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Joined: Oct 03, 2005 Posts: 1595 Location: Marshall, MI
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:22 am Post subject:
I have not heard any "good" things about this model Yamaha. It had some problems. That is why they only made it a couple years. I forget what the issues were. Top end lack of oil, soft cams, burning oil, I forget but it was fairly major. If I had one in front of me for $300 I would probably pass. IMHO
Joined: Nov 02, 2008 Posts: 1085 Location: New Zealand
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:03 am Post subject:
Never owned a TX Yamaha but I did ride a TX750 when they were new to our market and in terms of its handling and 'feel' I was hugely impressed.
Seems like the owning wasn't nearly as good as the riding on a brand new one.
Certainly they seemed to have oil issues...one of them being that they kept leaking oil into the points area and then having ignition issues.
The Australian magazine Two Wheels was full-some in praise of the TX500 when it first appeared, both in terms of handling and performance.Wasn't long before they went silent on that bike though.
Every one of the few I ever saw on the road had extensive weeping from the head gasket area.
Unlike CB Honda's, GS Suzy's, KZ Kawasaki's and XJ Yamaha's- higher km TX's were a very rare sight on our roads.Its a very long time since I saw one
running. Out here the last of the XS650 twins carried the moniker TX650 as well...perhaps in a poorly judged attempt to salvage some cred for the TX line?
Joined: Oct 02, 2006 Posts: 2049 Location: New Britian, CT
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:41 am Post subject:
Now this does bring back some memories, because I was recently offered a TX750 rolling chasis. I refused because of all of the above problems. The main thing that really made me refuse was that when the harmonic balancer went, so did the cases. So basically as a high mileage touring bike it is useless.
Joined: Nov 02, 2008 Posts: 1085 Location: New Zealand
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:
In Australia back then they had a 6hr race for bog standard bikes,usually ridden in pairs, but there were some stunning ironman performances. When the TX750 was new to the market...and all the promotional stuff had people excited...Yamaha entered one with gun riders in the 6 hr. It went like a scalded cat and was leading for several hours...thus raising expectations further...then it was retired with major internal issues...oil related.The model never really recovered in this part of the world from that prematurely raised expectation. I recall seeing massively discounted TX750's retro-fitted with oil coolers and special seal kits behind the ignition sitting forlornly in dealer windows for a very long time.
One suspects that the TX debacle is a major reason why the XJ line of Yamaha's were so massively 'over-built'. There was no danger of the 650/750/900 XJ's dropping their guts like the TX series.An XJ900, drive-shaft and all, was leading New Zealand's highly competitive 6 hr proddie race, again a solo rider aboard...and a miscalculation saw it run out of gas on the last lap while in the lead! Don't underestimate the sporting prowess of a well prepared and expertly ridden XJ900!
Just by the way that Oz 6hr race saw some incredible results. One year, in spite of 750 Hondas and Kawasaki 500 triples, a T350(actually 315cc) Suzuki Rebel won outright ridden solo for the 6hrs...only to be disqualified under protest because the horn had been removed!
Joined: Jul 14, 2010 Posts: 23 Location: New Hampshire, USA
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 5:15 pm Post subject: Newb to this forum
Howdy everyone,
I have one now, I had one back in 1978. They had their probs., but lots of misinformation is out there. Smooth and fast (for a twin). Many retrofits were done, many didn't get done. I've put 2,000 miles on mine inside three months, no issues, but I've done all the mods.
Joined: Oct 02, 2006 Posts: 2049 Location: New Britian, CT
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 5:39 pm Post subject:
I have done some research on them and you are right. My view on them is with modern synthetic blend oils and an oil cooler they are a very reliable motorcycle. There are a quite a few of these bikes on the road in the Netherlands.
Joined: Jun 06, 2009 Posts: 184 Location: charlotte, nc
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 6:51 pm Post subject:
I was a Yamaha parts manager when these things were new. If you gave me Steve's $300 to take it, I would pass. The 73s were a nightmare. The counterbalancers and starter were chain driven. The oil pan was too shallow and the oil would get nice and frothy. There were no tensioners on these chains and when things started going wrong, they went very wrong. Yamaha actually warrantied complete engines on these things. There were also other issues as mentioned above. I don't remember all the details.
Having said all that, it was a great riding bike when it was right. The 74s were much improved and had a deeper oil pan. I have talked to one guy that has a 73 with all the 74 mods and he is very happy, but it is vintage and doesn't get ridden very much.
If you think you want one, try to buy an oil filter. It is specific to this machine, a very unusual piece.
Proceed at your own risk, as they say...... _________________ Yamasarus
Yamaha Preservationist
Joined: Jul 14, 2010 Posts: 23 Location: New Hampshire, USA
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:47 pm Post subject:
yamasarus wrote:
I was a Yamaha parts manager when these things were new. If you gave me Steve's $300 to take it, I would pass. The 73s were a nightmare. The counterbalancers and starter were chain driven. The oil pan was too shallow and the oil would get nice and frothy. There were no tensioners on these chains and when things started going wrong, they went very wrong. Yamaha actually warrantied complete engines on these things. There were also other issues as mentioned above. I don't remember all the details.
Having said all that, it was a great riding bike when it was right. The 74s were much improved and had a deeper oil pan. I have talked to one guy that has a 73 with all the 74 mods and he is very happy, but it is vintage and doesn't get ridden very much.
If you think you want one, try to buy an oil filter. It is specific to this machine, a very unusual piece.
Proceed at your own risk, as they say......
I agree, the engineers had to fall on the sword. On the one I have now, I did the deep sump conversion, the adjustable balancer chain conversion, it has the factory accessory oil cooler and the oil filter is now plumbed to a remote spin-on tucked up under the swing arm. I remember buying consumables back in the day.. the air filter was $33 and the oil filter was $25. I was making $2.00 an hour bagging groceries. Ouch. Dad listened to the engine back then (he owned a small engine business) and told me to "sell it as soon as you can".
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