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YAMAHA XS Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 9
First production year: 1970
YAMAHA XS 400 photo gallery

It is a bike with a 399cc engine which develops a power of 45 horses at 9500rpm and can reach a top speed of 168 km/h.

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YAMAHA XS 1100 Sport photo gallery

Brought into Europe for the 1981 season, this big Yamaha was fundamentally unchanged from the original. The engine still put out 95 hp but handling, claimed the makers has been improved with a new rear suspension units with four way damping control. New too on this latest exess were Yamaha has called ,,italic spoke wheels,,.

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YAMAHA XS 1100 SF Midnight Special photo gallery

When the time came for Yamaha to join the Superbike ball, the Yamaha XS 1100 SF Midnight Special (also known as the Yamaha XS Eleven) was fashionably late. Liter bikes from Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki were already at the dance and making a name for themselves. Although the competing entries filled different needs, each was powered by an engine displacing 1,000cc or more.

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YAMAHA XS 1100 photo gallery

The XS 1100 was Yamaha`s answer to the ever-growing Superbike cult of the `70s. Honda started it back in 68, and arguably Kawasaki and Suzuki jointly put a full stop on it come the turn of the next decade, with the Yam adding a bit of spice during the latter part.

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YAMAHA XS 500 photo gallery

The Yamaha XS 500 may not have anywhere near the street credentials of its big brother, the XS 650, but if you ride a parallel twin less than 30 years old you owe a debt of gratitude to the younger sibling. The technically-advanced engine made lots of power, though almost all of it came between 6,000rpm and the 9,000rpm redline. On early TX models this combined with poor fueling on throttle transitions, light flywheels, uneven power-pulses from the 180 degree crank and excessive driveline lash to make smooth part-throttle and stop start riding a real challenge.

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YAMAHA XS 850 photo gallery

The XS 750 and XS 850 were produced from 1976 to 1980. The US enjoyed this bike one year more. Because they had three cylinders, everybody knows the bikes as "Triples". At the beginning, the bike displaced 750cc and later the engine was increased to 850cc, so, the XS750 changed into a new XS850 machine. The Triples had electronic ignition from 1978.

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YAMAHA XS 750 photo gallery

The XS 750 and XS 850 were produced from 1976 to 1980. The US enjoyed this bike one year more. Because they had three cylinders, everybody knows the bikes as "Triples". At the beginning, the bike displaced 750cc and later the engine was increased to 850cc, so, the XS750 changed into a new XS850 machine. The Triples had electronic ignition from 1978.

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YAMAHA XS-2 650 photo gallery

The XS-2 650 has the reputation of being the 'best Triumph that Triumph never made'. This being said, the Japanese mimicked the overall stance, footpeg position, tank design, and general engine shape. Without a closer look, the two are easily mistaken for one another. The XS-2 650 was produced until 1985. In the United States, the last model year was 1983 with Canada, Europe and other markets continuing into 1984 and 1985.

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YAMAHA XS-1 photo gallery

The Yamaha XS 650 was produced from 1970 to 1980 and in the US the last model appeared in 1984. The first model was named XS-1, followed by XS-1B in 1971, XS-1 in 1972.

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