Blast From The Past: 1978 Yamaha XS750E
This 1978 Yamaha XS750E is a blast from the past for me as I have the same bike. Mine has been sitting in storage for way too long in northern Minnesota and this example for sale here on eBay is located 1,200 south of mine in much warmer northern Louisiana – Arcadia to be exact. The seller has a $2,150 buy-it-now price listed or you can make an offer. I’ll try to get through this without an industrial-sized box of Kleenex.
I love my Yamaha XS750E but you’d never know it since it’s been in storage for literally 33.5 years now. I know, it’s now a literal Barn Find! I started a business in 1985 and it took off, much more so than I had expected it to. After seeing two motorcycle accidents within about a two week period in the summer of 1986, I didn’t want to risk getting hit by some inattentive moron – and that was before all drivers had a cell phone and/or a $6 coffee in their hands at all times – so I put the bike in storage and it’s been there ever since. It’s probably the dumbest thing that I have ever done, other than not buying Amazon stock 20 years ago. I never imagined that it would be there that long.
The XS750 was made from 1976 to 1979 and the XS850 replaced it in 1980. The XS850 went away after 1981. The XS750 and 850 were fairly unusual in having a shaft drive rather than a chain and cast wheels instead of spokes. Some argue that the XS750 was introduced as a way to replace the somewhat troublesome but beautiful TX750 twin. For the record, here’s a 35-year-old pic of my XS750E. I have the factory bags and backrest/luggage rack and I bought a trunk for it and painted it to match the bags and had a Windjammer on it for trips. I need to get that bike out and running again.
It appears that this particular XS750E has been modified a bit with somewhat lower cafe-racer-like handlebars which are all the rage in this all-men-must-have-big-bushy-beards-big-plastic-glasses-and-drink-craft-beer-while-somehow-squeezing-into-skinny-jeans-and-plaid-flannel-shirts modern society. Cycle World called the sporty XS750 a “bargain BMW”, high praise indeed.
There are no specific engine photos but this one should have Yamaha’s 750 CC triple with 64 hp and a 104 mph top speed. The seller says that it is listed as a 1977 XS750D but is wired as an XS750E. I’m not quite sure what that means. This one has a 9,000 RPM tach due to having an electronic ignition which was new for the 1978 models so I’m not sure why it’s referred to as a 1977 model. It has new exhaust valves and rebuilt heads and is said to run good but could use a carb adjustment, or carbs as there are three of them. Have any of you owned a triple-cylinder motorcycle? Bonus points if it was a Yamaha XS750!
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Comments
This listing makes me miss my ’79 XS750F, a lot.
It was a nice, very smooth riding bike with that drive shaft, and i thought it looked much cooler than then other traditional Japanese bikes of the day.
If this were in my neighborhood, I would go look at it. Price seems good.
Scotty, you’re exactly right to be scared of riding a bike given the skill of the average driver out there. They aren’t trying to make self driving cars because the average clown out there is getting better.
I met a guy at the NHRA National event event at Norwalk a couple years ago. He raced a Suzuki Hayabusa that ran well into the 9 second range. Somebody asked him if he could or would ride it on the street.
He drove a delivery truck for a living; said he wouldn’t ride any bike around the block on a bet, much less ride a bike that fast on the street. That tells you a lot.
I have a Suzuki TS-185J that Dad and I got in 1972. I restored it around 2007.
It’s a street/trail version of the RM125/250 racing bikes. I used to motocross it on Saturday afternoons on a practice track that some friends built. I wasn’t bad, but racing against my friends with RM 400’s was OK in the corners, but not good on the straights.
My bike is restored and only street driven. It has trials tires, but it doesn’t go anywhere on anything but pavement. The chrome bill at Paul’s Custom Chrome was $2300, and that was 12 years ago. The paint and power coat wasn’t cheap either. I ride it around the ‘hood, maybe venture down into town once a year to the bike show downtown. I’ve dumped it a ton of times in the good ‘ol days, but I’m way too old for that now.
The TM 125/250/400 were around in the early to mid seventies before the really good RM’s came out. I had the terrible ’74 TM 75 as a kid that I crashed on a regular basis. Fun memories.
