Видео

Great little story and it's good that you managed to acquire your dream bike. And certainly riding through the cane fields and hills of South KZN would have been fantastic in the late 70s.

Thanks for your kind words. If you look in the Channel you'll see quite a few other bikes that Paul has built. Including the three part/three videos on his last build which it went on to win the Concours at the Thousand Bike Show.

What build are you undertaking? Don't forget to update us with your progress

I've since had my TT seat recovered by Paul's auto (detailed below) I do recommend his work and I believe the quality was better than that of Carl. Paul's Auto and Aero Trimmers - 0116838308.

@@lawrenceatkinson5884 Thanks - but you trimmed the base foam down? I've a 1981 XT500 restomod that is finally starting to come together. Something between a moto and an all-terrain ripper. Working on that motor is a pleasure, its so well made.

​​@@Kosmonooit Correct I trimmed it down. I basically took about 2 cm off the top. Shortened the seat by about 1 cm. I intended taking about 4 cm off the back but I chickened out. I then rounded off the side about 2/3 back where you've got that 'change in line'. I was looking for that 'wasp' body look between the tank and the seat. I still have an original seat which I fit whenever I'm doing serious off-road. The issue with a thin seat is it takes away a key suspension element, which is great for normal riding, but off-road it means your primary suspension overworks and the tail becomes impossible. The back wheel just skips all over the place.

Thanks for the kind words

Thanks. More coming

What is interesting is at the recent Thumper Concours that I coordinated at a major classic bike show we had 23 bikes. Of these at least 50% were modified. SR500 with a sidecar. Tt500 raised front and rear end with the 12 volt upgrade. SR500 grass tracker race mods. HL500 replica. Etc etc. So much so that the next Concours we probably going to have to separate the modified class into Street and Race. So the answer your question every owner has the rights and freedom to modify and develop the bike to suit his needs. Personally I've never considered upgrading my brakes. And I do ride my bike's daily. I would not frown on anyone putting discs up front if that's what they want.

Thanks. New GoPro and hours of footage, had to see if the phone could do it.

Thanks Richard

Paul is based in Edenvale, JHB.

Further to my earlier message, Paul is not a commercial bike builder. He is a retired banker following his passion. He builds up to four bikes a year and about 50% of those are commission builds. He only does full nut and bolt rebuilds and in his words, he doesn't do patina. So if you want to full nut and bolt rebuild, certainly discuss it with him, but know that it's a all or nothing deal.

I do love the T7, but I'm a bit old fashioned so I have a tt500 and an xt500

Do it!

It was my first time and I just walked around with the smile on my face dirt in my teeth and had a great time.

I think the video could have had other material in it, I'd love to have seen the mass start where all the bikes ride around the track together. At the end where they take the two fossils bikes from each class and I'm sure hell breaks loose. So good

It was my first time with my new GoPro and learning how it process it through my phone. I took so much footage just letting the camera run and when I'm dubbed to all of the footage onto my phone it squeaked and got unhappy. Next time I'll hotspot the videos and cut it down better. and then have the text spelled right and run the video in a higher quality HD is good but 2K is better. So like the video share it comment let me know how to get better

Thanks Allen

I'm lucky to have both a TT (that is road registered) and an XT. Certainly they are great bike to go to gym or pick up somewhere from the market and then you can head off to find a dirt road or mountain pass.

Thanks mate

Paul is a meticulous and skilled bike builder. I think he's on two number 14 now

He just won the Thumper Concours, part of the Thousand Bike Show, in Johannesburg. With his 1980 XT500.

I don't know if you're trying to be funny or just trying to be negative. A worldwide day when men ride their motorbikes, get together talk about men's health and donate significant money to the research and treatment of men's health issues and you find humor in that? From little I know about Sturgis, it's an embarrassment of men riding bikes, get drunk and support Trump.

Thanks for your comment and yes lights were added. The TT was sold in very small numbers in South Africa. And none of them were registered and none came with lights, they intended to be farm bikes or off-road only. Someone 20 years ago registered the spike on the road and put lights onto it. I bought it as a project build about 3 and 1/2 years ago. The lights and indicators are all standard from a xt500. Obviously I had wiring and other issues so I upgraded to a 12v system. You must be very proud of your 77 and depending on where you live your licensing rules will be different. But go for it, gives the bike a few more dimensions and gives you more opportunities to enjoy the fantastic experience.

