XR500 79 model - did they come out in Australia ?

[Geoffro]

Hey all,

A mate of mine has a very nice looking XR500 for sale, but cannot seem to find a whole heap of info on them, i get the feeling they never came out here ?

Anybody know anything about them ?

Thanks in advance

[frostype400]

I am pretty sure they did just in pretty limited numbers.

[Geoffro]

Ahhh ok, i will keep searching around....

I wish i could get a guage on what it would be worth, as its for sale, but he is unsure on price yet...

[frostype400]

I can't remember if they had Australian compliance I have seen a few on aus ebay they do seem to go for a bit more than a later model I have a 82 and 84 xr500 if it is nice I would think around $3000 but it depends what he wants for it if it is really nice it might be worth more but at that sought of money it wouldn't be unfair.

My 82 cost $2500 and it is pretty tidy runs nice a restored bike you could have $5000 in to it quite easily so I think go for it ask him what he wants for it surely he knows how much it owes him and what he would be happy to part with it for?

[Geoffro]

I can't remember if they had Australian compliance I have seen a few on aus ebay they do seem to go for a bit more than a later model I have a 82 and 84 xr500 if it is nice I would think around $3000 but it depends what he wants for it if it is really nice it might be worth more but at that sought of money it wouldn't be unfair.

My 82 cost $2500 and it is pretty tidy runs nice a restored bike you could have $5000 in to it quite easily so I think go for it ask him what he wants for it surely he knows how much it owes him and what he would be happy to part with it for?

I think he is looking at $2500 i have seen one pic, and he says its a very very clean bike, sounds like it could be right on the money mate

[Tony T]

Not that it matters, but I reckon they are the coolest looking of all the XR's.

I knew you'd be interested........... 

 

[frostype400]

I reckon that sounds pretty fair for not a very common bike you aren't ripping him off either and you are getting a pretty fair price at that.

[Geoffro]

Cheers for your advice and opinions Frosty

And Tony, i gotta agree with you bud!

[g465b]

have seen 5 0r 6 of these over the years,at HBBB a couple yrs ago a very tidy one was for sale for $3k
TRail and track tested one mar79 issue, ADB test jul/aug79 issue  and two wheels jun79 test         g.

[Geoffro]

have seen 5 0r 6 of these over the years,at HBBB a couple yrs ago a very tidy one was for sale for $3k
TRail and track tested one mar79 issue, ADB test jul/aug79 issue  and two wheels jun79 test         g.

Thanks heaps for the reply mate, interesting to learn and find out a bit about them

[Tony T]

I'm sure I've got the Two Wheels test in the stash.
If you want me to dig it out and scan it, send me a pm with an email address and I'll send it to you.
I think it was a combined XR/XL test???

[Geoffro]

I'm sure I've got the Two Wheels test in the stash.
If you want me to dig it out and scan it, send me a pm with an email address and I'll send it to you.
I think it was a combined XR/XL test???

PM sent

[g465b]

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a bit more info,theres something about 500 four strokes , got 7 of them ,I love them but also thought julia gillard was sexy and vauxhall vivas are nice ,each to his own.   g

[FourstrokeForever]

They were brought out to Australia. As far as I know, only 50 made it here. They did not have compliance and were for "closed course competition only", even though they are similar to the same year XL, but with a bit more suspension and more mumbo.

I have one  and I absolutely love it. It's a hoot to ride and is surprisingly agile in the tight stuff for a big four stroke. I paid 3500 for mine about 5 years ago. It still had the original tyres and handlebars on it! I've since put a plastic tank on it (oversize 79 CR), found a NEW 23" knobby front tyre, DG aircaps and heavier fork springs, a new cam, high comp piston, 40mm Mikuni carb and a pete allen pipe. It had S&W stroker shocks on it when I got it and they still work well so I've left them on. They could probably do with a rebuild at some stage.

I resisted the temptation to put longer suspension on it. I have all the parts, including a rare as White Brothers banana swing arm, but I like the bike the way it is and there aren't many of them around. Next to my BSA b50, it's the favourite bike in the shed!

If you can get it for 2500, do yourself a favour and grab it.

[firko]

I can remember Geoff Eldridge telling me that Honda brought a couple into Australia for evaluation back in '79. Before his death he was going through the motions of locating them for his collection, the same as he did in getting the one of the few Suzuki PE400-Z's that Suzuki had used for evaluation and magazine tests (which we own today).