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I think I have a fuel problem. I just bought the bike and It had been sitting since Feb. It was fine when I bought it. But the next day it started to act up It hestitates and sputters in 1st and 2nd like the fuel is not getting there but as I go up in gears It rides much smoother. I haven't done any tune up work yet but I'm changing the oil an oil filter, air filters, plugs, a new fuel filter and getting a new battery. My friend said I should clean the carbs. I don't really know how to do this.. do I need special tools to do this? and do you think this is the problem?

Yep sounds like carbs.....

Sounds like your idle jet and or enrichment circuit is clogged...
Once you get up in gears it switches over to the main jet which sounds like it's mostly clear.

No special tools needed, just patience and a manual is damned handy.
There are some online guides as well, but having a manual is handy.

Which Maxim is it? I can refer you to the proper spot easier that way.
I have an 83 Maxim XS400K myself, just got it MVI'd yesterday for the first time since 2000 (it's been a project, cleaned the carbs 3 times)
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It's a 750( xj I think). It has a cluncky grey air box.

HERE'S A PIC.

Nice looking toy

Check over at xjbikes.com
There's lots of good info there.
Not sure if the 750 has Hitachi or Mikuni carbs, similar design.
There's a few tutorials over there on cleaning them up.
Here's a rough idea of what your in for, the Suzuki GS used similar carbs as well.
http://www.thegsresources.com/gs_carbrebuild.htm

They go further into it that you should have to, usually you don't need to separate the carbs (this will throw off the sync and cause even more work)
Just open them up one at a time (you don't want to mix parts) clean them up thoroughly, put it back together, move on to the next one.

OK, found something directly for you trying to figure out what carbs you had....

http://www.slygrin.net/xj750/html/carbs.html
Full detailed cleaning.

It worked! It sounds great! I changed the plugs (the plugs were shitttttty), cleaned the carbs and cleaned the air box, next is the air filter and oil change. and then I'm gonna fine tune everything, and keep customizing it. I am so proud of myself I overcame my fear of the carbs and got it working again. I'm a woman and I feel like I'm a real biker now. Thanks for your help, I though it was the fuel lines also but I'm glad it wasn't.

hehe, that's how I learned... did a single carb scooter first... my Maxim was my second (I only got 2 on mine)
Not as scary as you think... I even did my fork seals this year too,

If the gas lines are old, you may want to replace them all anyways... that one's easy..