1983 Yamaha Maxim 750

Summary:

Best darn bike for $600 anyone could ever have

Faults:

Pick up coils quit working.

General Comments:

This is an awesome bike with plenty of power. The only problem I had was the last ride of 2018 it was 40 degrees and wouldn't start. I had just rode it to work a couple days before at 38 degrees and it ran perfect. Well I put off fixing it until 2019, but I talked to a tech that worked on them back in the early 80s. He said that the only 2 things it could be is the ignition box or the pick up coils. So I ordered the coils off eBay that bolt on the left side of the bike and started changing them as soon as it showed up. Well I realized it had a ground screw directly underneath in between the engine and exhaust. So I put it all back together, worried that I would break exhaust bolts if I tried removing the exhaust. I then ordered the box off eBay in the meantime just to see if it was as simple as that. No dice, it showed up and didn't fix a thing. Time went by and in the spring of 2019 with warmer temps I started getting more serious about. In all this time I kept it on a battery tender walking by and hitting the starter from one week to the next. Lo and behold it started. I rode it around town like we were best friends again and thinking not what just happened but keep running baby. The next day I went out for a ride and same deal as before - crank, crank, crank and no start. I thought well this is it, the exhaust is coming off and I am putting in the pick up coils no matter what. Guess what it fixed it and I didn't break any bolts.

So the mid to tail end of 2019 I have been enjoying this bike all the time. With every fill up 44 MPG. The last trip I dumped in over half a can of Seafoam and the normal 87 no alcohol gas and got 47. This got me excited for more so I spent the last few day setting the valves. The eBay tool to do this was a week out so I made my own. The next problem was I had no shims, but I remembered a guy from work that retired was big into KZ1000s and he loaned me all he had. So I took advantage of it and got all the valves set on the high side because by design it's always trying to tighten up as the valve beats into the seat (in my humble opinion anyway). My friend just said in spec is good enough. I hoping by also being on the loose side the cam acts smaller for low end mid range torque (but this is the hot rodder in me just hoping). So I am ready for the next outing for maybe even better mileage. Great bike! The thing doesn't even crank one turn around and it's running. It's sweet!

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd September, 2019

1982 Yamaha Maxim 750

Summary:

Fantastic bike

Faults:

Just normal wear and tear. Brakes, battery, fork seals.

General Comments:

Great bike. Hold on when you twist the throttle. Handles great. Was the fastest 750 on the road in 82. I picked this one out while still in the crate. Never looked back. Back then Honda said "Follow the Leader, he is on a Honda". Yamaha said "Never follow anyone" and I didn't. I still have my Maxim; I need to rebuild it due to extended storage.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th December, 2017

17th Jul 2018, 17:55

Just picked up a tastefully converted 82 Maxim 750. It has a nice throaty 4 into 1 pipe, a shaved down Vetter front fairing, red-painted Yamaha emblems on the gas tank, and same red color engine valve covers. Runs & rides smoothly, speedo-rev clocks work evenly & steady, regular fuel checks calculate 42-50 MPG. An excellent runner for an 82 bike in 2018.