Thanks. As I always quite Paul, "I don't do patina"! I've been lucky to both work with him (under him) as well as hand over my xt for him to rebuild. If I go and visit him he'll always head off towards by a bike at some stage and start fiddling and fixing and cleaning up. And it's all done with passion. For me it's the passion that is important

I'm fortunate to have both a xt500 1980 that Paul has done a full nuts and bolts for me, and a resurbished 1981 TT.. the TT was licensed about 20 years ago and has lights and indicators etc. you'll see some videos of the TT on my channel. I painted it the 1978 yellow, raised the suspension new exhaust etc etc.. Could you not do that with your TT, is it not an opportunity in your part of the world to put these on the road?

Thanks for your compliment

Those are fine and powerful words. I will pass them on to Paul. I'm very lucky that he built (or rebuilt) my XT about 6 months ago. I had done 12,000 km on it, some extensive off-road and rough terrain work. As well as driving to the gym in the supermarket. It started looking a bit sad and the frame had cracks in the paint and spots of rust so I said that's just strip it down and get the frame painted. Well you've seen the quality of his work and one of his favorite phrases is, "I don't do patina". So now I've got an XT nearly at the standard of the one in the video. Luckily I have a tt500 that I can use and abuse, while I keep the XT for showing off. Thanks again for your kind words.

@@lawrenceatkinson5884 Cool. I have watched all your posts about Paul's builds. The first one I saw I watched a few times. Good luck, safe riding!

Thanks mate

Next time?

Which part of the world are you in? While they incredibly rare in South Africa, I'm sure you know in Australia, USA and parts of South America they are readily available. For me they were always aspirational and desirable, and only a few years ago was first time I climbed on and felt what they like to ride. I actually thought they may be too much for me to ride! Such is their reputation. But I'll kickstart them with slip slops on, I ride them with running shoes and feel 100% comfortable. Let us know when you find your TT and are able to relive those childhood memories . . . and make new ones.

Paul is a stickler for originality and all but one of his bikes are original wherever possible. They all have the standard XT carburetor. While we all love the pre 1980 bikes for the history, Paul's experience in building and selling bikes and the experience of his friends is that the 1980 was the polished tank and black detailing is the iconic and most sort after model. In Johannesburg we have a annual bike show called a Thousand Bike. It's for classics only. Last year we had a stand of about six xt500s which gathered a lot of attention. We've been asked to host a Thumper Concours this year. Paul is preparing a 1980 with an original exhaust and he is upping the quality that last 1%.

@lawrenceatkinson5884 I am up for adoption. I need a good home. Lmao. Seriously, congrats! I'm so happy for you, and for the bikes. I'd love to chat via email.

That is a fine compliment. If you were in South Africa Paul could sell you one. If you import to your country. . . it's possible too. Otherwise get your tools out and start building

Paul has done about 12 of these bikes. Including I'm happy to say my XT. We are very lucky in that, not only are there solid piece of engineering and therefore welcome the rebuild effort, but as you know they're a joy to ride. Please introduce yourself at the Thousand Bike Show and who knows maybe you'll own one again.

You can WhatsApp me on 0828855565. Paul and I have mates with a total of over 100 XT bikes. Many parts can be sourced from your local Yamaha dealers. Otherwise there are independent guys (Laurence in Springbok and Len in Krugersdorp that have both new and used spares . Either way, WhatsApp me.

It's simple if you know how. All the best with your work

I'll tell GoPro.

Rescued from a farm and fixed by South Africans 😉

😅Thanks for your kind words. That's the one question I can't answer. Sorry. I outsourced the basic build and I was out of country at the time . I asked for longer forks, but don't remember what they did. I will find out. I was told that they are the XT 360 front forks.

Thanks mate

You still have to square off the piece of cable that fits into the speedometer. And for that my mates little tool does wonders

Thanks mate. Fun times

Live your dream. Own one. Ride one

At that price even if it's missing key parts and needing full restoration, it sounds like a good deal.

my thoughts as well. Especially when there are bicycles selling for more than that right now.@@lawrenceatkinson5884

Thanks for your compliments. It is my daily ride and it's an absolute pleasure to ride, to hear and certainly to be seen on. I do take it off road and this weekend we gonna do some technical dirt road riding and I will post some videos.

Thanks mate. More riding ahead

There are number of aftermarket electric start systems available. I think they're ugly bulky but if it keeps you riding, go for it. www.thevintagespoke.com/shop/Electric-Start-Conversions-XT500-SR500-SR400.htm

But a hand-held drill sounds positively dangerous.

No, it's not authentic but I think it is aesthetic. I think it fits into the slim but aggressive 'wasp' look of the bike. And it sounds awesome.