Topic: 1981-82' Yamaha XJ550R,anybody ever own one ?

[grcamna2]

I think the color was white w/ orange and also a stock 1/4 fairing.Has anyone here ever owned one? How did you like it ?

[ken65]

Howdy, Thought i'd offer a reply. I didn't have a 550 but an 81 650.  I loved it.
Let me down once and it was just a dirty connection in the fuse box.  Did 50000 on it and apart from routine maintenance I replaced a cam chain.
When the valves are in spec you can take it to redline if you want. Every ride I'd take it up to 10500-11000 rpm
a couple of times and it handled it well. On the xj forum the owners swear by them . Less power than the 650
but a fair bit lighter so still quick  and a 6th gear aswell, plus chain drive as opposed to shaft drive  i think ,but may be wrong on that one.

IMHO they are great little reliable bikes if looked after.

[grcamna2]

Hey Ken,
How long did you own it? Did you like the shaft drive on the 650 ? I'd like to find an 81' 550 Seca;I like the flat seat on the Seca compared to the '2-step' seat & tear-drop style tank on the 550 Maxim plus the factory small 1/4 fairing was cool.

[MoMo]

I had a Seca 650 Bill, not my favorite bike-never had a problem just didn't like it.  Seemed sluggish for a 650, not on par with the Nighthawk 650 of the era...Larry

[ken65]

I had my 650 for about 4 years,   I didn't mind  the shaft drive at all. Just put fresh gear oil in every 12 months and off you go,
Took longer to find the spanner and oil than to do the job.
Mine went went well.