Restoration of a 1979 Yamaha TT500 F, matching engine, frame and crankcase numbers. This was the 11th bike to roll off the production line for its model.
Damn i loved my 3 TT500s 79 , 80 , and 81 , they were the most awesome wheelie machines ever and i spent my youth on the back wheel of my TTs haha , This wee vid sure brings back memories , the bike sucked at tight bush tracks etc and was more suited to 70mph power slides on the beach or twisty gravel roads at speed...... no one could hang with me on the gravel , even 2 up lol . Thanks for posting this vid ....... you just made my day ..... Oh another great bike of the day was the DR370...... that thing was a hoot but will never attain the cult status of the TT .
Next weekend myself and hopefully four other TT500's (road going) are off on a trip from my home town to watch the second round of the north island VMX at a place called Taupo. The ride is about 120 ks each way and through valleys that have native bush either side of the tar sealed road. These valleys of native bush produce lots of oxygen which the TTs love (more Horse Power) when powering out of those corners.
Hi Angel yeah here in NZ we got the full range. I just got a compliance plate for my TT500F and kept everthing on the bike stock . Here in NZ if it is pre 1981 then it can stay the way it was when if came of the factory floor. I have 3 TT500s F,G and H. They all have matching frame, engine and crankcase numbers with all the original fruit on them, lighting and speedometer kits I ride my H most weekends and constantly get people commenting about it when I park up some where to get gas
Yeah love those XT500s just a nice all round bike. I am quite found of the CDI 1981XT500H that you have. The New Zealand model didn't have the CDI old points instead.
I just bought a 78 500 TT used very little and put into storage in Arizona 35 years ago. I,d welcome any experienced advice....also have all 3 versions of tank , exhaust and fenders. May sell extra parts. Beautiful video.......know where to start now.
@PennyTheSausageDog Glad you liked it, it took me years to source all of those parts from all around the world. Yeah love the 76 TT500C . Show us some pics of your TT500c
@sneakystaffie Cheers, sounds like you had some memorable times on your Xts. The europeans just love them to bits. Will be next year before I start assembling the TT scrambler. Just working on the frame at the moment everthing else has been rebuild an just sitting there ready to be assembled. Till then 5831t12y0
Yeah love the XR600, I nearly purchase one just recently the last of the model 1999?. It was in very good condition. I just sold my 1986 XL600 (electric start and kick) got about $1800 US for it. Put a picture up of your XR
@5831t12y0 No problem bud, you earned the comments,will look forward to seeing some pics of the TT. I'm sure it will be just as good a rebuild as the XT. I have actually owned two xt's and both were great all round bikes on the road ( to work and stuff)and even riding enduro stuff (believe it or not ). I share your enthusiasm for the old thumper as they were appropriately named :)
@superbike352004 Hi Dave, tips would be don't rush, do it right the first time, put a 10:1 compression piston in it if for road use don't go higher as the pump gas isn't up to it. If just for the dirt then higher comp is ok if you have a ready supply of Av gas. Once they get hot the higher the comp the more they love to ping on pumped gas. Good luck
@stevepara64 Hi bro, not many places around now that have those hard to find NOS parts. Most have been bought up by the likes of me...... Yamaha still sell a few bits other wise the best place to buy reproduction parts (these are very good remakes) is from kedo Quite fond of the 76 model with that beautiful header pipe and muffler. The TT500c never came to NZ only the XT500C. Good classic bike you have there and may you get lots of enjoyment out of it.
@sneakystaffie The weather is beautiful at the moment, rode the white TT to work today. I live in a country town and travel to the city to work so its a good ride. Yeah I just paint things that don't need to be fussed over. The vid originally had the music from the movie the Good the Bad and the ugly but you tube pulled it, said it was a breach of copy right. Got some family that live in wodonga Vic.
@5831t12y0 Oh yeah bud, heaps of fun, best ever two wheeled tractor for super steep hill climbs :) Both of mine were the black and polished aluminium model, cant remember the model designation :( I think they were around 77 vintage. Just the most practical bike for a combination of on and off road. Will look forward to seeing some pics off the TT when its done :) Just wondering if ur in Australia ? Im in victoria australia. Best regards, sneakystaffie :)
@sneakystaffie Even bigger then that ditch, the Tasman sea. I could paint it if I wanted but I choose not to as i don't have a controlled environment to do it in!
