T 500 Gear change right hand side, brake pedal on the left

[ssquirrel]

Hello, I am new here.
In the 70´s I could not buy a T500 because it was too expensive for me then. I started my bike career with a used Honda CB 350 and have now a few Ducati´s.
Two-stroke was always in my mind and so I bought a 500 2-cyl. Scott from 1914 a few years ago. Scott = first two-stroke bike ever!
I have now bought a T500 und this one has the shifter shaft with spline on both sides. I lost my left leg (below knee) some twenty years ago and can do braking but not change gears.

I am now looking for a left hand brake pedal. Maybe there is one left somewhere?

Thank you and

kind regards

Wilfried

[ConnerVT]

Welcome to the group, ssquirrel.

You ask a very interesting question. While there has been some written about the shifter lever having splines on both sides of the engine, I don't think that Suzuki ever made the parts to have the right shift/left brake setup. I have searched for many T500 parts over the past few years (both for me, and folks here on the forum) and have never come across any of these.

The good news is that the spline is there on the right, and that the rear brake is cable operated. I would figure that it wouldn't be an impossible task to fabricate what you need - not unlike a rearset.

Keep us updated as to how this works out.

[ssquirrel]

Thanks for your answer.
Maybe Suzuki made the left variant for UK only? Attached is a brochure where the possibilty of both variants is mentioned.

[tz375]

Welcome. You are right that early bikes apparently had provision for left or right side shifting.

http://oldjapanesebikes.com/blog/2013/0 ... s-shifted/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It is also possible to take a spare shift shaft from almost any Honda or Suzuki or Yamaha of the time and cut a length off and have it pinned and welded to the right side and then machine the cover.

TZ Yamahas also came with splines on left and right and I have had to repair a couple using a spare CB160 shaft that I had available.

This ebay listing shows the right shift clutch cover http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SUZUKI-T500-T-50 ... 565b777f90" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SUZUKI-T500-T-50 ... 56506c10a6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ConnerVT]

All of the earlier T500 had the shift shaft splined on both ends. Yours has this, so that is the most difficult part already solved. The frame should also have the mount for the brake cable on the left side, and a quick look at my '71 makes me feel it isn't an impossible task to fit something up.

As for Suzuki offering up the parts for the conversion? As I said earlier, it has been written about. It may have been a *very* low volume, special order offering at one time, but I have never seen a part number or illustration showing it. Even the early T500 Parts book doesn't show it as an international part configuration. So my guess is that after 45 years, finding the factory parts would be like searching for rainbow colored unicorn poop.

Fabricating up the desired parts wouldn't be too difficult. As tz375 said, a left side shifter could be cut and welded to the correct shape and orientation. A longer brake cable (to reach from new location on left to wheel lever on right, and a similar cut/weld on the brake lever, could work on the brakes. There seems to be clearances and cutouts where they are needed.

[jabcb]

Perhaps another option might be to install a power shifter that's operated by a handlebar switch.

Some forums members that drag race might know more about this option & if it will work on a T500.

[argo1974]

Wilfried, definitely Suzuki never provided optional brake/shift pedals. You won't find any information nor part numbers even in the earliest parts and/or service manuals.

E.g. optional pedals were available for Kawasaki H1 500, also mentioned in parts manual: http://www.ebay.com/itm/370557746526" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Then, old british bikes had them: http://www.ebay.com/itm/121435029033" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

E. g. old Jawa two strokes had the brake cable running forward from right side brake pedal, while making a wide loop under the engine backwards again to the left side rear brake plate.

[tz375]

I would be really tempted to fit a thumb brake lever on the left bar and convert the rear brake to hydraulic operation. If you wanted to change to GS cast wheels with rear disk brake it would be even simpler to do.

But the best idea is probably an electric shifter on the left side with push button controls and leave the right side brake, as was suggested earlier. Drag racers typically use an air over electric system that shifts only in one direction (up). There are electric shift systems on the market that use an electric solenoid.

[ssquirrel]

Thank you all for your ideas to this.
There is a thumb brake on my modern Ducati Monster with right side shifting. This work fine. There is a left foot brake on my 1972 Ducati 750 GT with right side shifting. This works also well.
The T500 will not be my daily bike and I want to keep it as original as possible. I will make a new brake pedal and a brake cable. The gear lever can be switched to the other side. This will be the most efficient solution I believe.
I have to wait until the bike is in my workshop actually it is 700km away in Vienna.