Suzuki 2 Strokes

Hi, quick intro & 1st questions re my recently acquired '75 T500.
Been lusting after a T500 (would have preferred a '72) for ages, had a T200 new in 1970!
Currently run a nice US imported XS650 Special 2 & my last stroker was a '79 KH400 sold about 8 years ago on environmental grounds but I'm over that now! Needed a 2 stroke back in the garage. Great forum, have looked through every page & learnt loads - if I'd known then what I know now I would have haggled a bit harder when I bought the bike.
It was imported to UK from Canada in 2003. 90% restored by the guy I bought it from, I've done a bit more work & it has just passed the MoT (UK road-worthiness test.) Just 2 short rides so far but it seems to be ok.
VIN plate states manufactured 11/74, frame no begins 81... however engine no is only 70,321. It has the 1400 cc sticker over the gearbox oil capacity mark & the gear-shift shaft sticks out on the right so I think I may have an earlier engine. It has the longer intake stubs & later air box though. Any thoughts on that please?
Also, the bike has had a nice re-spray in at least very close to the original blue but with silver stripes on the tank, not gold. By any chance did the Canadian models have silver striping? I'm not sure when the bike was re-painted, it wasn't by the P.O., could have been before it was imported.
Many thanks, I'll post some pics when I work out how. Tried but presume it can't be done using the attachment upload facility.

Hi and welcome - the T500 gurus will be along to chip in their comments soon, I expect

Pictures must be externally hosted. There are many sites that offer this as a free service. I use Photo Bucket. The upload space for photo's on this forum has been full for over 2 years. I doubt that additional space will be provided to help keep operational costs down. More space = more $$.

Always good to see another UK T500 owner on the forum Jim....definitely sounds like an earlier engine in your frame..

Where are you from?

The engine number sounds like an early 1974, but the frame looks like a very late 75 model.
It is hard to tie down a specific date to numbers because every list I have seen from Suzuki differs to some degree.
The frame and engine numbers got out of whack along the way but they should be within a few digits of one another if it was original. Your motor definitely is not matched to the frame (number wise) they are way too far apart digit wise.
Having said that it doesn't really matter about the numbers unless you wanted to sell it as an original.
The kickstart shaft could also have been replaced with an earlier one or the whole bottom end could have been changed.
Apart from the increase in oil level and a different clutch basket nothing changed in the lower end over the lifetime of the bike.
BTW the clutch baskets are interchangable from older version to later version and Vice Versa

C'om Jimmy-boy... give us pics! ... give us the pics!
Any pics, we want to see your thing!

Ok, thanks for replies guys - got a photobucket a/c, uploaded some photos - now how the flip do I post them on here?

When editing your message click the Img button and past the link your picture in between the {img]"http:// link to your picture"[/img} I have changed the outer square brackets to curly one to show the code you hsould leave it as square brackets.

Well, got there with help from Mrs J. Computer is not my 1st language.
Hope you can see these pics. taken at Exmouth beach. Still need a bit of re-chroming done (bars, rear light bracket, maybe headlamp) but where do you stop?
I won't worry about the earlier engine no., would be interesting to find out why but as long as it continues to run sweet who cares?
Will have some original parts, now replaced, to sell on: (mirrors with S but rusty arms, full set indicators, rear light with rusty end plate, rear shocks with small shrouds, oil tank cap,1 fork gaiter, carb to airbox rubber, pillion rests, chain adjusters, throttle grip & finally, a good seat, nicely recovered, no logo, but with the rear brackets welded on miles out of true. The PO had bodged it to fit. I fitted a repro seat & got a spare bracket for the old seat so that someone with the skill can sort it out.
Will probably use ebay but not until after we're back from hols/vacation in August.


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Very nice...

Are you from South Devon or just visiting? I am a Paignton expat living near Huntingdon these days. I am in need of a seat and indicators so might be interested on your cast offs

Just spent a load of cash on chroming with Marque Restore in Coventry lovely work but need to economise on a fews things that can be improved later.

Rats, thought I'd put 2 photos on. They showed in preview. Try again, I'll get it - probably.
Akendall, have lived in Devon all my life, born & brought up in Torbay area, Exmouth last 2 years.
PM me your email & I can send you some pics of seat & indicators.[img][/img]

Looks li one of the pics showed. Follow these simple instructions and it gets easy after a while.

Your page on photobucket will look something like this:


There is a little yellow window under each pic. Visually select the pic you want to post. Click on the yellow window under it. The line turns blue. Now RIGHT click on the blue line and select COPY from the drop down menu. Don't worry about what the line says. Just copy it.


In your post, right click in the post body and from the drop down menu select PASTE. Yow will get a long line with a lot of characters. That is you pic.. When you preview or submit your post, the pic shows up instead of the long line of characters. Hope this helps!
Of course it will depend on your operating system. This is how it works on Windows XP.

ah ha you bought the grab rail off me jim.
I thought I recognize that bike.
looks realy nice.
I'll use this picture jim instead of the one you sent me.
as I don't know how to wipe the number plate.
you don't want any low life cloning you no plate.

Good point John, thanks. Thanks for photo posting advice too Coyote - I'm on Windows 7 though & don't get the yellow window. Here's another one though...

Those 650 Yami's are drawing major bucks now too. I have to admit, they do make a very nice looking cafe.