1979 YAMAHA SR500, Cold Start & Hot Start Sequence and Tips, & Ride Footage

See my other work at
www.LicariCo.com
Instagram @Licari.Co
[e-mail]
I've been invited to show my work at The One Moto Show, The Handbuilt Show, LandLocked Show, Outliers Guild Show, and The Nowhere Moto Show.
Fully restored, recently serviced, new tires. Lots of torque, she'll stand up on her back legs if you goose it. Properly tuned and dialed in, this is a true one kick bike. Spent its first 40 years in southern California, last 2.5 years in the PNW.
Approximately 10K miles on restoration, 25K on bike in total.
Stock bore piston with fresh rings, head gasket, top end.
K&N intake.
Emgo exhaust system.
Mikuni VM34 carb, jetted and tuned for mods.
2000 GSXR front brake master cylinder, new custom braided stainless lines from Venhill Vermont, overhauled brake masters and calipers front and rear with new seals and fresh fluid. New pads and rotor rear, new pads front.
New dualsport 50/50 tires with 111 miles. Second set I've had on this bike. They handle wonderfully, take full lean and scrapes pegs comfortably, still performs quite well in lose dirt on fire roads and trails, wear nicely.
Newer gold chain.
One-off heavy duty chain adjusters, won't twist and snap from wheelies like the stockers.
External reservoir, adjustable shocks.
Fresh fork seals and oil.
Nitro heads seat from Japan.
Custom 29“ narrow bars, splits lanes beautifully.
Biltwell torquer grips.
Minimalist speedo with illumination and trip counter, geared for wheels, readout is accurate.
Shaved tank badges.
Batteryless capacitor conversion from Hughes hand-built.
New regulator/rectifier from RICKS.
LED tail light, hand and foot brake lights both functioning.
Headlight on manual switch.
Lots of stainless hardware throughout.
Aftermarket foot pegs.
Skid plate.
New Motion Pro throttle assembly, throttle cables and clutch cable.
Fresh NGK plug, filters and oil.
She fires up on the first kick every time and idles perfectly. Hot starts are no problem either. Everything works as it should, needs nothing, turn key vintage scrambler that's been fully shaken down.

[@mats8934]

Best SR 500 I've seen on UT ...convinced me to buy my one. Keep up the good work.

[@licarico]

Oh nice! Thanks! I love these 500s.

[@davidtaylor9385]

best bike I ever had... hard to start until you get to know it but will get you any were, plus it pulls like a tractor.... towed my mates mini all the way home when he broke down. I did have to sit on the petrol tank when pulling away but it got him home. love this awesome bike.

[@pmacc3557]

Great story 😂. Iv an '83 that I'm currently upgrading and working on

[@user-xi3oj5bw6v]

Hope you have as much fun as I did.... please be careful starting it up.. she kicks back as I found out and lost a lot of skin from my shin 🙄any chance you let me know how your project goes? @@pmacc3557

[@Sam-lk6eo]

Thanks for the video, I did not know that about the hot start button, Awesome Bike and info ! Cheers

[@licarico]

Yeah that little guy is insanely helpful on a hot summer day!

[@ericweber1969]

Awesome machine, really nice custom mods.

[@kamezebashar5448]

Good sound

[@licarico]

Thanks! I love that Emgo pipe

[@karlthomas2360]

Way cool. Mean ass little bike!

[@ricklodestein1101]

Definitely has it's own tune..

[@EBthere]

Such a beautiful place to live.

[@thebrownbearstudio]

I feel stupid asking but do you always leave the fuel switch set to ON? Having trouble startin a hot engine but noticed I had it set to PRI..

[@davidtaylor9385]

If I left the fuel tap on or off it never made a difference... it was always hard to start. every SR500 is different you just have to get to know it. For example the little window that shows you top dead centre to start is just a suggestion... on mine I had to set it just past TDC then it wouldn't kick back and take the skin off my shin and start. Have fun and if you don't want it let me know. Hope you have fun on the best bike ever.

[@davidtaylor9385]

plus the carb would need cleaning all the time... hope this helps

[@thebrownbearstudio]

It really did! Thanks David

[@licarico]

the hot start button on the carb that cracks the throttle open is heaven sent when starting a hot bike. A lot of people pull the throttle when kicking, which dumps more fuel in every time, and makes it impossible to start. Make sure you are not doing that. As David said though, each is a little different, and it takes time to learn your bike.

[@christiangonzalez5725]

Do you hold the decompression lever the whole time youre kicking it? Or just to get it to tdc?

[@hodaka1000]

No not to start it you find compression then using the decompression lever you move the piston just very slightly past TDC Once you understand that you'll never need to look at the kick indicator window again You also use the decompression lever to roll it over a few times before attempting to start it to prime it for starting and you use it to clear the cylinder if flooded With the standard carburettor these things will flood at the drop of a hat but they are easy to clean using the decompression lever

[@brianharmon1196]

Ads😢

[@sixxerbecks1404]

Nice Bike, but never start a SR on the Mainstand ;-)

[@hodaka1000]

I'm on my second 1978 SR500 this one had about 63,000 kilometres on it when I got it and in the nine years I've owned it I've done another 80,000 kilometres I disagree with your comment 🤗

[@balmoralpjk]

Do you wear any Levi’s jeans or a black leather biker jacket with your motorcycle?

[@hodaka1000]

I don't really like motorbikes I'm only in it for the leather

[@kamezebashar5448]

How much bro?

[@licarico]

I didn't get offered what I wanted to let her go, and have decided to hang onto this one.

[@davidtaylor9385]

@@licarico never let it go... I gave mine away to my girl friends little brother.... BIG mistake!

[@briangtester2536]

Black paint is shoddy, and if it should be offroad it should be the xt500! Whole thing reeks of ignorance and bad taste. My opinion: A motorcycle spoiled!

[@shawnmosleh2363]

Hot starts are only on pumper carbs