Yamaha XJ550
 A 1981 Yamaha XJ550 Maxim, North American Model | |
| Manufacturer | Yamaha |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Yamaha Corporation |
| Production | 1981 – 1983 |
| Predecessor | XJ650H Maxim |
| Class | Sport/Cruiser |
| Engine | 528 cc air-cooled four-stroke inline-4, DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder |
| Bore / stroke | 57 x 51.8 mm |
| Compression ratio | 9.5:1 |
| Top speed | 122 mph (196 km/h)[1] |
| Power | 73 hp (54 kW) @ 9000 rpm (claimed)[2] |
| Torque | 41.9 lb⋅ft (56.8 N⋅m) @ 7000 rpm (claimed)[1] |
| Ignition type | transistorized |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Frame type | tubular steel |
| Suspension | Front: Telescopic Coil Spring Forks Rear: |
| Brakes | Front: Single 300 mm disc Rear: drum |
| Tires | Front: 3.25-H19 Rear:130/90-H16 |
| Seat height | 29.3 inches |
| Fuel capacity | 15 liters/3.9 gal |
| Related | Yamaha XJ650 Maxim |
The Yamaha XJ550 is a mid-size sport/cruiser hybrid motorcycle created by the Yamaha Motor Company and introduced in 1981 and produced through 1983. The XJ550 has the smallest engine capacity of all of Yamaha's XJ series bikes during the 1981-1983 period, and is based on a slightly different engine design than all other bikes in the XJ series. It is also the only XJ series bike to come equipped with a chain final drive, as opposed to a shaft.
The XJ550 was produced in two primary models: The Seca, a sporty, fairing-included version aimed primarily at the global market, and the Maxim, a variation styled more like a cruiser/chopper for the North American market, featuring a retuned engine designed to produce more lower RPM torque, as well as a teardrop-shaped gas tank, a wider rear wheel, and swirly patterned front and back rims.
History
Overview
The 4-cylinder, air-cooled, twin-cam 550cc engine is housed in a cross-braced duplex steel tube frame. Yamaha made the engine narrower by locating the alternator behind the cylinder block and above the gearbox rather than on the end of the crankshaft. The XJ550 had chain drive, unlike its contemporaries.[3]
The XJ550's high-revving engine coupled with its chain drive has made it, and continues to make it, a highly sought-after motorcycle for the chopper and modification enthusiast community. Many different components of the bike could be removed or modified, with builders often modifying the airbox, seat, rear frame, and exhaust system to reduce weight to a minimum. Modifications to reduce weight and change the bike's sprocket ratios allowed the bike to pull up to 9500 RPM in 6th gear, topping out at 122 mph, which is more than 10 MPH faster than its stock configuration.
See also
References
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yamaha XJ650 Maxim. |
| Standard | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | |||||||||||||
| MotoGP | |||||||||||||
| Touring / Sport touring | |||||||||||||
| Power cruiser | |||||||||||||
| Cruisers |
| ||||||||||||
| Supermoto | |||||||||||||
| Dual-sport / Enduro / Off-road | |||||||||||||
| Agricultural | |||||||||||||
| Motocross | |||||||||||||
| Scooter | |||||||||||||
| Tricycle | |||||||||||||
| First models | |||||||||||||
This article "Yamaha XJ550" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Yamaha XJ550. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
