Click HERE to see the complete inventory of Parts & Accessories available for the Yamaha XT500.
The Yamaha XT500 is a twin-valve single-cylinder enduro-adventure motorcycle made by Yamaha from 1975 until 1981. It shares its sturdy 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.
The first XT 500 was shown at the US dealer convention in September 1975. Europeans had to wait till the summer of 1976.
The bike became an instant success and was produced until 1981 when it was replaced by four-valve engines. It laid the ground for the later range of XT bikes ranging from 125 cc (XT125) to the current 660 cc (Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré) and contributed largely to Yamaha’s image.
The XT proved its performance and reliability by winning 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. In France alone, 62,000 XT 500s were sold from 1976 to 1990.
Click HERE to see the complete inventory of Parts & Accessories available for the Yamaha XT500.
Yamaha XT500 Specifications
Make Model |
Yamaha XT 500C |
Year |
1976 |
Engine |
Air cooled, four stroke, single cylinder, SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder. |
Capacity |
499cc |
Bore x Stroke | 87 X 84 mm |
Compression Ratio | 8.3:1 |
Induction |
32mm Mikuni carb |
Ignition / Starting |
– / kick |
Max Power |
30 hp @ 5800 rpm |
Max Torque |
3.9 kgf-m @ 5400 rpm |
Transmission / Drive |
5 Speed / chain |
Front Suspension |
Leading axle coil spring fork |
Rear Suspension |
Swing arm adjustable preload, 142mm wheel travel |
Front Brakes |
Single 160mm drum |
Rear Brakes |
Single 150mm drum |
Front Tyre |
3.00-21 |
Rear Tyre |
4.00-18 |
Dry-Weight |
139 kg |
Fuel Capacity |
2.3 gallons / 8.5 Litres |
Consumption average |
59 mp/g |
Standing ¼ Mile |
15.0 sec / 87.1 mp/h |
Top Speed |
100.8 mp/h |
Click HERE to see the complete inventory of Parts & Accessories available for the Yamaha XT500.
Yamaha XT500 Photo Gallery