Yamaha XT 500 explained

Yamaha XT500
Aka:TT500 The TT500 and XT500 are two different bikes same engines and frames
Manufacturer:Yamaha Motor Company
Parent Company:Yamaha Corporation
Production:1976–1989
Assembly:Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan
Predecessor:None
Successor:XT550/XT600/XT660
Class:Dual-sport, Enduro (TT500)
Engine:499cc 4-stroke single SOHC
Bore Stroke:87mm84mm
Compression:9.0:1
Transmission:Manual 5-speed gearbox
Frame:Half-duplex cradle
Brakes:SLS drum front and rear
Tires:F: 3.00-21-4PR
R: 4.00-18-4PR
Wheelbase:1420mm
Length:2170mm
Width:875mm
Height:1140mm
Seat Height:830mm
Fuel Capacity:8.8L
Oil Capacity:2.2L
Turning Radius:2200mm
Related:SR500, TT500

The Yamaha XT500 is a twin-valve single-cylinder enduro-adventure motorcycle made by Yamaha from 1975 until 1989. It shares its power plant with the street version SR500 and its off-road brother, the Yamaha TT500. All parts such as the transmission and chassis were produced in Japan.

The first XT 500 was shown at the US dealer convention in September 1975, and in Europe in the summer of 1976. The bike became an instant success and was produced until 1981 when it was replaced by four-valve engines. It laid the ground for the later range of XT bikes ranging from 125 cc (XT125) to the current 660 cc (Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré) and contributed largely to Yamaha's image. In France alone, 62,000 XT 500s were sold from 1976 to 1990.[1] [2]

The XT won the first big African rallies, which were on the rise in the late seventies. It started with Paris–Abidjan-Nice and then the Paris–Dakar Rally, which confirmed the supremacy of the XT 500.[3] [4] Bengt Åberg competed in the 1977 500cc Motocross World Championship on a highly modified Yamaha XT500 built in collaboration with former world champions Torsten Hallman and Sten Lundin.[5] Åberg rode the bike to a victory in the first moto of the 1977 500cc Luxembourg Grand Prix and ended the season ranked 9th in the final world championship standings.[5]

The 21-inch front wheel and the 18-inch rear with enduro-style tires make it fit for both on- and off-road use. Seat height and ground clearance are adequate and the machine has the typical dual-purpose handling characteristics, which makes it suitable for a wide range of duties, from crossing rough city roads to country lanes or paths.

The XT range debuted in 1976 with the XT500 four-stroke single. Later, other models followed, spreading from XT125 to the latest XT660. Both the XT and TT ranges represent the typical Yamaha model development consistency, with model refinements over a long period of time.

After 1982 the successive four-valve XT600s were sold in some markets in 500 cc form until 1989, but this was not the original, classic twin-valve XT500.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Product Planner Profile: Masahiro Inumaru. Yamaha Design Cafe English. Yamaha Motor Europe. 2013-07-18. 2002-04-01. His first project was the SR 500 and the TT500..
  2. Web site: They did it their way: When the big thumper returned. Yamaha Design Cafe English. Yamaha Motor Europe. 2013-07-18. 2003-03-01. The times in the sixties where big singles touched the heart of enthusiasts were not forgotten!.
  3. Web site: History: Dakar. 2013. Official website of the Dakar rally raid. Amaury Sport Organisation. 2013-07-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20130729150132/http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2013/us/history.html. 2013-07-29. dead.
  4. Web site: PDF. 2011. Dakar Retrospective 1979-2009. Official website of the Dakar rally raid. Amaury Sport Organisation. 2013-07-19. 2013-06-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20130614234211/http://www.dakar.com/2011/DAK/presentation/docs/historique-dakar-1979-2009_us.pdf. dead.
  5. Web site: mxworksbike.com. 2016-02-27. Torsten Hallman 2005.