XT500 project

I've got a few details on the XT500 mockup to work out and it will be ready for tear down and finish work, one of the details being the tail light and plate mount. I bought an aftermarket reproduction early Yamaha tail light from ebay.


It looks great and was only $18.15 with free shipping.


Here it is with a huge later style XS650 tail light. I'll be reworking and using the XS bracket.


The XS650 bracket is rusty, but it will be getting sand blasted and painted anyway. This bracket is too long, the older style light won't fit it, and even if it did it would point the tail light up when mounted on the XT500 fender.


First the reflector mounts and top of the bracket are cut off.


I'll be using the three stock mounting holes in the XT500 fender, so bolted the bottom part of the bracket in place.


Next is to line up the front mounting point to see what will need to be done. I also put a plate on to make sure to locate the tail light where it needs to go.


I then cut off the tail light mounts from the top bracket.


For the new tail light mounts I'm using the old reflector mounts.


Here the top and bottom parts of the bracket are tacked together, and the old reflector mounts are being fitted to attach the tail light. It'll be finish welded off the bike.


Here it is on the bike, looking just like what I had in mind.