Yamaha XS750 - who else has got one?

[Supertwin Don]

Just started a re-furb on my old 1978 XS750E and would like to contact / speak to anyone else who has a similar project.:rolleyes:
(and before anyone leaps in and tells me about the "weak" second gear - I already know the cure!!)

[Grumph]

Just started a re-furb on my old 1978 XS750E and would like to contact / speak to anyone else who has a similar project.:rolleyes:
(and before anyone leaps in and tells me about the "weak" second gear - I already know the cure!!)

Talk to triplenut on here - he races one....Well actually, a big bored one.

I was approached a few weeks ago by a guy with an 850 which I'd serviced many years ago who wants it pulled down and gone through.
Judging by triplenut's one, rings, valve stem seals and unfortunately guides too will be needed. The OE guides appear to be soft, at least by comparison to period Suzuki and Kawasaki. Valves appear to last well as do bearings. Budget on a primary chain too....and clutch plates.

[BMWST?]

i had one as a brand new ride in 1978!It replaced a SR500E which disapointed me.XS 750 was a nice bike,at least as good as a gs750 day to day,more comfortable,more economical,just not so good on a windy road,I had no issues with mine .The triple was nice,had a tall first gearThe E was a lot more responsive than earlier models

[FJRider]

Warning ... it takes a great deal of effort and expense ... to keep them running on 4 cylinders ... :whistle:

[Kickaha]

Here's one we prepared earlier

314164

[AllanB]

Don't they have suspect second gear? :bleh:

1978. Must be sweet f-all of them left in NZ. Ebay may be your friend

[shovel jase]

yep i've got one - '81 750 special. long term project (in bits)

i'm not doing a resto, more a custom/cafe sort of thing. chopped all the battery box tabs off

so past the point of no return.

http://i58.tinypic.com/24weufb.jpg

[Edbear]

I had an '81 Special. Loved it's comfort, torque and easy cruising. Handling was fine for the riding I did, but it wasn't a sports bike.

[Grubber]

When i was in Aussie around the early 80's a mate of mine had one. Seemed to go really well up against my F2 750 Honda at the time. right up until he launched it off an off ramp on the freeway at about 80mph. Was pretty much toast after that.

[robinm]

Had a bit to do with them back in the day when they were new. apart from the 2nd gear problem they also had a problem with the primary chain, they tended to stretch and rub on the inside of the alloy cover sending little bits of alloy through the motor destroying the motor.
can be checked easy though, if the motor has an odd noise that sounds like a HT spark tracking, then it is rubbing on the case. Also if memory serves me correctly, if you remove the oil filler cap you can see the chain, if you can lift it enough to make it touch the case then the chain is beyond help.
The 850 which replaced the 750 had a heavier duty chain and did not have the same problems.
The 750,s were wearing out primary chains when only a year or 2 old, it killed a lot of them, shame really for they were a great bike apart from that, hell the "78 model was named bike of the year by one of the bike mags at the time.

[awa355]

Warning ... it takes a great deal of effort and expense ... to keep them running on 4 cylinders ... :whistle:

they were that good, I only used three cylinders.

[FJRider]

they were that good, I only used three cylinders.

Bloody show off's ... :shifty:

[Subike]

Did you mean one of these?
A fella way down south who rides a greenish TL1000 has one hidden in his shed

[Supertwin Don]

314304

Anybody got a primary chain and / or a decent condition seat base ?

[Grumph]

314304

Anybody got a primary chain and / or a decent condition seat base ?

Again..talk to triplenut on here. He knows the supply line for engine bits - and may have the cosmetics you need in his stash.

[Triplenut]

Flick me a pm,
have shelves full of bits left over from race bike build and a couple of parts bikes. Can point you in the direction of most bits you'll need for the engine rebuild.

Dont believe all the stories you hear about yamaha triples, most horror stories relate to the D and 2D models, from the E on and all the 850's they are pretty reliable bikes. yes chains wear (but dont usually break, yes 2nd gear can go but an hour and $2.00 shim will fix that.
Great bikes that are starting to get a following especially in the Cafe racer scene.

Check out www.yamaha-triples.org, heaps of info and help there.


Cheers

[caseye]

314304

Anybody got a primary chain and / or a decent condition seat base ?

I had one exactly like that!(25 yeaqrs ago) Before I spent narms an Leggies doing it up. Engine by Woody Pukekohe Suzuki, arrived at his place at night in 20 litre buckets. Frame, rims, all to be painted bits to Ernie, Pukekohe Panel and paint. Came back Custom Yamaha Grey with red and blue factory stripes and NOT what I'd asked for Yamahaha, across the tail duck bill, but Jam Jar! All bits went straight to Woody who rang me with the words, she's done boy! I hot footed it to Puke that night after work and rode her home. Looked fantastic, sounded fantastic, felt bloody strange with the back rising up in a corner as you throttled on, old shafties did that ya no!
Brain faded and I swapped it for a bleed'n V8 AMC Hornet. Ha, that didn't go and needed another year and more legs and arms to ge it going, looked good sounded great, did absolutley nothing for me, sold it at Turners.
Wish I still had me bike.
Saw this one in yer shed Don, she'll do another turn easy mate.

[T.W.R]

314304

Anybody got a primary chain and / or a decent condition seat base ?

Had one of each....750 then the 850 and took the next step :innocent:
Primary Chain was an expensive piece of kit 28yrs ago :facepalm: complete bottom end rebuild on the GX (basically a last of the line 750 ...parts bin special from Yamaha).
There were outfits here & England doing fiberglass replica seat pans through the 80s & 90s

Got an interesting article by CYCLE magazine where they threw a TURBO on their long term test 750 :shifty:

[BMWST?]

Had one of each....750 then the 850 and took the next step :innocent:
Primary Chain was an expensive piece of kit 28yrs ago :facepalm: complete bottom end rebuild on the GX (basically a last of the line 750 ...parts bin special from Yamaha).
There were outfits here & England doing fiberglass replica seat pans through the 80s & 90s

Got an interesting article by CYCLE magazine where they threw a TURBO on their long term test 750 :shifty:

yes very nearly went LAVERDA after my yammie triple

[T.W.R]

yes very nearly went LAVERDA after my yammie triple

Living with the two yams was far easier on the wallet & the licence :msn-wink:
Did a huge amount of kms on both yams, the 750 had bit more spirit but the 850 came into it's own geared up on tour. The Laverda was just a brutish mongrel....heaps of fun at the time but a real antisocial bike :cool: