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My T500 project

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 10:38 am
by Wingspan
I thought I'd share a few pics from my T500 project. I'm not sure what it'll end up looking like, but probably closest to the cafe-styling thing. I'm not one to cover my bike in checkered stripes and dress up like an extra from "Happy Days", though. I'm keeping it close to stock mechanically, just dressing up the styling a bit. My ultimate goal is just for something cool and fun to putter around on and maybe cruise to the odd vintage bike night.

I'm still sort of mocking up the bike and working out the big details. Here's the new seat and rearsets mounted. The Clubman bars aren't staying, I've got a set of clip-ons ordered. The stock pipes will likely be replaced as well. Still a long way to go, but I hope to have her on the road this coming spring.

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Re: My T500 project

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:30 pm
by two-stroke-brit
i like it :up:
i have a plan for a buffalo in a similar vein.(single seater)
mark

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:11 am
by Drauff
Where did you get your rearsets? I just picked up one of these and I am thinking of going a similar route.

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:22 am
by Wingspan
Drauff wrote:Where did you get your rearsets? I just picked up one of these and I am thinking of going a similar route.
Titan Performance:

http://www.classic2strokesuzuki.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They weren't cheap but I'm satisfied with the quality and as we all know, there aren't a lot of outfits still developing new parts for these bikes. I'm considering a set of their expansion chambers as well.

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:02 am
by crash277
those look pretty cool. i like the chrome expansion chambers. they would look awesome on my bike. for yours if you ran the black ones and then did the exhaust wrap on the header pipes i think it would look awesome.

if you do go the route of new pipes. are you going to sell your stock ones??

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 5:20 pm
by Wingspan
crash277 wrote:those look pretty cool. i like the chrome expansion chambers. they would look awesome on my bike. for yours if you ran the black ones and then did the exhaust wrap on the header pipes i think it would look awesome.

if you do go the route of new pipes. are you going to sell your stock ones??
I'm leaning toward their stainless steel chambers and having my header tubes ceramic coated. I'm not big on the header wrap. It does work on some projects, but I generally think it's just a cheap and lazy way to cover rusty pipes.

If I do go with new pipes, I would be interested in selling the stock parts. They have the scuffs and scrapes that you'd expect on parts this age, but nothing major and no dents that I've found. I won't be returning this bike to stock, so whatever I don't use will be up for grabs if there are folks who would want it.

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 4:12 am
by Digger
I'm thinking I'll be following you down a similar route in the not-too-distant future 8)

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:24 pm
by Suzukidave
Another good source for rearsets is look on ebay for some off a Suzuki GSXR http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid ... Categories" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:43 am
by Wingspan
Suzukidave wrote:Another good source for rearsets is look on ebay for some off a Suzuki GSXR http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid ... Categories" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The gsxr rearsets are a good option if you've got pipes that allow enough clearance. The stock Suzuki shift arm won't clear the stock pipes.

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 1:05 pm
by Wingspan
I've decided that my stock tank simply won't do, so it's been boxed up and set to Sean at Roc City Cafe Racers to use for reference. He's going to hammer out an aluminum GP style tank for me. It'll take a while to get, so I'm moving on and stripped the bike down today. Still need to get the lower triple off. The nuts are being difficult, so their going to get good Kroil soaking and I'll try again later.

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Re: My T500 project

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:18 pm
by CJF
How much is he charging you to make up a tank in aluminum? Are you going for the TR500 style or some other style tank? BTW...I picked up some very nice rearsets from http://www.motobits.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. They are perfect for me because they have lot of adjustment options and the length is good for my size 13 feet. The quality is great. I think they cost me $110 which includes everything except for the mounting plates, which I had to make up custom anyway. I plan to use them on future cafe builds.

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:27 am
by Wingspan
I don't have a set price for the tank yet, but I'm expecting something in the $800-$1000 range. The post office dropped off my stock tank to him yesterday and we haven't nailed down the particulars yet. It will be a gp style tank, but not a direct TR500 copy.

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:19 am
by Suzukidave
This shop makes some cool stuff too http://www.benjiescaferacer.com/forsale.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 1:07 pm
by Wingspan
Suzukidave wrote:This shop makes some cool stuff too http://www.benjiescaferacer.com/forsale.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Benji's does make nice parts.

Here's the link for Roc City:

http://www.roccitycafe.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I just spoke to Sean @ Roc City on the phone. He's received my stock tank and said he'll get back to me in a day or so when he's had a chance to look at it and get a better idea on cost etc. My tail and clip-ons are also from them.

Re: My T500 project

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:27 am
by Wingspan
Tearing her down for a general freshening up. Not really looking to up the Hp, just new crank seals and whatever needs to be done to bring the cylinders back to life. I'll know more on that end once I've got them measured and see if we can go with a hone and new rings or if I need to go oversize.

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