Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Yamaha XS850 - good or bad?

  1. #1
    Tyre destroying, mad bastard menace
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Brisvegas
    Posts
    4,914

    Yamaha XS850 - good or bad?

    Might be thinking of buying a Yamaha XS850 as a Project Cafe racer.

    Thought on this as I don't really know the bike. Good or bad?

    Parts easy to find?

  2. #2
    Tyre destroying, mad bastard menace
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Melbourne, , Australia.
    Posts
    1,063
    Absolute shite mate. Shaft drive, overweight, underpowered and if it's anything like the 750 not very reliable.

  3. #3
    Tyre destroying, mad bastard menace
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    , Vic., Australia.
    Posts
    4,102
    I like the way you're thinking outside the square... but a shaft drive?

  4. #4
    Aussie Streetfighter Hooligan
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Brissy, QLD, Australia.
    Posts
    7,146
    Blog Entries
    1
    Crap.

    I would walk away from a free one.
    Gutless, fragile and piss poor handling.

  5. #5
    Tyre destroying, mad bastard menace
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Brisvegas
    Posts
    4,914
    Cheers guys, was worth asking as I don't know much about them.

    Just on the lookout for a project and it popped up on the radar. I'll keep looking then

  6. #6
    Tyre destroying, mad bastard menace
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Brisvegas
    Posts
    4,914
    Quote Originally Posted by TurboKat View Post
    I like the way you're thinking outside the square... but a shaft drive?
    Yeah, shaft drive isn't really my thing to be honest, but was worth asking about

  7. #7
    Tyre destroying, mad bastard menace
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    under a rock
    Posts
    2,672
    whats with all the café crap going on since when did skinny leg jeans and shitty beard become cool , wacky go out the driveway get on your fighter do a burnout and put your mangina away lol

  8. #8
    Tyre destroying, mad bastard menace
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Brisvegas
    Posts
    4,914
    Since when do I wear skinny jeans or give a shit what's hip.

    I've been wanting to build a cafe racer for a while, prob is it's taking me so long that they are now becoming common. I still ride the fighter and whilst not doing burnouts, still do other shit that makes me smile like a little kid in a candy store.

    I want another project that i can do on a budget and that's different to what i have. Had a bandit frame before leaving Vic and the thought for that was a modern take on a cafe but had to offload a lot of crap when i moved states.

    Currently only have a tiny shed under the house, but as soon as my visa (hopefully) goes through and i can actually look at staying in Aus, then I want to buy a house with a garage to be able to start having fun in there again.

  9. #9
    Tyre destroying, mad bastard menace
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Brisvegas
    Posts
    4,914
    Oh yeah....
    CX 500... shitheap?? Bloody shaft drives everywhre it seems. Otherwise they all seem to cost a fortune nowadays

  10. #10
    Aussie Streetfighter Hooligan
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Brissy, QLD, Australia.
    Posts
    7,146
    Blog Entries
    1
    CX500 /650
    XS250 / 400 / 750 / 850
    CJ250/360
    CD200
    Z750 twin
    Z400 twin

    If I had any of the above I'd pay you to remove it !

  11. #11
    Aussie Streetfighter Hooligan
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Brissy, QLD, Australia.
    Posts
    7,146
    Blog Entries
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by wackyrider View Post
    Since when do I give a shit what's hip.
    .

  12. #12
    Tyre destroying, mad bastard menace
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    under a rock
    Posts
    2,672
    shaft drive isnt that bad , the one on the g hasnt let me down with all its abuse sure they dont look good but no chain lube all over your rim

  13. #13
    Aussie Streetfighter Hooligan
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Brissy, QLD, Australia.
    Posts
    7,146
    Blog Entries
    1
    Extra weight.
    Extra power loss.
    Not beneficial to handling.
    Restricts rim / tyre sizes.
    Restricts gearing options.

  14. #14
    Tyre destroying, mad bastard menace
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Brisvegas
    Posts
    4,914
    lol Tony

  15. #15
    Tyre destroying, mad bastard menace
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    under a rock
    Posts
    2,672
    fair enough but its going to be a cafe racer so its going to be
    slow and only for show
    extra weight maybe but dont cafe racers strip the crap off making them lighter anyhows
    handling haha
    rim size ? budget build so i wouldnt be swapping rims
    gearing well theres your downfall

  16. #16
    ASF Standard Full Member Redmohawk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    , , Australia.
    Posts
    4,039
    The XS850 is prob more suited to a chop cruiser than cafe. My xs1100 was a quick beast for and old school shaft bike once up a few gears.

    Make an easy trike build.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •