Author Topic: New Toy- 1971 Suzuki T500 (Read 33938 times)

ekpent · « **on:** April 05, 2017, 04:15:55 AM »

Well I have been trying to be a good boy this winter and not add any more bikes to the 'collection' and actually get some old projects put back together. Been tough seeing a few good deals go by but I fell off the wagon Monday

. Picked up this 1971 Suzuki T500. Already have a 1973 but its pretty rough and have not been motivated to work on it. This one looks to be a better candidate. Original owner and title. Less then 2300 miles. Was stored well in a heated/insulated garage. Owner bought it new and had a close call one day and never rode it again. Engine and throttle are free and turning. No rust and the chrome is very good. Still has the original factory redline tires. Only negative is the battery side cover is missing and has not been found yet,may not. Lotta sawdust on it from when he was cutting wood in his shop. Here are a couple pics of the 'before' when I dragged it in. Color in pics look blue but is actually teal.
Have a friend who is a top notch restorer kind of hot for it but may be a keeper. Will update later after giving it a good cleaning and posting the pitfalls or joys of owning and trying to resurrect a 2-stroke. Eric

Can550 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 05, 2017, 04:31:45 AM »

Looks clean

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Stev-o · « **Reply #2 on:** April 05, 2017, 05:39:59 AM »

I've been a good boy too but would have fell off the wagon for that too.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #3 on:** April 05, 2017, 05:51:43 AM »

Sweet! My mate Pete had one back in the 70's Eric, it was as fast as a CB750 and a lot lighter too. There was the "Cobra" and the "Titan" from memory, which one is that?

I had a T250 back in the 90's, like yours, the owner had a light drop and sh1t his pants and swore off bikes, and 25 years later he snuffed it, and the guy cleaning up his estate sold it to my boss at the gas station I worked at, who traded it to me for an old Mig welder he wanted.

I had to replace the tank and headlight which were damaged in the crash, the PO took them to a paint shop to repair and never collected them, but it came up like new, and I sold it on to a pair of lesbians.

ekpent · « **Reply #4 on:** April 05, 2017, 06:06:00 AM »

Its a Titan Terry. The 1968 Cobra is the holy grail of the early 500's,would love to find one of those !

Johnie · « **Reply #5 on:** April 05, 2017, 06:49:25 AM »

The style is screamin' 70's Eric...nice find nice project!

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2017, 04:22:23 PM »

Quote from: ekpent on April 05, 2017, 06:06:00 AM

Its a Titan Terry. The 1968 Cobra is the holy grail of the early 500's,would love to find one of those !

Yeah, Pete's was the Cobra, and he still laments selling it to buy a CB550, which was slower and heavier than his Suzy.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2017, 04:47:28 PM »

dang, jealous again. You should give me that one you already had

Stev-o · « **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2017, 08:37:30 PM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on April 05, 2017, 04:47:28 PM

dang, jealous again. You should give me that one you already had...

...or ship it to Texas! Maybe you should visit Eric's shop again, Sean, and get that Titan started up....

jaytee-nz · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2017, 09:29:27 PM »

According to Wikipedia the name changed from Cobra to Titan because Mr Ford wasn't happy - "The "Cobra" model name was dropped at the end of the first year of production, apparently after Suzuki received a letter from the Ford Motor Company's legal department. Ford at that time had an agreement to market the Shelby Mustang "Cobra" automobile so they took offense at Suzuki's use of the name. From that time on, the T500 was known as the "Titan" in all markets until the 1976 model year".

ekpent · « **Reply #10 on:** April 06, 2017, 05:02:47 AM »

Interesting fact,did not know that. Must be a difficult job for somebody to sit around and think up new names for all these things without offending anybody

Should of called it the "Blue Racer" or some other snake. Anybody wanna ride my Python

grcamna2 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2017, 05:25:28 AM »

That sure is a Nice bike

A very sweet Survivor

ekpent · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2017, 08:12:25 PM »

Well I have started on the Suzuki a little now because I am anxious to see if it is going to be a runner. I was told when I bought it that one coil was diagnosed as being bad and after some testing etc. I also confirmed that fact. It had good spark on the left no spark on the right. I thought about aftermarket coils and saw where these aftermarket worked on GT550 triples also along with other models. I grabbed and extra set off from a GT550 parts bike I have, still had 2 of the 3 coils on it and grabbed the tester. Both good and same specs as the working t500 so I removed the coil with the longest spark plug wire and installed it on the t500 mount.(pic shows remaining one with shorter wire) Mounted it up and YES spark on both sides now. WooHoo - now I guess I will give the carbs a good cleaning and be close to touching it off for the first time.

Stev-o · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2017, 08:19:21 PM »

WooHoo! One just popped up in my area....should I go get it?!

https://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/6095171048.html

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #14 on:** April 20, 2017, 10:04:06 PM »

Buy it Steve, and see if he'll throw in some bike boots!

innovativems · « **Reply #15 on:** April 20, 2017, 10:36:08 PM »

Do it!

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Stev-o · « **Reply #16 on:** April 21, 2017, 04:15:42 AM »

Quote from: Terry in Australia on April 20, 2017, 10:04:06 PM

Buy it Steve, and see if he'll throw in some bike boots!

You're bad, Terry. I actually emailed him about another bike for sale, a GT550. He said he has a British buyer for both.

https://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/6093701594.html

ekpent · « **Reply #17 on:** April 21, 2017, 04:30:09 AM »

I am always surprised at how popular these 2 stroke bikes are 'across the pond'.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 21, 2017, 04:56:11 AM »

Quote from: Terry in Australia on April 20, 2017, 10:04:06 PM

Buy it Steve, and see if he'll throw in some bike boots!

lol

So did that dude w/ no legs finally decide to sell his unused pair of Bike boots to you? or does he still get-around with them on prosthetic limbs ?

ekpent · « **Reply #19 on:** April 21, 2017, 05:39:37 AM »

Sounds like he only lost one leg so you only can get one boot as part of the deal.

Gitem' for 1/2 price though !

grcamna2 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 21, 2017, 06:37:17 AM »

Quote from: ekpent on April 21, 2017, 05:39:37 AM

Sounds like he only lost one leg so you only can get one boot as part of the deal. Gitem' for 1/2 price though !

Lol

Stev-o · « **Reply #21 on:** April 21, 2017, 06:43:26 AM »

Quote from: ekpent on April 21, 2017, 05:39:37 AM

Sounds like he only lost one leg so you only can get one boot as part of the deal. Gitem' for 1/2 price though !

You guys are horrible. I am curious what the freak accident was...

grcamna2 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 21, 2017, 08:51:32 AM »

Quote from: Stev-o on April 21, 2017, 06:43:26 AM

Quote from: ekpent on April 21, 2017, 05:39:37 AM
Sounds like he only lost one leg so you only can get one boot as part of the deal. Gitem' for 1/2 price though !

You guys are horrible. I am curious what the freak accident was...

Probably an unfortunate individual who just happened to have been crossing the street while Terry was riding his Harley

and then he had the nerve to ask the guy for his bike boots

Zunspec · « **Reply #23 on:** April 21, 2017, 03:50:40 PM »

Hi ekpent,

The T500 is a good honest bike, they can clean up well. Here's mine in the alternative 1971 Candy Lavender colours (although the bike is actually a 1975)

Cheers Geoff

ken65 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 21, 2017, 04:23:10 PM »

Green with envy , love them 500's

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Author Topic: New Toy- 1971 Suzuki T500 (Read 33938 times)

ken65