@5831t12y0 Good on ya champ. Ur making me insanely jealous, riding to work on a beautiful day, oh I miss that :) Wont be long though before I get back on the bike and ride to work, its been a while :( Was in the garage earlier and was thinking if ya need any special parts turned up on the lathe or machined (surface grinder) or milled, let me know its my hobby. If you dont mind covering the post cost i"d be happy to do that for ya. Been to wodonga a few times, nice spot. sad they pulled that :(
5831t12y0 Maybe you can help me: Does a 1979 SR500 have zerk grease fittings for the swing arm? Mine sat in a barn for over 25 years and I'd like to lube it. Mine has a Hi-Per-Kinetics Stage 2 650 stroker engine. I also own an early 1976 TT and have owned 2 1977 TT's. Contact me for one of a kind pictures of how I semi-restored my SR to look like a BSA (BSR?) Gold Star. daviddaveinternational@gmail.com
5831t12y0 KEDO? Oh, KEDO has gotten many a dollar from me through their US distributor, The Vintage Spoke. I was told that the SR doesn't have zerk fittings. Sealed bearings. I'd still like to cram the pivot point with some grease. Go to my email for pictures of all the cool goodies from KEDO on my bike: daviddaveinternational@gmail.com Try not to take 2 and a half years to respond! Easy, David Fonebone
@5831t12y0 Yep, thats one big bitch of a ditch, even a TT 500 couldn't cross that without help :) How's the weather over there in kiwiland ? Yep twopack paint is a bitch without an oven but you could use acrylic as an alternative, cheaper too . One secret with acrylic is to let each coat dry thoroughly and start with bare metal. Worked for me for 30 odd years. Looked at ur vid again today, love the clint eastwood parts lol .
@5831t12y0 hahahaha :) :) lol across the ditch LOLOL, I guess you mean across bass strait ? I guess you would be right coz it was around 82 when I bought em. I love the way ur tank came up, looks great. One of mine had a huge dent in the tank and that was a bitch to repair being aluminium,and I'm a panel beater and spray painter LOL. Did you do your own paintwork ? Regards
Really can't compare as I have never owned a XR500 Z or A. I have heard the opposite that the xr might have a bit more sting? I do know that I can take the corners on the road a lot faster then if I was on a XR, resale is better and parts are easy to come by. I would love to own a XR but it would have to be a minter and at a bargain price before I would purchase one. You just wouldn't get your money back if you were to restore one where as TTs you do and more!
You Tube pulled my music on this video, This music was " The good the bad and the ugly" if someone can come up with a sound track to fit this movie that would be great. Thanks 5831t12y0
have three xt500s two 77s and one 81 I bought one of the 77s new I love these bikes I plan on rebuilding two of them
Damn i loved my 3 TT500s 79 , 80 , and 81 , they were the most awesome wheelie machines ever and i spent my youth on the back wheel of my TTs haha , This wee vid sure brings back memories , the bike sucked at tight bush tracks etc and was more suited to 70mph power slides on the beach or twisty gravel roads at speed...... no one could hang with me on the gravel , even 2 up lol . Thanks for posting this vid ....... you just made my day ..... Oh another great bike of the day was the DR370...... that thing was a hoot but will never attain the cult status of the TT .
Next weekend myself and hopefully four other TT500's (road going) are off on a trip from my home town to watch the second round of the north island VMX at a place called Taupo. The ride is about 120 ks each way and through valleys that have native bush either side of the tar sealed road. These valleys of native bush produce lots of oxygen which the TTs love (more Horse Power) when powering out of those corners.
Nice restoration bud, love the xt and tt's, owned one many many years back
Really appreciate the postive comments, yeah lots of people love these bikes..... not to far off finishing my classic scambler TT500.
Hi Angel yeah here in NZ we got the full range. I just got a compliance plate for my TT500F and kept everthing on the bike stock . Here in NZ if it is pre 1981 then it can stay the way it was when if came of the factory floor. I have 3 TT500s F,G and H. They all have matching frame, engine and crankcase numbers with all the original fruit on them, lighting and speedometer kits
I ride my H most weekends and constantly get people commenting about it when I park up some where to get gas
Thanks man, some guys who are old schooled in metal fabrication did it for me,
Took me ages to find all thos NOS parts.
Yeah love those XT500s just a nice all round bike. I am quite found of the CDI 1981XT500H that you have. The New Zealand model didn't have the CDI old points instead.
I just bought a 78 500 TT used very little and put into storage in Arizona 35 years ago. I,d welcome any experienced advice....also have all 3 versions of tank , exhaust and fenders. May sell extra parts. Beautiful video.......know where to start now.
@PennyTheSausageDog Glad you liked it, it took me years to source all of those parts from all around the world. Yeah love the 76 TT500C . Show us some pics of your TT500c
Thanks man, my next creation isn't to far away!
Wow q linda tu TT !!! how much did u spend restoring the bike???
Thanks man, glad you liked it.
@sneakystaffie Cheers, sounds like you had some memorable times on your Xts. The europeans just love them to bits. Will be next year before I start assembling the TT scrambler. Just working on the frame at the moment everthing else has been rebuild an just sitting there ready to be assembled. Till then 5831t12y0
Yeah love the XR600, I nearly purchase one just recently the last of the model 1999?. It was in very good condition. I just sold my 1986 XL600 (electric start and kick) got about $1800 US for it. Put a picture up of your XR
super sweet! where did u get tank redone? and all those nos parts?
Hi, thanks
Yep just love those TT's. RU based at the mount.
Remember this baby is vertually all NOS
so she would be worth a large amount of money!
Thanks Tony, yeah love those XT500's
wow amazing love your bike
A buffing wheel and lots of polish with a clear coat over the top.
