Yamaha XT500 TT500 Forum-Model Year and Color Schemes (2024)

After struggling a bit to match the best part list within the many available online with my bike, I found this very interesting japanese web site
http://ybr.jp/yml/2018/01/05/xt500%e3%81%ae%e5%b9%b4%e5%bc%8f/
and thanks to the famous online translator I extracted these tables:

This for model codes, years and distribuited countries

This for color schemes:

To continue..

I'm not sure how this lookup works or if I'm reading it incorrectly or something...
Is the 3 alphas (eg 1E6) from the VIN or possibly not documented on the registration or anywhere.

Example:
I have a Canadian XT500F Serial No. begins with 1E6.
Tank it was white top, polished AL below. Indicators mounted to forks and black handlebars.
Frame and Engine VINs matching. Tank looked like 2H0
I also have another XT50OC with VIN beginning in 1E6 with PO registration from back in 1991 stating it was white.

FBD

Some mistakes, here and there ...

What is called "CODE" refers to "MODEL TYPE" and not to the frame codes stamped on the steering pipes.

... 1E6 is the frame code also used for UK from 1976 till 1979 ...

... never heard of 1T2 1977 frame code (1T2 is the "MODEL TYPE") ... the frame code is 1E6 and it isn' t CHAPPY RED, but GINGER BROWN.

... XT 500 (4 valves) and XT 500 Z Ténéré, aren't what we call XT 500. They' re XT600 (43F) and XT 600 Z Ténéré (1VJ) in scale ... monocross, 4 valves, etc..

About Fatboyatdesk '79, the frame number should be included within 1E6 310101 and 1E6 320000, while about his '76, White is correct, because CHAPPY RED model was sold in Japan, like "UNKNOWN" 1979 model shown in the pic ... only chromed handlebars used on XT 500.

Buba

I start by saying that I'm an absolutely novice and I'm at the really beginning of the learning curve on the knowledge about this beautiful breed of machines that are the XTs.
I didn't add this other table from Kedo Australia because I though it was already known to the majority being Kedo one of the most mentioned parts source in this forum.
kedopartsaustralia.com/tt-xt500-vin-registry/
It explains well the relation between VINs and model code

YAMAHA XT500 VIN REGISTRY
TT/XT500 VIN registry with color code, model, year, country and name of every Yamaha XT500 produced.

For the IT2 model code picture is evident the color tone difference with the 1E6, it's for sure a mistake from the japanese site, was not my intention to disseminate wrong information, I don't know if there's a way for me to correct it or if only a moderator can do it.

Buba, about the four valves I can really understand, I've been close to lose a friend because I told him that my Duc 900 Supersport was a Pantah while everybody should know that is not, in my naivety I thought that all the two valves belt driven were.
(Actually only 350 to 650 are Pantah, the other are just Desmodue).

No problem at all. At distance of many years, I continue to make wrongs and discover new things about XT 500 ... and not only ......

Buba

Hi,

I have an imported XT500 from south africa, its frame and engine number are 1E6, how do i know what year it is.
Also where do you find the VIN number. im located in UK

thanks
Alex

awag wrote: ↑

Mar 01, 2020

Hi,

I have an imported XT500 from south africa, its frame and engine number are 1E6, how do i know what year it is.
Also where do you find the VIN number. im located in UK

thanks
Alex

VIN: is on the headset behind the headlight and the engine number is on the top RH engine half under the exhaust... they should match (as far as I am aware) powder coating can disguise the headset number but looking at your picture it seems like the frame has been rubbed down to show the numbers better.

Yes your right, The frame number has been rubbed down and it matches the Engine number, there's no sign of a VIN plate.

going by your list it must be a 1977 model,

thanks for the info

Alex