1983 750 Seca

Dear Collective,

Ever since my last interstate trip with the SO on her '85 XJ700 I've been looking for something with more of a touring slant than cruiser. We both like the XJ for what it is, the problem is that we keep trying ot make it something it's not; a sports tourer or touring bike.

So, last night I'm perusing the Craigslist MC ads and find an unusual 1983 750 Seca with factory fairing, luggage, and tail trunk. I never know Yamaha even offered matching hard luggage which makes me think this bike is very rare. It's red and has < 15K miles on the odo and appears to be in good to very good condition. The only think I don't like about it is the 85mph max speedomoter. The seller is asking $1200 obo.

I've done a little looking around on the innerwebs and have found out that these bikes tended to lose their cam chain and/or tensioner after about 40K miles - a long way off mind you - but is there anything else to know? Have any of you ever attempted to install heated handgrips on a XJ of Seca?

I'd love to read some feedback. Thanks!

 

its not as rare as you might think. I dont know the actual statistics but I see alot of our bikes with the "tour pack". Mine came with it as well, but Ive since removed most of it and now only run the trunk and only for long trips.

There are several well documented problems with our older bikes. You just need to look around here and see what kinds of threads come up alot.

 

I recently purchased an '83 with the same package.Took the rear box off for ease of getting on the damn thing.Get more compliments!!

 

in 82 they added the touring package for CHEAP to try to move excess inventory. The 750's were getting hit hard by the Harley tariff right at a time when they'd ramped up production on a then new line.

here and here are some write-ups

 

MB,

Thanks for the comments and two excellent links about the bike. The second article depicts the bike we looked at except it's an '83.

We went to look at it yesterday and I rode it about three blocks out and back. The bike's overall shape is good and matches the seller's description of being a "7 on a scale of 10." The bike must have sat for a while because the carbs are gummed up.

The front brake lever comes all the way back to the throttle when braking so I'm guessing the system's never been flushed. I've also read other comments about the brake components on these bikes need a total tear down after a while, this bike would be a candidate for that work.

Inspecting the tour pack capacity left me wondering why Yamaha even bothered with the side cases. Yea, I know this isn't a true tourer and if one packs carefully they could probably get a long weekend or maybe even a full week with the storage but you'd have to be a serious minimalist to do so.

All in all I liked the bike but I was hoping for something requiring a little less work to get it road ready. For the time being we'll stick with Deb's sweet little '85 XJ700 and stop every 100 miles for gas. :cry:

 

that motorcycle specs site is where I go whenever I see something on craigslist that I aint never seen before. one of these days I'd like a GTS1000.

 

Anything you find of that age, regardless of marque, unless enthusiast owned will require work to make it safe and reliable.

We refer to the process as "recommissioning" and like I said, unless the guy before you did it you'll have to. Very few people actually replace the original brake lines for instance, and that's a critical item. Yamaha rubber brake lines were only supposed to last 4 years.

 

i think you should just let her ride the K

 

All very good points, gents, and thanks for reminding me of the little things particularly factoring in the replacement of brake lines. On the surface it seems like a minor thing but it's been a long time since I've owned a Japanese manufactured bike so I've forgotten a lot.

As for the Yamaha GTS1000. Oh baby. There was a time I lusted after that bike and even attended their annual rally in Frisco, CO, once. They're now made mostly of unobtanium and, having owned two bikes like that
'92 BMW K1, '92 Ducati 907IE), I'm less than inclined to go there.

Polock, Deb's ridden on the back of the K1200S once. She has no interest in riding that fast again. Anyway, thanks for the suggestion.

 

I clicked on one of those MB links and my work anti virus went nuts... FYI