68 T500 carb float part #

[Ivan]

The mufflers are different on the 500/five which was never sold to the public.
(The axle cutouts are further foward by several inches due to the shorter swingarm.)

Closeup photos of the pre-production 500/five engine can be found in the original cycle world test... I count 11 fins just the same as every other T500.

Also the frame would have to be completely different as well...... otherwise the shocks would be at a completely different angle.... this in turn would cause the seat to be shorter too.


Ivan
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[oldjapanesebikes]

... the 500/five which was never sold to the public.

That's an interesting statement and one I've also been thinking for a while now. Have you managed to find some actual proof to support it ? So far I've drawn a blank. As you are likely aware, we have a thread going on this topic over here and the actual list we have been keeping is located here. New information (in the form of documents, photos etc.) is always appreciated.

[Ivan]

... the 500/five which was never sold to the public.

That's an interesting statement and one I've also been thinking for a while now. Have you managed to find some actual proof to support it ? So far I've drawn a blank. As you are likely aware, we have a thread going on this topic over here and the actual list we have been keeping is located here. New information (in the form of documents, photos etc.) is always appreciated.

How can there be proof of something that was never done?

This is why you have no proof or documentation that you seem to be looking for....

Paul Miller has a 500/five in his private collection... he told me that it came from a Suzuki regional sales rep many years ago. The bike was used for shows and display.

The 500/five wasn't sold to the public due to high speed wobbles.

There is no public documentation of this because it was all internal to Suzuki at the time....

Would you make a public statement that your brand new flagship model had stability problems and was being redesigned?


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

[oldjapanesebikes]

How can there be proof of something that was never done ?

With respect - that statement is a bit of an oxymoron, in that it would be equally as interesting to have proof that in fact it was never done eh ? Whatever the case, over time I'm sure additional facts will come out - and if Paul does have such a bike then at the least it should have a frame number which we could add to the list which would be useful also.

[Ivan]

My frame # is 10332... Basically # 332. I don't know if there are any eariler #'s on record ??

Here is what a quick search for 500/five revealed for me.... check out this page and photos.... clearly a very different bike.... lots of differences.
Still 11 cylinder fins....

You can put the language into a translator.....
http://www.suzuki2-takt.se/suzuki-2-tak ... 0-i-cobra/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


The brochure pic here shows the unusual guage mount.....
http://ajisaka.dagdigdug.com/2009/04/07 ... uzuki-500/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can call Paul tomorrow.... I don't know if he would be willing to share his VIN or get me a pic to give to you, but I'll ask him.


Ivan

[oldjapanesebikes]

My frame # is 10332... Basically # 332. I don't know if there are any eariler #'s on record ??

Well yes actually we think there is ! Perhaps you would find the list we have been compiling of interest ? The link is here.. As well, I have been compiling information that various owners have been sharing - the temporary home is here, and I will move it to its own place once enough material has been collected, much as I did with the GT750 material when it reached a critical mass.

I can call Paul tomorrow.... I don't know if he would be willing to share his VIN or get me a pic to give to you, but I'll ask him.

That would be appreciated and also quite interesting !

The links you provided are quite good reading - my thanks to you ! They add some new information/opinion to the mix so I may try to contact the Swedish author to double check a few points. One question would be the Mk II frame start number as he mentions as being 22,000 and it would be useful to know what that is based on as in the same sentence he acknowledges the possibility of there being earlier ones - in fact we think we have found one.

If you get a chance, please take a look at what we have managed to collect to date - many folks have invested time in this including especially Jim, Eric and Robert and the more the merrier. Its a non-profit community effort and any corrections and/or additions would be appreciated !

[Ivan]

I spoke to Paul last Friday...

He told me that his short swingarm bike is in pieces at the moment.... he also said that the VIN was higher than mine (does not make sense) and that "Who knows what was done to it over the years" and he wasn't sure if it was an actual 500/five.

He told me that he spoke to one of the original road testers and that there were a few incarnations of the first few prototypes (500/five):
"They were given out to the different magazine editors at the time to use on public highways. When Suzuki got the initial reviews that the bikes were great around town, but very unstable when accellerating hard and at high speed, the decision was made to redesign the frame and use a longer swingarm.

The 500/five was never sold to the public".

This is what I was told.... take it for what it's worth (hearsay)


Ivan
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[oldjapanesebikes]

.... he also said that the VIN was higher than mine (does not make sense) and that "Who knows what was done to it over the years" and he wasn't sure if it was an actual 500/five.

Thanks Ivan - that at least does fit with what we have been able to document to date - I will keep the 'register' running for the foreseeable future and continue to add data as it surfaces. This raises the question of what to eventually do with it, and at the moment I'm tending towards contacting Murray in Oz to see if he wants to add what I've been collecting on T/GT500's to his site given the amount of related stuff he already has there.

I've also have been trying to connect with the folks in Sweden - still no replies, but sometimes it does take some time.

[argo1974]

Ivan,
both of my Cobra parts catalogues from Feb. 68 and Jun. 68 show 2-piece float bowls, part #13252-15010
I could find both type of floats in Cobra service manual from March 68 but no part #.

I wonder if you share the idle circuit mod info and sell needle jets + modded needles?

Argo

[Ivan]

I will have a jet kit released later this year for the 34mm carbs.

It will have all the tuning tips and all the parts necessary to make it run really well.
(needle jets, custom needles, drill bits, main and pilot jets) Just like my H1 & H2 kits.


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

[oldjapanesebikes]

I will have a jet kit released later this year for the 34mm carbs.

It will have all the tuning tips and all the parts necessary to make it run really well.
(needle jets, custom needles, drill bits, main and pilot jets) Just like my H1 & H2 kits.

I realise this is an old thread, but I was wondering whether you also have a source, or can source, the gaskets for the fuel bowl for the 34mm carbs ? I think they were part 13258-15010.

[Ivan]

I havent dealt with that issue yet...

I'm still testing my prototype needles... I made about 60 different profiles.


Ivan