The Yamaha SR500 was an off-road version of the Yamaha XT500, an unflinching off-road motorcycle that is well remembered these days for dominating the Paris-Dakar Rally — event winner in 1979 and 1980.
The very rare Yamaha motorcycle was found zero km, still inside the original box as it was sent from Japan to the USA. This bike is a time capsule and shows no signs of age. Thanks to preservation, this Yamaha escaped oxidation.
A little bit of the history of this Yamaha SR500h
The SR500H was a motorcycle offered for sale in the United States in 1981. It was the last model to be sold in the United States. Which explains how this model ended up staying so long in its box.
For a few years, the motorcycle was stored by “Chuck” Hardin of Empire Cycle in Spokane, Washington, who decided to keep it in its original box and preserve it as is. The bike must now be auctioned by Mecum at the end of January, exactly as you see it in the pictures — packed and unassembled.
It will be interesting to see what the new buyer will do with it, whether he will keep it in the box or who knows how to assemble it. It's hard to predict what price it will sell for, after all, the SR500h is a classic of classics and this is the first we've seen a model from this box.
Want to know more about the automotive world and talk to us about it? follow our page on Facebook ! A place for discussion, information and exchange of experiences among car lovers. You can also follow us on Instagram.