TT500 Yamaha 1981. RestoMod. South Africa
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- Опубліковано 25 лис 2024
- I am the proud owner and rider of both a 1981 TT and a 1980 XT. These are my daily rides and I use them for commuting, going to gym and weekend excursions.
I have to acknowledge I've an incredible support team, mates and professionals, who have helped me get my bikes into showroom condition and to keep them reliable.
The amazing thing with Yamaha's of this vintage is the dealership has spare parts. If they are not ex stock they will ship them in.
In South Africa we also very lucky to have a strong selection of Yamaha fanatics who have 'container loads' of new, second hand or restored parts of every type for these models.
A number of people have said to me, "You do realise these bikes are old and they're gonna let you down, you gonna end up stranded."
I've only been back into bike riding in the last three years and I have done over 12,000 km. So far I've not had any major mechanical problem, I've never been stranded and I've never been let down.
As I have mentioned in the video the Yamaha TT500 was not brought into South Africa in the big numbers and largely they were sold as farm bikes and off-road toys. While the XT was incredibly popular it's very rare to see or hear of a TT500 still in one piece. Further, our licensing process and legislation makes it very difficult to take a bike that was 20 years on a farm and then register it for road use.
I'm very lucky to have one such bike. I know of only of a handful unregistered TTs awaiting refurbishment, and I've heard of two or three that are licensed. However they become ghosts when I try to track them down. So if anyone knows of a TT in SA I'd love to know about it, I would love to meet the owner.
With a bike this age knowing who the experts are is critical to building them and enjoying them. My support structure are:
Mauritz (a mate) regular maintenance and detailing
D.A.R.K Electrical (12-volt upgrades, harness builds and CDI)
+27116221703
Shimwells Yamaha (spares, maintenance and engine rebuilds)
shimwellsyamaha...
www.instagram....
011 362 2182
076 612 7844 - WhatsApp
shimwells@mweb.co.za
Rob Godwin (Exhausts and welding) robgodwin@telkomsa.net
+27832562257
Koos (painting and panel-beating aluminium tanks)
+27827869594
Hans Myburgh - Advanced Avionic Coatings (frame and engine painting)
+2782551224
Paul's Auto and Aero Trimmers 011 6838308. For the fantastic new foam and upholstery on the seat
Kedo.com Yamaha Replacement parts
www.kedo.com/
Hagon Shocks www.hagon-shoc...
• Yamaha 1981 TT500. Tou...
The 1978 had the best colors. That’s a beautiful bike you built there!
Thanks for your compliments. It is my daily ride and it's an absolute pleasure to ride, to hear and certainly to be seen on. I do take it off road and this weekend we gonna do some technical dirt road riding and I will post some videos.
Beautiful old school thumper, love the colors
Thanks mate
Great job, looks awesome
Thanks mate
It looks awesome love the colour scheme
Thanks. Yamaha needs to celebrate their yellow more! I think it works on bikes that vintage because there's not so much 'real estate' on the bike to paint. So the colour doesn't dominate. It would not look so good on a 700T.
nice work,its a beutiful TT
Thanks mate
Lekka bike! Seat looks kifff def. going to contact Carl for my build.
What build are you undertaking? Don't forget to update us with your progress
I've since had my TT seat recovered by Paul's auto (detailed below)
I do recommend his work and I believe the quality was better than that of Carl.
Paul's Auto and Aero Trimmers - 0116838308.
@@lawrenceatkinson5884 Thanks - but you trimmed the base foam down? I've a 1981 XT500 restomod that is finally starting to come together. Something between a moto and an all-terrain ripper. Working on that motor is a pleasure, its so well made.
@@Kosmonooit Correct I trimmed it down. I basically took about 2 cm off the top. Shortened the seat by about 1 cm. I intended taking about 4 cm off the back but I chickened out.
I then rounded off the side about 2/3 back where you've got that 'change in line'. I was looking for that 'wasp' body look between the tank and the seat. I still have an original seat which I fit whenever I'm doing serious off-road. The issue with a thin seat is it takes away a key suspension element, which is great for normal riding, but off-road it means your primary suspension overworks and the tail becomes impossible. The back wheel just skips all over the place.
I love your TT! I also like the yellow very much. I have a 1981 XT500. Iam based in Durbanville.
Cheers
André
You may have seen for other videos that I've sent my bike down to Cape Town on truck transport and then fly down and meet it. And then burn around your beautiful coastline. Next time I do that we should meet up and go on a ride together. I've got about 30 mates in Johannesburg with XTs.
I'm lucky to own a perfectly restored XT from 1980. I have used it on the Ben 10 ride through the Eastern cape. Hope to do a trip up the Transkei coast soon.
Nice,I had a 1975 tt 500 well designed machine.
It puts a smile on my face everyday when I start it and head off down the road.
Dont you mean 1976?
@@barrycuda3769 I have to agree. I don't think there was a '75 TT
In 1977 ' I can remember often seeing a guy riding around town on what appeared to be a '76 TT500 C model ' (with the low exhaust that they had for that year) but instead of being the usual white and red colours , it was all yellow , I've always wondered if It could have come from the factory like that , or maybe he fitted it with '77 plastics and painted the tank ? sometimes there seems to be unusual versions from the factory, such as the 1980 and 1981 TT250 which as you'll know are white, but I've seen some photos of them in all yellow.
Tout Terreno 500'Yamaha
Thanks
Thanks
Il serbatoio colore argento e bellissimo !!!!!moto miticaaaaaa🦾
Thanks mate.
Did you add the lights ? I have a 1977 TT 500 no lights strictly dirt sure would like to ride it on the street once in awhile, nice job on the bike thanks for the video
Thanks for your comment and yes lights were added.
The TT was sold in very small numbers in South Africa. And none of them were registered and none came with lights, they intended to be farm bikes or off-road only.
Someone 20 years ago registered the spike on the road and put lights onto it. I bought it as a project build about 3 and 1/2 years ago.
The lights and indicators are all standard from a xt500. Obviously I had wiring and other issues so I upgraded to a 12v system.
You must be very proud of your 77 and depending on where you live your licensing rules will be different. But go for it, gives the bike a few more dimensions and gives you more opportunities to enjoy the fantastic experience.
Have you ever noticed that the fuel tank's from the 1979 F model onwards are a little bit differently shaped where they bolt on at the front ' more rounded than pre 1979 ' and to be honest I think the earlier ones look better. I like your detailing ' the aluminium on the tank couldn't be shinier ' and the polished bash plate ' I would have done that to mine if I'd thought of it.
Apparently there was a change in the triple clamps which necessitated a change in the front of the fuel tank. The trainspotters here can articulate it better
Is it same tank as yammy dt ?
@@ianmangham4570 o think they are quite different. I am 99% sure. The experts will be able to answer you.
@@ianmangham4570 No.