Topic: Anyone know anything about Yamaha XS 500s?

[Honda!]

Hey all,

I just picked up a '73 Yamaha XS 500(along with a '73 Honda CB-175), and was wondering where I could find information on it?  I searched ebay and craigslist, and there are very, very few of them for sale.  In fact, there was one on ebay, and one for sale in the midwest at all on cl.  Uncommon?  Bad?  I don't know, but I'd like to learn more about the bike.  I'll try and take some pictures tonight and put them up, you guys would like the groovy purple paint job

[nickjtc]

There should be lots of stuff about the bike online.

http://www.laverda1000.de/XS500e.htm

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/yamaha04112500.html

http://www.gdlcycles.com/asp1/findmeMODEL.asp?bike=&qsMake=Yamaha&qsPart=XS500

This was the right bike at the wrong time. Yamaha weren't on the 'acroos-the-frame-four' bandwagon at that time and chose to launch a technologically (relatively) advanced, twin. Problem was that everyone wanted the fours. Then Yamaha scuppered themselves by launching the XS750 triple.

It was an alright bike; a friend had one when they were first produced and he raved about it.

[bryanj]

Orrible, unreliable and expensive to maintain, Any more you need to know?

[markjenn]

These bikes seem to be painted into the same corner as the ill-fated TX750 twin and have a poor reputation.  It's probably not totally deserved, but there were some problems with cylinder head cracking and other issues.  And because the bike sold poorly and never attracted a following, it doesn't have a whole lot of aftermarket support.  But if you like a challenge, go for it - they're good runners and unusual.

- Mark

[kirkn]

Search for it here on this site.  Been asked at least twice fairly recently....

[Honda!]

Ask and ye shall receive...Thanks guys!

[Honda!]

Here's some pictures of the bike.  I don't think it'll ever run again, but it sure looks sweet.

[nickjtc]

Never say never! Throw enough money at any motorcycle and you can make it the one of your dreams!

[Johnie]

Look at it...standing there...a tear in the headlight bucket...saying...please young fellow...fix me...ride me...get me back on the road...I will turn heads...you will be proud...not many of us left...please...   

[nickjtc]

...not many of us left...

And that is probably the biggest issue with this bike.

[Honda!]

...not many of us left...

And that is probably the biggest issue with this bike.

Actually, it also has no carbs(take a closer look at the pics).  I will NEVER EVER find carbs for it, I think, and it has no title.  But boy, I really do like it!

[nickjtc]

Take it. Clean it up. Part it out (eBay or whatever). At least it will give you the chance go get acquainted with it and also you'll know that it will be resurrected (in pieces) by people who already have one and want to keep the breed going.

[DarkRider]

Or find a title reissuing place and adapt carbs from another model...theres gotta be something out there that will work with a lil work...like say CB500 T carbs maybe?

[Johnie]

Agreed...but before I would part it out at least give it a shot at looking for carbs.  There are some Yami boards around, there may be someone else parting out a blown engine and there may some carbs for you.  At least give it chance and do some looking for those carbs before righting her off.  I guess before you should even look for carbs, do you know that the engine here is not tight?  Will she turn over?  It would be a shame to find your carbs and then have the engine seized up.  I am suspicious as to why the carbs are gone in the first place? 

[markjenn]

Anything can be resurrected with enough time/money, but some are good candidates and some are not.  I'd put this in the "not" category for a variety of reasons:  1) missing critical parts that will be very hard to source; 2) bad corrosion issues; and 3) not high valued so not worth investing in.

This should be a $100 parts bike to fix up another bike or be parted out on Ebay.

- Mark

[DarkRider]

Just realised something..i almost wonder if you couldnt take a set of carbs from an XS650..they may just slip on..if not maybe a pair of sled carbs like they use on the Kawi triples. The carbs are usually seperate and with say a slight angle joint and split throttle cables you could make them work.

[Honda!]

Well,

Can't get a title, WI blocks all title agencies, and there is NO WAY IN HELL to get one from the WI DMV.  I've tried before.

Engine does turn over.  First thing I checked when I got it.

