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Yamaha SR500 in 1991 Honda VT250 Spada frame
Part 2 - Yamada

By Ray Pittman rayandkathy@bigpond.com

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1. Yamaha SR500 in 1991 Honda VT250 Spada frame - Part 2

I was intersted to read the attached article on the site. I purchased the 'bike from Matthew in late 2001 and, inevitably, have continued to make modifications (though I chose to call it a Yamada).

a) Push starting I decided was not for me ! so the engine came out of the chassis (just!) and the kickstart mechanism that Matthew had given me was replaced and the engine reinstalled. Now the fun starts. . .the frame extends sufficiently far out to mean that the kickstarter fouls it. The solution was to weld two kickstart bosses together, turn down another shaft to fit in the outer end of the extended boss which then fits in an external bearing, supported by an alloy structure. I decided to take this latter step as was concerned that the extended boss would place undue stress on the engine cover through which the kickstarter shaft.

The welding and machining was carried out by a local engineering firm

b) Given that the oil tank is under the front of the fuel tank and that as far as I could see the engine was masked in part by the chassis, I was concerned that, particularly in our South Australian summer, it would run too hot (this was a very subjective judgement!). I bought an XJ650 oil cooler which is mounted on the kickstart side of the motor as you can see and 'plumbed in' to the return oil line. I was able to use the standard mounting method.

c) Whilst the 'clip ons' are not extreme by sport bike standards, I decided to have a more upright riding position. I took off the top triple clamp and had a pair of risers made and fixed to it. A pair of TRX handlebars give a very comfortable riding position !

d) From a cosmetic perspective, I repainted the tank, tail and sidepanels - all black, and have polished the frame. This 'bike is well engineered and a complement to the original constructor.

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2. XT500

The XT in the picture was purchased by me in 1995, at which time it had a road/trail sidecar attached. I rode it in that form for a while and it coped with it well, notwithstanding snapping the swinging arm on the sidecar side and laterly cracking the rear rim ! This prompted me to remove the sidecar and ride it solo (after repair!).

I had the 'classic' style exhaust pipe made locally and with the alloy muffler is not too noisy. The original headlight was replaced with a slightly larger one. I fitted a fibreglass mudguard I happened to have in the shed as it is better suited to road use. Though it is back to XT wheels now, I have run it with wire spoked SR500 drum brake wheels. The rear goes straight in, but the front axle diameter is 17mm as opposed to the 15mm of the XT. The forks were removed and the legs drill to suit. To refit the XT front wheel, a pair of spacers were machined up. Beacause leading axle forks are fitted to this 'bike, the slot on the brake plate of the SR front wheel did not line up. This was addressed by making up a split clamp (from a solid pice of alloy) with lug on it to suit.

People might ask, why bother. My answer is that like most Thumper fans I do it because I like something a bit different.

Regards
Ray Pittman
South Australia.