HL500 was Yamaha Europe's own project. The bikes ordered from NVT, UK. The order was 200 bikes in '78 with the option of another 200 for the next year. The option was used. 1978 the bikes were built in ex-Norton factory in Andover. 1979 the production had to be transferred to ex-BSA factory in Shenstone, both locations in Hampshire, England. The total production was 200 + 164 = 364 bikes. 80 bikes remained in UK. The rest were shipped: 90 to Germany, 80 to Holland, 50 to Belgium, 40 to France, 20 to Sweden, 2 to Denmark and 2 to Switzerland. The bike was "Europe only". There were no earlier models than 1978, because the negotions between Yamaha Europe N.V. and NVT were officially started after 1977 World Championships season. The famous HL500 sales brochure (seen in this topic) is a bit funny one. The bike in the brochure is from 1979 model and the technical spesification as well. The visible identification is easy: in 1978 model, the exhaust pipe is on the left and 1979 on the right hand side of the bike. This can be easily checked from 1978 Spare Part catalogue.
HL500 was called (commercial reasons?) Aberg Replica. The Åberg's bike in 1977 was never called HL but the official name "Hallman & Eneqvist Yamaha 500 design Sten Lundin" was used. This bike was ProFab-framed with TT500 engine tuned by Nils Hedlund. This bike had 2 sisters used mainly in Sweden. The owners were Lundin's son Kenneth and Björn Casselberg. One of the three is still in Lundin's carage. One of the HL frames (all made by NVT) is now in Finland.
Sorry my Englis. B.R. Lennu Jr., Finland