Motorcycle Repair: Seca and Maxima, model bikes, shaft drive

Question
Bill,
I know this is not your field of expertise, however it may be general enough that you know the answer. I picked up two basic  junk bikes that I know one is a Seca and the other I am guessing is one (maybe a Maxima). I hope to make one good bike out of those two. Now I stumbled on to a Maxima that recently was placed in a salvage yard that has a bent frame. Can I take the frame off of a Seca and make it work on a Maxima if they are the same year? I believe they are both 82 Yamahas.

Answer
Clark, asking MrHonda about whether Yamaha frames will interchange is a pretty specific question. Manufacturers don't make some kind of universal frame that they can just slide motors in and out of....

If both bikes are 600cc fours, then the potential for swapping motors is reasonable. Go to www.bikebandit.com and look through their online microfiche illustrations, between the two machines and see if that gives you enough info to make an educated decision. When you have two different versions of a bike that does share a common powerplant, then you will be getting into what makes each one unique to the other... Frame tabs and mounts for engines, fuel tanks, seats, fenders, electrical panels, etc..... If one was shaft drive and the other chain drive, then you have to swap out the swing arms and other associated parts to complete the conversion.

You might get lucky with similar year/model bikes to make 2 into 1, but I really can't say much more about it...

Bill MrHonda Silver
www.vintagehonda.com