Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126826
Leading-axle forks and lengthened sliders add to the Maxim's raked-out cruiser profile. Note shortened front and rear fenders. (Below) The two-part seat is comfortable; sections can stretch separately for rider and passenger weight. (B e lo w ) Gauge facings are finished in white; a red warning li g h t shows .w h e n the b ike's on reserve. Yamaha XJ700N Maxim Engine type Air-cooled, DOHC in line-four Bore x stroke 65.0mx 52.4mm Displacement . • • • • • • .. . 696cc Compression ratio . •. . . .. 9.8:1 Carburetion .. (4) 33mm Hitachi Horsepower . .. .72 @ 9000 rpm Torque .• • .. ... . . . . 44.8 Ib .·ft. @7500rpm Valves per cylinder 2 Intake valve size 34.1 mm Exhaust valve size 28mm Intake lift • . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.8mm Exhaust lift 8 .3mm Intake va lve t iming 38°-58° Exhaust valve timing .. 56°-36° Ignition . . . .. .. . . • . . . Electronic Lub rication Wet sump Redline 9500 rpm rpm @ 60 mph 4600 rpm Gear ratios Primary 1.672: 1 (9 7 / 5 8) Final 4 .179 :1 5th 0 .8 12 :1 (2 6/ 3 2) 4th 0 .9 3 3: 1 (2 8/ 3 0 ) 3rd 1.1 5 3 : 1 (3 0/ 2 6) 2nd . ..• .. . . . 1 .5 0 0 : 1 (3 0/ 2 0 1 1st. • .• . . . . . . . 2.187 (35 /1 6 1 Calculated speed in gears at red line 5th 12 2 mph 4th 106 mph 3rd : 86 mph 2nd . . .. .. . • ... . . . . . . 66 mph 1st 45 mph Frame Mild steel Rake 31 .5° Trail .. •. . . . '. . .. • . . . . . . 1 20mm Front suspension type . . . . Tele scopic forks Fork tube diameter 38mm Front wheel travel 5.9 in. Rear suspension type Dualshock swingarm Rear wheel travel 3 . 9 in. Front brakes (2 ) 10.5 in . disc Rear brakes 7 .8 in. drum Fron t wheel 2 .1 5x19 in . cast alum inum Rear w heel . . . . 3 .00x16 in . cas t aluminum Front t ire 100/90· 19 Bridgestona GS 25 Rear tire 130/90- 16 Bridgestone GS 26 Dry weight 463 lb. Wheelb ase 5 9 .8 in . Fuel capacity 3. 4 ga l. Ground clearance 5 .7 in. Seat height 29.5 in. GVWR 1036 lb. Colors. ; Red , black Retail price $2999 th e engine wo u ld d ie. a nd o n ly very re l uc ta nt ly resta rt. T he o n ly sure-fire wa y to ride th e Ma xim was 10 a llow for a p ro longed warm u p. Once underwa v, wh a t strikes the rider is th at th e Ma xi m is a verycornIortable m ot orcycle. Th e engine is r u bber-mou nted. a n d is smoo th throughout the powerba nd , The han dlebars a re short a nd narrow for co ntol, but w ith th e high steering h ead yiel d a comfortab le riding position . T h e step pe d seat is p added just right, a nd th e footpegs ar e mount ed low for co m fo rt whi le bein g tucked in close for clea rance. Cas mileage worked o u t to an a verage 42 mpg: a figure th a t could be defle cted a bo u t five rnpg according to ridi ng co n d itio n s. O ur test Max im neith er burn ed , consumed o r leak ed an y o il for the durati on o f th e test. When subje cted to the quartermile ligh ts a t Ca rlsbad Racew ay. th e Max im pos ted a best ti me o f 12.43 @ 106.5 m ph - a strong show ing for a n o ld- tech nology in line- fo ur. O ld technol ogy. After a ll th e 1985 " bike of th e year" a wa rds a re handed ou t. whe n a ll th e qua rter-mile wars h ave ended . when all th e articles are printed abou t the engi neeri ng merit o f daring ne w des ig ns. the Xj700N Ma xim will pro ba bly be rem embered as a n a lso-ran: o ne of the last twova lve ai r-coo led inli ne-fours. Wh ile the edi toria l spot lights are directed o n mach ines wi th immense power, racebike handl ing and un usu al en g i nes, this Ma x im 's cla im to fam e is that it 's a co m pe tent motorcycle. It's plent y fast, ha s exem p lary handling . a n d is styled in tu n e' with th e tast es o f th e Am eri can market. More irn p ortant is th at in spi te of its cr u iserish appearance, the XFOON Maxim is co m forta ble to ride, a nd wo u ld make a sensib le mount for touring o r co m m u ting . Th e q uestion is: will a 500 price d ifference be enoug h to lure sales from th e hig h- outp ut five-va lve Xj700 XN Maxim ? Am eri ca n riders not ori ously ra n k motor cycles in terms o f per forma nce cri teria - unfortunately, th at ma y a wa rd th e tw o- va lve XFOON Max im th e runner -up spot in a field o f two. • 23