WTB a GT500 front end/350 swingarm and hungry for more info!

[SliderNH]

Hey guys. I'm very new to the vintage 2stroke scene. 2 days ago I didn't even know there was such a thing as 2stroke suzuki street bike, imagine that! I was just never exposed to one. (I am after-all, only 25yo) So, I just picked up a 72 T500. I'm super excited to get working on it. I've been doing a lot of research on these bikes and learning a lot. It needs a lot of TLC.But the bike is all there. Has good compression (120 and 128) so I believe I have something to work with. Other than getting it running and doing the oil mod, I'd like to replace the front end with one from a GT500. I'm trying to do a 35mm set-up, with an 18" wheel and single disc. I haven't figured out the 18" wheel thing yet. I know the GT250 has a 18, and a disc, but from what I have learned so far, I think the hub is more narrow on the GT250 than the GT500. I want to stay vintage and stay with spoked wheels so new bikes are out of the question for me. Here are my questions:

1. Can I fit a 18" GT250 wheel/disc on a GT500 front end?
If not, would it be possible to mate a 250 rim to a GT500 hub? Where would I get spokes!?!

2. Does anyone have any bits from a GT500 front end I can buy from them?
Looking for everything: Triple tree, forks, wheel/hub/disc, and the entire front brake system lines/caliper/master cylinder/brake lever

3. Anyone have a 350 swingarm I can buy?

I have put together a huge list of websites and resources to use for reference as I go through this new project, just wanted to thank you all for your contributions to the forum, its been a huge help so far!

...Located in South Texas

[Scorch]

Welcome to the forum, Houston here.

[SliderNH]

Cool. I'm down in Corpus. Are there any bike junk yards down here in TX. Anywhere that you know of?

[tz375]

I heard that a GT750 front end would slot straight on, forks disks calipers etc. Hopefully someone that knows what they are talking about will confirm or correct that info.

[diamondj]

I think your best and easiest option would be to use a set of GT500 triples with a GT550 front end. The forks are better internally for the damping rod and will accept emulators or the fork mod posted on this board somewhere. There's two set's of GT500 triples on ebay right now with BIN's of $40 or less.

A GT750 (or GT550) front will swap in with a bearing change but you will need to rework the stops on the forks. The 550 forks are roughly an inch longer than the stock 500 forks (either T or GT) and I think the 750's are 1.5 or 2 inches longer - so you will need to slide them up in the trees a bit to keep from making your bike handle oddly.

The 350 swing arm will fit the T500 but you will need to cut out and relocate the fender brace on the frame. Also, keep in mind this modification is really more for a race bike than a road bike. You can get much the same effect by switching to an 18" or 17" front rim....

Jim

[SliderNH]

Thanks Jim. I suppose the best way to get wat I need is ebay...? So if I put on 550 forks with a 500 triple tree the rake/ride would be better than the shorter 500 forks? The reason why i was initially leaning toward to 500 triple and 500 forks is because they are shorter and would give a little better rake. Is this no good??

I also did want to find a 18" front wheel with a disc that i could put on the GT500 forks. I saw the 250 front wheel is a 18" and has a disc. I'm afraid the hub is too narrow for the GT550 fork spacing and/or the diameter of the disc is wrong. What would have to be done to make something like that work? I've been searching but haven't come up with any definitive info on that yet.