Yamaha XT500 1975-1989

1975 Yamaha XT500 - A Classic Dual-sport Trail Motorcycle Specs, Review and Photos Collection

Photo of 1976 Yamaha XT500 in Red colour.

Yamaha XT500 is a Dual-sport, Enduro adventure motorcycle with 4-stroke single cylinder SOHC 499cc engine made by Yamaha from 1975 until 1989. The XT 500 was first shown in September 1975 at the US dealer convention, and at the summer of 1976 in Europe.

This “big single” trail model was outfitted to be street-legal and it was developed with the TT500 endurance competition machine as its base model. The 21-inch front wheel and the 18-inch rear with enduro-style tires make it fit for both on- and off-road use. It incorporated epoch-making innovations in all areas, including – in a first for off-road vehicles – a forward inclined upside-down rear suspension. It became the machine used by many teams in the early years of the Paris-Dakar Rally. 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. Yamaha also prepared a factory machine based on it that Cyril Neveu won the first two Dakar rallies on.

The XT range debuted in 1976 with the XT500 four-stroke single. Later, other models followed, spreading from XT125 to the latest XT660.

1975-1990 Yamaha XT500 Specifications

Manufacturer	Yamaha Motor Company
Parent company	Yamaha Corporation
Production	1976–1989
Assembly	Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan
Class	Dual-sport, Enduro (TT500)
Dimensions	L: 2,170 mm (85 in) W: 875 mm (34.4 in) H: 1,140 mm (45 in)
Seat height	830 mm (33 in)
Engine	499 cc (30.5 cu in) 4-stroke single SOHC
Bore / stroke	87 mm × 84 mm (3.4 in × 3.3 in)
Compression ratio	9.0:1
Transmission	Manual 5-speed gearbox
Frame type	Half-duplex cradle
Brakes	SLS drum front and rear
Tires	F: 3.00-21-4PR R: 4.00-18-4PR
Wheelbase	1,420 mm (56 in)
Fuel capacity	8.8 litres (1.9 imperial gallons; 2.3 US gallons)
Oil capacity	2.2 litres (2.3 US quarts)
Turning radius	2,200 mm (87 in)
Predecessor	None
Successor	XT550/XT600/XT660
Also called	TT500 the TT 500 and xt 500 are two different bikes same engines and frames
Related	SR500, TT500

1976 Yamaha XT500 Price: ¥370,000

Yamaha XT500 Parts and Accessories

You might also interested to check the price of spare parts or accessories for Yamaha XT500 motorbike.

• XYZCTEM®Blue Universal Motocross Dirt Bike ATV MX BMX 7/8" Brush Hand Guard for Suzuki DR DRZ DS RM RMZ RM80(do not fit 2015 DRZ), Yamaha YZ XT TT 350 500 600 TTR 225 WR 250 400 426 450 Kawasaki KX KLX KDX 85 125 250 450-Motorcycle Accessories - .
  Aftermarket Universal Handguards fits KTM, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki motorcross off-road dualsport motorcycles..
  Robust plastic outside and aluminum inside..
  Reinforced hand guard to protect your motorcycles. XYZCTEM. Blue.
• 1976-1981 Yamaha XT500 Throttle PUSH and PULL Cable - $23.78.
  . Volar Motorsport, Inc. .
• 1976-1981 Yamaha XT500 Dirt Bike Fork Seals - $10.99.
  High Quality Fork Seals Formed to Original Equipment (O.E.) Specifications.
  Made in Japan.
  Includes a Pair (2) of Fork Seals. BikeMaster. .
• New Clutch Cable for Yamaha TT500 1976-1981 XT500 1976-1981 SR500 1978-81 - .
  Made to exceed the quality and function of OEM cables.
  Replace old worn out cables for a fraction of the price of OEM.
  In Stock and ready to ship!. Rusty Riders. . co-y-c-1038
• Haynes Yamaha XT/TT/SR500 Manual M342 - $36.95
• Yamaha TT500 and XT500 Motorcycle Repair Shop Manual Enduro - .
• Caltric REAR BRAKE SHOES Fits YAMAHA XT500 XT-500 XT 500 1976-1989 - .
• 7/8"Black Bullet Style 2PCS Motorcycle Parts Racing Hand Grips Handlebar Fit For Yamaha XT 125 200 225 250 350 500 600 750 - $28.00.
  Package Includes:2x Hand Grips.
  Instructions not included.
  Color: Black. GAO. Black.
• Yamaha Singles Repair Manual - Choose Your Model, XT500 & TT500 (76-81') - .
  Comprehensive detailed instructions for service, maintenance, and repair.
  Complete wiring diagrams for all models.
  Numbered table of contents, an easy to use index and handy thumb-tabs to find info. fast. Clymer. .
• Caltric 3-PACK Oil Filter Fits YAMAHA 250 XT250 400 XT400 500 XT500 550 XT550 600 XT600 -
  l. Caltric. .

The Yamaha XT500 is a twin-valve single-cylinder enduro-adventure motorcycle made by Yamaha from 1975 until 1981. 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.