Sound all-rounder
Yamaha’s proto-adventure bike could be all the machine you’ll ever need
Yamaha’s XT500 makes a lot of sense as a classic all-rounder. It’s fast enough (for most) on the road, it’s more than capable of a little greenlane exploration and it’s simple enough to keep in good fettle. Just about everything parts-wise is still available, either as NOS or decent quality reproduction, and there are plenty of upgrade parts on the market if that’s what you fancy. The XT certainly ticks a lot of boxes.
But if that all sounds too good to be true, there is just one small cloud on the XT’S horizon. Prices are rising.
And they show no signs of cooling off. If you want an XT500, you might want to consider getting in now before they become unaffordable. Not so long ago, you could pick up a tatty runner for a couple of grand. Not any more – anything rideable will start at around £5000 and concours machines can make over £12,000.
The appeal of an XT500 – or its stripped down cousin the TT500 – is in the way it brought all the simple charm of a traditional big single into the modern world (well, the 1970s anyway). An all-alloy ohc engine with a five-speed gearbox and massive rollerbearing bottom-end provides decent power and reliability, while the relatively short-stroke crank and light flywheels provide a rev-happy and snappy power delivery ideal for popping the odd wheelie on the high street. And, while the rolling chassis is nothing out of the ordinary, it’s well built and effective.
As with many classic bikes, it’s the first-year model that is the most sought after – and most pricey. The launchyear 1976 XT500C is instantly recognisable with its underslung exhaust (a high-level system was fitted from 1977) and to fetch top money, the original pipe and silencer will need to
Above: As more people cotton-on to the XT’S do-it-all ability, prices are rising. If you want one, get it now