1982 Maxima? Seattle Craigslist

[MPittma100]

Is this price in line?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/mcy/4422799564.html

[jetmechmarty]

Used motorcycles appear to bring high prices in the Pacific Northwest, but I think that one is reaching. Keep in mind the XJ1100 Maxim was a one year only marketplace failure. What was popular then, is sought after now. That's why old Mustangs still bring good money.

BTW, Maxima is a Nissan.

[madmax-im]

definitely overpriced...it looks original except for the MAC exhaust...but for that kind of money you should be able to eat off it...

[madmax-im]

Used motorcycles appear to bring high prices in the Pacific Northwest, but I think that one is reaching.
Keep in mind the XJ1100 Maxim was a one year only marketplace failure. What was popular then, is sought after now. That's why old Mustangs still bring good money.

BTW, Maxima is a Nissan.

Could not disagree more...why was it a failure? Yamaha was losing money on the XS/XJ1100 line so they ceased to production to N.America The XJ1100 maxim looks better to me than the XS styling wise,but its differences from the XS are hardly what made the bike a "failure"

[motoman]

Lost the "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" stigma that originally sold the line of XS11's.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Man, I should have sold mine this year instead of last!

That's strange... I never heard anyone describe the XJ as a "one year failure" before...

There were several things about the XJ that I always felt were "improvements" over the XS.

Case in point- electronic ignition.
How many XS owners have had to troubleshoot and repair broken wires in the timing cover because of wire flexing every time the plate advances that eventually broke them?

Now, I grant you the XJ had been detuned compared to the XS, and wasn't as hot performance wise. It also had lost that high lift cam hot rod sound that the '78-'79's had. (Due to the EPA), but... I liked the electronic pilot box, the larger teardrop shaped gas tanks, redesigned seats, adjustable handlebars, etc.

Yamaha was listening to XS buyers complaints, and trying to improve the bike.
The only problem I saw was the "battery" warning light... now that was a needless pain, and the reduction in performance.

But, the performance issues could be worked around, and the battery warning light was easily defeated...

But, hey... I guess to each his own...
See, I kinda liked the swirly-wheeled thing after owning both the XS and the XJ.
The. XS was a naked beast, tons of fun around town and for short trips.
The XJ was my trip bike, with saddlebags, trunk, and Vetter fairing.
And it was an excellent touring bike. Wasn't as fast, but still decent.
Anything but a "failure".
YMMV.
Bob

[jetmechmarty]

I think the XJ1100 was a fine motorcycle, but if you get in your time machine and go to 1982, it was already outdated. That's why it was one year only, IMHO.

[Jerry]

From the looks of it, price is a bit high. After-market exhaust, missing side cover badges, no mention of any upgrades such as SS brake lines. It does look very clean. As we all know, to turn one of these into a reliable ride - if that is your intention, rather than a full restore - you need to replace the fuse block, rebuild / upgrade the brakes, clean electrical connectors and grounding points, and spend a few bucks on new brake lines. (32 year old lines don't make for a reliable road bike.)

Given the other listings that seem to show up every spring for XJs, almost always lower priced, I would pass on this one.

As to the success or failure of the XJ, or it's style, those are topics for another thread but I will say that I have owned my XJ for 15 years now, longer than any other bike, and even though it now is parked in a corner of my garage waiting for me to do a frame up rebuild, I like it and will not part with it any time soon. That, to me, is a success story.

[CRXSi90]

................
The. XS was a naked beast, tons of fun around town and for short trips.
The XJ was my trip bike, with saddlebags, trunk, and Vetter fairing.
And it was an excellent touring bike. Wasn't as fast, but still decent.
Anything but a "failure".
YMMV.
Bob
__________________
'82 XJ1100J Maxim (has been sold.)

'79 F "Time Machine"... oh yeah, Baby.... (Sold back to Maximan)

Interesting, I would have thought it would have been the other way around. With the Venturer touring model taking it's heritage from the standard lineup, I would have thought you might have preferred the standard. Doesn't the XJ have more in common with the Specials? I thought the specials were the around town/bar hopping bike. But hey, it appears that trbig is having no second thoughts about riding his Maxim from Oklahoma to Florida! (and for that matter, people have ridden their specials further than that...) So I guess the moral of the story is that I've got a bit to learn.

[jetmechmarty]

Please don't misunderstand. I think the XJ is a great bike. It's just that development stopped after one year model because it was already outdated. The point is moot now because all of the XS/XJ bikes are outdated. For whatever our individual reasons, we like them anyway.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Interesting, I would have thought it would have been the other way around. With the Venturer touring model taking it's heritage from the standard lineup, I would have thought you might have preferred the standard. Doesn't the XJ have more in common with the Specials? I thought the specials were the around town/bar hopping bike. But hey, it appears that trbig is having no second thoughts about riding his Maxim from Oklahoma to Florida! (and for that matter, people have ridden their specials further than that...) So I guess the moral of the story is that I've got a bit to learn.

Well, the XJ has a much bigger tank than a Special, so better range.
Similar styling, but different seat, handlebars, etc.

Plus, I bought my XJ first, and it already had the full Vetter setup on it, complete with trunk. It also had engine guards, with kuryakin touring pegs, and a throttle lock. It was a great touring bike.

When I bought the '79 F, it was a naked beauty...very low miles, and pristine.
Plus, ya gotta also remember, the '78's & '79's had the hotter, more lopey cams...they sounded like hot rods. The Maxim didn't.

The 2 bikes just had completely different natures.

Now, I grant ya... I never stripped it back down to it's original naked self, and it probably would have ridden totally different.

That's how Tod's is. That 'ole bike is amazing. No telling how many miles that chassis has on it... I say that because he's literally broken every part on it at one time or another.... Lol!
Those that know him can verify I speak the truth!

He's the only guy I know that has wasted ujoints on a Maxim...