Difference between revisions of "Suzuki T500"

From CycleChaos
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (Robot: Automated text replacement (-2 Strk. +Two-stroke))
m (Bot: Adding {{Suzuki}})
Line 183: Line 183:




{{motorcycle-stub}}
{{Suzuki}}


[[Category:Suzuki motorcycles|T500]]
[[Category:Suzuki motorcycles|T500]]
{{motorcycle-stub}}

Revision as of 14:43, 26 August 2010

Suzuki T500
Manufacturer Suzuki
Production 70-75
Engine 450cc
Sparkplug B7HS '70-75
Battery 12N7-4A '70-75
Front Tire '70-75
Rear Tire 4.00-18 '70-75
Manuals Service Manual
Tech Specs · Brochures · Reviews · Ads · Videos

The Suzuki T500 is a motorcycle produced by Suzuki from 1970 to 1975.

When the Suzuki T500 was unveiled in 1967, the experts hedged their bets. While it was along with the 650 Kawasaki W1 the most powerful Japanese production bike, it was also a two-stroke. Could it swallow all that power? What would be its consumption of gas, oil and spark plugs? Most importantly, would such a machine prove reliable?

Saved by Careful Design

Certainly, if the T500 wasn't the first large capacity two-stroke -there had been a 650 Scott previously -it was the first to flirt with such levels of performance. Attention was given to cooling, with the exhaust pipes splayed outwards to allow cool air to play directly on to the cylinders, and the importance accorded to lubrication (with a more highly developed pressure lubrication system than that of Yamaha) allowed the T500 to establish itself as a genuinely sporty bike beneath its excessively sober raiment.

The Long-Legged Look

Suzuki had been particularly careful to set the engine well forward in the frame to limit the chances of doing wheelies when accelerating; the long-wheelbase gave the T500 a particularly appealing look. After a natural period of mistrust, the career of the big Suzuki two-stroke really took off -until the arrival of even more spectacular competitors. Despite its conservative bottom-end design, the T500 even enjoyed a certain amount of success: it finished second at the Daytona 200 in 1969 and --above all-- became World Championship runner-up in 1971. A modified version was the first two-stroke to win an AMA National Road Race.

1968 T500

1968 Suzuki T500 in Red
1968 Suzuki T500 in Red
1968 Suzuki T500 in Red
1968 Suzuki T500 in Red



1970 T500III

1970 Suzuki T500III


  • FRAME #: N/A
  • ENGINE #: N/A
  • ENGINE TYPE: . . . 492cc Two-stroke Twin
  • MODEL CODE: . . . 151
  • COLOR: Corporate Blue, Lime Green
  • Tank rack
  • S tank emblems

1971 T500R

  • FRAME #: 1500-30846
  • ENGINE #: T500-30846
  • ENGINE TYPE: 492cc Two-stroke Twin
  • MODEL CODE: 151
  • COLOR: California Burgundy, Newport
  • White tank stripes
  • Headlight flat at bottom
  • Flip-up gas cap


1972 T500J

1972 Suzuki T500J
1972 Suzuki T500 in Green
1972 Suzuki T500 in Green
1972 Suzuki T500 in Green
1972 Suzuki T500 in Green
1972 Suzuki T500 in Green
1972 Suzuki T500
  • FRAME #: T500-46463
  • ENGINE #: T500-46463
  • ENGINE TYPE: 492cc Two-stroke Twin
  • MODEL CODE: 151
  • COLOR: Summit Copper, Cascade Green
  • White tank stripes
  • Thin chrome ring at bottom of gauges

1973 T500K

  • FRAME #: T500-59779
  • ENGINE #: ..... T500-59779
  • ENGINE TYPE: . . . 492cc Two-stroke Twin
  • MODEL CODE: . . . 151
  • COLOR: Coronado Blue, Wine Red
  • Round headlight


1974 T500L

1974 Suzuki T500L

  • FRAME #: T500-68083
  • ENGINE #: ..... T500-68083
  • ENGINE TYPE: . . . 492cc Two-stroke Twin
  • MODEL CODE: . . . 153
  • COLOR: Gypsy Red
  • Gold tank stripes


1975 T500M

1975 Suzuki T500M
1975 Suzuki T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki Titan T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki Titan T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki Titan T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki Titan T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki Titan T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki Titan T500 in Blue
1975 Suzuki Titan T500 in Blue



  • FRAME #: T500-74162
  • ENGINE #: T500-74168
  • ENGINE TYPE: 492cc Two-stroke Twin
  • MODEL CODE: 153
  • COLOR: Coronado Blue
  • Gold pin stripes on tank

See Also


External Links