On this planet of traditional thumpers, the Yamaha XT500 reigns supreme. It pioneered the idea of four-stroke dual-sport bikes, gained the primary two Paris Dakar rallies, and garnered legions of followers alongside the best way. It’s laborious to satisfy somebody who hasn’t owned an XT500, identified somebody who’s owned one, or dreamt of proudly owning one.
Given its legendary standing, the Yamaha thumper begs to be subtly and judiciously tweaked, slightly than drastically modified. In the event you can crank up the weather that made it iconic within the first place, whereas nipping and tucking it in all the precise locations, you’re heading in the right direction. And that’s precisely what Jeremy Tagand at Deus ex Machina Australia has carried out with this Yamaha XT500 restomod.
Dubbed ‘The North Star’ after the bike’s proprietor, Fred North, this 1981-model Yamaha XT500 is a textbook instance of tips on how to honor a traditional, whereas additionally dragging it into the trendy age. The XT’s icon standing isn’t misplaced on Jeremy, so retaining as a lot of the unique’s DNA as attainable was by no means a query.
“If we had a greenback for each story we’ve heard concerning the Yamaha XT500, we might in all probability purchase this bike again,” he quips. “Tales of journey and her wily sister, misadventure. Of duct tape and zip tie repairs. Of damaged ankles, nostalgia, and operating out of ability… we’ve heard all of it.”
Jeremy’s first port of name was to offer the previous XT500 a rolling chassis worthy of its legacy. New Yamaha WR450F forks went onto the entrance—however first, they had been shortened, re-sprung, and re-valved. Deus additionally had the uppers anodized, and the lowers handled to a black DLC coating.
CNC-machined yokes maintain the forks in place whereas sustaining the inventory front-end geometry. A modified alloy swingarm from a Kawasaki KLX250 does obligation on the again, linked by way of a pair of absolutely adjustable piggyback shocks from YSS.
Subsequent, Jeremy ditched the 43-year-old wheels for a set of matching 19” Buchanan’s hoops, laced to billet hubs from Haan Wheels. (Sending the edges off for period-correct gold anodizing was a no brainer.) Trendy facilities embody a cush drive, and fashionable hydraulic disc brakes that had been borrowed from the identical WR450F that donated its forks.
With the rolling chassis now sorted, the XT’s unkillable single-cylinder lump rose to the highest of the record. Dependable efficiency was the objective, so Jeremy tapped Carl Batey—who’s been engaged on XT’s since they got here out in 1979—for the right XT500 blueprint.
The rebuilt motor now options high-compression pistons, a balanced crank, a ported and flowed head, a modified camshaft, and heavy-duty valve springs and retainers. Deus additionally put in a high-flow oil pump and oil cooler, and caught a high-performance Okay&N filter into the OEM airbox, whereas additionally slotting the airbox cowl for higher airflow.
The consumption makes use of a Keihin FCR39 carb, with a customized exhaust header and SC-Mission can on the reverse finish. Lastly, Jeremy added an XSTART electrical starter package to the XT, with a rewound stator, flywheel, digital ignition, and 12 V conversion from Rex’s Pace Store.
Jeremy confirmed supreme restraint with the Yamaha’s bodywork. The unique gas tank and rear fender are nonetheless in play, however the latter has been moved ahead to match the trimmed and looped subframe. A brand new seat tops it off, lined in Alcantara and perforated black vinyl, with purple stitching so as to add distinction.
A JVB-Moto headlight shroud was tweaked to suit the Yamaha, and now homes an LED headlight from Koso. Just under it, you’ll discover the unique XT500 entrance fender, trimmed for a extra aggressive look.
The Yamaha’s ending package is all model new and completely fashionable. Flat observe bars are held in place by Rizoma clamps and put on Motogadget’s newest switches, which characteristic backlit color-coded LEDs. The German electronics specialists additionally provided the speedo, grips, and keyless ignition.
The North Star wears contemporary paint too, however Jeremy and Fred opted to duplicate the XT500’s unmistakable manufacturing facility livery. The polished tank sections are echoed within the polished bits on the swingarm, whereas all the things else has been carried out in gloss black.
Deus ex Machina’s Yamaha XT500 restomod deftly balances nostalgia and modernity. In the event you should spin spanners on a classic Yamaha XT500, do it like this.
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