North Star: Deus ex Machina’s Stunning Yamaha XT500 Restoration

In the world Among classic thumpers, the Yamaha XT500 reigns supreme. It pioneered the four-stroke dual-sport concept, won the first two Paris Dakar rallies, and won legions of fans along the way. It’s hard to meet someone who hasn’t owned an XT500, known someone who has, or dreamed of owning one.

Given its legendary status, this Yamaha thumper needed subtle and thoughtful tweaking, rather than radical modification. If you can enhance the elements that made it an icon in the first place, while also cutting and tucking it in the right places, you’re on the right track. And that’s exactly what Jeremy Tagand did. Deus ex Machina Australia is done with this Yamaha XT500 recover.

Nicknamed ‘North Star’ after the bike’s owner, Fred North, this 1981 model Yamaha XT500 is a prime example of how to honor a classic while bringing it into the modern age. Jeremy never lost sight of the XT’s iconic status, so retaining as much of the original’s DNA as possible was never an issue.

“If we had a dollar for every story we’ve heard about the Yamaha XT500, we’d probably buy this bike back,” he jokes. “The adventure stories and its dodgy sister, the misadventures. The duct tape and strap-on repairs. The broken ankles, the nostalgia and the lack of skill… we’ve heard them all.”

Jeremy’s first stop was to give the old XT500 a rolling chassis worthy of its heritage. New Yamaha WR450F forks were installed up front—but first, they were shortened, re-sprung, and valved. Deus also anodized the uppers and gave the lowers a black DLC coat.

CNC-machined swingarms hold the forks in place while maintaining the front end’s shape. A modified alloy swingarm from a Kawasaki KLX250 handles the rear end, connected via a pair of fully adjustable piggyback shocks from YSS.

Next, Jeremy ditched the 43-year-old rims for matching 19-inch Buchanan rims laced to Haan Wheels stock hubs. (It makes sense to give the rims a period-appropriate gold treatment.) Modern amenities include a buffer drivetrain and modern hydraulic disc brakes borrowed from the same WR450F that donated the forks.

With the rolling chassis sorted, the XT’s indestructible single-cylinder rose to the top of the list. Reliable performance was the goal, so Jeremy turned to Carl Batey—who had worked on the XT since its debut in 1979—to design the perfect XT500.

The rebuilt engine now features high compression pistons, a balanced crankshaft, vented and bleed heads, revised camshafts, heavy-duty valve springs and retainers. Deus also installed a high-flow oil pump and oil cooler, and installed a high-performance K&N filter in the OEM airbox, as well as an airbox cover for better airflow.

The intake system uses a Keihin FCR39 carburetor, with a custom exhaust and SC-Project tank on the opposite end. Finally, Jeremy added an XSTART electric starter to the XT, with a rewired stator, flywheel, digital ignition and a 12V converter from Rex’s Speed ​​Shop.

Jeremy has shown great restraint with the Yamaha’s bodywork. The stock tank and rear fender remain, but the latter has been moved forward to accommodate the trimmed and bent subframe. A new seat is upholstered in Alcantara and perforated black vinyl, with red stitching for contrast.

The JVB-Moto headlight housing has been tweaked to match the Yamaha, and now features a Koso LED headlight. Just below that, you’ll find the stock XT500 front fender, trimmed for a more aggressive look.

Yamaha’s complete set is all new and modern. Flat track The handlebars are held in place with Rizoma clamps and use Motogadget’s latest switches, which feature backlit colour-coded LEDs. The German electronics specialists also provide the speedometer, grips and keyless ignition.

The North Star also gets a fresh paint job, but Jeremy and Fred have opted to replicate the XT500’s signature paint scheme. The polished tank sections are echoed in the polished sections on the swingarm, while everything else is finished in gloss black.

Deus ex Machina’s Yamaha XT500 Restoration deftly balances nostalgia and modernity. If you have to turn a wrench on a classic Yamaha XT500, do it this way.

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