Yes You read that right...OFC y'all prolly knew about these...but I am totally surprised...Didnt know Yamaha made these at all...A fellow on a FB page for Vintage Japanese Bikes posted pics of his ...heres a couple...How rare are these???
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1973 TX750
- Thread starter madmax-im
- Start date
Well the majority of them were scrapped when the engines grenaded. Supposedly the 74's had the bugs worked out. I've had 4 or 5 over the years but never had one that ran.... 
Rare but I have no idea of their value. Read this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_TX750
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_TX750
Thanks...Coincidentally I just finished reading that...I can see why they were relatively unpopular...Way too complicated counterbalancing system and oddly place oil filter..and heat issues...Like y'all said supposedly all the bugs were out by 1974 model year...I find these very cool but knowing about them now changes things considerably...I think its prolly safe to say the the TX650s are preferred over the TX750s...BTW I am convinced a 1973 TX650 is the next bike for me...
Thats not a good thing.....Well the majority of them were scrapped when the engines grenaded. Supposedly the 74's had the bugs worked out. I've had 4 or 5 over the years but never had one that ran....
They have many useful 650 parts on them if you ever run across one dirt cheap. The wheels are a direct swap and nicer (bigger rear drum brake, D.I.D. brand rims). The swingarm is also a popular swap. It has nearly 1/4" bigger diameter arm tubes so is much stiffer. Again, it's pretty much a direct swap. I've had the TX750 wheels and swingarm on my 650 for years.
Very cool to know that..always learning new stuff about these bikes...One of these days i will even get to ride one..I havent any idea how they ride..or feel...
I was like you. I always liked these 650s but never rode one until I got mine. It wasn't running of course when I got it, so I had to "renovate" it first, but once I did get it going, I fell in love with the thing. It's the perfect bike for local blasting around. It has a wonderful engine with lots of low and midrange power. It's small and light enough to be easy to maneuver in and out of the garage, around parking lots, and in tight traffic, but big and powerful enough to ride nice and be fun. Perfect "local" bike in my opinion.
Appreciate those insights and observations..I already am in love wuith these bikes...I will no doubt find someone at the VYR this coming srept who will let me take theirs for a ride....I am done with big heavy bikes..I have alot of upper body arthritis and so the lighter the bike the better..plus i do believe ..less is more...BTW I will buy a running bike because i am first and foremost a turnkey rider..OFC there will be some issues along the way but I will start with a nice runner...
Yes, they all need some work, even the "good" ones, lol. But we tend to go into them a little more "in depth" around here. We're fixing and updating things many run-of-the-mill 650 owners know nothing about. But doing at least some of these things is going to make your good bike even better.
That is a very pretty one indeed.
There were several guys in my class that also had early-mid 70s Yamaha twins. One chap had a TX500 which seemed durable but slow and the other had a TX750 which was unreliable and slow. My fairly badly clapped out '75 XS650B could have both of them for lunch in a drag or a roll-on contest any-day.
Now, the two dudes who had ring-dings (RD400s)....
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There were several guys in my class that also had early-mid 70s Yamaha twins. One chap had a TX500 which seemed durable but slow and the other had a TX750 which was unreliable and slow. My fairly badly clapped out '75 XS650B could have both of them for lunch in a drag or a roll-on contest any-day.
Now, the two dudes who had ring-dings (RD400s)....
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OOooohhhh, yes. Without a doubt the XS650 is a far superior bike in every way but those few items quoted by 5Twins above (brake/swing arm etc.).
The other important point to note is that the TX500 and TX750 have totally different engine designs from the TX/XS650 (the difference in designations was largely according what year the bike was built). The TX500/750 and XS650 have virtually no engine components in common, as far as I am aware.
The XS650 is a much simpler (aka more primitive) design that reportedly dates back to the German-designed Hosk 500 vertical twin of the late 1950's. It has a simple two-valve/cylinder head and no counter-balancing shafts. As a result, it is somewhat noisier and has more vibration (in case anyone noticed...
), but there are far fewer parts whirling around inside to mess up and so durability is excellent.In contrast, the TX500 & TX750 originated in the early 1970's at Yamaha, well after MamYama bought the Hosk design and enlarged it to a 650 to compete with the British twins and introduced it as their first four-stroke bike in 1970.
The TX500 and TX750 had four-valve heads and sophisticated counter-balancers to compete with the Honda and Kawasaki four cylinder bikes in terms of engine smoothness. When it all worked, they ran OK, but the details of the newer design engines were simply not well-done and so reliability was remarkably poor (particularly on the larger TX750). As well, they simply didn't have the power or the "sex-appeal" to compete with 4-cylinder bikes and yet, they were just about as expensive to manufacture - so in the market, they were dogs.
Anyhow - that is certainly the nicest TX750 I have ever seen - someone must really love it.
Pete
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When I was in high school in the early 70’s, most of us kids that had motorcycles were riding small displacement two strokes or Yamaha and Honda 350’s. There was this skinny little kid in my class that rode a Yamaha DT175 enduro to school every day and one day he came gliding in on a brand new 1973 TX750, that gold one. To say the least it caused a stir among our teenage crowd. Such a big powerful bike was unheard of at our high school. The funny thing was, cars on the other hand, looked like the auction lot at Barret Jacksons, every Detroit Muscle car you can imagine!
