Author Topic: What I've been up to of late....XT500  (Read 1295 times)

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Offline nickjtc

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What I've been up to of late....XT500
« on: October 20, 2007, 02:08:44 PM »
After several years of looking I finally found the bike I've been looking for, a '79 XT500. I was a bit nervous because it was on eBay and I had no experience of that 'size' of a purchase. As things turned out everything went smoothly: the seller was easy to deal with despite being halfway across the country; he did a great job of crating the bike (using enough lumber to enable me to build both a bike stand/work table and a work bench); it arrived intact and started straight away. Like Sophie, Gromit (as the XT is now known) is a '10 foot' specimen. Looks great from 10 feet, but when you get closer you see all the warts a 30,000km, 28 year old bike picks up over its life.

I've put about 1,000km on it, including one moderately gnarly trail ride. Was it worth the (probably) high price? Hmmmmm...that's a toughie. Ask me after a winter of fettling! So far Sophie has not sulked at all.
Nick J. Member #3247

2008 Triumph Tiger 1050
1977 Suzuki GS750

"That which does not kill us reminds us to wear proper motorcycle clothing...."

Offline bill440cars

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Re: What I've been up to of late....XT500
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2007, 03:20:53 PM »

      Nice pick there Nick.8) Sophie seems pretty tolerate as long as things don't get too one-sided.  :-\ ;D  Enjoy Nick & Congratulations on your purchase! ;)

                                         Later on, Bill :) ;)   
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Offline scunny

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Re: What I've been up to of late....XT500
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2007, 04:36:01 PM »
nice purchase Nick. theres nothing like an old trail bike to play around on.
I've just recently recovered a XL250s from the scrap heap and have been creating havoc on our riverbeds ever since  ;D
past-cb100,ts250,cb500,cb500,gs1000,gs650g.phillips traveller
present-CB 650 retro
            VTR1000F3
           XL250S riverbed rocket
           TS250[sold]
           TS185[sold]
           XL125S[sold]
           MT50 (white)
           MT50 (red)[sold]
           KN250/XS400 project
           XR/XL250 bitsa under construction
           SL100[sold]
           XL250R
           pedal(pub bike) leaks oil
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Offline medic09

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Re: What I've been up to of late....XT500
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2007, 06:39:16 PM »
That's a great bike Nick!  I had an SR500, your bikes street cousin.  I miss it.  You're in a for a lot of fun on that bike.
Mordechai

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'76 Triumph T160 Trident (rebuilding)
'07 aprilia Caponord

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Offline CBGBs

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Re: What I've been up to of late....XT500
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2007, 09:57:56 AM »
Hey! I had one of those. Mine was a '86. That thing had serious torque and would pull up the front end easily. You could ride it straight over a curb and the soft suspension would just eat it up.

I got mine from ebay and it was a 15 footer.
'66 CB77 Superhawk  '73 CB350G Cafe  '75 CB400F '65 S90  '78 CB750 SS

Offline andy750

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Re: What I've been up to of late....XT500
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2007, 11:33:33 AM »
Nice one Nick! The XTs are famous for their durability. Have fun.

cheers
Andy
Current bikes
1. CB750K4: Long distance bike, 17 countries and counting...2001 - Trans-USA-Mexico, 2003 - European Tour, 2004 - SOHC Easy Rider Trip , 2008 - Adirondack Tour 2-up , 2013 - Tail of the Dragon Tour , 2017: 836 kit install and bottom end rebuild. And rebirth: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,173213.msg2029836.html#msg2029836
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3. Yamaha Tenere T700 2022

Where did you go on your bike today? - http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=45183.2350