Just bought a 1969 t500 project bike

[1969suzi500]

Hello everyone, my name is Steve and i just picked up my first project bike, well my first project bike ever. I have very little prior experience so i will probably be asking humbly for your help ALOT. I have many questions but my first is on the forks. Unfortunately the previous owner raked the bike and added 10 inches to the fork, (horrible look) lol. Now, i have been looking for the stock forks, but i am quickly finding out that parts for this bike aren't exactly easy to find. It could be that i'm not sure where to look. Anyway, any information would be greatly appreciated.

[Fritz500]

A lot of good stuff turns up on eBay. It all depends on what your budget is too.

Feel free to ask lots of questions on this forum. Many of the folks here have "been there, done that", so you'll usually get straight answers.

Post a photo of your new toy if you can.

Cheers

[titan performance]

Good to se another Titan enthusiast on the forum......
Welcome Steve. What forks are on the bike now? Have you thought about whether you want a drum or disc front end? There's not a shortage of either just yet.

[1969suzi500]

titan performance: the last owner actually raked it to make it "chopper style" (1977) lol i'd like to keep it somewhat original and keep the drum brakes. Plus i love the way it looks. Unless i find a killer deal on a disk setup. Any suggestions?

Fritz500: I've looked on ebay, i can only find some pretty beat up ones off a 1974 t500. Not sure how much work i need to do on them so I'm a bit iffy about buying them. My budget?? lol I'm on a "negative budget" like another member called it. I'm trying to spend the least amount possible. As far as pictures go i've been trying to post some but i'm having difficulties. I'll keep trying or use a different camera with lower resolution.

Another question, the bike was sitting in a garage for 20 yrs before i got my hands on it. Any suggestions or things you suggest to try to make it turn over? Please keep in mind I am a novice to this so details are greatly appreciated.

thank you

[Fritz500]

I have been able to track down just about every part I need, mostly from eBay. Cost is the issue - some parts command silly prices. Are there any swap meets where you live? I have been advertising on a m/cycle forum for a long while, and an online for sale site (Gumtree) for a long while.

I get good leads with all of these.

Post for various bits on this forum as a few of the guys will often try to help out. If you lived near me you could have a set of forks/sliders I was given.

[titan performance]

Generous offer from Fritz.....maybe pay the post and get him to send them?

It does cost a good bit to refurb T500 forks....ie refinish the legs. Also, the bottoms are chrome, so that's further cost if they are shot. On the brighter side, if you can find a set that have been used with the original gaiters in tact, the legs (in my experience) tend not to corrode, and can be perfect after decades of use. Gt forks are probably more plentiful....but not what you want.
When you say the p.o "raked it", has he altered the head stock...how has he done it?

[1969suzi500]

Fritz that is a generous offer and i thank you. I just wonder how much shipping would be. Southern California is not exactly close to Aussie, and yes there are swapmeets out here. Quite a bit of them actually, just need to get out there and check them out.

I finally figured out how to post pictures. So maybe it'll help you guys understand. i suppose they are just extentions because everything else looks like stock parts. I actually just checked ebay, and there quite a few of nice parts today. Can i post the item number and have you guys tell me if they're a good deal?

Pedro, the bike is a 1969, i mentioned 1977 because thats when "choppers" were a growing scene and thats when the po extended the forks. When i try to kick start it turns i just cant hear very much compression or anything from the engine. One more thing i noticed, when i try to kickstart it wants to rotate all the way around. Is that normal on these bikes?

[1969suzi500]

Here are some more pictures.

[1969suzi500]

Here i a pic of the bike when i bought it.

[1969suzi500]

And here is my inspiration.

[titan performance]

Ok...we get the idea now....as Pedro said, some numty has put extended forks in it. The bottom halves look stock though. Dump the comedy forks and seat, and you have the basis of a good bike there.
These old strokers don't have massively high compression, but you would certainly know that you are turning an engine over....it does have plugs in?
The kick start operation sounds suspect from your description, so perhaps the mechanism is broken, and is not turning the motor? What about selecting a gear and trying to bump start it...
......does that feel any better?

Ps. your pictures are good, but huuuuuuuge !

[1969suzi500]

Yeah i figured out what size the pictures needed to be on the last 4. To answer your questions the engine does turn over i can hear it and actually see it through the exhaust port, and the spark plugs are in but i havent actually tried to turn it on because one of the carburators mounting flanges is ripped off. That is going to be my next buy. Plus everything on the bike is stuck, brake lines clutch lines, pedals... I got some work to do! BTW can i sell parts on here? Do i need to make a different post?

[titan performance]

There is a for sale category, go there and advertise what you have,

[Frank T]

Below is a pic of my '69 T500. The front end is off a GT500.

[1969suzi500]

Frank thats a beautiful machine you got there. I like the idea of at least the front being disk but i'm not sure if my wallet agrees with me. How much do you think i can find a gt front end for?
Pedro, what your saying is right up my alley! I suppose that everything else except for the longer forks is from the original bike right? which is why this would work??