Yamaha XJ650L Seca Turbo: review, history, specs

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1982 Yamaha Seca 650 Turbo.jpg
Yamaha XJ650
Manufacturer
Also called Maxim
Production 1982 - 1983
Class Standard
Predecessor Yamaha XJ650
Engine
653cc in-line four, four-stroke
Bore / Stroke 63.0mm x 52.4mm
Compression ratio 8.2:1
Top Speed 126 mph (203 km/h)
Horsepower 88.11 HP (65.7 KW) @ 9000RPM
Torque 60.48 ft/lbs (82.0 Nm) @ 7000RPM
Ignition transistorized
Spark Plug NGK BP7ES '80-83
Battery YUASA 12N12A-4A-1 '80-83
Transmission Gear box: 5-speed

Final Drive: shaft drive (cardan)

Clutch: Wet multi-plate
Final Drive Shaft
Suspension Front: 36mm Showa 140mm Wheel Travel, Adjustments For Air Pressure
Rear: Dual Showa Dampers
Brakes Front: dual disc
Rear: expanding brake
Front Tire 3.25-19
Rear Tire 120/90-18
Wheelbase 56.89 inches (1445 mm)
Seat Height 30.71 inches (780 mm)
Weight 262.0 kg (wet)
Oil Filter K&N KN-144[1]
Recommended Oil Yamalube 10w-40
Fuel Capacity 5.02 Gallon (19.00 Liters)
Related Yamaha XJ650
Manuals Service Manual


With the appearance of turbocharged Formula One cars in the late 1970s, "turbormania" gripped motorsports and spilled over into everyday life, where the word "turbo" was applied to products from aftershave to vacuum cleaners. In the two wheeled world, every major manufacturer added a turbocharged model. Honda led the way with the CX500T; Yamaha was more cautious.

Struggle for Supremacy[edit | edit source]

If the turbo represented a low-cost way of boosting the performance of an automobile, the weight and bulk of this bolt-on goody and its attendant plumbing made its advantages less obvious on motorbikes, where large-capacity engines were readily available anyway. But at the time Honda and Yamaha were locked in a bitter struggle for supremacy. The latter couldn't let the former outdo it in terms of high-tech features, even though at the period its finances were under considerable strain.

Keeping Up Appearances[edit | edit source]

Yamaha chose its XJ650L as a starting point. To speed development while keeping costs as low as possible, the marque decided to retain carburetors rather than shifting to Fuel injection. A small-diameter turbocharger minimized throttle lag. Otherwise, the machine was quite conventional, though its aggressive fairing made it look at least like a fuel-injected 750. However, its performance was little improvement on the normally aspirated version, and sales were low.

Yamaha XJ650L Seca Turbo


1982[edit | edit source]



1981 - 1983 Yamaha XJ 650 Turbo[edit | edit source]

My XJ 650 Turbo draw attention at Tokyo Motor Show in 1981. The XJ 650 Turbo, the flashiest of the group, was the simplest, with pressurized carburetors instead of the fuel injection and without the single shock rear suspension the others boasted.


See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 2019 K&L Supply Co Catalog. K&L Supply Co. 2019.