1 of 9
YAMAHA 650 BUYER'S GUIDE
This guide is intended to aid the purchaser or seller of a Yamaha 650 twin in evaluating the bike
and determining the ballpark costs associated with any problems found. This information is only a
guideline and cannot protect the buyer from all possible problems. Each buying decision is unique
and the buyer must use judgment and consider that the final decision is theirs alone. Prices
estimates are given for most items. These estimates will vary widely depending upon factory or
after market prices and between geographic areas. These estimates are in US dollars for parts
only, and labor will be additional.
When looking at a bike for potential purchase, it is a good idea to be well prepared. After deciding
how much you are willing to pay for your purchase and have read this guide, it is suggested that
the following items be taken along when examining a bike.
Flashlight
Rag
Friend
APPEARANCE
CHROME
- A bike that has been left to the elements quickly deteriorates, and the first to go is
usually the chrome. A bike that has chrome in good to excellent shape a valuable find. When
chrome starts to break down, small surface imperfections will develop which eventually turn into
full blown rust spots. If you find small spots on the chrome that are sometimes surrounded by a
small "halo" of rust colored stain, these can usually be removed with a chrome cleaner. If the pit
has started to erupt and the chrome is lifted from the surface (a spot has formed that you can
catch with your fingernail) this can be improved but is usually always visible, even after cleaning.
If the bike is clean, it’s easy to just look the chrome over closely and make sure it is in good
shape. If the bike is dirty, use a rag to wipe down the top of a fender or any other area that looks
suspicious to see how it cleans up. A few small imperfections are not a big deal if the surface in
generally in good shape. A good coat of wax will stop the problem from proceeding. Problem
spots to look at are:
Top of the rear fender under the seat.
License plate bracket, under the license.
Bottom side of the handlebars between the two mounting clamps on the triple tree.
Inside the headlight rim.
Inside lower surface of headlight shell.
Underside of exhaust pipes and mufflers.
Value should be deducted for chrome that is pitted beyond salvage. How much is dependent
upon your personal "look pretty" preference.
PAINT
- Sun fading is a common problem in early years. Later years didn’t suffer as much, but
the ‘70 through '75 models would tend to fade fairly quickly when left exposed to lots of sun. It
may be very obvious if quite bad, or subtle if just beginning. To determine how bad the color has
faded, remove a side cover and look at the bottom side and compare it to the top of the tank.
Another spot to look is on the left bottom side of the tank. This is as close to the original color as
you can get. If not obvious, it’s not a big issue. If the paint is badly faded, the bike can be
