My new project... XT500 supermoto

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silverstrom
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by silverstrom »

Yes, very nice. Well done!
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Thanks guys!

Still more tidying and stuff to do on this bike, but Im getting the boxes ticked. It seems that what looked very complete was deceptive, it needed (still needs) work :)
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 »

For a more readable version of my progress on this build, click here to view it on the 2smoked.com website :

http://2smoked.com/Yamaha_XT500_Supermoto_-_Home.html" 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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petros67
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by petros67 »

JonW wrote: Image
LOL!
One of the best :smt007 :smt007 :smt007 supermoto old school projects in here.
A neighbor has one in stock form and I will attempt to sneak it out of him and go mad
customizing it.

Only if I succeed.


Petros
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Thanks for the kind words Petros!

To be honest I'd really love to see what you would make with an old XT500 Petros, go and chat to him and make it happen!

They are not big power bikes, but theyre nice and small and easy to throw about and are total classics of course. I do so love mine...
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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TommyPettersen
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by TommyPettersen »

That bike looks great Jon.
I too am tinkering about a supermotard conversion..Well, after i am done with my RD that is..
The old "Husky`s " from early eighties would be my choice.. you do get them licenced here actually..I would put an RD engine in it of course...

Back when i was 15 i had a Husky 500 CR. Aircooled twinshock. That thing was BAD. I still don't understand that my mother let my drive around on that..









Tommy
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Thanks Tommy. ohh now the Husky 500 CR would be a weapon, and probably just right for a 15yr old. Back then none of us were scared of anything and thought we'd live forever! haha :D

I had the idea to put an RZ motor in a KTM EXC frame from 99/00. It gave its wheels and forks to the XT. I still have the frame and did some ground work years back, I may still do it, but no way i could register it here sadly due to the aussie rules, but it might still be a fun project as ive most of the parts here, the hardest part is the pipes of course :(

http://2smoked.com/KTMaha_-_Half_KTM_25 ... rmoto.html" 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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Yellow and Black RZ
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by Yellow and Black RZ »

Really like this bike! Thanks for taking the time to share the build.
Everything about it is really nice.

Only thing I see as looking out of place is the front fender. I'm not sure if it's the squareness of it or it's size but something a bit more retro might look better.
Not to be critical, just sharing what I noticed.
'85 RRZ350 - Hacked.
MK
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by MK »

Jon, I had a deja vu when I checked out your link :-)

A few comments:
My YZ mate used an aluminium tank and cut & welded it to clear with the wider RZ engine. From what I did with my race bike I wouldn't bother searching such parts but directly build your own from 1.5-2 mm Al99.5.

If you're not extensively using it off road or big jumps I'd route the pipes below the engine. That's much easier to build !

In any case keep the PV working. The 421 serval cylinders were a bit peaky and if you really wanted to go fast you either have the front wheel up or have to close the throttle a bit.

Btw: I also owned a 360SX KTM and was always faster with the RD on the same track ...
Bye
Martin
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

haha, I thought you might! :) I got really excited about that project but its really hard to register bikes like the ktmaha in Australia but who knows, I could build it from track days, hmm...

Thanks for the comments, I did find a KTM 4 stroke tank would fit where I needed around the RZ cylinders and I have one in the rafters of my garage. I agree that underslung pipes would be simple and easy, but dont have the look I wanted, but would get the project started of course. If i did restart that project I think I would build it with my spare 51L 250 cylinders that have the extra boysen port and yz85 reeds, that should give me 50bhp with a zeel I would think. Ok, not as fun as 90, but would get the proof of concept right and give me a chance at registration as it would be a 250 in a 250 chassis ;)
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
RuZty
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by RuZty »

JonW wrote:.... no way i could register it here sadly due to the aussie rules, .......
Funny, to me the term 'aussie rules' means anything goes, like your version of football.
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

Haha... Well, er, yes... but just like 'Aussie Rules' its bounded by state boundaries. While AR is only really played in VIC, you can probably register this setup in QLD or WA, but not in NSW... well you could, but it would require engineers reports :(
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
MK
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by MK »

Yeah, Aussis are fun :-)
http://tag-fox.com/_data/i/upload/2013/ ... 03a-me.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(Link may NSFW if you live in prude environment)
Bye
Martin
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JonW
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Re: My new project... XT500 supermoto

Post by JonW »

: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

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 »

I don't really do many updates to this bike as its pretty much finished now, but today I received something good in the post so had to fit it. :)

I found that one of the things that I felt let the bike down was the kickstarter. To be honest it's a really nice original 1979 unit and has probably been with the bike since new. It has no slop and didnt rattle when the bike was running, but, it does have a few blemishes and when I originally stripped and rebuilt it I did find some wear in the mechanism on the faces where the lever and the knuckle sit when you do the actual kicking. I considered having the knuckle turned down and the lever bored out and then sleeved. However the problem is two fold with this, 1, these are forged steel parts, so doing that work isn't as easy as it could be, and 2, this would weaken the unit itself and having it break while you swing your weight through the stroke doesn't bear thinking about, so I had a rethink.

Next thought was using a natty alloy unit from another bike. This would be perfect for the nature of this modded bike. Plenty of them around with similar splines, or buy a new OEM Yam knuckle and build up from there with a new lever. But... the XT is a big single, and this one has a high compression (10:1) upgrade, so kicking it over isn't something for those feint of heart without (or any technique). Alloy units on big singles are rare for a reason it seems, as when I looked into it there weren't many out there and only the XR600 stood out, but I found a bunch of forum guys who had broken these levers and were reverting to using forged steel versions. Damn...

What is great about the XT is that there are lots of parts still available from Uncle Yamaha, including the complete kicker unit. Shopping around netted me one for about Au$150 landed, I could live with that as its all OEM, clean, shiny and best of all, correct for the job.


(these pix show the back side of the unit which is a bit lumpy, the front side (they you see when fitted) is smooth of course)
Image

Image

Image

So, while not overly cool or different, it doesnt let the bike down now :)
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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