If you ever get the chance to throw a leg over a yamaha 850 special 1980, you'll quickly realize it isn't just another vintage Japanese motorcycle from the disco era. It's got this weird, soulful character that you usually don't find in the "Universal Japanese Motorcycles" of that time. While everyone else was busy making inline-fours that buzzed like sewing machines, Yamaha was off in the corner perfecting the triple. And man, did they get it right with the 850.
I've always thought the 1980 model year was the sweet spot for these bikes. It was the moment Yamaha took everything they learned from the earlier XS750 and bored it out, fixed some of the nagging reliability issues, and gave it that "Special" cruiser styling that was all the rage back then. It's a bike that feels substantial. When you pull it off the side stand, you aren't moving a toy; you're moving a heavy, metal-and-chrome piece of history.
That Unique Triple-Cylinder Soul
The heart of the yamaha 850 special 1980 is, without a doubt, that three-cylinder engine. If you've never heard a Yamaha triple at full chat, you're missing out. It doesn't scream like a Kawasaki four, and it doesn't chug like a Harley twin. It has this raspy, growling howl that sounds a bit like a half-sized Porsche 911 engine.
By 1980, Yamaha had upped the displacement from 747cc to 826cc. It doesn't sound like a huge jump on paper, but on the road, that extra torque is exactly what the bike needed. It's a "stump-puller" of a motor. You can leave it in third or fourth gear and just roll on the throttle, and it'll pull you out of a corner without any drama. It's smooth, too—at least compared to the twins of the era—thanks to the 120-degree crank. There's a bit of a secondary vibration that lets you know you're on a machine, but it's not the kind of thing that'll turn your hands numb after twenty minutes.
Living with the "Special" Look
Yamaha really leaned into the "Special" moniker in 1980. This was the era of the factory custom. They took the standard chassis and added teardrop tanks, stepped seats, and those pulled-back "buckhorn" handlebars. To be honest, the ergonomics are a bit polarizing. Some people love the upright, "sit-up-and-beg" riding position. It's great for cruising through town or hitting a scenic backroad at 50 mph.
However, if you're planning on doing 80 mph on the interstate for three hours, you might find yourself fighting the wind like a human sail. But that's the charm of the yamaha 850 special 1980. It wasn't meant to be a racer. It was meant to look cool outside a diner and feel comfortable on a Sunday morning ride. The chrome on these bikes was usually top-notch, too. Even today, if you find one that hasn't been sitting in a swamp, that 1980s metal can usually be polished back to a mirror shine.
The Maintenance Reality
Now, let's get real for a second. Owning a forty-year-old motorcycle isn't all sunshine and cool exhaust notes. If you're looking at a yamaha 850 special 1980, there are a few things you've got to keep an eye on.
First off, let's talk about the carburetors. These bikes use Mikuni constant-velocity carbs, and they can be a real pain if they've been sitting with modern ethanol fuel. Getting them synced is an art form. If they're out of whack, the bike will stumble, pop, and generally act like a grumpy teenager. But once they're dialed in? The throttle response is surprisingly crisp.
Then there's the shaft drive. This was a huge selling point back in the day. No chain to lube, no sprockets to wear out. It makes the yamaha 850 special 1980 a fantastic low-maintenance machine in that department. Just keep the gear oil fresh in the middle and final drives, and it'll likely outlive us all. The downside is "shaft effect"—when you get on the gas hard, the rear of the bike tends to lift up rather than squat. It's a quirk you get used to pretty quickly, but it can feel a bit odd the first time you dive into a corner.
The Infamous Second Gear
If you're shopping for one of these, you have to check the transmission. The XS series was somewhat famous (or infamous) for second gear issues. On high-mileage bikes or ones that were ridden hard, the dogs on the gears can wear down, causing the bike to pop out of second gear under load. It's not an impossible fix, but it's a "split the cases" kind of job, which isn't exactly a Saturday morning project for most of us. Always do a test ride and make sure it stays firmly in gear when you give it some juice in second.
Electrical Gremlins
Like many bikes from the late 70s and early 80s, the charging system can be a bit weak. The brushes on the alternator wear out, and the old glass-tube fuse boxes are prone to corrosion. Most owners eventually swap the fuse box for a modern blade-style one, which solves about 90% of the "why won't my bike start" mysteries.
Why Buy One Today?
So, why would anyone want a yamaha 850 special 1980 in a world of modern, fuel-injected bikes with ABS and traction control? It's about the experience. There is something incredibly satisfying about the mechanical nature of this bike. You have to turn a petcock to get fuel moving. You have to use a choke lever on a cold morning. You actually feel the gears clicking into place.
Also, they are currently a bit of a bargain. While the prices of Honda CB750s and Kawasaki Z1s have gone through the roof, the Yamaha triples have stayed relatively affordable. You can often find a decent, running 850 Special for a fraction of what you'd pay for a four-cylinder bike of the same era. They make excellent platforms for mild customization, too. A lot of guys swap out the buckhorn bars for "Euro" bars or even cafe-style clip-ons to give the bike a more aggressive stance.
On the Road
Riding the 850 is a lesson in momentum. It's a heavy bike, pushing somewhere around 550 pounds with a full tank of gas. It's not a bike you flick through the twisties with two fingers. You have to be deliberate with your inputs. You lean, it follows. It feels incredibly planted on the highway, though. That weight, combined with the shaft drive and the long wheelbase, makes it feel like a freight train once you're up to speed.
The braking is well, it's very 1980. You get dual discs up front and a single disc in the rear. They work, but they don't have the bite of modern Brembos. You learn to use the engine braking of that big triple to help you slow down. It's all part of the dance.
Final Thoughts
The yamaha 850 special 1980 is a bit of an underdog in the vintage bike world. It doesn't get the same glory as the superbikes of the era, but in many ways, it was a better real-world machine. It has more character than a four-cylinder and more highway capability than a twin.
If you find one that's been cared for—or even one that just needs a little love—don't pass it up. Whether you keep it stock and enjoy that funky 80s cruiser vibe or turn it into a stripped-down street tracker, the XS850 triple is a platform that won't disappoint. It's a reminder of a time when manufacturers weren't afraid to be a little different, and every time you hit that starter button and hear that triple growl to life, you'll be glad they did.