That’s it. I’m moving back to Michigan and we’re gonna drag that bike out of the shed and get ‘er going. I owe you that, pal. They didn’t call it “Excess” for nothing. It was one of CycleWorlds top 10 motorcycles, and for good reason. They knew the Brits were on to something with their Tridents, leave it to the Asians to copy and fine tune it. Wasn’t the fastest bike out there, with 1/4 mile times in the mid 13’s, 0-60 in 5.3 seconds, but still a lot to hang on to. They were going for the touring market, and this was one of Yamahas best, for the time. Shaft drive, tubeless tires, was a darn nice bike, and while everybody has a horror story ( or 2) about motorcycling, I can say, it’s all how you ride today. You want to barrel down an interstate, or crowded 2 lane, you’re asking for trouble, but for those Sunday afternoons on some back road, puttin’ along in 3rd gear, you folks are cheating yourselves. I’m going to be 65 next week, and am looking for yet another bike and hope I can bike to the bitter end, just not on major highways.
While the condition of this is outstanding, don’t be fooled. Stuff you can’t see, like engine electrics, those pesky carburetors, seals fail over time, and replacements may or may not be found, deeming the bike useless. It’s why you see piles of these older vintage Asian bikes, because they couldn’t get parts.
So Howard have you sold your gold wing, I know we talked about it some time ago. I like shaft drive bikes less maintenance smother and cleaner. The only thing about them is the shaft drive sucks up a bit more power than a chain drive. Scotty I think you should be dragging that bike of yours out while it still winter and getting it cleaned up and running for this coming summer. I know that this time of year I get a bit antsy for winter to end and for my bike to come out.
Hey Mark, yes, the GW is gone, and good riddance. Guy came along, offered me $500 bucks, I couldn’t get the title out fast enough. It was a great bike,,,when new, this one had a lot of miles, starter began hanging up, and the thought of pulling the motor was too much, and those carbs, annoying miss I couldn’t find. You can throw hundreds of dollars into those things to no avail. Bikes like this are so much simpler. The GW types excel at long distance, and I’m never going to do that anyway. I’m a chain guy. Shaft drive is nice, but I read, the most efficient way to transfer power, is through a chain. My HD had a belt drive, and I never felt comfortable with those. To replace a belt, the trans. has to come out, no thanks.
My 77 GW is still running fine but it has the pre emissions carbs on it which in 1980 was the reason Honda went to 1100 cc. A friend of mine has an 82 and his doesn’t run as well as my 77. It’s to bad you didn’t get a little more for it up here I see them advertised for anywhere from $1500.00 to $5000.00
Absolutely right, Howard! One of the points of the old MSF curriculum was Risk Acceptance. The instructor (pre-RiderCoach days) would ask the class “what’s the definition of safe?” and solicit responses; afterwards the instructor would summarize with the Webster’s dictionary definition. “Safe-an absence of risk. Can we ride with an absence of risk? No? You’re correct. But we can MINIMIZE risk. That’s what we’re here to learn-how to minimize risk.”
We’d lose a student or two at the class break afterwards.
Freedom isn’t free. Everything has a cost to it, but the release we feel when we ride means we just have to pay attention. That would be the twit with the cellphone in their lap driving the SUV because they feel safe in it, never thinking about the Peterbilt next to them is a whole lot bigger..! Then there’s always the Left Lane Bandit driving 5-7 MPH under the speed limit, viewing their path of travel via their seeing nothing more than the end of the hood between the steering wheel and the dashboard.
Risk, Scotty? Yes. But we all ride-or quit riding for our own reasoning. But nothing says we can’t start again, though it’s a perishable skill so don’t lose that edge! It makes us pay closer attention when we’re driving a car too.
Keep riding, Howard, canadainmarkseh. We know that You don’t stop riding when you get old, you get old because you stop riding..
Absofreakinglutely!!!
I had a 1981 Yamaha 1.1 about 6 years ago that was absolute dynamite but very scary. It would pull a wheelie from every traffic light without even trying and being a very heavy bike I soon sold it on. I have had many accidents in my 80 years resulting in broken bones but not one of them was caused by somebody other than me. Now I ride an ex US Honda Rebel 450cc twin and I ride it like a car by staying in the traffic lane and very rarely find the need to overtake as the roads here in rural UK are very narrow, however, I must say that I am regularly overtaken while driving my car by motorcyclists who obviously have a death wish. I also have a 1933 Calthorpe Ivory Major that is currently being registered for the road for the first time since 1939 but that’s going to be interesting as it will only do about 40 mph. Ride safe guys.
I love my XS750 Triple. More torque than my inline fours and great low end acceleration. I restored it a couple years ago, just need that pesky NC title for it. Awesome bike just to look at in the shop.
Back then, Yamaha saw what riders of Honda’s Gold Wing were doing and decided to dip its toes into the touring motorcycle market. BMW always had shaft drive for its reliability and ease of maintenance and the Big Three followed along. With only 64 hp a Windjammer would suck the life out of the 750 so the 850 came along to be replaced by the 1100 four, then the V4 Venture came along.
