Topic: Yamaha Triple 750

[Vhonda]

Yes! my next project ... The Triple 1977 Yamaha XS 750

adding to my cb500 & CB550

[Stev-o]

Nice bike!

My buddy had one "back in the day", was a good bike, we toured around the U.S. [I had a Kaw 1000 back then].

The only negative thing he mentioned is that it vibrated a bit, not as smooth running engine as a four banger.

[Mark1976]

   They're a great bike, worked a few in the day, the 76-early 77 with the three into 1 pipe is the more desirable (just an opinion) the 78 is my favorite year. Yours looks like a 78, they do have a bit of vibration that is inherent to the triple, unless you have carpal tunnel its not an issue. Don't ask me how I know.

[Vhonda]

Great information, I assume the triple is not as balanced hence the vibration. but I also assume it is a bit loud as the previous owner said and from videos I have seen.

I haven't even started the bike yet, still cleaning out the old fuel, but it does have straight pipes. It's a barn that has been sitting for years.

I saw a single triple exhaust 1 to 1, looks pretty badass and loud I bet.

This is a later 1977 2D model, hopefully, no 2nd gear mod is needed.

I don't have carpal tunnel atm but dually noted.

[Mark1976]

Great information, I assume the triple is not as balanced hence the vibration. but I also assume it is a bit loud as the previous owner said and from videos I have seen.

I haven't even started the bike yet, still cleaning out the old fuel, but it does have straight pipes. It's a barn that has been sitting for years.

I saw a single triple exhaust 1 to 1, looks pretty badass and loud I bet.

It's a triple, two or four stroke, they vibrate. If you can, try to keep an original exhaust on it, it's just an ease of everything type of issue, selling it after the fact will be easier as well. Change the oil and filters and they're incredibly durable, if not, they become what you have, which is quite unfortunate.

[seanbarney41]

All due respect to Mark's (and possibly others) opinion.  I disagree.  Maybe there is a place for preserving any historic vehicle, but to be perfectly honest, I briefly owned one of these and hated it.  I have ridden dozens of different bikes, and I think that damn thing was the only time I ever got back from a ride and thought to myself, "that sucked!  I never want to ride this bike again."  terrible vibration, slow, both acceleration and cornering, heavy, and the shaft drive jacks up the rear of the bike every time you hit the throttle.  It sounded like a dying cow and rode like one too.

Just my opinion, but had to share.  Hopefully my particular example was worse than the others.  I just can't understand why otherwise sensible people claim to like this bike.

[Oddjob]

Worked on quite a few of these back when I was in the trade, not a good bike IMO. Changing the shims is an artform which will bend a valve if you are not extremely careful.

[Lucien Harpress]

I took a look at these back when I owned my XS1100.  I was intrigued, mostly because triples are goofy and I like the look of them.  My life took a turn in a more Honda-ward direction after that, so it never happened, but I still browse marketplace for one from time to time.

Your bike to do with as you wish, but these are pretty hard to find not chopped up.  Yammys are a bit rarer than Hondas, and people loved to cafe them.

[Don R]

 I had an XS850, got it running and promptly sold it to a pair of rabid triple fans. They showed up, tossed me the $$ like it was counterfeit and the cops were on their trail. They didn't even have time to load the box of spare stuff. Maybe they sneaked out of work.
 Its main fault was the fuse box, it had so much voltage drop it wouldn't even make a spark. I replaced it with a blade fuse box, and it got happy.

[grcamna2]

They installed Hitachi carbs to the XS850;I never liked them as much as the XS750 Mikuni's.

[Lucien Harpress]

They didn't make 850s for that long, if I remember.  Only a year or two?

[Mark1976]

They didn't make 850s for that long, if I remember.  Only a year or two?

   79-80 for the 850, it was a far better bike than the 750. That's not to say the 750 wasn't a decent bike, it just wasn't a superbike or anything near that, it was a incredibly reliable touring bike, by '78 that was Yamaha's focus for the bike, fairing and bags. Unfortunately the whatever you want to call them crowd, chops 'em up and makes complete abominations of them.

[Stev-o]

...and the shaft drive jacks up the rear of the bike every time you hit the throttle.

My brother had an XS1100 the same time as my buddy had the 750 and I rode the 1100 a fair amount. That was the one thing I did not like about the shaft drive, the torque twist when you nailed it, raised you up an inch or two, a little unnerving at first!  But the 1100 was fast, had a higher top end [130mph] than my Kaw 1000 [125mph] but I could take him in the turns.  He had a small Shoei "bikini"[?] fairing on it that caused the wobbles in the turns at high speeds.  I told him repeatedly to remove it but he liked the look.

[Don R]

 My brother had a 58 BMW that rose up front and back (Earles forks, shaft drive) when you gassed it and squatted when you got on the brakes. I liked it.

[seanbarney41]

My brother had a 58 BMW that rose up front and back (Earles forks, shaft drive) when you gassed it and squatted when you got on the brakes. I liked it.

I have found the BMW's shaft jacking to be more of a mildly annoying amusement, whereas with the Yamahas (and probably a lot of other shafties)it's more "hey!  This #$%* is trying to buck me off!".  The difference could easily come down to a simple upgrade to quality rear suspension but I just choose to stick with tried and true chain drive, thank you

[jgger]

Funny, but my FJR1300  does not jump or rise at all. It is an 06, so maybe they figured it out by then.

[MauiK3]

I never noticed it on my 75 GL1000.

[Lucien Harpress]

Same on my 76 GL.  Never really noticed anything especially shocking on my Valkyrie or KZ1300 either

That said, the stator does rotate opposite of the driveshaft on the GL1000, so that might counteract some of the shaft rise.  And my Valkyrie and KZ are so blasted heavy I can see it not being an issue on those either. 

Regardless, I love my shaft drive.  Throw some oil in the final drive and forget about it.   

[seanbarney41]

Same on my 76 GL.  Never really noticed anything especially shocking on my Valkyrie or KZ1300 either

That said, the stator does rotate opposite of the driveshaft on the GL1000, so that might counteract some of the shaft rise.  And my Valkyrie and KZ are so blasted heavy I can see it not being an issue on those either. 

Regardless, I love my shaft drive.  Throw some oil in the final drive and forget about it.   

but, apparently you have not forgotten about it as you are here complaining about how heavy they are and as massive as those engines are, shaft drive is for sure not making anything any lighter.

[grcamna2]

I shift slower and more deliberately(especially on a BMW airhead,as the trans will grind when shifted fast)when driving a shaftie as most of them are touring oriented;I haven't driven any shaft drive powerful sport bikes(FJR1300),so I wouldn't recognize the shaft 'jacking' on them.

[Kelly E]

I've ridden a lot of shaft drive bikes. My 84' Honda Sabre 700S and 94' Kawasaki Concours ZG 1000 both have no shaft jacking issues. The worst I can remember were the Yamahas, especially the XS 1100's. The FJR's don't have any shaft jacking issues. Honda's cure was longer swingarms to counter the torque.

I ridden the Concours and the FJR on fast curvy roads pretty damn hard and the extra 200lbs doesn't matter. Once rolling the weight disappears and you are just having fun plus you have to try really hard to even scrape something unlike the Goldwing that scrapes parts fairly soon. Both bikes ride like sport bikes at speed. There's a lot to be said for not having to mess with the chain on a 5K mile ride. In my opinion a modern sport touring bike is the best option for riding long distance and still have a blast while getting to the destination.