My new project... XT500 supermoto

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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Thanks for the kind words Petros! Oh and yes, you need to get an XT for your vintage Yam collection! :D
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Here you go Petros, a nice restored 81 for sale in Greece: http://www.xt500.co/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=4234" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tho I expect you would prefer to do one yourself, and whats great about the XT500 is that about 95% of the parts are still available new from Yamaha. Ok, there are exceptions and parts availability is not so good on the very early (76) bikes, but from 77/78 onwards you can find most things, notable exceptions are some market rear lights, early footpegs, fuel tanks, clocks and things like that, but there were plenty of these bikes sold worldwide so someone will sell you something usable or restorable for sure.
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Another piece of the puzzle that is this bike fits into place...

A while back I mentioned that I didn't like the quality of my el-cheapo indicators when just pushing the bike around the garage one of the rubber fixings parted company with the light part, leaving it dangling like a dangly thing. They were plastic and to be honest, right from the start I had issues with one unit that just didn't work right. Sad as I like the 'arrow' of orange light they projected. But, you get what you pay for...

Next up I tried some more expensive units. Koso sell these as their own, but these were unbranded, interesting... Anyway, CNC alloy and not bad actually, but... You could see they were going to get wrecked as they were solid mounted and still quite long. Even with adding rubber washers I was noticing they were getting pinged by anyone who came round and wanted to swing their leg over the XT SM, its a strangely compelling bike it seems, no one wants to leave it alone. I just hope if I have to leave it anywhere that thieves aren't attracted like bike guys are, hmm... Perhaps its time to think about adding mounts for a very big lock to carry about... :/

So, I trawled the net a third time. This time the brief was narrowed as I knew that I wanted CNC alloy, LED and small and budget was getting to be less of an option than overall form and function. After a lot of searching and shortlisting I decided on the HighTechSpeed X-ARC units in satin black. Ok, no they aren't cheap, but they are good and I was starting to realise that you get what you pay for with stuff like this.

I picked one set of normal signals and one set of their Duo, these have stop lights and indicators in the same unit. Both types also have running lights as well, but I wont be using that function as I'm not sure of the legalities in Aus.

Fitting is easy, tho I complicated it by adding hose around the cables to neaten up the install and I added a spring washer under the bolt as these units do not like being done up super tight due to their light construction. They warn about that in the instructions, and emailed me about it as well so I was careful and they did up fine as I didn't go all Gorilla on them. You will also need to add your own connectors as they are left as bare cable ends to be generic, no problem on that of course, I will need to lengthen the fronts anyway.

So how do they look? (The grey ring on that bracket is from the old OEM indicators...)

Image

Smaller than you'd think:

Image

Brighter than any other indicator I've ever used (no SMIDSYs[1] here!):

Image

And you can sort of make out the brake and indicators together in this pic (and yes the OEM brake light is too dark for the camera to distinguish it at the same time it seems, I know for sure it was on in the pics!). When you hit the brakes both of the units light up red, when switched the indicator/turn signal (in this case the right) comes on the brake light on that side goes off each time, so the unit alternates red/orange while the other side stays red. There is no discernible delay just red/orange/red/orange etc.

Image

So, am I happy? youbetcha! These are just what this bike needed. They look and feel integrated and have the right amount of hidden modern tech under the old skool exterior of the XT. :smt023

[1] - Probably more of a UK term than anywhere else, SMIDSY refers to the unimpressive utterance the car/truck/van driver says when he knocks you off the bike, 'Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You..'.
Last edited by JonW on Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:53 pm, edited 3 times in total.
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

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nokturnal
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by nokturnal »

they fit the style much better. bright too. good one.

link?
:smt017
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Oops, I thought Id added one... my bad:

http://www.hightechspeed.com/products/XARC/index.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

A couple of extra pics for those who wonder if size is important...

V's LC/Early RZ:

Image

V's later RZ:

Image
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Like many of us, I felt the need to pass more gas....

Image

Probably the nicest built and best flowing filters around. Totally rebuildable and really nice CNC alloy body.

For those who dont know, it is as the company strapline says....

Image
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Finally had a bit of time to play with the XT today, wahooo!

I pulled the points and flywheel covers. Marked up the 'F' mark on the flywheel with some white paint and fired her up.

