I test out the legendary Yamaha XT500 Thumper. Is it worth the pain of owning an old bike? Does it go? Thanks for the help on this one: Emmet Moore Eli Clark Megan Johnston isaacsjohnston
About my “Almost broken ankle”. I actually was kickstarting a XT600 I had and it kicked back. I was launched from the bike and had to go to the Doc. Apparently my ankle was dislocated (didn’t know that was a thing) but I lucked out and it didn’t break. I learned the hard way about kicking big bikes without knowing the process. 😁
If you kick it right it won’t kick back. The XT is equiped with a anti kick back system, but in order to let this system work you need to keep the kickstarters peg downwards for a sec when you kick it. In this way the rattlewheel of the kickstarter gets slid underneath a holdingplate which makes it impossible to link the kickstarter with the engine when it fires up.
I purchased a new 1981 Yamaha XT-500 when I turned 18, and I lived in the Mojave Desert at the time..........it doesn't get any better than that. Thanks for the memories!
Great video! The XT500 was actually the first bike I ever owned. I bought it used in the summer of 1991, two months before my driving license was issued. My first and most probably biggest motorcycle love, my freedom machine!
Old bikes are so much more fun to ride than the new bikes. The new bikes have great features and handle good, are fast and reliable but they are too tall, and an old bike will out corner them every time. The old bikes are more reliable than you would think, don't really handle bad as long as you don't override the suspension and leave you with a smile every time you ride.
Hey Isaac, thanks for your video. I have an old 1980 XT500 in my shed that I have pulled apart to restore it years ago. Your video has inspired me to get it finished.
Awesome. Did you happen to take videos if/when you did this? I just got the one my dad used as a kid and I'm trying to find videos on how to properly rebuild it
Love the fun and humorous attitude of this video review and that it is still highly informative! And as always, amazing job on the filming and shot layouts 🤙🏻
Such a rad video. I love seeing the progression and the passion you put into these videos over the days. I am really excited to see how your new bike turns out. Keep it up Isaac. 🤘🏽
What is nice about the 500, parts are everywhere, upgrades are everywhere, they will run and run compared to modern bikes. Some old school machines are just better than new.
Had a Yamaha 77 XT 500 Enduro LOVED that bike! Mine had a compression release lever to prevent that kick back. and made it super easy to kick over. Had a few times I didn't time it right and my foot slipped off and the kick starter would hit me in the back of the heal. Talk about indescribable pain! LOL . Everything you talked about owning one, such as the vibration, stopping power with 2 riders, the low end grunt, you could go anywhere , the cool factor was EXACTLY what I discovered on my own when I owned one. THANK YOU for bringing me down memory lane! GREAT MEMORIES!
I've owned my 1980 XT500 for 38 years. I've currently got it in my shop going all through it and trying to get it looking back to like it did when I bought it. I've owned quite a few bikes, but this is the one I will never let go of, and it's been the most fun to ride out of everything I've owned. And it's interesting, because it get's a lot of attention, even when you pull up next to a group of cruisers. This bike just has that "cool factor" that oozes from it. Thanks for the video. The XT500 is a BEAST!
I love the XT500, the XT550 and the XT600, each for different reasons. I think these bikes and engines were the pinnacle of motorcycle design. As far as I am concerned, things went downhill from here on. Next to reliability, ease of repair is a huge part of the fun factor for me. I don't care much for speed. I want to see things, not speed through.
I’m lucky to have one of each, a 79xt that I picked up for 1k on the NY/Canadian border in a snowstorm, I actually stuffed it backwards somehow into the boot of my ford escort and took it home dangling out the back with a bungee strap. My 76 tt I picked up for $60 in a box of bits and a frame, a few bits of eBay and away it went, raced it in the vintage Mx and won a bunch of trophies, I often ride the xt around our village with my girlfriend on the back and have it road legal, some scumbag even tried to steal it the other day while I was in big lots but he couldn’t manage to lift it onto his truck lol
Great video Isaac! I have a '77 XT500 and I don't think I really ever want to get rid of it. Such a unique and fun old machine! And they have quite the following.
Great Video, I just picked up a 78 for $1600 yesterday (Very cheap for the south). After getting it home and going through it to make sure it wasn't a death trap I took it for a ride, Smiles for miles!!
I gotta say an old bike is the best! My 77 dt250 is a tank and I trust it more than my car to be honest. And the sound of a cold start and the feeling of dirt under your tires is unmatched. Old bikes forever babey
Aw man - that was sick. Favorite shot was the mega shaky one where he’s tracking you on the stone road. But that drone shot at the end was majorly awesome too. Crushed this.
