Which motorcycle model won the inaugural Dakar Rally in 1979?

The Yamaha XT500 won the inaugural Dakar Rally in 1979.

French rider Cyril Neveu rode the single-cylinder Yamaha XT500 to victory in the first edition, then known as the Paris–Dakar Rally. The event began in Paris and finished in Dakar, Senegal, establishing a major tradition in long-distance motorcycle racing.

The XT500 was well suited to the rally’s demanding terrain because it was relatively simple, durable, and capable off-road. Its success helped build Yamaha’s reputation in adventure and desert competition, although the production motorcycle was also sold as a practical dual-sport machine for everyday riders.

The inaugural rally is sometimes confused with the first motorcycle rally raid held in Africa, but the 1979 event specifically marks the beginning of the Dakar Rally series. Neveu also won the following edition in 1980, again riding a Yamaha XT500.