Yamaha XS750E - Yay or Nay

[Spuds1234]

I've been looking for a bike for ages, and I really like the old Laverda 1000 3CL triples and the like.

My father has a 1977 Laverda 1000 3CL, and I kinda decided that when I got my first 'real' bike it would be along the lines of this (budget allowing).

I came across this bike on Trademe, and to be honest, it really pushes my buttons. Its a 1979 Yamaha XS750.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=89126658&permanent=0

Its stretching my budget if I want to get insurance with it (and it would have to be the whole hog -Theft, Fire, and OMG I JUST GOT PWNED BY A CAR kinda thing -I dont really care about me, I would just hate to see a bike like that get wrecked).

However I must say that it is an incredibly beautiful bike.

I was wondering if anyone out there has had any previous experience with the XS750? If so what are your opinions about the bike? Do they break down easily? (This is probably my main concern as the bike in question is about twice as old as me). Are parts easily available.

I will be riding it regularly, but it wont be used to commute on, as where I work it wont exactly be in the safest place.

At this stage, I haven't even looked at the bike, and I'm pretty much sold on it. It suits my wants perfectly. Its just that I may not be able to afford the upkeep if it keeps breaking down.

Its now up to you guys to point out the negatives of the bike as the positives right now are pretty hard to look past and see.

[T.W.R]

My 1st triple was a XS750G :yes: though it had endured a rough life. it kept on going until spinning the crankshaft bearing shells. Picked up a motor out of a XS750SE & built one good engine from both donors:yes: that's going back 20yrs ago.
Parts back then were available but weren't cheap

The one you've linked looks OK & if what's been said is true then it would be a reasonable buy :yes: if the kms are genuine & the 2nd bike is as stated then it would be OK.

Biggest things to check would be drive line play, rattly bottom end ( not big end knock but primary chain) ( multi row hyvo chain, did one in my 750 & the 850 & at the time cost over $300 a piece), sloppy gearshift (particularly 1st -2nd :yes: they've got a horrendously tall 1st gear), Seat pans rust out easily too, particularly around the hinge mounts.

Awesome midrange torque ( at their time had more torque between 2-5000rpm than any comparable bike, even more than a Z1000 kawasaki).
Soft suspension & rubbery front end. Highly addictive engine :yes: caused me to get a 850 then onto a Lavy 1200:Punk:

[nudemetalz]

Check this link out.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=44621

[Bonez]

Dad had a G model. Only issue was the coils. Has a paper oil filter element too, something the ol Lavs never had.

[Spuds1234]

Alas, it would seem the bike has been sold while I was at work.

Farken work.

Such is life.

[psyguy]

hi
i had a 1980 yamaha xs750, but in an "s" style, the soft-chopper
i think it's practically the same bike, other than the styling

i had the bike for years and did a lot of kms, so obviously i was overall happy with it. it never let me down even though it's been ridden in sub zero temperatures as well as in very hot weather (40 degrees), and also in heavy rain and even through some snow...:gob:

but since you asked for the negatives, here are some:

- i thought the suspension was way too soft for anything other than crusing (even though it was adjustable, it was still too soft for any sportier ride)

- the 3into2 exhaust was unsatisfactory (with either standard mufflers or with the free flow ends), however a new jama 3into1 corrected that nicely

- interestingly, when at one stage the motor started loosing power, on inspection, it was the valves of the midddle cylinder that burnt to the point where there was no compression at all on that cylinder while the other two cylinders were completely fine. my mechanic thought that had to do with the centre cylinder being relatively poorely cooled compared to the outer ones. anyhow this happened only after maybe 50 tho kms, so not too bad

- to have it run properly it needed carburetors balanced fairly often (they were never reconditioned, so that may have been the only problem really)

- it took really long to warm it up and the idle was crap until the engine was at the optimum temperature (the choke has 2 preset positions and can't be fine-tuned). mind you, i had an original road test from a respectable magazine (they tested a NEW bike), and they too thought that the cold idle was a real problem!

- finally, i never realy got used to the sound of three cylinders (both 2 and 4 sound more balanced to me), but this is just a personal preference


now, much as in your case (i suspect), the enthusiasm of having the bike more than compensated for any problems i ever had with it.

so, i rekon go for it! :Punk: