Topic: New Toy- 1971 Suzuki T500

[grcamna2]

+1 on that T500 you have that's all original is a nice bike to keep sealed-up and not a daily rider.
What bikes are your daily riders ?

[ekpent]

+1 on that T500 you have that's all original is a nice bike to keep sealed-up and not a daily rider.
What bikes are your daily riders ?

  I was mostly riding 4 different 750's this summer around and also like to ride my 1999 Suzuki Bandit 1200 and a Suzuki GSX1100G.  Got an RD350 roadworthy also and took it for a spin but did not get it dialed in and time just got away. Did a 2 valve 1981 Suzuki GS1000 this summer also finally that had been lingering and really enjoyed riding it. Look forward to it some more next summer with a new chain and a front tire that does not leak. Got a CB900F back on the road late this summer also and rode it a little bit. Hopefully more next summer. I will have to say though the more I ride the more modern machines the more appreciate their brakes,suspension and performance but the old bikes are still a blast and always good conversation starters.

[grcamna2]

Nice    The 1981' GS1000,is that a Katana or an 'E' ?

[ekpent]

 Its an E model.  Fired up the Kaw 900 Z1B this summer also and let Sean B take it out for a ride,he had never driven one. He said he liked it !    Hard keeping them all alive,got some 750'S that have sat too long and am sure will need some attention on the carbs etc. to get them going again.

[grcamna2]

That's a nice 81' GS1000E w/ a great quality CCA(Connecticut Cycle Accessories)rear luggage rack on it;I have 2) bikes w/ that same rack.

[Stev-o]

+1 on that T500 you have that's all original is a nice bike to keep sealed-up and not a daily rider.

Disagree!  I vote for getting that T500 back on the road once spring hits the great white north!  Ride dont hide em....

[ken65]

I like these 500's. Here's one a bloke I now just finished. Nice track bike. He likes stickers.

[seanbarney41]

That's just beautiful...and exactly what I would have tried to do with Ekpent's T500 had he not talked me out of it.

[ken65]

It's a nice looking bike. just needs the jetting sorted out.

[ekpent]

 Looks light as a feather. Sure he did some porting and other good stuff on that engine I hope.

[ken65]

Yeah he did porting , crank balancing and all that stuff.

[RAFster122s]

Race bikes are very appealing for those of us who love the looks, memories they conjure, and the sounds...
it is amazing to me how the 2 strokes have such huge expansion chambers in the exhaust yet such tiny exits on the ends.

That is some gorgeous paint work and great attention to details. What brand are the piggyback shocks, something S or NS?
Does he plan to run/race it or is it a display piece for his collection?  A guy I know in Utah now, was in NY, collects race bikes, and has them scattered throughout his home.  He has a collection of bikes he rides and all of the bikes are fully operational. Display bikes are not ran.  He is into adventure riding off-road and goes on lots of adventures, some short, some long throughout the year.

Ken, Did the owner give you the parts for assembly ken or what all did you have to do in creating the end product?
 Great work.

David

[Terry in Australia]

I think Ken's mate built the bike David, those shocks look like Ohlins. Over here we have a big "Post Classic Racer" following, and you see quite a few of those TR500 replicas at the bigger race meetings, they're quick little beasts, for sure. Cheers, Terry.

[ken65]

Terry's right David. The only hand I played in the bike was being in charge of the 10 mill spanner  once.
It will be a track bike only . He has a couple of other track bikes too that are all stickered  up.

[Stev-o]

OK, I'm shopping for a T500!   Of of the guys on the Triples forum posted this one...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-T500-GT500-Drag-bike-2-stroke-engine-motor-pipes-exhaust/332470843949?hash=item4d68ce7a2d:g:m4sAAOSwEEBaIylR&vxp=mtr

Not exactly my style but it is relitively cheap. But will need a lot of parts to get it where I would want it.


So after a little searching, I found this one...

https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/mcy/d/1972-suzuki-t500-titan/6415224014.html


More along the lines of what I would like, but not ready to make an offer on it.

I did find another, sent an email to the seller requesting pics and more info...

[ekpent]

 The early 500's did have a little problem with their transmissions sometimes so be forewarned. The fix is to split the case and rework a baffle plate inside or at least maybe run them over the recommended oil level 1200cc in the transmission to 1400cc. Not sure exactly what year they fixed it,think around 1973. Here is a link to the fix. http://www.ozebook.com/compendium/t500_files/oilmod.htm

[Terry in Australia]

OK, I'm shopping for a T500!   Of of the guys on the Triples forum posted this one...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-T500-GT500-Drag-bike-2-stroke-engine-motor-pipes-exhaust/332470843949?hash=item4d68ce7a2d:g:m4sAAOSwEEBaIylR&vxp=mtr

Not exactly my style but it is relitively cheap. But will need a lot of parts to get it where I would want it.


So after a little searching, I found this one...

https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/mcy/d/1972-suzuki-t500-titan/6415224014.html


More along the lines of what I would like, but not ready to make an offer on it.

I did find another, sent an email to the seller requesting pics and more info...

Wow, that first one looks rough, but would probably be fun to ride, but the second one looks nice Steve, I still can't get over how many barn fresh classics in original paint are still being found!

[Stev-o]

The early 500's did have a little problem with their transmissions sometimes so be forewarned. The fix is to split the case and rework a baffle plate inside or at least maybe run them over the recommended oil level 1200cc in the transmission to 1400cc. Not sure exactly what year they fixed it,think around 1973. Here is a link to the fix. http://www.ozebook.com/compendium/t500_files/oilmod.htm

I dont know all the details on it either, but I read that there was a type of recall that Suzuki would fix it?

I heard back from the seller of the third T500 - the bike looks good and he is asking $3500.  I think that is his dream number and I am not interested in it at that price.  The search continues...

[Zunspec]

The "oil dam" mod was in response to 3rd & 4th gears getting short of splashed oil when in prolonged use (cruising type running). Suzuki came out with a rubber extrusion which was glued into the lower case raising a wall internally and also changing the oil capacity from 1200cc to 1400cc.  If your cases have 1400cc embossed on the upper case, next to the g/box oil filler, you are good to go as this internal wall is already fixed as they modified the casting.  If it still has 1200cc it is best to check if the rubber dam has been fitted (still available).

Cheers  Geoff

[ekpent]

The "oil dam" mod was in response to 3rd & 4th gears getting short of splashed oil when in prolonged use (cruising type running). Suzuki came out with a rubber extrusion which was glued into the lower case raising a wall internally and also changing the oil capacity from 1200cc to 1400cc.  If your cases have 1400cc embossed on the upper case, next to the g/box oil filler, you are good to go as this internal wall is already fixed as they modified the casting.  If it still has 1200cc it is best to check if the rubber dam has been fitted (still available).

Cheers  Geoff

Geoff did they mark the case in a special fashion by chance of the bikes that had gone through the recall so people and maybe future buyers can see ?

[Zunspec]

Hi Ekpent,

As far as I know the 1200cc cases were not marked after the oil dam modification.  It was not really a re-call as such with documented completion in the service log book as you might expect these days.

It should only take an hour or two to split the cases, take a look, and re-assemble.

Cheers  Geoff

[ekpent]

 Ok -  I will bring one right over today and have a couple of cocktails while you check !   

[Stev-o]

Ok -  I will bring one right over today and have a couple of cocktails while you check !   

I'll meet you there!

[ekpent]

Ok -  I will bring one right over today and have a couple of cocktails while you check !   

I'll meet you there!

CHRISTMAS PARTY !!!!!!

[Stev-o]

Ok -  I will bring one right over today and have a couple of cocktails while you check !   

I'll meet you there!

CHRISTMAS PARTY !!!!!!

Lots of good roads around Trowbridge for us to "test ride" his bikes!

I think the ride to Mendip Hills may do!!

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.2699163,-2.2229573,10z