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Author Topic: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?  (Read 2373 times)

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Offline Scott S

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Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« on: April 09, 2014, 05:01:54 AM »
Quick summary:
 I have been teaching a friend to ride. She's been getting her miles in on a CB175 and loves it. We've been keeping our eyes peeled for a good "first bike". She really likes the vintage stuff because that's what we all ride.

 Another friend picked up this TX500 to flip. I can get it for somewhere in the $500-600 range. He said it runs good but needs to be jetted. Someone put pods and the 2-1 on it and he said it runs out of steam on the top end. Does fine around town and lower speeds, but "has no ass" up top, as he says.

 Thoughts? Opinions? Are the 4 valve heads hard to do an adjustment on? Etc.


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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2014, 06:04:20 AM »
All I know is the XS500 didn't last long in the UK. I remember seeing 2.
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'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


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Offline grcamna2

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Re: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2014, 07:01:35 AM »
I had one and liked it,the parts aren't to plentiful though.I'm not too sure I'd let her start w/ that particular one.
The first thing I would check is the adjustment of the balancer chain.There's a counterbalancer w/ an adjustment on the chain,mine was at the end of it's adjustment at 21,000 miles,I would have had to source a new chain;if the chain gets too sloppy it can snap.The 2 piece cylinder heads on the TX(when they designated it an 'XS' 500 they made a 1 piece cylinder head)had a tendency to leak around the gaskets where the 2 halves met which required removing the top cover and re-torquing the head every other season.

They're a Great bike and I wish I still had mine,you just need to keep up w/ some maintenance items to make it a rock solid mount;sourcing parts can be a pain.
I would remove those pods that's for sure and install the stock airbox again;the OE filter is a paper one. I think if you can look around for some parts now before you buy it and if they're available Buy it.  Don't run it w/ those pods and that lean jetting anymore though !  :o
These 4 valve heads are easy to do valve adjustments. I may still have a few gaskets in storage from when I had mine.
« Last Edit: April 09, 2014, 07:04:45 AM by grcamna2 »
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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2014, 08:13:05 AM »
I knew there was a reason they weren't popular here.

Road test/review. http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/yamaha/yamaha_xs500%2074.htm
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'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


Les Ross.            Certified by a Professional

Offline grcamna2

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Re: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2014, 08:27:34 AM »
Les,
Those testers are a little on the negative side;I had the 74' early TX and didn't notice all of what they said... It was a good bike. MC magazine testers test WAY too many bikes and some put certain bikes ahead of others.
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75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline FuZZie

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Re: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« Reply #5 on: April 09, 2014, 08:38:04 AM »
It's not a bad looking little bike, is it missing anything? What is on it for miles?





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Offline ekpent

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Re: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2014, 08:55:51 AM »
It and the ill fated TX750 are two bikes I would stay away from personally. Sounds like the price is pretty cheap though maybe. Here is one in my neck of the woods but no buyers et    http://battlecreek.craigslist.org/mcy/4413535422.html
« Last Edit: April 09, 2014, 09:09:13 AM by ekpent »
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Offline Scott S

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Re: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2014, 11:44:21 AM »
 Maybe I should pass on this one...
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Offline grcamna2

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Re: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2014, 05:47:17 AM »
Scott,
This much I know is they're a good bike.I think lot's of folks buy old Volvo's because they're a 'Tank' and they can take a LOT of abuse;I own one but I don't abuse it,I do regular 'preventive maintenance'.I've purchased different machines and needed to do necessary preventive maintenance that the former PO's never cared to do and most of the older bikes need some work.
When the TX/XS500 is treated right it'll give you many years of good solid transportation;they are Not junk.There wasn't any issue w/ mine and the 2-piece cylinder head because I replaced the gaskets w/ OE Yamaha gaskets after I cleaned the carbon out of the CC's,they needed to be mildly re-torqued every 2 years. They have an online club/forum for the TX/XS500 & 750's and they help each other like we do here. The only thing is,like other Vintage machines:parts can be a waiting game.  :)
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75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline simon#42

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Re: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2014, 10:13:08 AM »
i had one , it was a dreadful unreliable piece of crap .  ended up throwing it in a skip after the crank went for the second time .
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Offline vames

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Re: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« Reply #10 on: April 11, 2014, 02:08:51 PM »
Your friend needs a CB/CL 350 Twin for a first bike. They're fast enough, light, and fun. There are a lot of them around and they trade for pretty fair prices. Plus its a great bike to learn basic mechanics on, and many procedures are a bit less onerous than a 4 cylinder.
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Offline MoMo

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Re: Whatta ya know about the TX/XS 500?
« Reply #11 on: April 11, 2014, 08:49:05 PM »
Quote from: simon#42 on April 11, 2014, 10:13:08 AM
i had one , it was a dreadful unreliable piece of crap .  ended up throwing it in a skip after the crank went for the second time .


second the dreadful unreliable piece of crap(aka POS).  there is a reason the bike was not made for a very long period of time.  I was a Yamaha/Honda mechanic back then and speak from experience.  Pass on it and buy a Honda 350 or 360 as suggested...Larry
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