Can anyone ID this?

Hightower-Ash98

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Folks have a 1980 yamaha on craigslist about 2 hours away for $200.
Going to buy it, because cheap and Yamaha lol.
Can anyone ID it from the motor? TX750? looks like?
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Folks have a 1980 yamaha on craigslist about 2 hours away for $200.
Going to buy it, because cheap and Yamaha lol.
Can anyone ID it from the motor? TX750? looks like?View attachment 178291 View attachment 178292 View attachment 178293

Hi H-A,
what machine sez. My best guess is either an XS750 Special or an XS850.Special
Yeah, there's more than $200-worth of Yamaha parts that'll swap right onto an XS650
Plus a $100+ retail TKAT front fork brace that'll shim right on.to an XS650 front fork.
 
Hi H-A,
what machine sez. My best guess is either an XS750 Special or an XS850.Special
Yeah, there's more than $200-worth of Yamaha parts that'll swap right onto an XS650
Plus a $100+ retail TKAT front fork brace that'll shim right on.to an XS650 front fork.
I no longer have an XS at all, the 3 cylinder looks cool, so does the shaft drive. Gonna get it to fix
 
I had an opportunity to buy a lovely one owner XS750 Special for cheap. I had to pass because I didn't want to keep it. Completed eBay listings told me the bike is worth about $200 in immaculate condition. An XS850, which that is if it's a 1980, will be worth more, but not much more. If you really want one, buy a nice one.

If it's something you really want, then do it up. They're great bikes. It could make a nice cafe racer.
 
I had an opportunity to buy a lovely one owner XS750 Special for cheap. I had to pass because I didn't want to keep it. Completed eBay listings told me the bike is worth about $200 in immaculate condition. An XS850, which that is if it's a 1980, will be worth more, but not much more. If you really want one, buy a nice one.

If it's something you really want, then do it up. They're great bikes. It could make a nice cafe racer.

Here's my thing, I don't buy functional stuff like this. I don't see a point in it at all. I could save for a few years, drop $3k on a nice XS650, but where's the fun?
The $200 motorcycles bring me some joy, when I can get them working. I sold my XS because I lost my job, I paid $150 for the bike, spent maybe $350 on parts, and sold it for $800. I regret it because the funds went into the house, instead of all of the other bills.
the GPZ's were the next deal, two titled bikes for $200. Engines free, bunch of extras. Right off, the carburetors cost $850+
DOA.
No amount of passion can justify that much, unless of course, the bike was 80% functional.
Now another $200 bike has appeared, and a bike I'm actually interested in, at that!
If my GPZ's weren't sport-bike style I may be further inclined to complete them, I personally dislike crotch rockets and cafe racers, had I looked passed the price tag I may have refrained from adding more clutter to my garage by buying them
 
Id chart for XS750/850
XS750-850 ID Chart.png


Got a whole lot of XS750/850 info i got from a good site, that has now closed down........another triple site was given the info but hasn't posted much of it up

Mostly in PDF form
 
XS850SG.
Nice, thank you.
Here's a little heads up. Yes, it sure looks like an XS850SG. See if you can acquire an exhaust for it.(If it needs one) Mac used to make them and I don't know if they still do, but I doubt it. The carburetors are Hitachi. If they're trash, I believe you can fit XS750 carburetors as they are Mikuni. Oil filter is made by Wix, so you can get one at your local auto parts. Scrounging parts could be half the fun.
I see it has a Tkat fork brace. Since he's retired, that brace might be worth the asking price of the bike.
Manuals here: http://biker.net/
 
Motad were advertising Stainless exhaust systems a few years ago.........

Mentioned i picked up and XS850 with an old Chrome motad 3 into 1 on it...........said they don't make them for the shelf any more but will make a one off and it would b cheaper as they wouldn't have to carry it as stock
http://www.xs650.com/threads/stainless-silencers.33802/

Scratch that found this.......
https://www.facebook.com/motadltd .........closed

Possible return.........
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2017/may/british-exhaust-motad-lifeline/
 
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XS750-850 Special. Triple cylinder. Shaft drive.
Remember, a free motorcycle even, turns out to be expensive.:)

Yes to that Not Only expensive ,it can also be Impossible
I knew of two xs750 s Owners one had some mechanical problem. With the engine.
Cant remember what it was crank or cylinder perhaps , I don't think he could find parts and this was around 1980.
New was probably available .Bur Yamaha original parts was to expensive.
This was pre Internet and you in The US can have better Possibilities for finding parts.
But here those bikes was not sold in large numbers so now after so many years some parts might be only a memory
In a catalogue .or cost more than a small African Country.
The Kawasaki's on the other hand was more common a couple of years ago one could still find high mileage bikes running at low prices
xs 850 Not sure I have ever seen one. With more problems finding parts.

It is not certain anyone will buy it off you even if you get it running off the same reasons outlined above.

I liked the three cylinder bikes the Triumph Trident and BSA Rocket .The 4 stroke triple has a characteristic engine sound.
Kawa 2 strokes had problem with the center cylinder getting to hot .Cant remember so for 4 strokes

If there are Stock exhaust Pipes in good condition enclosed in the deal I would guess those would be Valuable .. Just guessing
 
The XS850 was fairly popular, but it only lasted two years. I remember them. I have had two friends that had them, and back in the day, I new somebody that got killed on one. Old Farts Motorcycle Club put one together and raffled it off at the Barber Vintage Fest a few years ago. So, I don’t believe this is an impossible task.
 
Yes to that Not Only expensive ,it can also be Impossible
I knew of two xs750 s Owners one had some mechanical problem. With the engine.
Cant remember what it was crank or cylinder perhaps , I don't think he could find parts and this was around 1980.
New was probably available .Bur Yamaha original parts was to expensive.
This was pre Internet and you in The US can have better Possibilities for finding parts.
But here those bikes was not sold in large numbers so now after so many years some parts might be only a memory
In a catalogue .or cost more than a small African Country.
The Kawasaki's on the other hand was more common a couple of years ago one could still find high mileage bikes running at low prices
xs 850 Not sure I have ever seen one. With more problems finding parts.

It is not certain anyone will buy it off you even if you get it running off the same reasons outlined above.

I liked the three cylinder bikes the Triumph Trident and BSA Rocket .The 4 stroke triple has a characteristic engine sound.
Kawa 2 strokes had problem with the center cylinder getting to hot .Cant remember so for 4 strokes

If there are Stock exhaust Pipes in good condition enclosed in the deal I would guess those would be Valuable .. Just guessing
 
2nd gear on the 750's was a weak spot. I've never had a problem with mine, but I don't romp on it in 2nd. It was fixed on the 850 trans, which is a drop in replacement for the 750 trans.Keep an eye on the oil level. They have a tendency to blow oil out the crankcase vent. If you fall to low on oil it will toast the middle cylinder.Other than that, good solid bike. I've got close to 60k miles om mine and still running strong.
 
2nd gear on the 750's was a weak spot. I've never had a problem with mine, but I don't romp on it in 2nd. It was fixed on the 850 trans, which is a drop in replacement for the 750 trans.Keep an eye on the oil level. They have a tendency to blow oil out the crankcase vent. If you fall to low on oil it will toast the middle cylinder.Other than that, good solid bike. I've got close to 60k miles om mine and still running strong.
It was the XS850 and XS1100, too! Even the early Ventures blew 2nd gear. On my XS1100, when I made the repair, I repositioned a washer on the countershaft that allows for tighter engagement.
 
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