Author Topic: Yamaha XT bike from mid 1980's (Read 5279 times)

fireblake · « **on:** 26 October 2014, 10:50:27 am »

I used to be a courier in London between 1986 and 1988 and rode a little Honda VT500E. I'm sure I remember a guy who had a Yamaha XT type of bike but I'm sure it had shaft drive. Does anyone know if Yamaha made a big trailie with shaft drive in the mid 80's? Or was it my imagination due to much sniffing leaded fumes on smoggy city streets.

Thanks, Mickey

darrsi · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 October 2014, 12:07:03 pm »

Doesn't ring any bells to me?

http://www.autoevolution.com/moto/yamaha/xt/

ChristoT · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 October 2014, 12:39:43 pm »

Not an XJ750?

A friend of mine is using an XJ750 shaft drive paired up to a Reliant Robin engine for a reverse trike he's doing. A bit different!

Could it have been a transplanted lump from an XJ or even a Virago?

red98 · « **Reply #3 on:** 26 October 2014, 02:06:13 pm »

Shaft drive on a trail bike...new one on me...xt are defo chain driven, had a 250 a while ago, good bikes....

Don71uk · « **Reply #4 on:** 26 October 2014, 02:12:43 pm »

Not a yamaha, but shaft drive,

Honda xv 750 r ?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Honda_XLV750R(D)_1.jpg

ChristoT · « **Reply #5 on:** 26 October 2014, 02:23:53 pm »

Quote from: red98 on 26 October 2014, 02:06:13 pm

Shaft drive on a trail bike...new one on me...xt are defo chain driven, had a 250 a while ago, good bikes....

My boss at e-Go has a BMW R100GS that he rode from England down to Africa, round Africa whilst working there, then back to England. If that isn't a proper trailie, I don't know what is!

red98 · « **Reply #6 on:** 26 October 2014, 02:29:28 pm »

Thats a good point christo......I wouldn't want to take one off road though....far too heavy.....they are the chelsea tractors of the bike world.........

ChristoT · « **Reply #7 on:** 26 October 2014, 02:53:25 pm »

Quote from: red98 on 26 October 2014, 02:29:28 pm

Thats a good point christo......I wouldn't want to take one off road though....far too heavy.....they are the chelsea tractors of the bike world.........

That one's an '88, not too bad compared to some... I believe that that was the same model-year that BMW won the Paris-Dakar?

I've seen pics of some of the "roads" Giotto took that bike down - just wow.

pilgo · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 October 2014, 07:29:20 pm »

i had a XT600 Tenere back in 1985/86,loved that bike
its the only bike ive ever been knocked off of ( touching wood here desperatley), some fat bitch pulled out in front of me,i managed to avoid her by going down the side of her and then she turned right across me into the pub car park that she's just been drinking in (apparantly!!)
had to have 8 stitches between 2 toes on my left foot,got a bollocking from the doctor for only wearing trainers on a bike ( fair point,i was young,dumb and full of,er,life) but one of the coppers who attended the crash knew a fella who lived near the pub,he asked him to look after my bike for me (it was about midnight at the time),the fella in question was a ex British off road sidecar champion,who not only looked after the bike for me,but fixed a new clutch lever on it for me,straightened the gear lever for me and rode it to my house for me a few days later.nice bloke.
i remember trying to kick start the bloody thing (no electric start on them at the time

) about 4 weeks later,it was bitterly cold,bit of snow,ive still got a bad left foot but im sweating my knackers off trying to get the thing started

traded it in for a Honda cbx 750 the following summer with the compo i got off her,one of those bikes i wish id kept but i needed something 'better' for 2 up touring

oh,and,no,it was chain drive

fireblake · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 October 2014, 07:47:04 pm »

I'm sure it was an XT or XTZ but I must be wrong about the shaft drive. I can remember he was 2 up and every time he accelerated the back end would squat right down under the torque. I must admit I can't remember it too well but was sure it was a Yam and not a Honda. I just seem to remember a bulky swinging arm on the near side. Damn my misspent youth.

BBROWN1664 · « **Reply #10 on:** 26 October 2014, 08:53:56 pm »

My experience of shaft drive bikes is that the back rises under acceleration because of the torque which is the opposite of chain drive.

Was the bike really a shafty?

