Like all Japanese Motorcycle companies do, When Yamaha developed this bike in the 70s they had their eyes set on British bikes of the 60s. These SR500s were drafted from the pinnacle of the British bike heydays. Picture the BSA GOLDSTAR,THE NORTON MANX, AJS, Vellocette, Matchless. A proven design, with engine architecture taken from all of them. The Japanese motorcycle industry of coarse would not rest with some of the crude offsets and tolerances, leaking cases and poor balance in their engines. However the Japanese did lack the refined details of the British bikes which the Japanese had to overcome by superior mechanical concept and spot on metallurgical implementation. Introduced as the XT500, and the motocross version TT500 in 1975, the road version was soon to follow. The SR500 was a sensation when it arrived on our shores but soon fell out of favor with the buying public because of the kickstart only option which was fine for dirt riders but not okay for street commuters as the bike was positioned in the marketplace. A couple years later Yamaha tried to resuscitate sales by featuring front and rear disk brakes and mag wheels, but lackluster sales forced them to drop those options to pull the belt in another notch before finally ditching US sales altogether in 82. In an attempt to offer a low price leader in their lineup the SR was recently released as a 400. The $6000 380 lb version is to the chagrin of the motorcycle magazine test writers, even though it started first kick every time. This great bike being offered here is the best of both worlds. It has the solid reliability and fuel efficient qualities of the Japanese bikes with the character and superior finish of the British bikes.
Price: Auction
More info: Listing has ended. Click to search on eBay for similar 1979 Yamaha SR500 (Affiliate link)
Location: Naples, Florida, United States
