maxum.  I got it in 96 for $500 and rode the piss out of it for a couple of years and sold it for $800.

Bullit proof air cooled inline 4, Yamaha's CB.

[Blunder]

$300? Go for it. The motor served as Yamaha's basic 4 cyl 4 stroke platform throughout the '80s. 550s, 650s (even a Turbo), 750s and 900s. I think even the XJ600 Seca of the early '90s can trace it's bloodline to this motor.

They made a sporty version of that 550, known as the Seca, with chain drive and a serviceable bikini fairing.



Have you been to http://xjbikes.com/ ? It used to be a mailing list for XJs that I was on when I had my XJ650 Seca. It now appears they've gotten themselves a proper website.

[MadMax96]

I paid a little over $300 for my first bike - about 17 yrs ago.  1978 Suzuki GS550E that had 43k miles - was beat the hell.. knocked over while sitting on the streets of chicago over winter, and I later found out it had fallen off a trailer.  

That looks like a gem.

You could buy it for $300, ride it for the season and get at least double that when you sell.  It's tough finding something that looks decent and runs decent for under $1000 honestly... this one looks to be all there and not look like it was sitting outside for most of its life.

Go for it man!    

[Zixxerpilot]

Sweet!    Thanks for all the quick responses. I didn't find much out about it online really, so I was afraid it was some black-sheep POS or something. I will definitely get it then! Only problem is I will be out of town for two more weeks AGHHH!

Not in love with its looks two much but I could always cafe it possibly? I know that cafes are done to death, but not here in South AL, I don't think I have ever even saw a cafe-style bike here.

Buy it, cafe' the shiz out of it, prepare for miles of happiness. That thing is clean! Cleaning and synching carbs is a breeze. i'd probably throw on new tires to be safe.

[HipGnosis]

Not in love with its looks two much

Face it, you can't afford a good looking bike...  Besides, are you gonna ride it or just look at it?!?

[Cricket1]

Yup, buy it!  That looks like a clean example in the pics.

That was my very first motorcycle and what got me started riding some 18 years ago.  From what I can remember the YICS shouldn't be different from any other carb sync.

I had a Maxim 700 as my first bike, also with the YICS system. Not to be a wet blanket, but it is NOT like any other carb sync system. You need a special tool that blocks off the passages in the head between the cylinders. Without it you cannot properly balance the carbs. Not a deal breaker, but you should know. Sounds like a good bike at a great price.

Have fun!

[jay547]

i think you'll get your money's worth. my previous bike was a 1990 kawasaki 550. i paid $1300 for it. four years and 26,000 miles later, i sold it for $1100.

[nevinfs327]

I agree with the buy it sentiments - hard to go wrong for $300 and it looks really clean.  That said, I think your satisfaction with the purchase requires going in with the right mindset, and I say this from significant experience with older bikes, including cafe projects.  Two points:

1) Carbs - "just need cleaned/sync'd" is the standard diagnosis for an older bike not running correctly.  I've cleaned and rebuilt carbs many times to find that it was something else - usually electrical, like faulty coils.  If you do plan to tear into the carbs you should see what parts are available and what the cost (BikeBandit.com is good for this).  For the carb sync, it is worth calling around to a shop.  Last few I've had done were $50-$60.  

2) Cafe project - probably not worth it with the cruiser version of the frame.  That bike has a very similar look to a GS550L I had in the '90s and contemplated a similar project on.  The whole rear subframe would need replaced and the way the frame backbone arched downward would likely have required custom fab work for a tank that matched the long, flat, sleek look of a cafe racer to fit.  

I ultimately sold my bike for $400, $100 less than I'd paid for it about 7 years before.  I really did enjoy riding it.  Power was very good,  Handling was responsive.  Cheap to maintain and operate (important since I was in college).  Good for 2-up riding - my wife, then girlfriend, ranks it as one of the more comfortable bikes for her that I've ever owned.  I would definitely buy another for $300 (whether Suzuki's or Yamaha's version of that machine).  

Identical to mine, though not mine - very similar to the Yamaha

[Mr.Black]

I had the 650. The thing just ran and ran. My wife(ex) was very happy on the back for long trips. It is definately worth having some professional work done to it.

[FirstVtwin]

How to build the special YICS tool
http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/yics_tool.htm