Yamaha XT500 rebuild expert

[@victordohleman8061]

I had the Xt550 in college and loved that bike more than life itself. I went riding everyday in the hills of Eastbay area in northern ca. Weekends we went farther to the Sierras and deserts. XT250. XT 500 Xt 550 and later a XT 600.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Thanks for your comments. You should beg, borrow or steal a 500 and just go for a ride again.

[@queenslander954]

XT500 ..the first winner of the Paris to Dakar in 1979 , Lee Marvin even had a silver tank TT500 , what a bike the XT was , now morphed into the T700 , pretty much the most popular Adventure bike on the planet.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

I do love the T7, but I'm a bit old fashioned so I have a tt500 and an xt500

[@bryantotten2757]

This man is exceptional and his detail and care is impressive.Wish they were all like this.

[@richardho5955]

Arguably, the best motorcycle ever built! Paul, clearly is an old XT guy like me! His restorations are top notch! I bought my first XT in Durbs in 1977, a brown one and sold it in 1981...immediate seller’s remorse set in so I hunted until I found another which I still own today! I also currently own a 1980 XT which I’m busy restoring. These Yamahas have a special place in the hearts of guys who owned and rode XT500s back in the day. Ride safe!

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Paul keeps building XTs and he's currently doing an ex Durban bike. I think it's being his greatest challenge as the deterioration of each and every part, with the humidity, salt and heat all effects the coastal bike.

[@williamthedriller1546]

I bought my first XT in 1980 . I have 6 XT 500 AND 1 SR500 ..I still regret that I sold a thumper in 1985

[@TomKappeln]

Paul has to life forever, like the XT ! THX !

[@telcobilly]

I was living on the South Coast past Durban when I saw my first XT500. I was riding a Yamaha DT400 at the time.. I was bound & determined to get a XT500. One of the first things I did when I returned to the US in 1979 was to buy a slightly used 1978. It would have been a lot more fun to ride in SA versus Dallas Texas.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Great little story and it's good that you managed to acquire your dream bike. And certainly riding through the cane fields and hills of South KZN would have been fantastic in the late 70s.

[@telcobilly]

I had two 1978 XT500'S, wish I still had one..

[@mebeasensei]

Brilliant! I love them. I had a Yamaha SR400. Adored it. I built to be almost a street tracker style.

[@TomdabombNchrone]

I had.orange chrome tank Paul and the XT550. The 550 shoulda had the TT500 motor bored out to 600, and a TT600 plastic tank and front light. I salute you Paul!

[@blairguinea6811]

so thats where all the XT 500 are...............beautiful work Paul

[@davidsaladin2365]

You have a very good eye for detail I have a TT 500

[@brettonjones4765]

Had an '81 Black and SIlver Thumper bought from Charlie Young in Durban. I wanted an XT as all of my friends rode Honda XL500s and I believed this to be the better bike. I quickly removed the ugly crash bars and added a Supertrap exhaust. Rode for two and a half years and loved it. The kick start was a pig in the dark as you couldn't see the decompression indicator. In fact it was the kick start that stopped me from buying a reconditioned one from the Netherlands (for three times what I paid for the original new bike!) so now I ride an Aprilia Tuareg 660.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

The Honda may have been the better bike but for many people it's the xt500 that pushes The nostalgia button. Regards the kickstart, I have never looked at my window and I find if the bike is serviced and tuned and if you know your bike, they never kick back.

[@markmark3034]

Ya, you don't need the window, just feel the compression in the top half of the kickstart's swing, squeeze the lever and kick to the bottom where the ratchet engages. Had an XTand a TT back in the Durban days ripping Cato Manor.

[@brettonjones4765]

@@markmark3034 Sorry - I should clarify. I have a Right leg below knee prosthesis so it made it hard to really feel the decompression point. I got better at this in time so a valid point.

[@Ianzandvoort]

Nice bikes, I think the classic dirtbike community is big in South Afrika; XT500's , TT500's and IT's. Lot of info from South Afrika on the internet. When I am retired I will be more time spending in my shed too... I have got the same 79 model

[@jamespolucha8790]

Nice work, I have a 77 TT500 wish I had the XT to ride it on the street too

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

I'm lucky to have both a TT (that is road registered) and an XT. Certainly they are great bike to go to gym or pick up somewhere from the market and then you can head off to find a dirt road or mountain pass.

[@ianmangham4570]

I had an xl185 in the 80s, she was so beautiful

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

I owned the DT 175 in the early 80s. My aspirational bike was the XT500. And today I own a beautiful 1980 model. What was your aspirational bike? Which one would you treat yourself with today?

