New bike

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 2:01 pm

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 · Post by **nab 301** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 2:20 pm

Lovely , well worth spending time on.

cornishflat · Post by **cornishflat** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:00 pm

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 · Post by **cornishflat** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:02 pm

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

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:51 pm

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 · Post by **slparry** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 9:00 pm

standard Dave

Herb · Post by **Herb** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 9:13 pm

Def cafe racer.

simon · Post by **simon** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:18 pm

... 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 · Post by **cornishflat** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:05 pm

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 · Post by **cornishflat** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:08 pm

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

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:41 pm

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 · Post by **boxerscott** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 12:12 am

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