T500 Frame and Engine Numbers

[ericsattic]

Greetings, I gathered some additional frame numbers for what it's worth, no earth-shattering news here but still some interesting information. I always try to confirm numbers and circumstances with owners or others. After this post, see my other post regarding a suggested solution to the frame number "gaps" between our various model years

1968 Cobra
11506 – private collector Albany NY USA area; VERY LARGE vintage bike collection
12412 – Norway owner
12407 – Norway owner
12694 – Finland owner - Story per Argo1974 on this board: “First T500 Cobra imported to Finland November 1968; registered Dec ember 2, 1968. The bike was black, VIN 12694, still exists today, fully restored. OY Bensow AB, Suzuki importer at that time, confirmed they sold only 7 Cobras in Finland and 4 of them are still registered at DMV.”
12869 – frame for sale on eBay; erroneously listed as a 1969 model

1969 T500-II
20727 - 1969 model engine on eBay by "mistermonkeyclaw" 10/13
21165 – sold eBay 10/3/2011; advertised 1970 but no tank rack or mounts; is 1969 model 1st titled in 1970
21468 – information from ORIGINAL owner; originally purchased in Indiana now in CA; I saw pictures and they confirm this is a Mark II (hence bike above cannot be a T500-III)
21903 - saw video of bike;clearly a Mark II - then owner sent me VIN (hence first bike in 1969 list cannot be a T500-III)


1970 T500-III
24690 - sold eBay 10/8/2011
26826 – sale ended eBay 9/26/2011

1971 T500R
31319 – private seller in NY; manufacture date 08/1970

That is it for now, I still have some requests out there to owners all around the world. Regards, Eric

[ericsattic]

In my quest to track down frame numbers for various T500 models, I corresponded with a man named Torgeir Sorensen of Norway – he is a good friend of RJRamso on this Board - also from Norway. I have corresponded with Torgeir in the past about other things and he sent me a list of all the bikes he owns along with pictures. Take it from me, he knows his EARLY Suzukis and his collection includes about fifteen (15) of them from 1963 to 1968, including his 1968 Cobra (VIN 13774). Anyway, he said I could post his suggestion here on this board and this is what he said (paraphrased).

"Based on observations from several other early 1960’s Suzuki motorcycle models, concerning the frame numbers; I think the simple answer is that when the 1969 T500 Mark II went into production they started the numbering from 20000. This is a guess, but I have never seen a Cobra with a number above 15999, and never seen a Mark II below 20000. Also, there may have been some “prototypes” below 10000 for the Cobra; below 20000 for the Mark II, and below 25000 for the Mark III."

Well, that's it so thanks to Torgeir! Interesting because there is no data to dispute his "guess" or theory. I like it so much, we need to give it a good scientific name because we might talk about it quite a bit for years to come. How about "The Torgeir Postulate." Wow, what a great potential title for an article in a jap bike magazine... Thanks to Torgeir and everyone else for contributing information. Regards, Eric

[oldjapanesebikes]

I think the simple answer is that when the 1969 T500 Mark II went into production they started the numbering from 20000. This is a guess, but I have never seen a Cobra with a number above 15999, and never seen a Mark II below 20000. Also, there may have been some “prototypes” below 10000 for the Cobra; below 20000 for the Mark II, and below 25000 for the Mark III.

That could be the answer !

[zee]

hi all just brought this project if photos work lol on the plate it says manufactured 12/69 t500-25205 yours alan http://s393.photobucket.com/albums/pp14 ... 174456.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[argo1974]

1968 T500 Cobra currently listed on ebay.uk.
Frame and engine both 12258, first registered 01 Jun 1968.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1968-Suzuki-T ... 35b76b49ed" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jabcb]

Paul Miller is selling a T500 with VIN 10215.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzuki-T ... 0394161639" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[oldjapanesebikes]

That still makes cyclebuster's bike the lowest at 10204, and looking at the photos they all look alike, which is actually a good thing. So far we have yet to see a proven 500/5, and based on the frame numbers shared so far, it looks as if there could not have been many made at all. Perhaps one or two hundred in total.

[argo1974]

This bike is VIN 10020, note sharp angled headpipes, 11 fin cylinders, chromed rear shocks, silver fork legs, black headlight ears and gauge covers:

[oldjapanesebikes]

That I'm sure is a 500/5 - the exhaust is quite different from the Cobra and if you notice the passenger foot peg location relative to the wheel, it appears to have the short swing arm also. Compare it to the Cobra posted earlier with frame 12258.

I think we could have a winner ! I've updated the spreadsheet located here.

[argo1974]

Today I acquired T500 factory service manual printed on Mar. 1, 1968. This manual shows the bike with VIN T500-10051 and it's short wheel base model. The VIN number is still placed on the frame gusset near swing arm bolt on RH side like on VIN 10020 mentioned before.
2 engines were represented in the book, the one in the bike and other with VIN T500-10001 15. Lots of differences to actual Cobra engines, not even rubber mounted.

[oldjapanesebikes]

argo1974 - something about that photo you posted looked familiar, and it took me a while to place it.



I suppose I'm wondering exactly how you know the frame number unless you actually have access to the bike

[argo1974]

Ian, on some close-up pics about that particular bike, the VIN was easy to identify on the frame gusset near brake pedal.
Argo

[H2RICK]

As a followup to Ian's question......Who would have access to those pics ?? And how did they get hold of them ?? The world wants to know.....

[oldjapanesebikes]

Today I acquired T500 factory service manual printed on Mar. 1, 1968. This manual shows the bike with VIN T500-10051 and it's short wheel base model. The VIN number is still placed on the frame gusset near swing arm bolt on RH side like on VIN 10020 mentioned before.
2 engines were represented in the book, the one in the bike and other with VIN T500-10001 15. Lots of differences to actual Cobra engines, not even rubber mounted.

I'd dearly love to see copies of the photos you are referencing - any chance of you posting a few scans ?

[oldjapanesebikes]

My 1970 MKIII has a build date of 05/70 and matching serial numbers 29168.

Thank you !