Yamaha HL500, Ideas and Variations of Building one.

[bruiser]

Hi ola_martin,

Great craftmanship on your frame! The final product of your machine looks outstanding.
Do you please have any more info on the developement of that project?

Thanks

Bruiser

[crankpin]

A little info here http://circa74.lefora.com/2010/12/09/olam-hl/#post13

[Oppet]

Hi Ola

Wasnt it 79 when husqvarna went for 2 up tubes?

[ola_martin]

That's correct Oppet, I misstyped. Might even been an 80 frame also.

[ola_martin]

As Firko mentioned the Cheney XT500, there's something crawling back up on it's wheels in my workshop.....



And no, I'm not going for that moped seat........

[ola_martin]

Thanks Marc.

The RMswing I used on mine was also full widt front, I cut and reinforced it to make it go around, but probably possible to make a shorter oiltank also, or just scrap the backbone type and make a neat oiltank/airbox combo?

Hi Ola,

you did an awesome job on your frame and found a new use for a rusty fork leg  ..... I have simlar project coming up but trying to work out how to use White Brothers swingarm with full widh spindle in it, may  build shorter oil tank.

And ended up with this

[firko]

One of the rarer TT500 custom frame kits is the Hindall. The bike photographed was Harry Hindall's personal play bike and was owned by the late Bob Neilson who died not long after he took these photos. Harry was a master craftsman whose main gig was in the aerospace industry and only made frames as a side line, therefore his work is often overshadowed by the big names. If you ever get a chance to see a Hindall frame up close you'll be impressed by the superb metal crafting and welding.

[brent j]

So if you use a std frame does that still make it an HL 

I think people get a little hung up on the HL thing, the TT motor has been fitted to a number of frames, Montesa, Maico, YZ even. The 500 motor is reliable, easliy available big 500, screaming out for better suspension and frame and the HL is the most successful but just one example of TT specials. None of which are probably perfect but the TT500 was always a bike that was a work in progress, with very few staying standard ..... because the original TT had a more than a few areas that could be improved upon

We could argue the pros and cons of various options but I reckon Marc's comment sums it up really well.
I like the way my stock framed bike is turning out but my ultimate would be a late Cheney twinshock.

[Oppet]

Also Dick Mann made frames for this engine, nice ones.

[Marc.com]

Also Dick Mann made frames for this engine, nice ones.

that is a neat looking frame, B50 tank really works well

[ola_martin]

Also Dick Mann made frames for this engine, nice ones.

that is a neat looking frame, B50 tank really works well

[cloggy]

 That's a pair of mark 2 s
I've got a mark 4.  Handles like a dream on muddy trails, which is all I've tried it on so far.

[Marc.com]

That's a pair of mark 2 s
I've got a mark 4.  Handles like a dream on muddy trails, which is all I've tried it on so far.

I like both but think the Mk2 has a kind of nice traditional Brit frame look about it. Love the Cheney Ola sing out if you want to sell it..... seriously I need it to keep my other Cheneys company.

[firko]

Here's another Dick Mann TT500, not sure what model.


               
Even though I'm a Cheney owner and big fan of the 60's/early 70's stuff the old codger made, I don't particularly like his later products. That's just me thinking out aloud Ola....I'd still own yours in a heartbeat.

[Marc.com]

Even if you don't like Ribi YZs Firko you have to admit that old Eric was always out on the perimeter some place and there are some distinctly Cheney things like anodised tanks that are cool.