@5831t12y0 No problem bud, you earned the comments,will look forward to seeing some pics of the TT. I'm sure it will be just as good a rebuild as the XT. I have actually owned two xt's and both were great all round bikes on the road ( to work and stuff)and even riding enduro stuff (believe it or not ). I share your enthusiasm for the old thumper as they were appropriately named :)
great vid i have an origonal 79 as well its yellow wher some ornge or did you just want ornge
different colours, white, yellow, orange and black.
i like them, its bike of my dream
Yep cool bikes, just finished re-building a TT500G.
@superbike352004 Hi Dave,
tips would be
don't rush,
do it right the first time,
put a 10:1 compression piston in it if for road use don't go higher as the pump gas isn't up to it. If just for the dirt then higher comp is ok if you have a ready supply of Av gas. Once they get hot the higher the comp the more they love to ping on pumped gas.
Good luck
Thanks bro, yeah man I just love them aswel.
@stevepara64 Hi bro, not many places around now that have those hard to find NOS parts. Most have been bought up by the likes of me...... Yamaha still sell a few bits other wise the best place to buy reproduction parts (these are very good remakes) is from kedo
Quite fond of the 76 model with that beautiful header pipe and muffler. The TT500c never came to NZ only the XT500C. Good classic bike you have there and may you get lots of enjoyment out of it.
@sneakystaffie The weather is beautiful at the moment, rode the white TT to work today. I live in a country town and travel to the city to work so its a good ride. Yeah I just paint things that don't need to be fussed over. The vid originally had the music from the movie the Good the Bad and the ugly but you tube pulled it, said it was a breach of copy right.
Got some family that live in wodonga Vic.
Sweet can't seem to find them under your user name?
Thanks, and heaps bro!
@5831t12y0 Oh yeah bud, heaps of fun, best ever two wheeled tractor for super steep hill climbs :) Both of mine were the black and polished aluminium model, cant remember the model designation :( I think they were around 77 vintage. Just the most practical bike for a combination of on and off road. Will look forward to seeing some pics off the TT when its done :) Just wondering if ur in Australia ? Im in victoria australia. Best regards, sneakystaffie :)
Sounds like they were 1980 G models, I live across the ditch Cheers 5831t12y0 :}
@sneakystaffie Even bigger then that ditch, the Tasman sea. I could paint it if I wanted but I choose not to as i don't have a controlled environment to do it in!
Yeah the buggers pulled my music "the good the bad and ugly" to the video
@5831t12y0 Good on ya champ. Ur making me insanely jealous, riding to work on a beautiful day, oh I miss that :) Wont be long though before I get back on the bike and ride to work, its been a while :( Was in the garage earlier and was thinking if ya need any special parts turned up on the lathe or machined (surface grinder) or milled, let me know its my hobby. If you dont mind covering the post cost i"d be happy to do that for ya. Been to wodonga a few times, nice spot. sad they pulled that :(
sam witwiky your 1979 must be a TT500E if it is yellow. Frame number will confirm model!
5831t12y0 Maybe you can help me: Does a 1979 SR500 have zerk grease fittings for the swing arm?
Mine sat in a barn for over 25 years and I'd like to lube it.
Mine has a Hi-Per-Kinetics Stage 2 650 stroker engine.
I also own an early 1976 TT and have owned 2 1977 TT's.
Contact me for one of a kind pictures of how I semi-restored my SR to look like a BSA (BSR?) Gold Star.
daviddaveinternational@gmail.com
Sorry bro, totally missed you asking a question. Try Kedo.
5831t12y0 KEDO? Oh, KEDO has gotten many a dollar from me through their US distributor, The Vintage Spoke.
I was told that the SR doesn't have zerk fittings. Sealed bearings. I'd still like to cram the pivot point with some grease.
Go to my email for pictures of all the cool goodies from KEDO on my bike: daviddaveinternational@gmail.com
Try not to take 2 and a half years to respond!
Easy,
David Fonebone
@5831t12y0 Yep, thats one big bitch of a ditch, even a TT 500 couldn't cross that without help :) How's the weather over there in kiwiland ? Yep twopack paint is a bitch without an oven but you could use acrylic as an alternative, cheaper too . One secret with acrylic is to let each coat dry thoroughly and start with bare metal. Worked for me for 30 odd years. Looked at ur vid again today, love the clint eastwood parts lol .
@5831t12y0 hahahaha :) :) lol across the ditch LOLOL, I guess you mean across bass strait ? I guess you would be right coz it was around 82 when I bought em. I love the way ur tank came up, looks great. One of mine had a huge dent in the tank and that was a bitch to repair being aluminium,and I'm a panel beater and spray painter LOL. Did you do your own paintwork ? Regards
Really can't compare as I have never owned a XR500 Z or A. I have heard the opposite that the xr might have a bit more sting? I do know that I can take the corners on the road a lot faster then if I was on a XR, resale is better and parts are easy to come by. I would love to own a XR but it would have to be a minter and at a bargain price before I would purchase one. You just wouldn't get your money back if you were to restore one where as TTs you do and more!
You Tube pulled my music on this video,
This music was " The good the bad and the ugly" if someone can come up with a sound track to fit this movie that would be great.
Thanks 5831t12y0
Go to kiwibiker web site and contact me through my user name G-spot