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Self and safe
A Yamaha XT 500 has long been Valerie's dream bike.
In 1978, an XT was available for around DM 4,500. 10 months' rent.
As good, ready-to-ride models nowadays start at EUR 4,500 and can easily cost EUR 8,000 or more, the young woman from Lenggries decided to embark on a project.
Disassemble, examine, renew or restore everything. Getting to know, understand and evaluate every detail and getting things going again. This is how Valerie turns her classic into her own first motorcycle.
The beautiful 78 XT will probably be ready before the driver's license, the helmet has been on the shelf for a while.
Valerie is a master when it comes to creating her own anticipation.
Craft? Easy.
Talent? Plenty.
Motivation? Endless.
Valerie found the patient online and brought him home in her own VW Golf 2. That has style and sustainability. It all started in January 2024. You can now find great clips on Instagram. Valererie also knows her way around a camera and editing. She studied creativity. What could possibly go wrong? The XT will be released into the wild in an almost ideal landscape. In Valererie's home country, the most important things are everywhere you look: Landscape, sky, curves, gravel, mountain pastures, views and refreshments.
To kneel down!
An XT is a real puzzle. You'd have to count the parts. There is so much to clean, polish, grease and assemble. The engine is simply designed and well documented. And in the end it will run.
Yamaha's charismatic workhorse sets off and attracts attention.
Rewarded for the long restoration time.
How did it all come about?
We discovered our customer Valerie from Lenggries on Insta. Her clips are fantastic. Her XT is going to be really wonderful. We asked her our questions straight away.
Markus: Can I tell you your age or should I write something like "early 20s"?
Valerie: "You can tell me your age. I'm 29, but you can also write early 20s :D"
Is the XT your first bike?
"Yes, but I've been dreaming of having one for a long time. I have my helmet
for 2 years now. I've actually been saving up for my driver's license and
then bought the motorcycle first. Whether I should get my driver's license first
or the motorcycle, it doesn't matter."
Is this your first project?
"My first motorcycle project. I have many projects that I have started.
Mainly old furniture.
But it could be that the XT will be my first completed project.
I have never enjoyed a hobby as much as motorcycle wrenching.
I think that's my thing."
Why are you so good at all that?
"I watch a lot of YouTube videos. Without Nils Homanns and Motoritz' Motor-
overhaul tutorials, I would never have dared to do anything on the engine. I've also been working for four years at a model building and special effects company for
the movie. That's where I got most of my technical skills from.
I'm actually a product designer."
Here you can work in the fresh air. The terrace is "Where magic happens."
Markus: Was there a nudge from your family or your profession or your
Training for your project?
Valerie: "My father was at a classic car show in Bologna and wanted to buy a car there. He sent the family a photo of the car. Next to it was an XT
from the same seller. My mother told me that she had an XT600 when she was a student, but always wanted a 500. So she told my dad to buy the XT too. But it was too expensive at €12,500. That's why I looked for a cheaper XT in the classifieds. Even after my parents had already rejected the idea. That's when I found mine. That was in January. My mother now has an XT 250."
"I bought it dismantled - because of the price and because I didn't want to start it and test ride it. My way seemed to be the easier one :D"
What is it like to ride in a motorcycle landscape that is ideal for us northerners?
live - do you still realize that?
"I'm aware that it's very nice here. But because I grew up here, it's also kind of a given.
I mainly notice it because of the unfortunately quite frequent motorcycle accidents and the residents who complain about the noise from the knee grinders. Fortunately, that doesn't affect me as a future enduro rider."
The panoramic photo of Lake Sylvenstein is by Daniel McCharen
How do you feel about your sense of achievement when screwing?
"It's always nice when things fit together and work.
I was very proud when the engine was in the frame.
I had agreed with my sister that we would lift him in together, but she was asleep when the time came. It went better on my own than I thought, and now I'm glad I did it."
Were there any setbacks?
"Not really yet.
I'm sure the real setbacks are yet to come. At the latest at the start. I'm afraid that nothing will work at all in the end and I won't know what to do."
Then give us a call in Hamburg 🙂
What are you planning to do when the XT is finished? Will it be a journey
give?
"My dream is to go on a multi-week tour with my twin sister. We love camping. But maybe my XT will be too good for that. I'd almost need a second one 🙂 I think it would be cool to get another XT ready, but designed for long-distance travel and with a Mad Max-like style.
But first we have to run one."
Pictures are from Valerie
Take a look at the videos on Valerie's Insta channel, which are well worth watching: saddletram.p
That's how it works, people - Dare to save an XT500 or an SR500.
Grab a barn find, a corpse from the cellar or any other neglected beauty from the 70s and 80s.
Give us a call. We have the parts and are happy to help.
