Cult bike Yamaha SR 500
The air-cooled single cylinder from Yamaha
Persistent myths have grown up around the simple but beautiful cult Yamaha. For example, that their air-cooled single-cylinder is difficult to kick, but lasts forever.
"Now there is again a motorcycle for men who like the bass of a mighty single-cylinder more than the coloratura soprano made of filigree four-cylinders." In 1978, for example, Yamaha promoted the newly introduced SR 500 – with a hearty, vibrating half-liter stew that was then the men’s Motorbike par excellence. On top of that, the "steam hammer", the nickname the SR quickly got rid of, also had to be kissed awake with a kick starter. For this it was necessary to first find top dead center with the decompression lever and sight glass on the right of the cylinder head – a nice oldie procedure that contributed a lot to the creation of legends about the SR. If you just stepped on it, the stubborn single-cylinder could actually drive you crazy. But if you got the hang of it, you soon no longer needed a sight glass and could even start an SR at night and barefoot at the first step. But the myth of the men’s motorcycle remained.
D.The second reputation, which the SR also quickly got away, was much more appropriate: The traditional Yamaha was soon considered the VW Beetle among motorcycles. But not because she ran and ran and ran. On the contrary: after around 45,000 kilometers, the “steam hammer” often ran out of steam and made it clear with a loud clatter that an oversized piston was now due. Rather, the Beetle image was correct because the SR was just as simple and functional as the ball from Wolfsburg, and it soon became an integral part of the German street scene. Anyone who started riding a motorcycle at the beginning of the 80s also rode an SR at some point.
Cult bike Yamaha SR 500
The air-cooled single cylinder from Yamaha
Data / information
archive
Air-cooled single cylinder, technically very straightforward. Quite a few gained not only their first driving experience with the SR, but also their first screwdriver experience. Photos: Model 48T, 1990.
Data:
Single-cylinder four-stroke engine, 495 cm³, 25 kW (34 PS) at 6600 / min, 41 Nm at 3000 / min, five-speed gearbox, loop frame with split steel tube supports, weight 170 kg with a full tank, tires at front 3.50 S 18, rear 4.00 S 18, Tank capacity 14 liters, top speed 142 km / h, 0-100 km / h in 8.3 seconds
Literature:
Repair instructions for the Yamaha SR 500 (T), Bucheli Verlag, paperback, illustrated, 152 pages, 29.90 euros
Specialists:
Kedo Performance Parts, Hamburg-based parts distributor with a large range of spare and tuning parts, specializing in SR / XT and other Yamaha one / two-cylinder, Tel. 0 40/40 17 02 00, www.kedo.de. Motor Service Coesfeld, engine overhauls, repairs, Tel. 0 25 41/8 44 94 44, www.mscoe.of
Market situation:
Untampered SR are considered collector’s items, the second hand offer is correspondingly small. 80s models with high mileage over 60,000 km are not available for less than 1,000 euros.
Club / IG / Internet:
www.SR500.de; www.sr-xt-500.de; www.SRtreffen.de (here SR scene magazine “Kick.Start” as a free download); www.motorang.com (here technical tips in the "Bucheli project")
Related articles
-
Cult bike Honda XBR 500 Heart-warming single cylinder from 1985 The single-cylinder Honda XBR 500 was an alternative to ever faster, more powerful…
-
Cult bike: Yamaha XS 500 Yamaha XS 500 There was neither internet nor mobile phone, there weren’t even any standard street four-valve engines. Until 1976…
-
Single-cylinder cult bike: BMW R26 / R27 BMW R26 / R27 In the beginning they motorized the up-and-comers of the economic miracle, later schoolchildren…
-
Cult bike Honda GL 1000 Gold Wing
Cult bike Honda GL 1000 Gold Wing 295-kilo chunks Only five years after the release of the CB 750, everyone was expecting the next Über-Honda. But the…
-
Cult bike Yamaha XT 600 Most successful enduro ever? Usually a game of hide and seek is organized around motorcycle novelties. With the Yamaha XT 600 of…
-
Cult bike Norton Commando 750 Roadster
Cult bike Norton Commando 750 Roadster 1967 a real superbike Norton rose to its former size one last time and in 1967 created the Norton Commando 750…
-
Cult bike Yamaha SRX 600 The story of a misjudgment The Yamaha SRX 600 – perhaps the most beautiful series-production street-level single-cylinder…
-
Cult bike Yamaha RD 350 LC Yamaha RD 350 LC The two-stroke theme was through forever. Exhaust gas, noise, yes, yes, it’s okay, must be. Then at the end…
-
Cult bike Kawasaki Z 1300 Six-cylinder dinosaur Bitterly angry letters to the editor, editorials under the motto “Seeds of violence”, expert panels on…
-
Cult bike Yamaha XJ 650 Foundation of a large family Even 35 years ago, people hoped that one motorcycle would be able to do everything. The Yamaha XJ…
Related articles
-
MotoGP – German GP – Qualifying: Marquez’s 6th pole at the Sachsenring –
Cult bike Yamaha RD 350 LC Yamaha RD 350 LC The two-stroke theme was through forever. Exhaust gas, noise, yes, yes, it’s okay, must be. Then at the end…
-
MotoGP – German GP – Qualifying: Stoner 1st, Rossi second to last! –
Cult bike Yamaha SRX 600 The story of a misjudgment The Yamaha SRX 600 – perhaps the most beautiful series-production street-level single-cylinder…
-
MotoGP – German GP – Race: it reframes for Marquez! –
Cult bike Norton Commando 750 Roadster 1967 a real superbike Norton rose to its former size one last time and in 1967 created the Norton Commando 750…
-
MotoGP – German GP, MotoGP: Marquez dries up the Yamaha –
Brief review of the Honda FMX 650 The alarm clock According to Honda Europe North, it is the most important motorcycle of the year. In the 34 hp version,…
-
MotoGP – German GP: Rossi and Lorenzo eclipse the competition! – GP 125: Simon, alone in the world
Cult bike: Yamaha XS 500 Yamaha XS 500 There was neither internet nor mobile phone, there weren’t even any standard street four-valve engines. Until 1976…
-
MotoGP – German GP – FP3 practice: Marquez towards his 6th pole in a row at the Sachsenring –
Kutlbike KTM Duke Country roads of all kinds Thanks to the magnificent LC4 single, KTM got solid ground under its feet, and in the Duke the engine…
-
MotoGP – German GP – FP2 testing: the return of the 2014 Marquez? –
Cult bike Suzuki GS 400 Hit the mark The four-stroke late starters from Suzuki had exactly one shot to score points in the attractive 27 hp class in 1977…
-
MotoGP – GP of Aragon – Warm-up: Marquez holds its rank –
Cult bike Yamaha XJ 650 Foundation of a large family Even 35 years ago, people hoped that one motorcycle would be able to do everything. The Yamaha XJ…
-
MotoGP – Argentinian Moto GP Qualifying: 3rd pole in a row for Marquez –
Review Cagiva Raptor La Bomba There are things that can shake the establishment with the power of a bomb. Like the Cagiva Raptor, which is about to stir…
-
MotoGP – Moto GP Americas – Qualifying: Marquez’s feat in Austin –
BMW C1 Family’s Friend test Give yourself the ball Children point with their fingers, motorcyclists bend over with laughter, and the curious take on the…