1975 Suzuki T500 IT IS ALIVE! First start video 5/7/11

[Wingspan]

Here we go...my first attempt at a cafe racer! I just picked up this T500 today. It's a bit rustier than the pics would have you believe, but it's not in bad shape overall. It's all there minus the mirrors and rear turn signals (who cares! As if any of that would stay anyway...). She even runs and rides! I did a slow lap of my neighborhood to celebrate after I rolled it off the truck.

I've rebuilt a few crashed sportbikes, but I'm a total newb at the cafe thing. This is also my first 2-stroke, so I've got some learning to do.

 

[Rocan]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

you have a good foundation...

ill be following this one.


p.s. check in with your local dmv... some states say that you dont need signals before a certain year, others say you need them if the vhehicle came with them installed from the factory or was built beyond a certain year.

 

[Wingspan]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

you have a good foundation...

ill be following this one.


p.s. check in with your local dmv... some states say that you dont need signals before a certain year, others say you need them if the vhehicle came with them installed from the factory or was built beyond a certain year.

Turn signals are required to be legal on this bike in Indiana. My comment about not caring pertains to the fact that the original mirrors and signals aren't there as they wouldn't be reused in the build.

 

[Kanticoy]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Man, nice bike. I want one of these so bad!

 

[Wingspan]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Man, nice bike. I want one of these so bad!

I'll trade you bikes...LOL

I spent last night looking through your "Gretta" build. Just amazing! I wish I had your skills.

 

[Cafe-XV750]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Nice project - I approve!

Better shape than mine - looks to me like a resto candidate, but cafe'in is cool too.

 

[Wingspan]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

It would be a good resto candidate. I'm sure the purists out there will cringe. Oh well, one of them should have bought the bike. It sat on the market for a while.

I started pulling a few bits off today. I had a pair of stock Suzuki V-Strom bars collecting dust so I threw them on just for kicks and they actually might work! They'd need to be shortened a bit but the position and angle are decent.

 

[VonYinzer]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Awesome bike! Ill be watching this one for sure!!!

 

[Wingspan]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Thanks!

I just ordered a tail from Roc City. I also went ahead and bought a set of clubman bars to try. Once I get the seat and bar position sorted I can do the rearsets. Not sure how I'm going to tackle those yet. I'm not set up to weld so I'll probably make a mount plate that utilizes the muffler mounts. The hard part will be making a shift linkage that clears the engine, muffler, and kickstart lever.

 

[triumphrider74]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Great bike to start with. How much do you plan to do?

 

[Wingspan]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Great bike to start with. How much do you plan to do?

I'm not going to get too wild with it. If I can get a simple, clean retro cafe look and it's reliable enough to putter around one I'll be thrilled. No performance mods planned other than weight reduction. I'm hoping that I don't need to break open the motor, as least not for a while. It starts on the first kick and seems to run ok. I want to get the tail, bars, and rearsets sorted then I'll tear it the rest of the way down to either paint or powdercoat the frame and build it back up.

 

[locOleoN]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

pulled home a 69 T500 once upon a time..

a rather beefy bike

 

[Wingspan]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Looks like a nice bike. Any details? ;D

 

[locOleoN]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Looks like a nice bike. Any details? ;D

yeah.. complete motor rebuild...
Picked it up for a buddy...
Sat in my garage for 2 years... (he never rode it.. he couldnt get it out of first gear the rookie... ;D)
fired in in 2 kicks on the day the new buyer came...
New buyer rode it for 2 seasons...
It now sits in his garage leaking oil for the past 2 years... That poor bike never seems to get a break...

 

[djelliott]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Nice one wingspan. You're going to have a great bike when your done. I would love to pick one of these up in the future. I'm really into scooters too so I have a soft spot for the 2 stroke.

 

[abnab]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Great find Wingspan...... I want a T500 so bad. I just can't seem to find one around here. That is, I can't find one that needs work, and therefore, afordable!
Heck im looking for a T500, RD350, RD400, RZ350..... I just need a 2 stroke streetbike!
Keep us updated as you progress.

 

[Wingspan]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Great find Wingspan...... I want a T500 so bad. I just can't seem to find one around here. That is, I can't find one that needs work, and therefore, afordable!
Heck im looking for a T500, RD350, RD400, RZ350..... I just need a 2 stroke streetbike!
Keep us updated as you progress.

It's tough to find that right balance of needing work, but not too much work and at a decent price! I had been scanning craigslist for months for the right project (no specific bike in mind) in my area for a reasonable sum. I finally found this bike in an ad on ADVrider. It was old enough to be cool and needs work but does still run. I had to drive from Indianapolis to Knoxville, TN to get it but I think it was worth a day spent in the truck.

 

[abnab]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Thats for sure! I am doing the same thing. Just watching classifieds, and Craigslist. I keep expanding my search grid. Like you, I don't mind driving a little bit for the right bike. And I can't wait to watch this beauty come together!
In the meantime, I am working on a Yamaha XJ55o maxim. It is my first true cafe project, and hopefully will serve as a good warm-up to get me ready for whatever bike I can locate next

 

[Wingspan]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

No progress to report but I have been on a mad part ordering spree so hopefully some hardware will start arriving soon.

 

[Wingspan]

Re: 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe build

Messed around with the Titan a bit today. I've got a mountain of parts on order, a few have started to trickle in. I really want to get the new seat mounted before I rip it all the way down but patience has never been my strong suit. Hopefully it'll be here soon.