So... I got this XT500 that looks exactly like a XT600
 

Hey forum !

I'm new here! . First of all , I want to say hi!

I came here for some help . Basically , a really good friend of mine gave me a XT500 which is pretty beat up but the engine works fine and the whole bike needs some attention :).

I'm a bit confused . The bike was brought in the country from Italy for offroad purposes only and I have no papers , damn I don't even know exactly what type of bike it is. (I have a picture down below of the model that I have , not my bike since it's already taken apart) ... So what kind of Yamaha do I have after all ? Cause it looks like a XT600 with a 500 engine but everything else is pretty much the same . It would help alot when I search for parts

http://i.imgur.com/pMorLUh.jpg

What I want to do with it is make it a full off-road machine. Basically strip the wiring , keep only what's necessary , remove headlight , taillight . Also I want to get rid of the stock gas tank and maybe get a plastic one from another bike that fits. (I wan't to make it look like the second picture I posted) and maybe the plastic covers as well .

Basically I want it too look like this :

http://i.imgur.com/Qh5aqu6.jpg

I wonder if one of you guys did something similar , so I can catch some ideas . Maybe if there is another dirt bike from which the plastic covers and seats would somehow match my bike.

And another short question : Is there any kickstart conversion kit for my type of bike , since mine has an electric starter and I want to reduce the weight as much as possible

Sorry for the long post , Lots of thanks upfront!

Have a nice day!

That bike has little to do with the classic XT500 that most people are familiar with, it looks more like an XT550 or 350 from the mid 1980s. It looks like it has a four valve engine and the twin carb set up of the 550, a fairly rare bike but it might be your best reference point for spares.

It is indeed an XT500 made for the Austrian market, not many people know they exist.

43F model with 500cc engine, check the engine/frame number it should start with either 55A or 3BJ (depending on year).

XT 500 1984,85,86 55A EUR (AUT)
XT 500 T 1988,89 3BJ EUR (AUT)

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/a...XT500large.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/a...XT500large.jpg

They even made the Tenere models all with 500cc engines.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/a...T500Zlarge.jpg

Mezo.

Cool, thats new to me.

I'd keep the bike stock, and get another for a project. Its too cool and rare to hack up. :thumbup1: