Topic: price check please - 76 Yamaha XS750

[RM81]

Hello.  I would like to get some input from the masses.  I came across a deal on a 76 Yamaha XS750 in pretty decent shape.  What would be a good price?  According to wikipedia there aren't too many of them made/exported (but I guess could be said about alot of other bikes).  They're not listed in the NADA antique MC guide.  Any one know anything about these?  Thanks for any info you can give.

[RRRToolSolutions]

Rusty, check and go carefully - I have only heard the bad things. I have never owned one, never ridden one, and don't have any personal history or experience with them.

But, I will tell you that I've seen several articles and comments made about their problems with starters, cooling, cam wear, and balancer troubles. I want one, but I've talked myself out of it just from those "rumors". Again, do some more checking. They could be wrong. I've heard how horrible the 650's are too, but there are among my absolute favorite bikes today and my 2 650's owned were good ones.

Regards,
Gordon

[RM81]

I've been looking around the internet today and have seen nothing but bad things about them.  I think I'm going to pass on this one.  I really want a mid 70's CB550, but just haven't come across the right deal yet.

[bryanj]

Is this the twin or tripple?

[RM81]

Is this the twin or tripple?

It's a triple.

[bryanj]

OK, things that go wrong with tripples

Reg/Rec---several mods
fork tube chrome---pits badly
Gearboxes----jump out of gear
Engines--big ends have been known to go
Swing arm bearings go
Brakes need regular de-siezing

Anything else you need to know, Engines and boxes were 90% sorted by the last of the 750 first 850

[RM81]

Thanks for the info.  I've already passed on the deal.  In a few hours searching the internet I found out about the jumping out of gear, electrical, and engine problems known with these bikes.  I was looking for a cb550 anyway, but someone made me the offer of the xs750.

[bryanj]

Dont get me wrong, when sorted they were great bikes and that exhaust note was incredible---just like a triumph trident only more reliable, only thing is get a sorted or late one

[Terry in Australia]

They were, and still are, ugly heaps of shiit. They don't do anything better than anything else of the same era, you won't get parts for them anywhere, and they have no resale value. Give it to someone you don't like and enjoy watching him go mad.............. 

[RM81]

They were, and still are, ugly heaps of shiit. They don't do anything better than anything else of the same era, you won't get parts for them anywhere, and they have no resale value. Give it to someone you don't like and enjoy watching him go mad.............. 

[bryanj]

Now, Now Terry, just cos your dog/sheep was frightened by one and ran away!!!!! There are far worse out there-----ever hear of the Laverda/Ducatic that would blow the incredibly expensive ignition box if you just rested the plug on the head instead of screwing it in or have you read how to refit the heads on a desmo or the manically expensive special tool to time a Duke; Harley ingition plates held in with special pop rivets at $10 EACH and wierdo jigs to rebuild gearboxes not to mention how the brakes could be improved by fitting an anchour Etc Etc

[Terry in Australia]

Now, Now Terry, just cos your dog/sheep was frightened by one and ran away!!!!! There are far worse out there-----ever hear of the Laverda/Ducatic that would blow the incredibly expensive ignition box if you just rested the plug on the head instead of screwing it in or have you read how to refit the heads on a desmo or the manically expensive special tool to time a Duke; Harley ingition plates held in with special pop rivets at $10 EACH and wierdo jigs to rebuild gearboxes not to mention how the brakes could be improved by fitting an anchour Etc Etc

Yeah Bryan, I spent many years hanging around my cousins Suzuki dealership back in the 1970's/1980's  and I've seen all that too, but those early Yamaha 4 strokes (apart from the XS650 twins) were ugly mothers that not even a 1970's British car designer could love.

But anyway, if you want to talk about crap engineering, you don't have to look outside Yamaha's factory walls. I see you haven't made mention of the "self destructing" TX750 twin mate, did that just slip your mind?

I remember watching a new one vibrating across the footpath while idling on the centre stand, until it just fell into the gutter. On reflection, that was the best place for it................. 

[mrbreeze]

  :.....Ain't it funny when Terry tells it like it is?

[Shenanigans]

My neighbor told me he bought the yamaha 750 twin back in the 70's because he could not rest his feet flat on the ground with a CB750.



He told me it was the biggest mistake he ever made 

[RRRToolSolutions]

I joke about my 650 - I tell people it has the Harley "shake". It will shake the levers and mirrors on the bars so bad at idle - they rattle loudly and the mirrors actually make a tuning-fork type of sound - wierd. The front tire bounces back and forth 1/2" with every revolution of the crank at idle.

I swear - if you give it a little gas  - about 2,000 rpm while on the center stand - the bike will move backwards. We're talking faster than a baby crawls fast! I'm dead serious - I could make a video to prove it. I can't explain it, but backwards!

Gordon

[pdxPope]

Yup, mine does that,too. 

I actually have to hold my foot down on the centerstand if I'm going to give it any throttle or it'll scoot backwards a good 6"

AWESOME bike, however. As complex as a rock and twice as reliable. 

-JP

[mrbreeze]

One of my best friends on the planet brought a Yami 650 back from a WestPac he did in the Navy early 70's on the USS Coral Sea. I don't know what kinda registration BS he had to go through but he bought it in a crate and the Navy shipped it for free.He had to pick it up in Oakland ,Ca. at the dock....haul it home and uncrate. I wasn't around for that but I did get to ride that bike enough times to like it.
One time when my bike was broke down,he wanted to go take a putt from San Jose to Santa Cruz,Ca. (about 30 miles over the hill). He hooked me up to ride his brother's Triumph 500. I didn't care for the handle bars (narrrrrrroww..........lame pullbacks) so ........he was cool with letting me ride the Yami and he rode his bros. Triumph. We took the old Santa Cruz highway(mucho twisties),very,very little traffic.All of the sudden on a straightaway....this dude comes FN!!' screaming by us in a go-cart!!!!!........I'm like.."OK....I'm game!!!!.................We played tag with that dude for 10-15 miles before it all ended. We were kickin' his ass on the straights but he picked up on us big time in the corners......he had experience on "HIS" track....super low ground clearence .....wet corners(no sunlight).............
When we all stopped.......he informed us that he was running a Mac90 2 stroker in the go cart.
Anyway.....I did get some saddle time on that bike and enjoyed it.

[bryanj]

Terry we were lucky here in UK as Yamaha never imported the TX750 but i have heard horror stories of it, we just had the 500 8 valve which was baad, Where i worked we actualy sold 2 of the tripples on the same day on consecutive rego's but not as bad as the 2 FS1E in a crate where i built 1 and the boss built the other and only found out we havd put the same Rego on both 2 months later when they were both in the street together---guess which boss had got it wrong!

[RRRToolSolutions]

Oh, I do love my 650 twin. I've never ridden a BSA, Triumph, or Norton - would like to, but never had the chance. My TX650 and it's predecessor - my 1977 XS650 have John Deere like power delivery. They aren't slow - the early ones have 53 horsepower. It's a comfortable bike for taller folks - it has a lot of room. The seat/peg/bars are all widely spaced and I like that. They are way over-built and I have never heard of one being unreilable. The only thing mine has failed me on is the turn signal switch - the bike vibrated the soldering off the left handlebar switch last year while on a long 3 hour VJMC ride. I replaced it with a new factory piece and it's back to perfect.

There is one beef, but it's so well known that now I've accepted it and part of the model's character - that stupid electric starter. I hate using it, so this bike is always kick started. Not a problem - it starts on the 3rd kick cold every time, 1st kick after warm. But that compression release/starter lever thing is not natural, the weak starter and battery power is undersized for the job, so the result it a pitiful sound when trying to start -(like a Harley) energy pulled from the spark makes it even more reluctant to start - so a kick is preferred. They should have waited until they had designed a crankcase for the starter and until there was suffcient space for a battery up to the task before adding electric start. I guess they were feeling the pressure from Honda with so many electric start models. Even Honda's CB175's came with push button starting.

Gordon

[Terry in Australia]

Terry we were lucky here in UK as Yamaha never imported the TX750 but i have heard horror stories of it, we just had the 500 8 valve which was baad, Where i worked we actualy sold 2 of the tripples on the same day on consecutive rego's but not as bad as the 2 FS1E in a crate where i built 1 and the boss built the other and only found out we havd put the same Rego on both 2 months later when they were both in the street together---guess which boss had got it wrong!

Ha ha, I purposely didn't mention the 500 Bryan, I had one! Actually, I loved it, it was a big grunty thing, and had classic looks, not like the coffin shaped tank model that they brought out later to upgrade it. I only got rid of it because the bike shop where I bought it, offered me a really good deal on a new (but discontinued) CB750F.

Sadly, for the 450 bucks I paid for the TX500 in 1977 I could have also bought a really nice Ducati 450 "Silver Shotgun" from the same dealer which would be worth around 10,000 bucks now, and my old Yammy 500 now would be worth maybe 500? Oh well, you can't put an old head on young shoulders, I guess?  

[pdxPope]

that stupid electric starter

Oh don't get me started (ha ha) on that! Electric starter, my ass. Instead of "start" labeled under the button it should read "to completely drain battery, press here."

2 or 3 kicks cold w/ full choke works every time.

Sadly, for the 450 bucks I paid for the TX500 in 1977 I could have also bought a really nice Ducati 450 "Silver Shotgun"

You heathen bastard. You have now officially made me weep. 

-JP

[bryanj]

Same as the Norton 850 fitted with what they called a "prestolite" starter---We called it a "prestoflatten" and put a "Makes a Nice Click" label on the button

[RRRToolSolutions]

Oh, try this - using the electric strarter with the compression lever switch while holding the front brake because you're on an incline - all the while the engine wants a little throttle!!!

Yes, what was that group of engineers thinking?

Gordon

[crazypj]

Rusty, check and go carefully - I have only heard the bad things. I have never owned one, never ridden one, and don't have any personal history or experience with them.

But, I will tell you that I've seen several articles and comments made about their problems with starters, cooling, cam wear, and balancer troubles. I want one, but I've talked myself out of it just from those "rumors". Again, do some more checking. They could be wrong. I've heard how horrible the 650's are too, but there are among my absolute favorite bikes today and my 2 650's owned were good ones.

Regards,
Gordon

 The XS750 triple doesn't have many redeeming features except as a parts bike for something else. (the gas tank looks pretty good on an XS650, if anyone has a spare?  )
The TX 750 or TX/XS500 twins - just don't, OK?
 Apart from the problems you mentioned, they also have a very weak 2nd gear ( most replaced during warranty period) and some generator issues (typical Yamaha 70's and reasonably easy to fix)
 Wiring harnesses were frequently crimped so tight at connectors they were replaced under warranty (sometimes more than once)
 They also have Hitachi carbs , not very good when new,(no parts available but some Suzuki stuff will fit)
 K&L Supply company listed main jets for them in 2006 catalog but I haven't seen newer catalog so don't know if still available.
 The XS850 had pretty much all the problems solved so you would only have to deal with a 25~30 yr old motorcycle if you got one of them. (but, it still has Hitachi carbs  )
 I does sound nice when running right though but I would still like a BSA Rocket 3 
PJ