Licks Cycles: Yamaha XT500 Restomod

Electrical Begin, Air-Cooled: Motogadgets’ 1980 Yamaha XT500…

By the early Seventies, the massive single-cylinder four-stroke off-roader was thought a species all however extinct. In spite of everything, the nice British 500 singles just like the BSA B50 and Triumph Trophy Path had been from factories that had shuttered their doorways, and cheaper, lighter two-strokes just like the Yamaha DT collection had been promoting like hotcakes.

Nonetheless, over in Japan, a designer named Shiro Nakamura was onerous at work on a one-lunger that might change the motorcycling world. On the finish of 1975, his creation appeared: the Yamaha XT500, which might not solely resurrect the four-stroke enduro machine, however assist give delivery to the complete journey bike style.

“All these massive off-roaders with aluminium baggage you see right now can hint their origins again to Nakamura and Yamaha’s efforts to construct an enormous traily that made a fantastic highway bike.” –Traditional Bike Information

In contrast to its British forebears, the XT500 was oiltight and featured a dependable electrical system. The conrod was quick, the barrel oversquare, and it had a gear-driven major drive and 15-plate clutch. However the efficiency of the Yamaha thumper within the subject was what really turned heads.

“The summer season of 1976 noticed the bike compete within the Paris-Adidjan-Good rally, also called the Cote D’Ivorie-Cote D’Azur rally. 4 XTs completed the occasion virtually lavatory commonplace other than a 25L gasoline tank, a baggage rack for instruments and two 5L gasoline cans. Later it really made its mark in competitors when Sonauto Yamaha crew’s Cyril Neveu received the motorbike division of the primary Paris Dakar Rally in 1979.” –Shannons

At the moment, the XT500 stays one of the crucial lust-worthy classic thumpers, although the bike was at all times a bit underpowered for its weight…and kick-starting that huge 500cc single was no joke.

Enter Jeffrey Wardenaar of Dutch workshop Motogadgets — a person whose uncle acquired him concerned about motorbikes at a younger age, taking him to the Dutch TT…and much afield!

“I made my first motorbike journey with him and his household and mates all the way in which from the Netherlands to the Moroccan Sahara on an Africa twin.”

From the time he was 16, Jeffrey was decided to open his personal store, which he did greater than 20 years in the past — a workshop totally outfitted now for fabrication, restoration, and customization. He makes a speciality of Yamaha singles just like the XT, SR, TT, and HL collection, in addition to the XS650 twin and Honda XR / XL collection. On this case, the mission began with a 1980 XT500:

“Design idea was an XT500 with modifications to make it quick (tuned engine to 40 hp), have higher brakes, be simpler to start out (has an electrical begin equipment on it), and nonetheless be capable of do critical off-road journeys though it’s personalized.”

Sure, this XT has a magic button! One of many major complaints of XT500 house owners has at all times been kick-starting the massive single, particularly since most riders don’t wish to put on full-on motocross boots to journey on the road.

So Jeffrey outfitted this XT with an electrical begin equipment, doubly necessary because the engine has additionally been tuned to ~40 horsepower — a 25% enhance from inventory.

Different highlights embody a set of inverted forks courtesy of a Honda FMX, longer and totally adjustable YSS rear shocks, a redone seatpan with customized saddle, a rear LED mild frenched into the fender, and that beautiful YZ-inspired livery.

All in all, this is among the most drool-inducing XT500’s we’ve ever seen — one we’d like to take it thumping throughout city and nation. Beneath, we speak to Jeffrey for extra particulars on the construct, and credit score goes to Franklin Hielckert of Uncomplicated Pictures for the beautiful pictures of the construct. Take pleasure in!

Yamaha XT500 Restomod: Builder Interview

• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.

I’m Jeffrey Wardenaar, born in The Netherlands on 18 April, 1975. Began my curiosity in bikes due to my uncle, a motorcycling fanatic, visiting bike races with him just like the Dutch TT in Assen. And I made my first motorbike journey with him and his household and mates all the way in which from the Netherlands to the Moroccan Sahara on an Africa twin.

Began wrenching on an Ironhead Harley after I was 15 years previous. Once I was 16 I used to be decided to have a bike store sooner or later. Began my very own workshop in 2003 referred to as Motogadgets, after I was 27 years previous.

Store goes robust, have all of the instruments and machines that you simply want for rebuilding / overhauling engines, to bend frames and pipes, weld, mill, vapor blast, and many others.

• What’s the make, mannequin, and yr of the donor bike?

Yamaha XT500, yr 1981.

• Why was this bike constructed?

Bikes was constructed for a buyer.

• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?

Design idea was an XT500 with the modifications that it might be quick (tuned engine to 40 hp), have higher brakes, simple begins (has an electrical begin equipment on it), and nonetheless would be capable of do critical off-road journeys though it’s personalized.

• What customized work was achieved to the bike?

Customized work: lower the rear body and shortened it, made a brand new base plate and seat, mounted an FMX Honda USD fork, adjustable and longer rear YSS shocks, electrical starter equipment, tuned engine, YZ impressed tank emblem, built-in LED rear mild in rear fender, and many others.