Punkstig · « **Reply #11 on:** 26 October 2014, 09:38:30 pm »

Quote from: BBROWN1664 on 26 October 2014, 08:53:56 pm

My experience of shaft drive bikes is that the back rises under acceleration because of the torque which is the opposite of chain drive.

Was the bike really a shafty?

Wut?

fireblake · « **Reply #12 on:** 26 October 2014, 10:19:22 pm »

Probably not then. A few beers (years) have passed since.

Phil · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 October 2014, 05:12:54 pm »

Quote from: fireblake on 26 October 2014, 07:47:04 pm

I'm sure it was an XT or XTZ but I must be wrong about the shaft drive.

This is close on the letters and numbers game and it has shaft drive

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_XZ_550

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=yamaha+xz+550&qpvt=yamaha+xz+550&FORM=IGRE

fireblake · « **Reply #14 on:** 27 October 2014, 06:44:40 pm »

Thanks Phil. Definitely not one of those. Maybe I'll search for a photo of the Honda from the rear and see if that's it. Could of sworn it was a Yamaha but 28 odd years plays havoc with my memory

Razgruff · « **Reply #15 on:** 28 October 2014, 12:47:30 pm »

Quote from: BBROWN1664 on 26 October 2014, 08:53:56 pm

My experience of shaft drive bikes is that the back rises under acceleration because of the torque which is the opposite of chain drive.

Was the bike really a shafty?

I've heard this but never experienced it, on the XS 750, it was more a lack of squatting.
love the shaft for quick down shifting and locking the back up without the worry of trashing the chain

MEM62 · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 October 2014, 11:16:48 am »

A shaft-driven XT? That will be your imagination

fireblake · « **Reply #17 on:** 29 October 2014, 01:28:52 pm »

Quote from: MEM62 on 29 October 2014, 11:16:48 am

A shaft-driven XT? That will be your imagination

Yeah, that's what i'm thinking.

Mickey

pilgo · « **Reply #18 on:** 29 October 2014, 05:03:50 pm »

Kawasaki GT 550 ? was shaft drive. great bike when i did my 2 weeks as a motorcycle courier out of slough,with the 'great storm of 87' in the middle of the first week !!

pilgo · « **Reply #19 on:** 31 October 2014, 06:07:50 pm »

look what i found on ebay !!

if i had a spare few quid,id buy it as a winter hack.

pilgo · « **Reply #20 on:** 09 November 2014, 02:22:59 pm »

My old beloved XT600 TENERE, should never of sold her

Anyone know of a way of finding out if a bike is still registered to be on the road or not?

Exupnut · « **Reply #21 on:** 09 November 2014, 02:44:52 pm »

https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #22 on:** 09 November 2014, 03:10:11 pm »

Quote from: Punkstig on 26 October 2014, 09:38:30 pm

Quote from: BBROWN1664 on 26 October 2014, 08:53:56 pm
My experience of shaft drive bikes is that the back rises under acceleration because of the torque which is the opposite of chain drive.

Was the bike really a shafty?
Wut?

Yup. Had a go of a BMW 900(?) Paris/Dakar "replica", a one off built by D & A Rayner m/cs. Didn't notice when going along, but when you shut off the throttle the back end would drop by several cms.

pilgo · « **Reply #23 on:** 09 November 2014, 03:12:12 pm »

Quote from: Exupnut on 09 November 2014, 02:44:52 pm

https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla

cheers.no details available sadly

maxzer1500 · « **Reply #24 on:** 09 November 2014, 06:57:38 pm »

Quote from: nick crisp on 09 November 2014, 03:10:11 pm

Quote from: Punkstig on 26 October 2014, 09:38:30 pm
Quote from: BBROWN1664 on 26 October 2014, 08:53:56 pm
My experience of shaft drive bikes is that the back rises under acceleration because of the torque which is the opposite of chain drive.

Was the bike really a shafty?
Wut?

Yup. Had a go of a BMW 900(?) Paris/Dakar "replica", a one off built by D & A Rayner m/cs. Didn't notice when going along, but when you shut off the throttle the back end would drop by several cms.

Never owned a shaft drive but have ridden shaft bikes across the jap makes and moto guzzis, don't remember any particular shaft reaction but for one bike. One mate had an XS750 and that def went up on the throttle and down off it, where the shaft meets the gearbox in relation to the swingarm pivot must be what makes the difference. Possibly.