64 :OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA
some exhaustive research no doubt. Stew notes,
“The SR was styled by Japan’s GK Dynamics and Mr.
Atsushi Ishiyama. GK, which is possibly an arm of
Yamaha, was also responsible for bikes such as the
stylish Yamaha XS 650 twins, the V-Max, and the
MT-01, among others. The SR, like the XS1, is a great
looking bike with styling that doesn’t really age.”
Stew continues, “In Australia the SR500 was
available through dealers for only four model years.
The 1978 ‘E’ and 1979 ‘F’ models were released in
black/gold with differing pin stripes, and Asahi
aluminium mag wheels with single front left and
rear right disc brakes with single piston brake
callipers. For 1980, the ‘G’ model came in red/gold,
and the rear disc wheel had been replaced with one
incorporating a rear drum. The 1981 ‘H’ model was
basically the same as the G except for the back and
red paint scheme. Both G and H models were fitted
with a larger 8-inch headlight. Sadly, the 500s were
discontinued in 2000.”
It has been pointed out to Stew Ross on more than
one occasion that his own initials match that of the
model itself, so it is probably not just coincidental
that he decided to create another SR – standing for
Salt Racer. With his brother Glen, Stew built an SR500
“for a full-on attack on the Dry Lake Racing
Association (DLRA) Australian Modified, Partial
Streamlining, Fuel 500cc (MPS/F 500cc) 2010 class
speed record.” The first attempt was OK, but quickly
morphed into a Mk2 version, with full streamlining,
which achieved a class record of 125.357 mph.
Despite the demise of the SR500, the SR400
soldiered on with various updates, including new
forks, a twin-piston front brake calliper (with the
disc on the right hand side), a new style front disc
and wire wheels on new hubs. Various internal
mods were made in the face of increasing
restrictions on exhaust emissions, and in 2008, fuel
injection replaced the old CV carb. A catalytic
converter now resided in the muffler. Reintroduced
to the Australian market in 2014, the current edition
of this venerable model, now fuel-injected and
selling for a very reasonable $8099, the SR400
introduces the joys of kick starting to a new
generation of learner riders. Moreover, it provides
a palette for individual expression like few other
current motorcycles, and a riding experience
virtually unique in this day and age. It came from
good stock and was, in no small part, conceived
right here back in 1976. ■Thanks to several members of the SR500 Club, including
Craig Lemon, Stew Ross, Mike Cowie and Brendan
vandeZand for their assistance with this article.YAMAHA SR500
ENGINE Air-cooled 4-stroke single, sohc.
BORE X STROKE 87mm x 84mm 499cc
COMP. RATIO 9.0:1
POWER 33hp at 6,500 rpm
TORQUE 38.2 Nm at 5,500 rpm
LUBRICATION Dry sump, trochoid pump.
CARBURATION Mikuni VM34SS
IGNITION CDI
STARTING Kick
FRAME Tubular steel, single downtube,
semi double cradle.
SUSPENSION Front: Telescopic forks, two-way
damping 150mm travel.
Fork rake 27.5 degrees,
trail 117mm.
Rear: Kayaba oil-damped shocks.
WHEELS Cast alloy wheels with single discs
and single-piston floating callipers.
TYRES Front: 3.50 x 19
Rear: 4.00 x 18
FUEL CAPACITY 12 litres
DRY WEIGHT 163 kg
WHEELBASE 1410mm
MAXIMUM SPEED 151 km/h
PRICE (NSW 1978) $1,775.001978 Yamaha SR500E
Specifications
BELOW Our cover bike, Brendan vandeZand’s SR500,
photographed in the Snowy Mountains. Front
brake calliper is a non-standard Brembo.
BELOW CENTRE Bill Ross on his G50-lookalike SR500
at the 2018 International Festival of Speed.