XTZ750 for dummies...

[Jenna]

The eagle eyed amongst you may have spotted this in the new front page, we are getting a lot of posts from prospective new s10 owners so I thought it’s about time we did something to entice new owners to us

I will pull as much from the form posts as possible so if you have posted anything including pics you don’t want included then say now.

Thinking of covering.....
xtz history
bikes spec
buyers guide - what to look for
what goes wrong
easy mods.

If you can think of anything else please say.

Format will be an article with picies (from the new front page) linked to this forum thread where the booklet will be downloadable as a pdf.

if anybody has spare time and wants to help it would be appreciated.

[super ted]

Wow that would be cool
keep them effin newbies happy

[Hoover]

Looks well sharp

[tonydevil]

rather than a PDF it may be helpful to have these subjects as topics within the knowledge base
that way its easily updateable and members can comment on the usefulness

[Jenna]

problem i see with doing this in the forum is it will be an endless debate with little or no result at the end (or only really be useable by sombody that already knows what to look for and understands the problems) This needs to be as idot proof as possible not because we are dealing with idots but because this could well be the first step someone takes to owning a bike... may be their first bike and maybe with no mechanical knowledge or skill.

the new format has the advantage that anybody can generate a pdf direct from the article (or editorial) by simply clicking on the adobe icon, it can be printed out, stored on a lappy i guess even slapped on a pda all with no need to be net conected at time of reading.

kymmy can explain the techy side with dynamic thingies as its beyond me (i'm a nuts and bolts hands on type )

Plan is to do a rough and we can then tinker it from there... as i think even a crap one is better than nothing.

[tonydevil]

fair enough, better off creating a topic for each sections and asking members to contribute then 1 person collate and put the info in a presentable and 'understandable' form

[Jenna]

yep, thats really what i want from this thread,

I managed to pull a copy of the Performance Bike feature on the xtz when first released in 89 which when edited down makes a nice 'intro'....

history i think may be tinternet job (ingo's website, yamaha website etc) any other good sources?

what to look for, there was a thread already on this i think.... need to check and maybe update.

what goes wrong, again there was a thread running i think... if so it will need updating for sure.

easy mods i was going to pull from the forum mods section... maybe do a top 10?

we will need the help of someone with a standard bike to take some pics... eg of where the vin numbers are and the like.

if anything is missing or could be changed then everyone shout now

[Mercury]

I will do the VIN number photo's, I think it's in the Haynes manual as well. The Haynes also has a history intro, but it's more about yamaha in general, I think.

Basic bit's/problems I have wanted to know about since I bought my S10 last June:

Air filter to carb rubber replacement parts
Chain tension how to
How to remove the spark plugs easily
How to allign the headlights
Rear brake removal and brake bleeding

[Jenna]

many thanks Mercury.

all good things to include

[tonydevil]

XTZ750 specific things to check when looking to buy

front sprocket welded? - some aftermarket sprockets arent a good fit and cause the front sprocket to come loose and damage the retaining thread which leads some owners to weld them on as a 'fix'. its 7x8mm hex bolts and 1x10mm hex bolt and 2mins to check. fixing the output shaft virtually rights the engine off due to the work and cost involved.

regulator/rectifier - these were a weak point on all models, although some imports (especially italian bikes) had a fix supplied by their national dealer. its an easy upgrade with aftermarket parts available for around £50

MPG fuel consumption - low speed and town riding causes the 'emulsion tubes' (aka needlejets) to wear in the carbs and leads to the bike running rich and rubbish MPG, a sorted bike should be getting in excess of 50mph cruising at 70mph. again its an easy fix with better quality aftermarket parts available for under £50

frames - check the rear engine mounts around the frame, if they bike has had serious 'off road abuse' or left out in all weathers causing rust you may find small cracks around the weld. its not a problem and easy to fix as long as the rust hasnt affected the joins

wheels - earlier models had black wheels, check for bubbling which is indicative of rotting

brakes - front brakes arent great, no real cost effective upgrade exists other than reconditioned originals with braided lines

oil burning - they all burn oil, its due to the tolerances in the bores, but how much? 1litre per 4000miles is good, 1ltr per 2k is normal, 1ltr per 1k hints at a problem. sometimes its fixed by replacing valve stemseals, output shaft seal or startmotor o-ring

tool box cover - if it has one that hasnt been lost you are lucky