yamaha XJ700 discussion

[neonjoe123]

Does anyone else have one of these bikes?

Specifications from the April 1985 issue of motorbike Cycle
Make and Model: 1985 Yamaha XJ700 Maxim
Performance of the Yamaha Maxim XJ700
Quarter Mile 11.79 sec @ 112.82 mph
0-60 mph 3.20 sec

I was surfing and found this article: http://www.uncommonmotorcycles.com/triumphrace.htm
then I wonder why a 20 year old bike would have beaten both of them in that race?

[Johnj]

Lets see. The Speed Triple was popping a wheelie for the entire quarter mile, I'm thinking that isn't his best time. Then there is the state of tune each bike is really in. I've seen people put all kind of performance parts on cars and bikes, but not make them any faster on the strip. Next you have to look at the type of motors each bike has, the Buell has a V-Twin which have good low and mid-range power, The Speed Triple of course has the sweet triple, and a Maxim has a in-line 4, known for high rpm horsepower.

I think a Buell S1 would give a Maxim a run for its money, but the Speed Triple would spank that Maxim.

On a road course the Maxim would be a distant third place.

Just my opinion.

[neonjoe123]

I think you are probably right on that, I didn't think of that right away with the speed triple

[fireguzzi]

I have a 82 maxim 750, it ran at one time, and it was pretty dam quick.
I pulled off a wheelie in first gear on accident one time (dumping the clutch) when seeing how fast it would accelerate. And that bike aint exactly light.

I wish it wasn't such a money pit from hell with gremlins running all through it because I would love to ride it still.

If you ever get a chance, run one without the air box on it, they sound like an F1 car.

[neverdie38]

i just picked one up last week. i have never ridden anything bigger than a 500 but this bike is pretty fast. i have heard plenty of issues with the carbs on these things and tuning them is in depth. i have read you synch them, adjust your valve clearances, and then do something called colortuning. i still need to check into all of that on mine but it seems to run very well. i can get up to 70mph without even noticing i am. the only thing i don't like is the seat. i am 6ft and it seems like im humping the tank and sitting ackward

[BRUMBEAR]

Well look at it this way a Buell and a ST are very short wheel based with grunty motors. I have not seen the video it's not available to me, but as John stated even a 885 triple would spank a maxim quite badly. The Buell would not the yamaha would run even with it. I have been to the track with tubers,xb's and the 1125's we won't even go to the later models. The tuber Buell is lighter shorter and has more HP so it would be very hard to run a 1/4 mile with.

BTW the bike has here 86 hp @9000 rpms
a Buell s1 is around 92hp @ 4000 rpms
Even the T509 885 triple popped 108hp so ridden correctly there is no comparison.
The brakes the suspenion and handling of the Yamaha are just not even in the same solar system as the later 2, and IMO thats where it counts. The Yamaha was impressive but does not stack up on any level other than point and shoot, that's not really riding though.