Yamaha XT500 – The Motorcycle That Won The First Two Paris-Dakar Rallies

The Yamaha XT500 will probably generally be ideal remembered as the bike that won the very first Paris-Dakar Rally, all the way again in 1979. Then just to establish it was not a fluke, it received the function all over again a yr afterwards in 1980.

In the decades because these wins, the XT500 has turn into a common preference for those wanting for a classic enduro bike many thanks to the point that they’re difficult to crack, effortless to get elements for, and a good deal of entertaining to journey.

Rapidly Information – The Yamaha XT500

• Yamaha introduced the XT500 in 1976, it shares much the exact same motor and drivetrain as the highway-likely Yamaha SR500 and the TT500 off-roader.
• The engine is a uncomplicated single-cylinder with a solitary overhead cam, it has two valves, a 5-velocity transmission, and a chain push to the rear wheel.
• The XT500 would stay in production from 1976 right until 1989, and it would gain a slew of races which includes the Paris–Abidjan-Pleasant, the Paris-Dakar Rally (two times), and the 1977 FIM Motocross Luxembourg Grand Prix.
• The XT500 you see in this article is outlined as getting a previous stunt bike that has due to the fact been totally restored and only driven in dry temperature considering the fact that. It has matching motor and frame figures, and it is staying bought out of Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom.

The Big Desert Rallies

In the 1970s the age of the massive intercontinental desert rallies had arrived, races like this experienced existed before of course, but there was a little something new and somehow a lot more extreme about races like the Paris–Abidjan-Wonderful Rally and the Paris-Dakar Rally.

Earlier mentioned Movie: This clip exhibits footage of the 1979 Paris-Dakar Rally, such as the race-winning Yamaha XT500 in motion.

In these functions there was really small help, most of the entrants ordinarily did not end because of to crashes or mechanical breakdowns, and initially at least, there was extremely minimal media coverage. Persons didn’t do it for the fame they did it for the problem.

Though it was not explicitly built for desert endurance racing, the Yamaha XT500 would change out to be ideal for it. The explanation for this was pretty much definitely the toughness and mechanical simplicity of the engine and drivetrain.

The XT500 would gain the Paris–Abidjan-Good Rally and the very first two runnings of the Paris-Dakar Rally, right after which the larger experience bikes started to dominate, bikes like the BMW R80G/S which would earn in 1981, 1983, 1984, and 1985.

The Yamaha XT500

When the Yamaha XT500 was launched in the mid-1970s the environment was in the midst of the two-stroke enduro craze, and a 4-stroke motorcycle like the new Yamaha ought to have appeared a minor out of area.

Previously mentioned Image: This episode of Harry’s Garage focusses on the Yamaha XT500, and Harry discusses its background and value.

As we seem again on this stage in motorbike historical past now it’s achievable to establish the XT500 has a backlink amongst the iconic but primitive scramblers of the 1960s and the much more fashionable enduro bikes of the 1980s.

The engine in the XT500 would prove to be remarkably valuable for Yamaha, they fitted it to the SR500 street bicycle and the TT500 off-roader, as properly as the XT500, a lot more of a twin sport bicycle.

This motor has a solitary cylinder with a single overhead cam operating two valves, there is a single carburetor in and a single exhaust out, and electric power is despatched to the rear wheel by using a 5-velocity gearbox and a chain travel.

Though they did not know it when the motor was getting built in the mid-1970s, it would verify to be Yamaha’s most enduring motor style.

It’s has now been in manufacturing, with updates above time, from 1976 to the present day day – it is still applied in gasoline-injected variety in the Yamaha SR400.

The 1977 Yamaha XT500 Shown Listed here

The bike you see below is a Yamaha XT500 from the 2nd yr of manufacturing, 1977. However particulars are scarce the listing notes that it was at first used as a stunt bike before getting completely restored in 2006.

It continues to be a matching-figures bike and it is noted that it’s only been ridden in dry climate given that its restoration.

It’s concluded in the white/pink/black livery this product is identified for, it has seating for two, and it’s fitted with cross-spoke wire wheels fitted with Continental and Trelleborg “knobbly” tires.

The bike is road legal of course, earning it a highly-useable vintage dual sport bike.

It is now remaining supplied for sale on Accumulating Cars out of the Uk, and you can stop by the listing listed here if you’d like to read through additional about it or register to bid.

Visuals courtesy of Accumulating Vehicles