72 T500 in Michigan - must sell for $450

[jabcb]

Runs good & has good chrome. Looks like it might have been a cafe project before owner ran into money issues.
http://michigan.findanycycle.com/motorc ... today.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tz375]

It has that Cafe look - threw away the fenders and other tin, painted it flat black and now it's a cafe racer. Idiots. At least it still has a front brake. I saw one idiot child recently that decided it was cool to have no front brake.

Unfortunately this time around there are very few professional builders of Cafe bikes making anything quality. Sure, some of the paint and tin bashing is good but from a functional and legal perspective they leave a lot to be desired.

[jabcb]

Agreed.

Bike is also posted on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-SUZ ... 0658060063
Owner has most of the parts he took off, but doesn't have title.

[ericsattic]

The asking prices are not too unreasonable - if you are local, don't have to pay shipping, and are just looking for a parts bike. My very first vintage project was a poorly running, titled, 1973 T500 that I bought locally for $800 and the seller even delivered it my house. However, I bought with my heart and not my mind because it needed complete restoration. After buying some parts, starting the work, and realizing what additional parts, painting, and chroming costs would be, I quickly learned that there are enough nice, clean, complete, titled, running T500s out there for sale in the $1500 range that its senseless to purchase molested bikes like this one - especially if they have no title! And, unless you really just need a parts bike and you can get the bike for just a couple hundred bucks... For example, here is a mostly complete, running, titled, T500 auction that just ended on eBay - HIGHEST BID $1,025

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0QQcmd ... MEWAXQ3aIT" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's not a showbike but its located in Ohio, mostly complete (looks like just the grab bar is missing), running, titled, and not in that bad of condition, etc.... Auction says its a 1972 model, but if the paint is original like it says it was probably manufactured in 1972 and probably first titled and registered in 1972, but its a 1973 model). In my case I traded my 1973 T500, some cash and parts for a T500 Cobra so I managed to make some lemondade with my lemon. Now, if this were a 1972 H1 at this asking price, I would jump on it!

[bbillington]

It has that Cafe look - threw away the fenders and other tin, painted it flat black and now it's a cafe racer. Idiots. At least it still has a front brake. I saw one idiot child recently that decided it was cool to have no front brake.

Unfortunately this time around there are very few professional builders of Cafe bikes making anything quality. Sure, some of the paint and tin bashing is good but from a functional and legal perspective they leave a lot to be desired.

heaven forbid some kid get into bikes and pick a titan for his first project.