If you’re afraid of what might happen, stay home or drive your cages. Motorcycles aren’t for everyone…you either have The Gene or you don’t.
I’ve got the gene, Dave. I’m 69yo and still ride a bit. My ride is a light and agile 500cc Honda thumper. I stay away from traffic, and ride only in far rural NW Wisconsin in nice weather and wear a Shoei helmet, gloves, boots and leather. My biggest hazard is deer and animals, and it is a real hazard. High speeds are problematic and the 2 lane scenery I ride on is too beautiful to miss at speed………….I had the opportunity of riding my cousins XS750 in Minnesota, great bike…………..
If one develops good defensive riding habits and practices them on and off the bike then one’s chances of enjoying motorcycles will in increase.
If you wish to emulate Burt Munro or the IOM TT riders on public roads then your chances will decrease.
Some readers might not like it but I’m only being Captain Obvious. I’ve been riding since 1984 and have seen my share, from the mundane lane-crossers to having a Styrofoam beer cooler blown out of a pickup impact my windshield, curiously enough, that was mentioned in the days after the Space Shuttle Columbia was lost due to foam impacting the wing leading edge.
Expect the worst and plan accordingly. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when it doesn’t happen.
I’m on my second sidecar rig, the first was a brand new in 08 Ural parol it was fun but grossly under powered. I had this notion to buy a used gold wing and do an engine and drive line swap. I even bought a vintage gold wing. Then I came to my senses and just sold the Ural. Before I let it go however I reverse engineered the sidecar and then custom built a sidecar for the gold wing. I’ve been riding that rig for 5 years now and I like the challenge of it. If you’ve never ridden a sidecar rig your in for a new experience, it’s like nothing you’ve ever been on both challenging and fun, and… sometimes a little terrifying. It is definitely a big learning curve even if your an experienced rider. I’ve been on a sidecar bike for 11 years now and I can safely say I’ve got the hang of it. I too have no intensions of stopping any time soon.
Canadainmarkseh, my Spanish friends have a saying that fits my opinion of you-“tu tienen huevos muy grande”..
Flying a side hack is something of an art, and as my only stint three wheels and handlebars (a Spyder) ended disastrously on a freeway on-ramp (“no animals were hurt in conducting this experiment, only the pride and riding gear of this rider..”) I haven’t attempted to tempt fate since then. Single track vehicles are much safer!!😎 LOL.
Ride on, my friend, and maybe we’ll meet on the road with Howard A.and/or some of our other BF riders somewhere sometime!
Nevadahalfrack
Had one. Nice bike. In 1977.
I then rode a Ducati for the first time, and have never looked back.
Best advice I ever received from a fellow rider, “ Pretend you are invisible, and everyone is trying to hit you “
That just about sums it up.
Or, presume that everyone else on the road doesn’t have a brain, are blind and have no idea where they’re going or what they’re doing and are out to kill you, keep that in mind and making sure you have a 360 degree swivel head as well helps. A riding instructor told me to make yourself as big as possible on the road as well as unpredictable to other road users, in other words move around now and then so the car drivers don’t know what to expect next and give you a wider berth.
Tony. 2000 Honda Shadow ACE
have the same yr/color/displacement but Kawie. I’m jealous – extra cylinder & shaft? Wanna try it 8^0
Had this very same bike when I was stationed in England. Every time I parked it in public I’d come back to find Brits standing there ogling it. One time after a race there was, literally, a circle of 20 Brits standing there just looking at the bike. My girlfriend and I tried our best to be casual and not dump the bike on take off! Beautiful thing. Don’t miss it though, it was a magnet for problems, most not its fault, right to the day I sold it…
I had a Xs750S. Darker red color. Picked it up from a guy as a non-running project. He couldn’t make it run and was sick of working on it. I put a battery and gas in it and rode it for 3 years. Never did have a problem with it other than the engine was a bit buzzy at certain rpm’s. Sold it to a buddy who put it straight into storage as he didn’t have time to ride.
Fast forward a couple of years and I found and bought my dream bike. 85 Honda V65 Magna. I remembered seeing these new in the showroom and thought they were awesome machines. Night and day difference from the 750. Very smooth, tons of torque, and exactly as fast as you want it to be until you chicken out and let off.
After a couple of close calls with inattentive drivers (and being married to an auto claims adjuster) I decided to grow up and park it. Should sell it if I can find the right buyer. Picked up a 6 spd. Boxster S that’s getting a 6.0 LS swap in my spare time.