I just bought a 1977 Yamaha XT500 for $500. It needs restoration and I'm gonna start that as soon as warm weather gets here. My first 500. It's missing a few things, but that's ok. I figured what I can't find in the salvage yard I can buy new. When I'm done it's gonna be a nice bike
Isaac you have the best XT 500 vid here..............man its beautiful !, I had one back in the day in England.........I LOVED IT ! I now have an XT225 little brother, still good fun....gimme a chance to get another XT 500, thank Sir showing this machines true potential
I rebuilt a 76 model a few years ago, love it, they are a timeless design. Has it's flaws but I can forgive it for it's fabulous engine and great looks!
I owned a '79 XT-500 Enduro, back in the early to mid. '80's. Looked almost exactly like this one, but mine came with a Supertrapp muffler, and a few deep dents in that aluminum gas tank. Later, I bought a NOS gas tank from a local Yamaha Dealer. Apparently, it sat on an upper shelf forever, collecting dust, lol! Got a great deal on it! Paid $25. It was a steel tank, white, with black and red graphics. About the window/decomp. lever; I usually got kickbacks when performing "the drill." Instead, I brought it to TDC on compression stroke, had kickstarter at very top of its travel, then gave a healthy kick. This method worked better for me! After awhile, was comfortable kicking it over wearing rubber slippers, lol! Couple times, got a kickback, sent the slipper skywards, about half a lampost high, lol! Miss that Thumper!
Interesting. I have that of 1983 and a) it does smoke at start but only after a long sleep, and it does not burn oil; b) it does kick you back once in a while. I found myself on my back on the left side of the bike - I was wearing boots. I take this as a sign of gratitude for the love and care that I gave to her
When I was a teenager in France, it was my best bike ever for trail, and mythical Paris Dakar bike for ever used stock in this race with just a bigger tank. I bought one 2 years ago in Canada one from 1976 full original and first owner, it's my new milf......How easy it's to use it and mechanize.....Buy one with out any hesitation !!!
I know this is a 3yr old vid, but l am about to enter the XT world. Today l am picking up, for free, a 1979 model, west Texas "barn bike". Actually a goat pen bike. I checked and it does have compression so it should run. Looking forward to this very much, although l probably won't keep the bike. Enjoyed your take on this beast classic.
Awesome vid, I've never owned an XT 500 but I think they're the coolest of bikes. Some guy in Germany did an engine upgrade from 500 to 700cc... would be cool to do and retrofit discs 🙂
I had a 81 TT500 import from the States. Made it road legal and absolutely loved it on the UK roads. Havent to this day heard a more epic sounding bike.
i had the road version in Japan, the SR. Loved it. I loved the straight line vibe acceleration. These bikes, mostly the destroked 400s, were the foundation of the whole J-cafe/tracker scene in the '80s and '90s. Inspired Kawasaki to produce the legendary (but unknown outside Japan and SE Asia) Estrella and w650 which later got Triumph going again with their Bonnevilles and the whole Euro-retro-cafe thing. I remember the pressure release valve lever that required special attention when kick-starting. THese Yamahas could be bitches to kick start too!
I commented a few weeks back about getting one for free. I did, it's an '80 model, built in May of '79 and it runs great. Since then l have found another and purchased it for $100. It's a 1978 model in almost all original condition. Pretty nice 45 year old bike. From what l have read it should have CDI but it has points ignition. Paint is Crystal Silver and clearcoat Aluminum.
lovely video, scenic as the day is long, do a daily Dakar to work, Edenvale to Sandton, as much offroad as possible, the traffic, she wish she had an XT to go go.
Brap Braaappppp!!! This video is killer man. I'm not up for the maintenance but i'd love to have an old-school bike. Do you have to pop the clutch to wheelie or can you just pull it up?
Twist the throttle in first gear. I’ve had the 82 xt 550 for 25+ years. Auto comp release never ever kicks back. Replaced cdi unit from newer tt600... 1 extra wire but no more problems. Fit 510/18 wheel on the rear but the 550 eats new tire for breakfast. Can’t figure why it has 2 carburetors. I love riding it. Will never let it go.
As an ex owner of 13 years xt 550 thumper beat is close to heart beat that's why we love them. Plus low maintenance and for me living 6 months a year on an island was the best thing.
They are very popular in South Africa. I've just bought a 1980 XT500. Spend some time cleaning it up and making her feel loved. It's a crowd stopper at the gym, at the coffee shop or just putting in gas. A full nuts-and-bolts restoration, 99 percent original, will cost you USD5,000. A used, but clean model, about USD2,500. The most fun you can have with clothes on. I'd not ridden a bike for 35 years. The XT was a schoolboy dream. So now I'm acting like a schoolboy.
I just bought the same exact bike! Already have a TT500 that Im using for flat track. So awsome! I need to know, what mountain range is that your on at the end of the video?