I'd like to say it was first kick, but the bike has been sat a long time since the last fire up... Hmm....

Letting her warm up I could tell three things:

1, she idled well
2, she didn't want to rev up at all, pops and loud bangs only
3, the noise I had last time I started her is gone, so adjusting the hydraulic tensioner properly was the way to go, if only Kedo had made it more obvious.

I then connected the timing light and aimed it at the flywheel.

And... No white mark.... Hmmm....WTF???????

After aiming the light around the circumference of the flywheel I found it, flashing away about 5cm (2 inches) away to the right of the little triangle where it should be... Damn...!

I adjusted the points and the idle again and again and finally got the mark where it is meant to be and the bike starts better and revs properly now. In fact with the timing right the revs come on thick and fast and the bike sounds angry. So maybe the jetting isn't too far out.

This is where the points ended up at in the first try, quite a long way round I thought? I did improve that a little later.

Image

I had a quick ride up my driveway and coming back down told me something I had hoped never to find out, that the forks really do need the bushes doing... Grr... Only KTM supply the kit for that, and its hundreds of dollars... Per side! :(

Anyway the front brake works well even tho its not bedded in and the bike isnt as loud at idle as I remembered. Cool progress.

Image

Image

Image

Apart from the forks, the downside of the day was that I pulled out the best and most comfy pair of MX boots I have ever owned and put on the right one to make sure I was protected from the demon kickback. The boots worked well, and saved me a few times from little kickers, but then it all started to go wrong. In the 10+ years since I've worn these boots the plastic had gone brittle and started to crack and bits fall off! I was gutted. I had planned on being buried in these boots, they were that comfortable LOL! Anyway, they are now totally junk, by the end of the time playing with the bike; starting it, running to get screwdrivers and things and riding up the drive, the boot looks like its a joke boot, one of the straps came clean away with a 10cm square piece of plastic sheet and even the stitching on the leather was opening up and Ive little bits of yellow plastic all over the garage floor. I'm gutted! Alpinestars, you made a superb boot in the Tech5, but it wasn't built to last! LOL!
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com
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Smoker
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by Smoker »

The bike looks awesome! :smt007 You did some great work.

It might look cool to make a custom tail light to go with your modern signals.
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Thanks for the kind words Smoker!

I actually really like the old tail light. For me, it's part of the 'form the era' package that sort of defines the XT shape, like the clocks, tank, seat, side panels etc.
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com
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petros67
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by petros67 »

One word Jon , BRAVO !!!!

Awesome bike , awesome workmanship :smt041 You really deserve it for such stunner result.

:smt006
Petros
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nikfubar
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by nikfubar »

Superb, luv it :smt038 get some old school MX boots to match & white socks folded over the top LOL
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Running on 3
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Thanks guys!

I still need to do a few jobs on this one before its really finished and one of them is rebuild the forks with new bushes which isnt a job my wallet is looking forward to. I do catch myself staring at this bike in the garage tho quite a lot... its so pretty. Ive always said the pictures on here dont do it justice, in real life its really so much 'more'.

Nik, scary look...! Im hoping I can get this to the point where it will start without kicking back so I can start it in normal shoes. Ive managed that with big KTM LC4s over the years, so it should be possible. Downside is the XT is moving away from standard and that never helps that stuff, the compression is pretty mean with that piston for example.
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com
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nikfubar
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by nikfubar »

Doesn't it have a decompressor for starting :smt017 My old KLR 600 had an automatic one so it didn't break your leg.

Yeah scary look, went to Loomies café last weekend & this guy turned up on an old Brit bike with the full 60 riding gear to match including the piss pot helmet, Biggles goggles & white scarf. Dick head :smt009
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Running on 3
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

yep it does, but the issue really is kickback. I also have an XL500R and that has an auto decomp and a kid could start it, it only kicks back if something is done wrong like opening the throttle 2T style. The XT, well.... larger pegs means you dont always get to the decouple at the bottom of the stroke and if the points or something goes out of whack then its ambulance time as the amount of compression in reverse is demon. All fun n games of course. Old worn carbs are killer on big singles too, anything nice and new with a pump will work wonders, hence my TM36. :)

PMSLMAO! Riding a bike is all about the complete lifestyle look... he was probably a city banker boy, but defo merchant ;)
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com
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