Win this 1980 Dakar Yamaha XT500 + £500

A genuinely unique 1980 Yamaha XT500 with brilliant provenance—this is the Brake Magazine XT500 used in the filming of their award-winning Dakar feature film, “100 Kicks in the Desert.” Built and used as the film’s “privateer” replica to sit alongside a full factory race replica, it played its part in recreating the very first Dakar Rally and is now a proper slice of vintage Dakar-inspired history.

Originally a US import, it was brought into the UK via 80’s Thumpers (the well-known Yorkshire importer). When Brake Magazine bought it, the bike was an incredible time-capsule—completely original right down to its old dual-sport tyres and grips. For the film, they kept it largely original, but gave it the mechanical attention it needed to make it trail-ready and dependable.

It’s since covered around 500 miles in Morocco during filming and a further 100 miles on UK dry trails. This is not a concours restoration—far from it—and that’s exactly the point. It wears its age honestly with plenty of patina, some surface rust, and the kind of real-world character you simply can’t fake. It runs nicely, has been mechanically looked after, and is more than capable of heading out trail riding tomorrow—just with the realistic expectations that come with a 46-year-old classic.