QuestionI have a 1982 yamaha maxim 550, that is in good running condition. I would like to make it into a little bit of a race bike and I cannot find any aftermarket parts for it at all. I would like to have some bigger camshafts made for it but i wouldnt have any idea of who to go through.
AnswerHI Shane.
I don't recommend turning a bike that old into a race bike and here's why.
1) The bike is 24 years old, so it has had a good run. Since it is still running, don't mess with a good thing.
2) The bike is 24 years old and NO ONE makes important parts for it anymore. Any parts that you find for it will have to be used parts through a motrcycle salvage yard. There may be some incidental parts that you can find through dealerships and some parts shops, but not much.
3) The Maxim started out as a good machine and a real goer, to begin with. But if you want to race, there is nothing that you can do to compete with the newer bikes out there. They are all coming straight from the factory already faster than anything that was out on the road when the maxim was built.
So what you are looking at is effectively like trying to run an old jalopy against a formula 1 racer. It would be a disapointing waste of time, money and effort.
If you want to race, then find a much newer race bike (less than 5 years old) and work with that. It will be easier and cheaper to modify (if needed to be modified at all) and you will be able to find parts much easier for it since everything would be current for that bike. There are performance companies out there than specialize in bikes, so you would be able to order any cams, valves, etc. that you need for a race bike, just not for the Maxim..
Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON
