Why did Yamaha change the designation to TX? Were the differences cosmetic only? If there are existing threads on this? i didnt think to look..TIA
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Yes. Got a lot to answer for, the TX750. Never officially imported into UK. I first saw one behind the Rendezvous cafe on the front, Douglas Isle of Man June /July 1973. It was like something from another Planet. I bought my XS650 in August 69.Don't think anyone knows why the changed the XS to TX...........What Yamaha did in 73 when they changed the XS to TX was introduce 2 new models, the TX 750 and TX 500.The 73 TX 750 had oiling problems due to the sump not being deep enough and the oil frothed and the cranks disintegrated. This was caused by the counterbalance weights on the crank to cut vibration. The chain had tensioner/stretching problems..............They fixed the problems in 74, but the damage was done and the punters stayed away.......With a deeper sump and a better tension system for the counterbalance weights, (the chain always had some stretching issues), the bikes became reliable. There some dedicated TX750 people world wide.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/...intage/yamaha/listing/2958392363?bof=lRaKBqy6
The TX 500 had over heating issues causing cracked heads. They did solve the issue and the bike was in production till 88.
In 75 they discontinued the 750 and reverted the TX label back to XS. That could have been because the TX was associated with the failed 750 and they didn't want the 650 tarnished as it was a good seller........
Just had a thought. In 74 the TX650 was one of the lest sold models when it came to the XS/TX650. This could have been because of public backlash due to the 73TX750.............
Differences between TX and XS?
The '73 TX dealer brochure was hanging on the wall in my bedroom. I was 13 or 14 at the time. The '74 TX650 was cinnamon brown in the US market.Indeed i see more '73 TX 650s forsale than i have ever seen '74 TX650s...Red is ok but that Blue really pushes my buttons...
Thanks..I am color blind..I cant tell red from brown..The '73 TX dealer brochure was hanging on the wall in my bedroom. I was 13 or 14 at the time. The '74 TX650 was cinnamon brown in the US market.
The 650 twin came before and outlasted everything in the TX and XS line. I don't remember when the XS400 and XS500 went away, but I believe the XS650 was the only XS by 1982.In 73 the 650 got retanked and relabeled as a TX to create the image of a unified line of 4 stroke offerings, 500, 650 and 750 twins.