For most of the late 60s and early 70s, two-strokes dominated the off-road market. They were lighter, faster, and simpler than their four-stroke counterparts, and thumper evolution had all but stalled since the British singles […]
Tag: Yamaha TT500
Ultra Lightweight 500: TT-Powered Yamaha XT500 Street Tracker
From Eric Dean Design: Yamaha XT500 Meets Suzuki TL1000R… The street-legal Yamaha XT500 and its off-road sibling, the TT500, quickly made a name for themselves in the late 1970s. Not only did they win […]
Torque Monster: Yamaha HL500 by Se7en Six Collective
“This motor effortlessly lifts the front in 3rd while ploughing 3-inch furrows at the rear…” The Yamaha HL500 — aka the “Aberg Yamaha” — is one of the most fascinating motocross bikes of the 1970s. […]
Yamaha TT500 VMX by Beeton Fabrications
An HL500-inspired vintage motocross racer from Down Under… It may seem hard to believe today, but by the mid-1970s, the four-stroke thumpers that once ruled the dirt were all but dead. Both BSA and Matchless […]
650 Twin-Shocker: Marmisto’s TT-NX Street Tracker
The Honda NX650 Dominator has become one of the world’s most custom platforms. The 45-hp four-valve single has plenty of punch, coupled with electric start and a reputation for rugged reliability. But for stonemason, author, […]
Yamaha TT500 Retromotard by Man Cave Motorcycles
Soulful SuMo: Yamaha TT500 “Retromotard” built for bumpy fen roads… Adam Beeston of Man Cave Motorcycles is our favorite type of builder. The description on his social profile says it all: “Lifelong bike-mad Fenman modernising […]
Yamaha TT500 Street Tracker by VZMC Customs
A nostalgic trip back to the 70s with an iconic, competition-only TT500… It’s always a thrill to feature the first bike from an upstart builder, particularly when it’s as staggering and well-executed as this Yamaha […]




