Even Older Yamaha

Looks like the turbo is off to pastures new by the weekend. I was going to bank the dough, but then a damn near perfect XS500 shows up for sale on the local classifieds. I've never owned a twin, they've all been inline fours of various displacements, so a little twin would be a neat change of pace. I realize parts would be scarce, and I know it's no barn-burner (although it seemed to go quite well in its day) but does anyone have first-hand experience with owning one? I'm thinking how nice those engine cases would polish up....how nice a small bikini fairing would look....maybe a cafe treatment......it's an illness, for sure.

Yes, I know the 650 is a much more desirable bike, and parts would be a LOT easier to find, but they are starting to go for silly money, and there is just something about orphan models that strikes a chord.

I'll be 40 in November. This was built when I was in fourth grade. Crikey!

Another old Yamaha....what the hell am I thinking?

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...-yamaha-xs500-sell-or-trade-W0QQAdIdZ25899474

 

Might be better off finding an XS650 even at the rising prices. The XS500 suffered from cracked valve seats, soft cams, premature balancer shaft wear and the lack of parts makes our XJ'sook like CB's or KZ's by comparison. On a plus note, they had decent power, great economy and the later models had most of the issues with the aforementioned valve seats and balancer shaft wear fixed. cruzerjd

 

That's a pretty nice little bike. Cafe? Nah... I'd pick it up and mod it into an Enduro!

Oh look... It's in Ottawa.

 

I had an 81 XS 400 before I got my XJ, and it was an amazing little bike. It was 'quick enough in town and had just enough guts to roll on down the highway. It ran like a champ and would start on the coldest winter day of the year. However, at 6'2 i was just way to tall to ride it. It served me well for a year, but I just needed something bigger.

 

parts might be a problem ? xs250/400 sold o.k. over here ,xs500 bombed though