What do you know about the Yamaha 500TX?

[TonyB]

What do you know about the Yamaha 500TX? A mate at work was given one. I know its a 500cc parallel twin road bike. I know it was Yamaha's first 4 valve DOHC twin, but other than that I've never heard of one. Were they any good? Is it rare?

[T.W.R]

Smaller version of a TX750

Brittle top-ends made them slightly unreliable, but thy're collectable for their oddity/curiosity value.

[James Deuce]

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/ep...500_small.aspx



http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_tx_500_1973.php

[TonyB]

Cheers. So is the engine related to the XS650?

[Crisis management]

Its definately rare if it still goes!

My recollection of those was of being given the "the bike most likely to get towed home" award. I think, at the time, utter and complete crap was a description used widely as they were mechanically unreliable but handled better than the the bloody XS650.

However, if its got 2 wheels and an engine what have you got to lose? Have a ball and learn lots!

[speedpro]

I had a mate with one. He thrashed it unmercifully and never had a single problem with it, not even an oil leak.

[Kickaha]

Cheers. So is the engine related to the XS650?

Not really, 650 is a single cam 2 valve and the 500 is a twin cam 4 valve

[FROSTY:Me]

if memory serves me right---they had issues with the points setup

[What?]

if memory serves me right---they had issues with the points setup

Yep. And the balance shaft drive chain (eccentric cam tension adjuster was almost perfectly round). Early models has 2-piece heads, which had a reputation for developing more pieces. The later models (which were XS's, not TX's) were OK in this respect.
I once owned a later model XS500 - apart from the timing going out of whack within minutes of being set, and the aforementioned balancer chain issue, it went well. It was also extremely comfortable for long rides. Fucked if I'd want another one, though.

[What?]

Oh yeah - and the brakes were hopeless; even by the standards of the day.

[F5 Dave]

Yeah I test road one many a year ago. I was after a TT500 & thought it might have been a misprint but decided to look at it anyway (I was 18). Worst handling bike I have ridden. Felt like the hinge in the frame was worn out, & the bars only loosely connected to the clamps. And this was at suburban what suburb is this? speeds. Needless to say I didn't buy it.

Not that the TT500 turned out much better as a roadbike. Nah - I'll forgive it for the wheelies, intentional or otherwise.

[Paul in NZ]

I remember seeing adds for the 750 engines (new) in chopper mags years afterwards. I guess Yamaha made a shit load of engines and when the bikes bombed tried to shift them.

They had a shocking reputation when new - the 500 slightly less so but some people managed to get them to run OK. Electronic ignition would surely help.

Decent shocks / tyres would be good as well.

At the time I always wondered how yamaha could get away with producing crap like that with their reputation intact while Triumph's were miles better bikes (than these things)... I suppose the breadth of Yamaha's range and the quality of the rest of it helped....

[F5 Dave]

Yeah well I'd owned (briefly) a RD350B that was a great bike & circa 73, so what went wrong?

[Paul in NZ]

Yeah well I'd owned (briefly) a RD350B that was a great bike & circa 73, so what went wrong?

Too much new technology in one package i guess?

[Motig]

They were a good looking bike in their day and still look good now. It was a toss up between the Yam TX650,TX500 or Honda CB500 for me back in 73, the 650 won at the brand new price of $1735. Wish I had all 3 in the garage now!