1973 T500 cafe build

Retro, Wild, Cafe, etc. The stuff only your imagination can come up with.

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jabcb
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Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by jabcb »

Test fit of rear fender & seat. Am going to chop the rear fender where the blue tape is — it will be flush with the rear edge of the seat brackets. Fender will be powder coated black.

Will use a side-mount license plate with a bracket attached to the top shock mount.
For turn signals, am deciding between the K&S LED shown in the pic and Motogadget m-Blaze Pin. https://www.dimecitycycles.com/motogadg ... -unit.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Imagecafe-T500-0962 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
Zunspec4
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Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by Zunspec4 »

Very nice, jabcd :up: ,

You will be sending all those desperately seeking a std. rear fender for their resto a bit crazy at the thought of it being cut down though :D

Cheers Geoff
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jabcb
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Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by jabcb »

I would be up for an even exchange if someone has a comparably good fender except for the portion I’m going to cut off.

I know good fenders are hard to find unless you are willing to spend crazy money. Recently went through that because I needed one for the GT550 build.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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jabcb
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Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by jabcb »

Wheel candy!
Buchanan’s SS spokes & shouldered Excel rims: front 2.15x18 & rear 2.5x18. H-rated Conti Go tires: front 100/90-18 & rear 120/90-18.
Imagecafe-T500-1241 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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joolstacho
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Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by joolstacho »

Ooooh please don't cut it! It'd look MUCH classier with the chrome 'guard left on it.
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jabcb
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Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by jabcb »

Too late. Already have the rear fender cut flush with the rear edge of the seat brackets. The fender will be powder coated black.

Using a GT500 triple tree and fork tube assemblies from a 1981 GS550T. Have not yet determined if I can use the GT500 front fender or need to use one from a GS series bike. The front fender will be chopped similar to what we did on the GT250 build. Would prefer a chrome fender but will powder coat it black if the chrome isn’t in really good shape.

Pic of the GT250 build. It doesn’t have a rear fender. The T500 rear fender powder coated black & chopped will have a similar look.
ImageSCMR_2017-2_0680 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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jabcb
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Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
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Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by jabcb »

The combo a smaller shouldered 18” rim & a larger 320mm brake disc makes the disc look a lot larger.
Imagecafe-T500-1242 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
titan performance
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Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by titan performance »

Coming on nicely......new wheels and tyres just look so good !
Keeping old 2 strokes alive !
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jabcb
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Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by jabcb »

Back to working on the T500 build.

The GS550T outer fork tubes had a lot of internal wear. Found good low-mile GS750 for outer tubes. They use the same fork seals, upper bushes & lower bushes.
Had the outer fork tubes & carb intake pipes vapor blasted:
Imagecafe-T500-1517 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
titan performance
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Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by titan performance »

Will you leave the fork bottoms with the vapour blasted satin look, or is there some polishing coming?
Keeping old 2 strokes alive !
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jabcb
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Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by jabcb »

Fork outer tubes will be powder coated black.

Will use GS550T fork inner tubes. A second top out spring to shorten the forks. RaceTech gold valve emulators & springs.
And YSS piggyback reservoir shocks.

Should end up looking like the big brother to our GT250 cafe build.
Will use a similar oil tank & shortened black powder coated front fender. Anything Goes makes custom tanks to the buyer’s specs. Will use a GS-series front fender — have not yet figured out which ones will work out.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
User avatar
jabcb
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Posts: 4240
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
Location: southwestern Pennsylvania

Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by jabcb »

Back to working on the T500 build.

YSS RG362 shocks -- definitely overkill but cool looking.
Imagecafe-T500-1814 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
User avatar
jabcb
Moto GP
Posts: 4240
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
Location: southwestern Pennsylvania

Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by jabcb »

Fork candy. Overkill but cool looking. GS750 outer tubes (with upper+lower bushes, internal hard anodize & external power coat), GS550 inner tubes, RaceTech springs & RaceTech Gold Emulators.
Imagecafe-T500-1904 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
User avatar
jabcb
Moto GP
Posts: 4240
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
Location: southwestern Pennsylvania

Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by jabcb »

Test fit of wheel & caliper.
Imagecafe-T500-1911 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
User avatar
jabcb
Moto GP
Posts: 4240
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
Location: southwestern Pennsylvania

Re: 1973 T500 cafe build

Post by jabcb »

Transmission assembled.
Imagecafe-T500-2033 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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