New bike

[dave the german]

Just got my "new bike" a 1983 Yam SR500 for restoration. Hasn't been started for a few years - bit petrol in and started 2nd kick. This is going to be fun!!!! been after this bike for about 5 years and got it cheap so it will be full strip down, frame re done and put back to standard

[nab 301]

Lovely , well worth spending time on.

[cornishflat]

Must admit i do fancy doing something with a big single. i had an XT many years ago and the bug is still in there. What are your plans for the bike?

[cornishflat]

Sorry i do need to read posts twice......its back to standard....doh.

[dave the german]

the plan was back to standard but having looked at an SR forum I could be tempted for the cafe racer look. Not in a great rush. needs a battery and the front brake needs freeing so going to get a caliper kit and put a braided line on then get it tested and take it from there

[slparry]

standard Dave

[Herb]

Def cafe racer.

[simon]

... used to have one of these.. used it throughout a winter to commute a 40 mile round trip to university.
Found starting a bit hard sometimes.
Try flat bars first..

Mine was like this:


... but with flat bars.
The colours aped the Bonnie I had.. but the handling didn't. While lighter, I had give a concious bit of counter steering to make it get in to a corner. With the Bonnie it seemed like I just needed to think about it!

AFAIR the swinging arm bearings were pants and the OEM Bridgestones...

Having said that it never let me down and is the only bike I've been stopped for speeding on.. avg 86.2 over three miles along some rises and falls of the A69 (dual)..
"In a rush?" says he "..nope, just a nice day with the wind behind me."
".. but officer," says I when he was already writing the ticket " the maximum I ever saw on the speedo was 90, and that'll be exaggerating, so I can't see how I was doing and average of 86.." ... nada.

I enjoyed chucking it around..

[cornishflat]

They do lend themselves for customising in various styles. Wish i could get one, but looks like the prices like a lot of stuff are on the up
If you,re going the cafe route this is gonna be interesting,please keep us posted.
Have you a "as it is now" picture?

[cornishflat]

Have you googled Yamaha SR 500 and clicked on images? Wow some cool looking stuff.

[dave the german]

It's standard at present - all black imported from America. Sorting the mechanicals out first then look at prices for both standard and cafe routes. I didn't pay a lot for it so I'm well chuffed. New battery friday and need to sort out caliper and master cylinder overhaul kits. The I' ll probably get it tested and take it from there. I'm going to photograph it through each stage then I'll learn how to use photobucket and post the pics

[boxerscott]

Yeah," Hurry up Dave (with pics,cos) we`re all going down Pub