Registration No: RPN 297R
Frame No: 371 213354
Engine No: 371 213354
CC: 500
MOT: Exempt

• Rare Yamaha 500cc 4-stroke DOHC 8 Valve Twin
• US-market only model dating from 1974
• Original unrestored condition apart from paintwork
• Omni phase balance shaft, electric start and disc brake
• Ideal simple restoration project or cafe racer conversion
• Imported from the USA, UK registered on a current V5C

The Yamaha Motor Co was formed in 1955 as the powered vehicle division of the massive Yamaha Corporation more famous for making musical instruments. The first bike produced in 1954 was the YA-1, like the BSA Bantam a copy of the German made DKW RT125 but in typical Japanese fashion this was soon improved upon with the launch of the YA-2 in 1957. This proved to be an immediate success in sporting events starting a long tradition of achievement that goes on to this day in Moto GP. The arrival of the RD range in the seventies cemented Yamaha's reputation for high performance two strokes but they also started to introduce a few larger capacity four strokes into the catalogue such as the TX500 seen here.

This was the bike that the British manufactures should have been making, a traditional vertical twin but with Omni phase balance shafts to smooth out vibration, DOHC 8 valve top end and an electric starter. This early 1974 model was originally sold in the USA but imported into the UK in the 1990s and bought by the vendor in 2014, since then only having had light use. Run recently it could be used as is, given a simple restoration or become an interesting cafe racer project. The bike is UK registered on a current V5C.

For more information, please contact:
Ian Cunningham
ian.cunningham@handh.co.uk
07415 871189