[@ianmangham4570]

@@lawrenceatkinson5884 If I could have any it'd be a yz465 with the mx triangle rear suspension, they have a nice relaxed head angle and are all round great machines 😎🙋👍

[@jimray937]

Wow beautiful cool bikes

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Thanks Jim. Paul is now done another three builds since this video was posted. I'll do an update soon. I'm very lucky that one of the builds he did was to my daily ride, an XT500. It's so smart now I'm scared or riding it.

[@dymphnajames3193]

I would buy one of you

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

That is a fine compliment. If you were in South Africa Paul could sell you one. If you import to your country. . . it's possible too. Otherwise get your tools out and start building

[@adrianrouse5148]

That will be fantastic when it's finished. The xt 500 was a nice bike to ride. But where we rode offroad it was just to heavy. The dt 175 .was a good trail bike for us. You could lift it out of the mud when you got stuck. But the xt 500 was great on the way to the trails.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

I agree with you 100% that the DT175 is a lighter bike, more able to be handled in the dirt. In the early 80s I used the DT175 as my daily commute. A few weeks ago a friend of mine gave me a ride on his restored DT175 and we laughed at how small the frame of the bike was and how "build for a school boy". All my mates who ride a XT500 now, are riding the nostalgia. The torque and sound is quite addictive.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJbZanirlNuFfc0

[@aaronbanes6668]

I just received one of these bikes from a random person. I'd love to see more videos about his process.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

I don't know how much I can share with. He always runs an engine before he breaks the bike down. This is so he can know what mechanical work is required. He takes 6 hours to strip the bike down to component pieces. Cleans each part and sorts them out. You can show him any nut or bolt or part of a XT500 and he'll tell you immediately where it comes from. He outsources major refurbishment of the frame, engine, tank etc. He keeps meticulous records of costs purchases and outsourcing. (He was a bank manager!) Whenever I visit him on my (used and unrestored) XT, he'll find an excuse to get out his spanners and do something. Every part has to be as good as new or it gets replaced. In South Africa, Yamaha dealerships seem to be able to supply 90% of the OEM parts for the 40 year old vehicle. To back it up we've got a number of individuals who have stock of OEM or refurbished parts. In between all of this, Paul may drink a beer or two. Bikes were built simply and built to last. The XT is the head of the queue in longevity and reliability. Some of the reasons why the XTs are so popular is due to parts suppler and their robustness. Oh yes, and they look glorious. Then it's a simple job of reassembling the parts as they come back. One of the main tricks that Paul points out is the disassembly and reassembly of the wheels. I have posted a video in which Paul discusses the spokes and rim alignment. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIKxnJx7ib6Dd5I Please feel free to ask any specific questions and I'll get Paul to answer.

[@ianmangham4570]

Beautiful

[@deanvanheerden7144]

I have a exhaust of a xt 500/600. Only thing left of mine. Took it off to replace it with a aftermarket performance exhaust system. Lying on the shelf in garage for ages. Still in mint condition with all the original brackets. Busy now with a Suzuki Dr rebuild

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

If it is original xt500 exhaust it is worth a bit of money and I know a number of people who will be interested in buying it.

[@DaveZee01]

@@lawrenceatkinson5884 Any idea what a used XT500 carburettor would be worth these days? I have one, possibly without the choke in my garage.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

@@DaveZee01 if it's in good condition and complete, a few thousand? A carb kit (gaskets, jet, float, etc) is about R600 to R800. That'll give you some idea what a complete one may cost. As with all things old it depends on how badly someone needs something. A complete motor can sell for between R3 and R7k. And yet just the barrel can go for R1.5k. I've a WhatsApp group in Gauteng. I can post on there if you want.

[@DaveZee01]

@@lawrenceatkinson5884 Thanks for your speedy, knowledgable reply. No worries re advertising it on your W/A group for me.

[@javieragudelo1496]

La aventura 500 forever

[@tonydejesuscuellonoriega3834]

ÉSA ES LA MOTO DE MIS SUEÑOS...OKAY TELODISE TONY COLOMBIA ❤❤❤😇😇😇

[@stewartmckinley7639]

I miss my 79 SR 500

[@xt500rebuild5]

Could I get some advice. I’m restoring a 1981 black/silver tank with gold wheels. I’m unsure about the paint for the engine and exhaust. Is it Matt or satin and should I use a heat resistant primer. I can’t get a straight answer so any help appreciated…

[@gladegoodrich2297]

Have a 81 that's been in storage for 25 years. Think I'll sell my KLR 650 and start riding the Yamaha again.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Do it! You will ride with a smile

[@HWill-iq9sl]

Do take order from US,?