I have the swingarm off one of these winging it’s way to from Norway of all places
Fascinating history..Thanks for filling in some blanks...OOooohhhh, yes. Without a doubt the XS650 is a far superior bike in every way but those few items quoted by %Twins above (brake/swing arm etc.).
The other important point to note is that the TX500 and TX750 have totally different engine designs from the TX/XS650 (the difference in designations was largely according what year the bike was built). The TX500/750 and XS650 have virtually no engine components in common, as far as I am aware.
The XS650 is a much simpler (aka more primitive) design that reportedly dates back to the German-designed Hosk 500 vertical twin of the late 1950's. It has a simple two-valve/cylinder head and no counter-balancing shafts. As a result, it is somewhat noisier and has more vibration (in case anyone noticed...
In contrast, the TX500 & TX750 originated in the early 1970's at Yamaha, well after MamYama bought the Hosk design and enlarged it to a 650 to compete with the British twins and introduced it as their first four-stroke bike in 1970.
The TX500 and TX750 had four-valve heads and sophisticated counter-balancers to compete with the Honda and Kawasaki four cylinder bikes in terms of engine smoothness. When it all worked, they ran OK, but the details of the newer design engines were simply not well-done and so reliability was remarkably poor (particularly on the larger TX750). As well, they simply didn't have the power or the "sex-appeal" to compete with 4-cylinder bikes and yet, they were just about as expensive to manufacture - so in the market, they were dogs.
Anyhow - that is certainly the nicest TX750 I have ever seen - someone must really love it.
Pete
I am mostly a normal maintenence person but anything truly involved wont be done by me..or i will at least seek out someone who has more capable skills and knowledge..I dont have tools and my arthritis limits my strength in my hands..However..having the technical expertise and vast knowledge depository here..i should be alright...and will be the difference between pure knowledge and pure stupidity...LOL
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You are most welcome. It seemed that at least two of the Japanese J-4 bike builders tried new things and wound up with turkeys in the early-mid 1970s:
In my view, each one of those Suzuki GS bikes was much better than the offerings from any of the other J-4 companies in each of its respective displacement classes. The problem was that Suzuki simply tried too hard to please too big a market and they are not that large a company and so they didn't have the big marketing budget of the other firms.
- Yamaha with the TX500 and TX750 twins (one of which was terribly unreliable and both of which were marketplace dogs, as noted above);
- Suzuki with their very innovative Wankel rotary engined bike, the RE5 (built from 1974 through 1976).
In my view, each one of those Suzuki GS bikes was much better than the offerings from any of the other J-4 companies in each of its respective displacement classes. The problem was that Suzuki simply tried too hard to please too big a market and they are not that large a company and so they didn't have the big marketing budget of the other firms.
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I can see how that would cause a stir at a HS back in the day...It looks cool and will draw a crowd everytime...
BTW - if you come to the Iron Horse, I am sure you'll find a nice XS650 for sale. Bring your Maxim and you might even be able to make a good trade...
The XS650 really is a superb bike to boot around on, as stated by 5Twins. The other key point is that among this group there are so many helpful experts that no problem you ever experience will defeat you and finding parts is absolutely a piece of cake. About the only component that really is difficult to find is an original exhaust system. Other than that, everything else can either be found used, NOS (just type the original Yamaha part number into a Google search window on-line) or a new pattern part can be sourced from one or more vendors.
I bought a complete brand new wiring harness and both LH and RH handlebar switches for my 1976 XS650C from a vendor right here in Canada for less than $175 CDN all-in.
You'll likely be a bit surprised by the vibration after riding a four cylinder bike, but once the carbs are dialed in, they are really not that bad and the handling is very relaxed with a comfortable upright riding position, plenty of power and a beautiful exhaust note.
Pete
The XS650 really is a superb bike to boot around on, as stated by 5Twins. The other key point is that among this group there are so many helpful experts that no problem you ever experience will defeat you and finding parts is absolutely a piece of cake. About the only component that really is difficult to find is an original exhaust system. Other than that, everything else can either be found used, NOS (just type the original Yamaha part number into a Google search window on-line) or a new pattern part can be sourced from one or more vendors.
I bought a complete brand new wiring harness and both LH and RH handlebar switches for my 1976 XS650C from a vendor right here in Canada for less than $175 CDN all-in.
You'll likely be a bit surprised by the vibration after riding a four cylinder bike, but once the carbs are dialed in, they are really not that bad and the handling is very relaxed with a comfortable upright riding position, plenty of power and a beautiful exhaust note.
Pete
I suspect the blue one is a European model.. twin disc... they got better colors then the state side versions. My buddy and fellow workshop mate.. has one....a 73', gold..yellow ?... as pictured.. but with a 74' engine. First yr units..the sump cover was mm's from the work'n bottom end... this caused the oil to froth and starve the pump... at least that's what I was told.. and wa-la... toasted engine.. for 74'.. they deepen the sump area by about 2-3 inches....problem solved..but by that time the " word " got it.. it's a lemon. I'v ridden it... yes....smooth and surprising snappy.
