Nice, I have very fond memories of my SR500.
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My new 1978 SR500
- Thread starter DogBunny
- Start date
Hey who you calling a yanker?Semi for you yanks... 18 wheeler.
articulated lori
Just went and visited a bud that's recovering from hitting a fawn on his hotrod SR He got caught in the SOTG SOTT syndrome but it was mostly skin to lose.
Bike didn't do too bad, the forks will need a little help.
GaryInVA
XS650 Addict
Had a 1978 SR500 (red) that my brother and I roadraced when I was a mechanic back in El Paso in the late 70s. We had punched it out to a 580. Had to get the sleeve punched out, cylinder bored to accept the bigger sleeve, and the cases machined to accept the larger liner. You could see the iron sleeve through some of the fins on the cylinder. Had the biggest cam we could find and a straight pipe ending in an open megaphone. Oh, also had a flat slide Lectron carb on it. It ended up stretching the rod and shattering the piston, breaking the rod, and the broken rod punching a hole in the bottom of the case. They didn't have any rods other than stock back in those days so it was just an accident waiting to happen.
But boy, it was fast.
Here's the only pic I have of it.
But boy, it was fast.
Here's the only pic I have of it.
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Reviving an old thread... As much as I like my XSs, I also really like singles, especially the SR/XT/TT Yamahas. I have an opportunity to buy a batch of SR 500s. Two titled bikes + untiled frames + parts. I really shouldn't, as my plate is full as it is, but...
Is there anything particular about these bikes that I should look out for? I haven't laid eyes on them yet, so I would like to be forearmed as forearmed is forewarned. What says the brain trust?
Is there anything particular about these bikes that I should look out for? I haven't laid eyes on them yet, so I would like to be forearmed as forearmed is forewarned. What says the brain trust?
Are they all SR500s, or are some XT or TT 500s? The XT and TTs were often thrashed, so check them for frame cracks in the engine cradle. Pics?
Yes, they are all SR 500s. Good to know about potential frame cracks. Do you also have parts for the SR500?
I might have a part or two, but other than an XT500 carb, it's probably not worth asking me.
I think these bikes are fairly rare in North America, and the parts are fairly hard to find and expensive. KEDO and their U.S. outlet The Vintage Spoke are parts resources, but they are XT-based.
This is your Forum:
https://www.xt500.co/
Not as active as ours. You can try to get parts there, but it's XT/TT-centric, and the membership is very international.
You can also try:
https://sr500forum.boards.net/
I have no experience with it, but I think it's even less active.
One thing to know -- the front end is identical to the XS650, all the same parts, wheel, forks, fender, brake, maybe the triples, maybe the gauges, except the brake caliper is on the other side.
I think these bikes are fairly rare in North America, and the parts are fairly hard to find and expensive. KEDO and their U.S. outlet The Vintage Spoke are parts resources, but they are XT-based.
This is your Forum:
https://www.xt500.co/
Not as active as ours. You can try to get parts there, but it's XT/TT-centric, and the membership is very international.
You can also try:
https://sr500forum.boards.net/
I have no experience with it, but I think it's even less active.
One thing to know -- the front end is identical to the XS650, all the same parts, wheel, forks, fender, brake, maybe the triples, maybe the gauges, except the brake caliper is on the other side.
If you're looking out for things, cylinder base is held down by tall alloy sleeve nuts and if these have been exposed to salt water, they explode - corrode so bad they swell up and have to be chipped out. Corrosion is of course always going to happen on an older bike. All alloy parts like the engine cases and the rear brake will corrode but if you like the bike that's an opportunity to do some polishing?
And at least you don't need to worry about starter motor issues . . .
And at least you don't need to worry about starter motor issues . . .
jaybar6
XS650 Addict
My question is how come this model is produced today with very little change over the years and our beloved xs650 is not?
I will try to answer that. The XS650 is a comparatively expensive engine to build, built up crank, ball bearings everywhere complex electric start etc.....
The SR is in comparison dead simple and cheap to build for markets where low cost small to medium capacity single cylinder bikes that can be fixed by the local blacksmith or handy man. They tend to be emerging markets with lower environmental requirements and bikes like that sell by the truckload as family transport. So, it's economic to build them.
In the UK, unlike the XT500 series, the SR bikes weren't especially popular. Neither was the XS650.
Evidence today suggests medium size single cylinder bikes remain unpopular here. I believe the new BSA has been a sales flop and they're heavily discounted already.
jaybar6
XS650 Addict
Yeah, good points. I might add the people were disenchanted with all unreliable British stuff and wanted the four cylinders, which out performed the twins. Honda accommodated the people and made four cylinder product down to the cb350/400.
It only just came on the market. Selling at a loss to gain a foothold should not be an indicator that it’s a flop. Mahindra has deep pockets. They can make a go of it. I’ve seen several accounts from the UK that it’s a great bike and none that it isn’t.
Obviously. Time will tell. The evidence is that Enfield had zero issues launching their twin cylinder bikes. Their single cylinder offerings appear to me to much less successful sales wise. I always thought BSA should have relaunched with a modern twin and gone head to head with the Enfield twins. As far as I can see despite the new Gold Star being a nice bike, nobody under 70 is interested in one. And they're like 60kg too bloated for the over 70 enthusiasts.
I have to say, I do hope Mahindra can make a successful business out of the BSA brand.
We could argue that no one under 70 is interested in motorcycles. There in lies the challenge.
I did a spoke conversation to my SR. XT rear hub and Yamaha front hub, Mike’s XS wheels and spokes. The rear brake can be tricky depending on your swingarm.
Is that a Motolana swingarm?
Yes and other Motolana and Omega Racer parts
You made a beautiful job of it!
Thanks Raymond...wasn't aware of that. I had watched an engine build on the Tube during which the builder did some trickery with the cylinder base bolts. I'll need to revisit that if these bikes become a reality.
Thanks for the guidance!
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