View Full Version : 1978 Yamaha SR500E
This followed me home last week. Picked it up for a song but it does have a split cylinder and no exhaust. A new cylinder has been purchased along with a Wiseco piston and a gasket kit. The paint and chrome on this bike are very nice. It has one tiny dent in the tank and a few small ripples in the chrome fenders. I may try to hammer them out.
The bike needs very little other than the engine work, a battery and just freshened (cleaned) up a bit. The stock seat is perfect. Not sure yet, if I should keep it stock or build it into the Yamaha SR500 Tracker/Scrambler that I have always wanted. The engine will be punched out to 540cc with the new cylinder and piston.
The SR has been a bike that I have always wanted. This one has a very low serial number and is a true survivor. It was used shortly as a racebike and was bored out which explains the lunched engined. It has a hot cam that will be replaced. This is most likely a bike project that will be sold later, if I keep it stock looking. It’s almost too nice to cut up. The odometer reads over 25,000 miles.
Stay tuned and we’ll see what happens with the SR500E. My KYMCO Spade is my #1 project but the SR is one that I have wanted for a long time. Suggestions on which way to go are welcomed.
SamM
ben2go
05-24-2018, 10:24 AM
Stock form is always the best looking and selling, IMHO.
Weldangrind
05-24-2018, 11:52 AM
I lust after the 400cc version, but they're unobtanium where I live.
I certainly recommend the brat look, but that's my personal taste. Not sure it would sell any better. At 25000 miles, I wouldn't hesitate to cut it up.
The brat style bike are really growing on me. I’m actually looking at another SR500. I love these bikes. Always have.
SamM
The second SR500 that I was also looking at, sold for more than I was willing to pay. These bikes have been on my radar for awhile, so I won’t be selling this one anytime soon. Selling it would have been the plan, if I had purchased the second one. Parts are starting to arrive for it now.
Next on my list is to take it to the State Police to have it inspected for the DMV. There was a question about the VIN#. I tried to explain that the VIN# did not have as many digits in 1978, as they do now. The DMV lady that I was dealing with was new and wasn’t having any of that. The engine and frame numbers both match. The bike was purchased near Pittsburgh in South Hills. Pennsylvania requires a notarized title and I have a bill of sale from the seller. All this seems enough to me but whatever. Title and plates after the inspection. The SR is loaded into my trailer for the trip to the Police station Tuesday morning.
Today, I checked the fuel in the fuel tank. Cloudy and brown is not a good sign. The bike has a Mikuni carb and the push/pull throttle has been converted to only pull. A new throttle and cable assembly needs to be purchased to simplify and clean the mess up. The new Wiseco piston, Shinko 705 tires and some small parts arrived today. June is a busy month for me. I’ll post progress as it happens.
SamM
Weldangrind
05-26-2018, 12:58 PM
I'll definitely be following this thread.
Yesterday, the State Police did the VIN verification on my bike. Which was basically pointless and the Trooper agreed. The title, taxes and license fees today were $95 and I was out the door in about 40 minutes. Not bad.
The used Yamaha replacement cylinder and engine side covers have arrived. They look great and will work perfectly. The work on the SR500 will only be done periodically. Mostly when I have a little extra time. My riding buddies are excited for me to get the bike finished.
Last week was productive. I’ll admit that I went a little overboard and ordered new matching high-performance replacement rotors and pads from MetalGear in Australia. I have a few last pieces to order from MotoLanna. Surprisingly there are a great many parts available for the Yamaha SR, TT and XT motorcycles. Another future purchase will the Avon Trailrider tires.
A local shop will bore the cylinder, check the valve guides, seals and possibly port the head.
SamM
Today, I started the disassembly of my Yamaha SR500E. New Kenda 761 dualsport tires are on the way for the bike. The wheels will be powdered-coated, tires mounted, engine removed and the centerstand will be put back on. This will make the engine rebuild easier and give access to the frame for cutting and welding. I have decided to go with a Brat Tracker type build. YouTube is full of SR500 builds and custom motorcycles. More than a few ideas have been rolling around in my thoughts. The airbox is filthy and will go along with passenger pegs, factory seat, fenders (already removed) and much more. I’ll more than likely buy a Tuffside seat and frame hoop for it. Cutting the frame and cleaning it up will be a big task. Some turn out better than others. I want mine to be nice. The bike currently has Triumph Bonneville chrome shocks. Those will be changed as well.
Thanks for looking!
SamM
Darkrider
07-17-2018, 06:04 PM
Looking forward to future updates.
Later today, I installed new all black rear shocks on the SR. The frame has been measured for cutting. One of my buddies has my angle grinder or I would have cut the frame and started on it today. A lot of time will go into the rear section of the frame. It’s going to be tedious work, so a Dremel might be the tool of choice.
The new tracker handlebars will be from Biltwell. I also checked the Tuffside website again for a brat style seat and may use their matching grips. The factory takeoff parts will be sold to finance the new parts. This might take some time. I’ll be moving the bike into my basement and continue the work there in a few days.
