78 Yamaha XS750 Triple YEa or nea?

[Jedz123]

So I have opportunity to get a barn fresh XS750 THAT RUNS! I'm probably purchasing from my buddy who is sitting on it and has too many projects on his plate and is unloading on to me for more then a fair price (sub $400). Everything works on it. Just don't know too much about these triples other then they sound amazing!
I'll get some pictures posted at some point tonight!

Good buy? I'd like to have another classic back in the heard. I know I don't want a twin but maybe a triple???

Thanks guys!
-Justin

 

[alke46]

I had one of those new in1978. My only complaint was the vibration felt in the handlebar at highway speeds. After broadsiding a deer, I traded it for an 81 GS 850 because it was so smooth.

 

[Ecklund]

So I have opportunity to get a barn fresh XS750 THAT RUNS! I'm probably purchasing from my buddy who is sitting on it and has too many projects on his plate and is unloading on to me for more then a fair price (sub $400). Everything works on it. Just don't know too much about these triples other then they sound amazing!
I'll get some pictures posted at some point tonight!

Good buy? I'd like to have another classic back in the heard. I know I don't want a twin but maybe a triple???

Thanks guys!
-Justin

One of my early bikes was one of those 650 twins. It was a custom type, like an 'L', with the terrible handlebars. The Yamaha triples always seemed to me to be much better all round bikes.

Hey, what's not to like about a running 750 triple for $400? To me its just a matter of opportunity costs with time, money and space that could be used on something more interesting.

 

[Sandy]

I bought a new 1977 XS750 in 1978 and it turned out to be a pretty good bike. Kind of boring, but nice at time, it was a non-current model so the price was right. It was the standard model, not the Special which is their "L" equivalent. I put 80,000 kms on it in a few years including a 16,000 km cross Canada trip. Only real issue other than being boring is the chain primary drive that will stretch and slap against the inside of the engine case. Easy enough fix but rather annoying. After updating the rear shocks with S&Ws it handled pretty good and had good ground clearance with the stock exhaust.

 

[tkent02]

My friend had one back in about '78 or so. I rode it quite a bit, I liked it. Not as good as a GS 750 but a nice motorcycle.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

It'll never be a Laverda Jota, but it's a cheap ticket to tripledom.

 

[chuck hahn]

Well there are lots of XS clubs that will pay good money for them..and the twins..as they like to do choppers and cafe bikes out of them. Do some researh for forums and pop in and youll see that your 400 is a deal and a half.

http://www.yamaha-triples.org/portal.asp

http://www.xs650.com/

http://www.xs11.com/

http://www.yamahatriples.com/

 

[JEEPRUSTY]

nic elooking bikes one for 650 in NS Canada........
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-street-cruis...2d/1086623784?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

 

[JEEPRUSTY]

eww they have a legit following and websites not sure if the 78 is different though
far cooler than that GR you were running and for its time a far more stylish bike

http://www.biker.net/750_service/750_service main.html

 

[JEEPRUSTY]

http://www.biker.net/ is a pretty nice fan site on this bike

 

[Rob S.]

My father once said to me, "What's with the beer fetish?"

So I'll ask you now: "What's with the shaft fetish?" :biggrin:

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Shafties are cool.

 

[Guest]

Yea or nea? Yea, the price is right and it already runs, why not. If you find you don't care for it, you can always flip it or trade it for something else. There was a maroon basket case down here two years ago going for twice that.

 

[Sandy]

eww they have a legit following and websites not sure if the 78 is different though
far cooler than that GR you were running and for its time a far more stylish bike

http://www.biker.net/750_service/750_service main.html

78 was a little better. I think it had slightly more horsepower, maybe not, but they did go to electronic ignition. Being a triple with a 120 degree crank it neede 3 sets of points. Yikes. Laverda triples had 180 crank. Much easier to manufacture. That's why they sounded so cool, kind of like pulling a spark plug wire off of a 4 cylinder bike.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Actually, Laverda went to a 120 crank later in the 80's with the triple.

 

[Jedz123]

So the final negotiations is this, $350, in it's running but in of need of a make over condition... Oh and delivered to my house too.

Pics:

Handle Bars will need to go for SURE! I rode it up and down the driveway, The bars are way too goofy. Dirty, needs some sprucing but for the price I can't complain for a good running 750. I'll likely De-"L" (or special) it and try to get it to be a fun run around like the GR I had was... However I think this one will be a bit more fun when done.

Rob, IT's by pure chance I'm looking into getting another Shafty. This one was in the price range I needed.... Plus delivered... Yeah good deal.

Jeep and Chuck, Thanks for the links I'll investigate more when I get a chance.

I read somewhere that 2nd gear is bad on these bikes? I haven't really gone beyond 2nd with this one... Any insight?

Thanks guys.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Yamahas of that vintage had dodgy 2nd gears. Mainly the bigger, torque monsters like the 1100s.

http://www.xs11.com/xs11-info/tech-tips/repairs/33/106-the-second-gear-repair-illustrations.html

Is that a Sargent seat?

 

[JEEPRUSTY]

hell yes boy buy that thing
spit abd polish

 

[tkent02]

Oh, it's an L. Nevermind.

 

[eil]

Yea, man. Throw away those handlebars and that's a decent bike. The seat looks great, that's almost exactly what I want for my 850GL.