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The Yamaha XT500 model was a great success in both North America and Europe. This did not go entirely unnoticed by Suzuki who answered back with their superb DR500 model, and unlike the Yamaha XT500, it would start first kick hot or cold!
Performance was similar to the Yamaha, with 27hp @ 6500rpm and weighing a fairly substantial 146.0 kg. This though was still considerably lighter than the competition.
Strangely the XT500 Yamaha has become a cult classic, the superior DR500 has not achieved anything like the same status, but Yamaha were first to offer this big ‘Thumper’ format, so perhaps their classic status is deserved?