My budget for this bike was blown on the engine parts needed to repair it and the MetalGear triple disc brake rotors. I have almost a grand in those parts and new tires. The seat, grips and handlebars will cost me between $500 and $600. I wanted to use some MotoGadget parts to tech the SR500 up. The m.unit blue and m.blaze discs. That might have to wait now.
SamM
Weldangrind
07-18-2018, 11:11 AM
You might enjoy watching Classic Octane on YouTube. He doesn't build to your level, but he's a sharp young guy with some good ideas.
I’ve seen a lot of his videos. He does a really good job and picks nice projects.
Last night, I got crazy and ordered an m.unit blue from Revzilla. This component from MotoGadget is quite a leap in technology for old and dated motorcycles. Can’t wait to get my hands on it. It will be paired with a 4 cell Antigravity Li-on battery. I installed one of these batteries in my Spade and I love it.
SamM
Darkrider
07-18-2018, 11:23 PM
I’ve seen a lot of his videos. He does a really good job and picks nice projects.
Last night, I got crazy and ordered an m.unit blue from Revzilla. This component from MotoGadget is quite a leap in technology for old and dated motorcycles. Can’t wait to get my hands on it. It will be paired with a 4 cell Antigravity Li-on battery. I installed one of these batteries in my Spade and I love it.
SamM
Interesting unit. So it more or less upgrades an older bike to newer tech along with keyless ignition?? I may need to seriously look at this for my Interceptor which will allow me to ditch the upper clamp mounted ignition and fuse box making it much easier to change from clamp on handle bars to proper superbike style bars.
That’s my plan. Ditch the stock ignition switch and hopefully most of the wiring. They make something called the m.button that does away with the handlebar wiring to the m.unit. It uses just one wire. This wil greatly simplify wiring the motorcycle. Still trying to figure out what all they make that I want. I like the tire pressure sensors and some of the digital gauges.
My tires came today and look like the perfect sizes for the SR.
SamM
Just bought a MotoGadget m.button and a MotoGadget wiring harness kit for the SR. Next will be the m.lock to go keyless, the m.pressure TPMS and a set of the m.blaze discs for the handlebars. A 4-cell AntiGravity battery was ordered from Revzilla as well. I’ll be getting an led strip light for the back of the seat hoop.
This is the Brat Style that I’m looking to replicate. Stay tuned!
SamM
Just found this one online. An updated new looking standard would be nice to ride. I like this a lot!
SamM
CSCDude
07-29-2018, 03:32 PM
Always wanted an SR500.
The SR500 has been moved into my basement. This bike is really clean for being 40 years old. I love the look of it. The centerstand is going back on it and I’ll find a better place for it in the basement. After an eBay search, I found a new steel seat hoop. This hoop has an led tail light with turn signals already installed in it. The hoop and the MotoGadget handlebar signals will clean the look of the SR up a lot. The black shocks went back on my KYMCO Spade and the 13” RFY silver shocks don’t look right on it. Better quality shocks will be sourced at some point.
I’ve kicked around both keeping and selling this bike. Right now, I’m leaning more toward the keeping it now. I just love the look of it. It will be interesting to get inside this engine. It’s previous life was as an AHRMA racebike. It has a one piece cam chain and a hotter cam. A replacement cylinder and a Wiseco 11:1 piston have been purchased for it. I might have mentioned that in an earlier post.
SamM
The SR500 fuel tank had rotten gas in it. The tank was pulled to be drained and cleaned. I started stripping some of the switchgear off. The headlight, gauges, turnsignals, handcontrols, stock carburetor and much of the wiring will also be removed. Once the engine is removed for the rebuild, the frame will trimmed of any unused mounts and tabs. There is still much to be done. I’m leaning towards keeping this bike for myself. The MotoGadget m.unit.blue and related hardware will be the perfect setup on this bike. It will keep track of everything from the tire pressure to the oil change intervals and scheduled maintenance. The MotoGadget m.ride app will track everything, including mpg, trip distance, longest trip, average speed, etc.
SamM
Just purchased a service manual and a gasket kit for the engine rebuild. The SR has a cracked cylinder, the reason I got it cheap. The new cylinder will be bored for the Wiseco 90mm 11:1CR big bore piston. I may have the cylinder head gone through before the rebuild. I may try to paint the engine black and polish the fins on it.
I’ve been considering the Ellaspede Tracker seat kit for this bike. The almost $1500 price put me off on that, but I do love the look. An inexpensive steel seat hoop will go on it, unless I find $1500 laying around. I just purchased a seat hoop with an LED stop, turn and brake light already installed. It looks to be of good quality. The original centerstand came with the bike but I need new bolts for it. I might put it back on. Still much to do.
SamM
Weldangrind
10-24-2018, 11:12 AM
Do you have a link for the hoop?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cafe-Racer-Rear-Seat-Frame-Hoop-Loop-with-LED-Brake-Turn-Tail-Light-For-Honda-CB/122911963437?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20160727114228&meid=0674edd55b93461b8ebcf8daf2f1421b&pid=100290&rk=1&rkt=4&mehot=ag&sd=122911963437&itm=122911963437&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507&redirect=mobile
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