YAMAHA XT 500 (1976-1989) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Yamaha XT 500 was an enduro-adventure motorcycle manufactured by Yamaha from 1976 until 1989. The bike was powered by a single-cylinder twin-valve engine shared with the street version SR 500 and its off-road sibling Yamaha TT 500.

The bike was presented at the US dealer convention in September 1975 and in the summer of 1976 in the European market. The motorcycle was successful and was manufactured until 1981, laying the ground base for the later XT motorcycle with engine displacements ranging from 125 to 660cc.

In 1976, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Yamaha XT 500, an enduro-adventure motorcycle that combined the newest technology of off-road motorcycles at the time with the legendary performance of big-bore street machines.

In the visual department, the bike was equipped with standard features, such as a small round headlight, a high-mounted front fender, a small fuel tank, a single seat, a high-mounted exhaust system, a side stand, and wire-spoke wheels with off-road tires.

The bike was built around a half-duplex frame with a leading axle coil spring fork on the front, offering 195 mm of travel and dual side-mounted preload adjustable shock with 142 mm of travel.

The 1976 Yamaha XT 500 had its heartbeat set by a 499cc four-stroke air-cooled single-cylinder engine with a Mikuni carburetor in charge, boasting 30 hp at 5,800 rpm and 38 Nm (28 lb-ft) torque at 5,400 rpm.