I would love to have one of these. I loved these when they came out when I was a kid :) Is it me or are they becoming relatively expensive? A basic restoration project would be nice, looks like parts are readily available.

Also, one probably has to be realistic and see that a $4k bike that's 3 years old is 10x more capable, albeit missing the nostalgia?

I really want a dirt bike but figure may as well get a dual sport, so I can take it on the back of the SUV in case I get stuck in BFE.

G

I had one when I lived in the sand box. I came home for R&R in 1980, bought it, bought an oil cooler kit for it, opened the crate, tossed the oil cooler kit in the crate and re=banded it and had it shipped to me....Rode it for close to 4 years and then sold it a local for what I paid for it in NY

Kick starting it... if you tried on the wrong part of the stroke it could toss you...One night I was taking a shortcut through the desert to Eilat and ran out of gas, so Instead of walking blindly through the desert looking for a road, I decided to shelter in place and would try and get gas in the morning...

Then I realized how the eff am I going to find the bike when I get back with gas....So I couldn't really sleep..... about 30 minutes later, I see a lantern approaching... and then when It go closer, I noticed a guy holding the lantern walking towards me... So I got pretty nervous thinking I would be vulture food in the morning...

Turns out it was a Beduin who had watched me picking my way through the desert, and he noticed my headlight go out.. so he came to investigate.. he spoke some English, I opened the gas tank and gave him a look... he laughed!!

We then took turns pushing the bike to his camp, where he and his family gave me tea and dates, fed me dinner, and pointed at me and talked about me until we fell asleep...

When we all woke up.... they gave me more tea, some bread for breakfast, and then we siphoned gas out of a ratty old Land Cruiser they had.. and I was on my way again...

While in Eilat I picked up a bunch of fruit for them.... and was lucky enough to find them when I was on my way back the the airbase...

Beduins are some super friendly people...That guy possibly saved my life..

I had some good times riding that XT-500, good times.

Was going through some pics the other day... and found these... one is of me on the XT, the other is a Suzuki GS750 ( I think) that I bought later to ride on the streets.... the XT was way to uncivilized for any sort of long distance travel on paved roads...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432245326.jpg

friend of mine borrowed it. 1 week, 2weeks, 3weeks... crap guess I need to go get it. It was sitting in the corner of his shop, no rear fender. I asked "What happened to the fender?" He said "got nocked over in the shop". Later on had drinks with some rider friends & told them about my bike having no fender, hilarity ensued "guess not he kicked it over, let it warm up & took off , twisted the throttle and it immediately shot straight up in the air" ... fender was bent but still there. However on the 3rd time no fender and he loaded it up... it had very linear and predictable power, it just didn't stop when you thought it would

Not sure if this model had it, but my XT600 had an automatic compression release. I forget the details, but it might have had an external cable / linkage to the head. Anyways, mine broke and it sure was a different kick start after that!

For comparison, I had a two stroke Suzuki Quadzilla 500cc single.... built up to the tilt. I could rotate the crank to get it just perfectly set, and then quick snap down by hand and it would light. My buds didn't know jackshchit about it and they'd struggle trying to kick. LOL

It didn't sell for $2,750.00.
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Yamaha XT | eBay

The 500 has a window that you watch for a white dot when using the compression release. After a while you could tell by feel and didn't have to look. I don't remember on the 600 how it works. I know the 600s are a bear to start after they sit a while.

My Yamaha SRX600 was easy to start.
My 500s had the manual compression release lever near the left side grip (and the window showing the spot on the cam) and my 600 had the automatic release.
I was showing a fellow how easy it was to start the 600 and he was amazed.
I turned on the key and pushed down on the kick lever with my hand and the bike started.
It was that easy.
Of course, I had the jetting all dialed in and kept the bike finely tuned all the time...battery tender and valves, etc.
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Man, I regret selling that bike. :(

^ I agree Don and regret no longer having mine. These days they really have a neat retro appeal. Though at the time having the XT600, I also had dual purpose liquid cooled Kaw KLR250. Gutless wonder but trailed nicely and sipped fuel for those deep backwoods adventures. Contrary to the Yam of which had enough oomph for the road but piggy weight in the dirt.

More old school:
Fave was a true enduro Kaw KDX 400 single air cooled two stroke. Non DOT tires, magneto only and had it plated for the road. Comical.

The one I really wish to have kept was another 2 stroke. Zundapp powered Rickman enduro. I don't even know if I ever bothered with wiring lights or if they ever worked, no horn-sound device but that was fun trail hopper. And those non-existent rear travel bikes.... lol. Man those jumps over ant hills were a hoot.

I had a single Yamaha SR500 back in the 80's.....used to thump on 4 cylinder 500s all the time. Ultimate Thump.....