Author Topic: Ever ridden a Yamaha TX650? (Read 7339 times)

westondc · « **on:** February 03, 2010, 08:02:56 AM »

I have a friend that wants to buy an older motorcycle for under $1000. i sold my CB350 to a different friend and now this guy wants a bike to ride along with us. the problem is he wants to get it asap. i don't want him to by a crap bike so I've been searching myself. i ran across a 1974 yamaha TX650 for $600 obo. The tires, seat, etc. is in good condition. The color of the bike is brown. The bike runs good and is in above average condition for its age. i don't know much about these bigger cc twins.

Deceptibong · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2010, 08:28:04 AM »

who wants to go with us??? anyone I know?

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2010, 09:06:13 AM »

I think Gordon "Ilbikes" has one and could tell you more. All I know is that they vibrate but are very reliable. And they look cool.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2010, 10:05:16 AM »

That is a GREAT price for the bike if it is good running condition. As a 74 it is a TX650A and sometimes referred to as a XS650A. The stock color was a reddish brown or burgundy. The TX650 was the 73 model year and they were blue. They are often misidentified by year as the parts all mix and match. The frame changed in 74 for the better and an easy way to tell is the passenger foot peg mount. On the 74 and newer it is mounted to a tubular loop welded onto the frame. This would be what is commonly called a Standard model and is very collectible. Big + if it has the stock exhaust in good condition. For whatever reason I don't see many 74's but it is essentially identical to my more commonly seen 75 XS650B except for the color scheme. And yes it will vibrate more due to the 360 degree crank but it has a great sound with great low end torque. I rode my 79 to California and back so it's not that bad, you guys are young you can handle it.

Reliability and parts availability is excellent and they are great looking with a bit of the classic British style.

Tim. · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2010, 10:31:29 AM »

Buy it. It might even have the shouldered Akront style alloy rims.

westondc · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2010, 10:34:35 AM »

Quote from: Deceptibong on February 03, 2010, 08:28:04 AM

who wants to go with us??? anyone I know?

Django wants one, he's been looking for a while after Andrew bought my bike.

hey srust58 thanks for the info. it sounds like a pretty cool bike, plus if my friend got it then i could take i for a spin. 650cc seems pretty big compaired to the twins i've ridden. hopefully it's not too big for him to learn on. my friends been on my cb350 and cb500, he likes the 350 but thinks the 500 is too big

we might as well go and check it out. but i'm a little concerned, the last time i went with a friend to look at a bike i bought it!

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2010, 10:52:50 AM »

He buys it or you buy it. I don't see any downside.

I bought my 79 new and had never ridden one except as a passenger. I learned on the drive home from the dealer.

I would guess it is similar in weight to the 500 and maybe it will be intimidating at first it's a little more of a brute than the 500 4 cylinder. I thought it was huge too at first but he has to be comfortable with it. You grow into it and it is less likely you will outgrow it.

RRRToolSolutions · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2010, 11:48:28 AM »

The 650's are stone reliable. They are a big bike in terms of seating position and will be very comfortable for even tall riders. It will feel lighter than the 500 Four because it's narrower and has a longer wheelbase. They aren't fast - 50 horsepower for the 1974 which is the same as the Honda 500 and 550 Fours. I've had multiple copies of each and think it would be a toss-up of which one wins the drag race or the top speed. I will give smoothness and sound to the Honda four, but the 650 Yamaha has always been one of my favorites in terms of old-school muscle. The engine makes torque and delivers it like a John Deere. From 2,000 to 7,500 - it pulls steady and will make me smile every time I short-shift the gearbox. The ratios are unique. I have never owned a bike that did it the 650 way". 1st is very tall and will go from 0 ~30 and then every gear after that is just 900 rpm away. 60 mph will put you at 4,000 rpm where the bike responds well, but 4,000 is where the mirros start getting a little blurred.

Anyway, I do like these - a lot!

Gordon

westondc · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2010, 12:01:48 PM »

Gordon, thanks for your comments on the TX650. this sounds like a really fun and dependable cycle. i think I'm going to call the guy with the bike and get some more info on it before i tell my friend about... just in case i decide i want it

Deceptibong · « **Reply #9 on:** February 03, 2010, 12:07:01 PM »

Quote

Django wants one

thats great to hear! does he want to go on one of the longer trips planned?

i hope someone gets it...Id really like to see it/ride it

westondc · « **Reply #10 on:** February 03, 2010, 12:27:49 PM »

found this site with some good stuff on the Yamaha 650 http://www.xs650.org.au/general%20info.HTM

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2010, 10:24:00 AM »

Any news on the bike? Just saw a 75/6 bike in decent good running condition go for $2000. It looked like a 76 with 75 tank, side covers and exhaust. Don't let it get away at that price if it is as described.

mlinder · « **Reply #12 on:** February 08, 2010, 06:47:46 PM »

Pretty sure the XT650 is just an XS650? Renamed for a year or two?

westondc · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2010, 12:40:15 PM »

Quote from: srust58 on February 08, 2010, 10:24:00 AM

Any news on the bike? Just saw a 75/6 bike in decent good running condition go for $2000. It looked like a 76 with 75 tank, side covers and exhaust. Don't let it get away at that price if it is as described.

well i called the guy twice and left a message. that was 5 days ago and the post is still on CL. really hoping i get a call back. even if i dont buy the bike and my friends not intersted, i at least want to check it out.

HAIRHEAD · « **Reply #14 on:** March 17, 2010, 09:01:34 PM »

No,but i'll tell ya about it soon

i'm gonna wake her up this spring.

westondc · « **Reply #15 on:** March 17, 2010, 09:04:30 PM »

nice! i like the color

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #16 on:** March 17, 2010, 10:21:07 PM »

Hairhead, Looks like you have a pretty decent bike to work with. What's the story on it? I have only seen a few 73's for sale around here the last year or so.

lordmoonpie · « **Reply #17 on:** March 18, 2010, 04:18:27 AM »

Buy it! I've been thinking about one of these myself - the ideal bike to build a KR style dirt tracker for the street...

HAIRHEAD · « **Reply #18 on:** March 21, 2010, 04:27:00 PM »

Quote from: srust58 on March 17, 2010, 10:21:07 PM

Hairhead, Looks like you have a pretty decent bike to work with. What's the story on it? I have only seen a few 73's for sale around here the last year or so.

She was part of a Mountain of Japanese Iron-6 "project bikes"+ a lift table-that i aquired in a trade on craigslist for 1 project car-1971 Volvo 1800e-

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #19 on:** March 21, 2010, 07:21:09 PM »

Quote from: HAIRHEAD on March 21, 2010, 04:27:00 PM

Quote from: srust58 on March 17, 2010, 10:21:07 PM
Hairhead, Looks like you have a pretty decent bike to work with. What's the story on it? I have only seen a few 73's for sale around here the last year or so.
She was part of a Mountain of Japanese Iron-6 "project bikes"+ a lift table-that i aquired in a trade on craigslist for 1 project car-1971 Volvo 1800e-

I remember that ad. A bunch of Honda parts and bikes and one 73 XS650. He would only do a package deal for everything or nothing. Congratulations.

News:

Author Topic: Ever ridden a Yamaha TX650? (Read 7339 times)