[@kamelthorn]

Lekker

[@stevesharpemail]

What size rear tyre to you recommend? Mine is still on its original rear

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Kenda 262 (Brand and model) Recommended sizes: Back 18 * 4.00 Front 21 * 3.00 (some sites say 21 * 3.25) I put an oversized rear on and I regret it. Looks good but road noise is an issue

[@handcraftedhooligans9962]

Could the xt 500 be started with a battery powered hand held drill from kick start lug if kick start lever was removed and replaced with a quick release crank lug? Picture seems to indicate that kick start mech can rotate 360 degrees anti clockwise.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

There are number of aftermarket electric start systems available. I think they're ugly bulky but if it keeps you riding, go for it. www.thevintagespoke.com/shop/Electric-Start-Conversions-XT500-SR500-SR400.htm

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

But a hand-held drill sounds positively dangerous.

[@unclequack5445]

Mr. Lawrence what company do you get all your parts from? I like the Yamaha's but I always had XR and XL bikes.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

The fantastic thing about the Yamaha XT and TT is that you can get the majority of parts directly from Yamaha OEM. There's also a very active second hand market for spares, as well as online shops like Kedo.com and Jambits.uk

[@stevenmadsen53]

Where is Paul van Wyk located. I have a XT500, it requires some work to bring to up to scratch.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Paul is based in Edenvale, JHB.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Further to my earlier message, Paul is not a commercial bike builder. He is a retired banker following his passion. He builds up to four bikes a year and about 50% of those are commission builds. He only does full nut and bolt rebuilds and in his words, he doesn't do patina. So if you want to full nut and bolt rebuild, certainly discuss it with him, but know that it's a all or nothing deal.

[@omargutierrez774]

En español amigo sino muecos bacano

[@lasseeneroth8189]

Were you shop your parts

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

In South Africa Yamaha dealerships have a wide range of XT500 OEM parts in stock or they can get them on 'back order'. For a 40 years old model that's amazing. There are a few independent suppliers that either recondition or have stock of OEM parts. Let me know if you need contact details. Internationally go to Kedo.com.

[@lasseeneroth8189]

@@lawrenceatkinson5884 in what country you it ship from

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

@@lasseeneroth8189 we don't ship them. We are 'consumers', and we ask the local Yamaha dealerships to get the parts for us. Many of the parts are ex-stock at the dealership.

[@lasseeneroth8189]

@@lawrenceatkinson5884 mean what country is kedo in

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

@@lasseeneroth8189 I believe Kedo.com is German and I know they have a Australian based operation too. They are largely online retail.

[@FishingEasternCapeSA]

Hi, Is Paul selling any of these? I am looking to buy a good XT500. Im in East London SA.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Paul rarely sells a bike, although he did thin his stock out about one year ago. Since then he's built two more. The best route really is to buy yourself a quality, unrestored, licensed XT and either build yourself or pay one of the renovating garages to do for you. They are still a number of bikes coming up for sale every few months. We have a WhatsApp group in joburg of about 20 guys with at least 45 bikes between us. But of course few people build to the quality that Paul does.

[@bobbytheron989]

@@lawrenceatkinson5884 hi Lawrence I would like to join your whats app group regarding the purchase of a bike. Please send me the details. Regards Bobby

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

@@bobbytheron989 we are trying to keep it regionally bound. If you tell me what you looking for I'm happy to publish on the group. However, they are largely buyers, not sellers.

[@mrjob-oz4ex]

Hi how many is it now

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Paul is busy with a number nine at the moment.

[@ricardosannicolas]

I just picked up a 1980 XT500 for $300 =)

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

At that price even if it's missing key parts and needing full restoration, it sounds like a good deal.

[@ricardosannicolas]

my thoughts as well. Especially when there are bicycles selling for more than that right now.@@lawrenceatkinson5884

[@philippeaubret1035]

Hi do you sell 500 XT ?

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Paul does sell bikes on occasion to free up space for his next project. He's based in Johannesburg South Africa so it would be only worth your while if you were in-country. The bikes are 'reasonably' available in the aftermarket. I'd suggest you put out a call through the Facebook xt500 groups.

[@DaveZee01]

The '79 XT500F is my favourite XT as far as the paint schemes go. Paul's refurbishments look amazing! I owned 2 x '80 G's at different stages in the late 90s and about 10 years later. My first (& possibly last) brand new bike was an '82 XT550, exactly like Paul's one in this video. I don't want seem too clever but I think I once read that the '80"G", had 2 changes vs the '79"F" model, viz. leading axle front forks images.app.goo.gl/hVLNm21aqig6qh187 and the aluminium/black (different shaped fuel tank) A lot of people don't realise that the XT tank shape was changed from '80"G" model onwards, which I think was a great pity.

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

I think the details about the changes are correct. I'm not the expert that Paul is. Since this video Paul has sold about four of his bikes and built two new ones. For him the challenge and excitement is always in the build. And he's undertaking some very difficult builds starting with some rather used and abused bikes. In between all of this he's fixing everyone else's bikes.