I've got a junk XS-650 in my backyard I could steal the carbs from.  The 500 is actually in surprisingly good condition rust/corrosion wise, especially compared to my 650 (imagine a bike having been submerged for more than one year).  The 650 has good carbs, but with no title....I just don' know.

I'm thinking of buying an early 80's 650 and transplanting the seat/gas tank/side covers from the 500 onto it, to make a hybrid old/new bike, or maybe even finding a titled running 500 and doing a parts swap from there.   It's up in the air, but I don't think I'll junk it or part it at this point.  Thanks for all the input, guys!

[DarkRider]

This would be a perfect time to get ahold of a frame with a clear title and build yourself a chopper or a Cafe..

[Honda!]

This would be a perfect time to get ahold of a frame with a clear title and build yourself a chopper or a Cafe..

If you've got one, I'll buy it

500's are as rare as hens teeth, especially around here.

[SOICHIROSFOUR]

I can tell you a few things about your bike. First off you don't have an XS500. It is a TX500 and is related to the TX750 and both were an embarrassment to Yamaha. The head was poorly designed and overheated. Because of this they are somewhat rare and collectible in a cult like way. I have seen some nicely restored ones though. Yamaha instead went back to the drawing board and in 1976 came up with a single overhead cam XS360 twin. In 77 they offered both a single cam 360 plus a twin cam XS400. These engines were solid and the 400 stuck around for a long time in many forms. I would try XS400 carbs on your TX. Ebay has lots and they are cheap.

[Honda!]

Ah, you are correct.  After a second look, they didn't even make an xs 500 in '73. 

[Honda!]

*Update*  Looks like I've found the titled runner I needed to get this bike back on the road.

http://iowacity.craigslist.org/mcy/754553905.html

Only about 4 hours away.  I'd take the engine and frame from this bike, and build my '73's parts around them, creating a hybrid '73/'78.  And from my research, the head cracking problems were solved by '78.  So, no one is allowed to snake this one out from under me    I'm calling the guy tomorrow.

[hoodellyhoo]

Hope that works out for you!

I knew the WI dmv was very anti-titling, but I didn't know they block those title services.

[kirkn]

Yamaha instead went back to the drawing board and in 1976 came up with a single overhead cam XS360 twin. In 77 they offered both a single cam 360 plus a twin cam XS400. These engines were solid and the 400 stuck around for a long time in many forms.

Hmmm.....  I thought the XS400 was just an extension of the XS360.  A SOHC.  Brought out not as a 'back to the drawing board' but as a separate model line to compete in the very busy lightweight 'econo' bike market - the Honda CB360 (later 400/450), the Kawi KZ400 (later 440) and Suzuki GS400 (later 425/450/500).  Distinct from other lightweight lines targeted at more performance and/or luxury: Honda CB400F, Kawi KH400 triple, Suzuki GT380 and their own RD 350 (later 400) lines.

I owned two XS400's over the years - an 80 and later an 81. 

I'm pretty sure the DOHC 400 didn't come out until the '82 Seca and Maxim bikes, and they were only one- or two-year bikes.

Anyway, good luck on the 500!

[Honda!]

Hope that works out for you!

I knew the WI dmv was very anti-titling, but I didn't know they block those title services.

I was just in your neck of the woods this past weekend, funny!  If you read the websites for title agencies, they all have a list of states they can't do business with.  Guess which one is on all those lists   I like Wisconsin, but I don't understand what they have against trying to title old vehicles. 

I ran out of time today, but hopefully I can call the guy tomorrow.

[SOICHIROSFOUR]

Yamaha instead went back to the drawing board and in 1976 came up with a single overhead cam XS360 twin. In 77 they offered both a single cam 360 plus a twin cam XS400. These engines were solid and the 400 stuck around for a long time in many forms.

I'm pretty sure the DOHC 400 didn't come out until the '82 Seca and Maxim bikes, and they were only one- or two-year bikes.

You are correct. 1982 was the first year for the DOHC

[Johnie]

Geez....that looks like a nice find for you on craigslist.  Hope you get it.  Could be a nice project for you on a rare piece.  Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[bryanj]

It WAS an XS 500 here in UK and we never had the 750, did work on a French one tho'-----what a heap of *!"t that was