Description
Click here for an instaVIN Motorcycle History Report on this 1983 Yamaha XJ650 Seca Turbo. Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
The Yamaha XJ650 Turbo was one of the quintessential examples of the 1980s Japanese movement to bring turbochargers to motorcycles. Right after Honda brought out the CX Turbo, Yamaha brought out a turbocharged variant of their 650 Seca, and it took 80s styling to a whole new level.
Interestingly enough, the engine only put exhaust through one of the dual pipes – the other pipe was designed only to exhaust overboost coming from the turbocharger.
The Turbo ended up being more successful on paper than in reality, and it didn’t last very long in the market. On the flip side, it’s become an interesting piece of Yamaha’s history that makes for a great collectible. As Cycle magazine put it,
“As they now exist, turbocharged bikes are rolling platforms for expressing new, advanced ideas. The name Turbo immediately lends validity to other new ideas (such as a truly functional seating position) that might otherwise have been overlooked by an image-conscious public. We welcome these new Turbo bikes for the functional advantages they bring to sport bikes. We remain less than enthusiastic about turbocharging for the sake of increased engine performance.”
If you’re a baseball fan, you may appreciate that the owner of this machine (VIN: JYA16G002DA100530) is Robin Yount, the Hall of Fame shortstop!
He acquired this Yamaha from a collector in Minnesota. The machine is currently located at our location in Santa Monica, California, and it’s offered with a clean Minnesota title.
The odometer shows 2,573 miles.
Per the seller, “a friend of mine in Milwaukee went through the carbs and got it running, so I know they’re clean. He never got it running well enough for his standards, though.”
That was a few months ago, and it is our belief that you’ll want to have this recommissioned if you’d like to enjoy it on the road. Our White Glove service would be glad to help, or you can simply enjoy it on display as is.