You never outgrow the need for speed.
Cheers!
Not about the motorcycle but about the amazing photo of yours.
I really love the composition. The line of the windshield edge bringing the eye to the corner of the fence while echoing the upsweep on the arch of the bridge. And then that brings my eye to the perfect centering of the helmet bisecting the curve of the arch. Beautiful.
Wonderful work!
Great comment! I did not click on the link until reading this, and so glad that I did.
Both you and the bike deserve to be united on the road again.
Wow, I did not expect to ever hear a comment like that, TJDasen2 and PRA4SNW! That is so nice of you to say. It’s really just an old Kodachrome slide that I scanned in years ago. Oddly enough, I make a good living as an architectural photographer so maybe those early shots helped. That was nice of you to take the time to say that, that makes my year so far!
Happy Birthday HoA!
As for your advanced years, the only time I notice it is when a particularly attractive 30 year old woman fails to turn around and take a second look at me as I pass :)
Scotty’s bike is, I admit ,more than I want to ride in Cali. My solution was to buy my 90 yr old neighbors 1982 Kawasaki 250 belt drive and putter the back roads in the mountains. Though it is somewhat embarrassing lol.
Oh well.
Were the ’78’s only available in red? My ’79 was black.
Had this plus an H2 and Laverda for triples. Moved to V twins and singles. Think it was due to the torque and desire for a more relaxed pace.
These are great bikes. As said they do get a bit buzzy and that is the worst of it. Shaft drive makes them quiet and comfortable.
Someone will get a classy comfortable ride. Most likely every piece of rubber is dead and the suspension will need looked after from sitting in one position.
Did they make these XSes in 500cc? I had a 77 Yamaha 500cc back when I was about 19 or 20, and it was just as clean looking as this one shown. I believe it was an XS500, and it was red. I sold it, and moved onto 650s one a Kawasaki and the other a Honda. Then I joined the military, and never owned a bike again.
Yes they did, lc and it was a great bike in its own right though overshadowed by the XS650-the first few years they had an issue with the carbs but got it right later. Couldn’t find any when they first came out the firs few years so I bought a XT500-a good cow trail bike but like new Jeeps it was 80% street oriented, 20% trail if you knew how to ride like “Hurricane” Bob Hannah (well, I THOUGHT I could🤣).
Good choice for the time, lc.
Shucks. That would be nice to have still as a classic. Mine was red and had the pin stripping just like the XS650 showcased here. I saw one this past summer at a car show.
Also here in NW Minnesota- friend of mine got 2 XS650’s and 2 XS750’s this fall/winter Two runners and two for parts. Going thru wear items (cables, brakes, hoses, carbs, ign.) on the running 650, the 750 runner was insured, titled, current plate, new tires. All with clear titles.Total investment- $900. I rode an XS1100 back in the early-mid 80’s. Kinda the start of the sportbike era- squids didn’t believe me when I told them XS meant excess. Smoked a few of them on that “cruiser”. I’m 62 and wife won’t buy me a new Kawi cafe racer 900. Sheesh !
WOW! This makes me miss my Honda Magna. I loved driving it in the Colorado mountains, but moved to Florida where peoples driving habits are horrible. Sold the bike after an old man almost ran me off of the road and never even knew I was there.
I would love to buy this one just to look at. I could dream about riding it someday.
I have the XS750SE version of this bike. I think it was available in maroon and black. Mine is black. I got mine for free in about 1990 when a co-worker’s dad was cleaning his garage and wanted the bike gone. I brought it home, put it in my basement and began the year long project of resurrecting it. I did all the usual stuff getting OEM parts from my local Yamaha dealer. I quickly got an education in how expensive motorcycle parts are. Wow.
Well I finished that project and rode that bike almost daily for years. It looked great and ran great. I’d post pics but it seems I can no longer do that. At some point I stumbled into another 78 SE and bought that as a parts bike.
Then came the children…
Both bikes are now stored in a rented garage and have been for a long time. Not as long as yours has, Scotty, but I’m getting close.
I do still ride occasionally but it’s on my brother’s 93 Honda Shadow 1100. I don’t really like much about that bike except that it starts, stops, and steers. I dream about getting my SE back on the road but finding brake hydraulic parts and carb parts seems daunting after thinking about what a pain it was to do so almost 30 years ago.
My attitude toward riding is that I assume everyone else on the road is trying to kill me and it’s my job to stay alive. So far so good but I have had some very close calls. IMO cell phone use has exponentially increased the danger factor since I first started to ride 40 years ago.