I'm a first time rider looking for an older mid sized cruiser for my first bike. I looked at a 1979 Yamaha XS 750 this evening, was interested, but...it needed some work. It hadn't been ridden for some time. The front brake stuck, and the battery was low. It needed to be jumped to start, and died frequently, but the gas tank was almost empty. What would be the repair costs for a complete brake job and a tuneup (it's a three cylinder)? He was asking $1200 OBO. The bike has a windshield and faring.
Other impressions...the bike seemed to fit me well, since I'm 6'2" and 190lbs. It had good ground clearance, which is beneficial for my hilly gravel driveway, but was slightly top heavy. The seat was comfortable. Looks were fair, but for a first bike, I didn't mind.
Does anyone have any experience with this model bike? What do you think?