[Intybe]

Not sure where you are but in NZ and Aussie we have Supercheap auto , axel stands and items like that are cheap as chips. And what's your Yamaha dirt bike in your avatar picture?

Thanks Mr_84, I live north of the Wollongong, NSW. Due to delta spreading here, I've been avoiding bricks and mortar, but after my close shave on Amazon, I'll definitely be buying from Supercheap, etc.
The avatar pic is of my YZ80D, which I raced for a year or two in the SE Gippsland (Vic) comp in the mid 70s.

[Nitrowing]

When I first returned to check if anyone had replied to my post, I was so embarrassed to see I'd "mutilated my mancard" that I failed to notice that a bunch of you contributed helpful and humorous responses after Nitro's. My apologies. So I'm returning to show my appreciation and acknowledge your contributions 🙏

You're 'Man Card' was creased, not torn - you had the sense to ask 

[Mr_84]

Thanks Mr_84, I live north of the Wollongong, NSW. Due to delta spreading here, I've been avoiding bricks and mortar, but after my close shave on Amazon, I'll definitely be buying from Supercheap, etc.
The avatar pic is of my YZ80D, which I raced for a year or two in the SE Gippsland (Vic) comp in the mid 70s.

you Aussies have the most interesting place names , YZ80D is that about a 77? , So cool that you have it after all those years .we enjoy a bit of VMX too here in NZ. here's a pic of my old Honda 1984 CR500 Ive have a little bit over 12 year's , I race it 8-12 times a year , always a blast

[Mr_84]

 :

[Karl Childers]

you Aussies have the most interesting place names , YZ80D is that about a 77? , So cool that you have it after all those years .we enjoy a bit of VMX too here in NZ. here's a pic of my old Honda 1984 CR500 Ive have a little bit over 12 year's , I race it 8-12 times a year , always a blast

"The Widow Maker" those 500 two strokes were awesome beasts to ride, the Yamaha version as well. With a light switch power band when they came on...holy cow. I had a neighbor that after two trips to the hospital sold his. My hat is off to you for riding one in vintage moto!

[AzCal Retred]

Don't overlook the other early daze flyswatter, the infamous TM400...you could buy an accessory flywheel, because it needed it.

https://nationalmcmuseum.org/2020/01/24/1974-suzuki-tm400-motocrosser/

[Intybe]

you Aussies have the most interesting place names , YZ80D is that about a 77? , So cool that you have it after all those years .we enjoy a bit of VMX too here in NZ. here's a pic of my old Honda 1984 CR500 Ive have a little bit over 12 year's , I race it 8-12 times a year , always a blast

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu... and you think Aussie place names are interesting?! Btw, we shorten Wollongong to just The Gong, Wagga Wagga to Wagga, but Woy Woy is never just Woy.
77 sounds about right for the YZ. I only had it for 2-3yrs so don't have it now; avatar is just a pic from the archives. I have one in mind on the starting line but can't find it atm. For most of my adult life I've got by without cars or motorbikes, but a few years back I found myself yearning for a bike that reminded me of the ones I grew up around. Couldn't be happier to have settled on the Inty: it ticks all the boxes!
Your bike looks a beast. The Yammy TT500 were what the big kids were riding when I was on the YZ, but they're thumpers. I can't imagine trying to hold on to a two stroke 500! As others have said, full credit to you racing one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeZ9epc_KSY

[AzCal Retred]

Re: Open Class 2-strokes:
The one time I got to ride the Barstow to Vegas XC race was in 1983, & I did it on my little IT175 Yamaha. About 100 miles or so into it, in the mountains, I started to find these XC500 Husqvarna riders beside the trail, massaging their hands & arms. These were all fairly good sized fellows. Stopping to see if they needed assistance, the answer was always the same: "Naw, I just can't hold on any more...". Those powerful Open Class machines just lunge ahead savagely every time the throttle cracks open. On a machine like that you really need to be in good physical shape just to hold on after a while, let alone set a good trail pace. On my mild-mannered IT175, it was just an extra-long trail ride at my pace.
1983 Husqvarna XC500
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPTZllH91i8

[Mr_84]

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu..

ok you win with that one, that place is only about 300km from where I live it's a bit remote .

ACR your video link to the Husky I had not seen before , hardly recognised Ken Kaplan as he is into CR500s alot these days on his clips ,must be something in the water he's bulked up a bit now , maybe to help tame the beasts he rides

[AzCal Retred]

Here's 3 videos, the first two show the XC 500 in tight terrain, but you can still get a feel for the power. The last vid shows some vintage desert racing. The Open bikes really come into their own in the desert, at minute 2 or so you can see the XC being hustled along properly. Many open bikes are geared for 80-100 depending on the course. These things are brutally powerful, it's a real thrill to wing open the volume control on a fast jeep road. "He who lives by the throttle, dies by the throttle..." I have vivid memories of "bunny hopping" my old WR390 Hunkavarnish over a long set of whoops, & half way thru realizing that I was riding waaay over my head...but Husqvarnas tend to bounce in a straight line, so I made it thru a smarter & wiser rider. There's a reason the fast guys are fast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV4upq3XAD0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EQziE7NTZU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxgAlkYR0M4

[Intybe]

Apologies for reviving an old thread, but wheels turn slowly, especially when it comes to maintenance, and as the brakes on my partner's car are still functioning perfectly well, I haven't bothered to replace the pads yet. (She drives around with the new pads in the back seat 😂) But time must be nigher, so I'm wondering whether I need a disc brake spreader like this?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/333670051896

[Intybe]

ps, Can I get by with just one of these (and the OEM car jack) or do I really need two. To say I'm careful with my money would be kind 😂

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/264563478654

[Karl Childers]

I force the old pads all the way back pushing the pistons all the way into the caliper. I'll use a big screwdriver along with a piece of wood or a flat bar. If you score the old pads it doesn't matter it's the new ones you have to be careful of. With the pistons pushed all the way back in the caliper using that method you should have plenty of clearance to the rotor with the new pads when you remount the caliper. I wouldn't waste my money on that tool.

WHEN EVERY THING IS REASSEMBLED AND READY TO GO PUMP YOUR BRAKES A FEW TIMES BEFORE DRIVING TO SEAT THE NEW PADS AND TAKE UP THE SLACK. This goes for hydraulic motorcycle disc brakes as well, otherwise initially you will not have much stopping power.

If you are doing one wheel at a time then one jack stand as a safety back up to your jack should be enough.

[gizzo]

ps, Can I get by with just one of these (and the OEM car jack) or do I really need two. To say I'm careful with my money would be kind 😂

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/264563478654

They come as a pair so just buy 1 set.

Per Karl Childers, You only need a big screwdriver. And maybe the wooden block.

Don't forget to take the lid off the master cylinder reservoir and keep an eye on the fluid level. You might need to draw some off if it's been topped up as the pads wore.

Watch a few youtubes on changing the pads. That should give you enough confidence.

Good luck!

[Intybe]

Thansk heaps for the tips Karl and Gizzo - You know you're sweetening my marriage; my partner will think I'm a legend

Ps, didn't see the jacks come as a pair. Price feels reaonable now... and I saved $18 by not buying that spreader;