Yamaha T500

[Fleur Francour]

Thanks to Degner, Suzuki developed a 250cc machine known as the X6 Hustler. It was a great bike that developed a solid reputation for speed and dependability. Less than two years later, they developed the T500, using the Hustler as the starting point.

The XS650 I rode got about 50 mpg, something I was amazed to find possible with the T500. Although mileage reports vary greatly, the consensus is that the second-year change in the piston port design greatly improved fuel economy. In fact, you had to really flog it to drop below 40 mpg. This 500cc two-stroke bike weighed eight pounds more than the none-too svelte 450 Honda, and was substantially longer and heavier than the classic Triumph 650. You can guess what that meant on the street: It went faster with the extra power, but its eight-inch drums stopped slower than the disc-brake equipped Honda.

Suzuki pioneered the big two-stroke, but Kawasaki got the glory for going bigger and badder with their two-stroke triples. The Kawasakis acted like the two-strokes they were, with a peaky power band and the thirst of a Samurai.

The T500 was such a complete package that it soon became a favorite with production road racers. In 1970 an Aussie named Frank Whiteway (pictured above) won the 500cc TT at the Isle of Man. In 1972, Stan Woods did it again. These bikes were not far from stock.

In 1973, Suzuki developed water cooling for their racers. They were actually able to pull 160 mph, which was pretty fast at the time. The bike seen above, without fairing, is a reasonably well known type. Its Seeley frame was well known for providing light weight and good handling.

I had a 75 or 76 titan. I loved it. There were various articles in the cycle mags that this was the most detuned bike you could buy. About 40 years ago I put diff exhausts and played with the carbs. I easily outgunned a ducati 750 from a stop to about 100 mph tom

This Tom had a 1970 Suzuki T 500 Titan and as a young married man with a child I needed the bike to ride back-and-forth to the Goodyear tire building plant where I worked. Also rode the bike to my junior college classes as I was working full-time both at school and the tire building plant to avoid Vietnam. I remember the Titan as a sweet bike which never got the respect that it deserved. Not even from the Honda 450s that I watched disappear in my rearview mirror.

I think the wankel engine failed for a number of reasons but the biggest was probably public distrust. Lots of seal failure, cracks in sparkplug holes, poor fuel economy, lack of engine braking etc had been a steady diet for the consumer.

As the once proud owner of a Mazda RX3, I did not find it to be dependable or desirable. I know some of the RX7 owners will argue that but think the best thing for the RX7 was a small block chevy. I do think they had it pretty well worked out with the RX8. I would have liked to have one. My opinion are like armpits or something, you have a right to yours also.

Ah yes, the Suzuki Savage. My (then) girlfriend had one. I never knew you could have a 650 thumper that would be completely gutless. Lots of internet articles came up with all sorts of ways to defeat the EPA-mandated carburetor and put some punch back into it.

I saw one at a dealer, and it sat for many months, not sure if anyone ever bought it. This was on the cusp of going from 2 stroke to 4 stroke machines, and it got passed by as a sidetracked development project more than a fully baked product.

These were cool little bikes and quite fast for their day. I rode one quite a bit as a teen when I worked for a friend who owned a Suzuki store. They were practically indestructible and very easy to set up because there were only two carbs. Like all Suzukis, the electric were not great but easy enough to fix. New they were like $3200 in Canada.

A mate of mine way back had a 500 Su and riding between Warkworth and Wellsford the throttle jammed wide open, rather than trying to fix it Ed just hung on amd managed the 14 mile trip of twisty hwy1 in 11 minutes he said it handled great. The kwaka triples achieved the fastest D2D times of any of the super bikes(downpayment to death) thanx to the narrow powerband the power came on like flicking a switch and often resulted in a bloody smear on the road, the z900 was the same in fact a friends 73 900 was a rare bike by the late 70s so many had been crashed. Great series Lee whats next?

American v-twin guy by nature but have always loved the Suzuki two strokes. I am lucky enough to have 2/GT380s and a GT500. These things are a blast to ride/ Suzuki was way ahead of there time. If you get a chance to grab one that is running, do so , guaranteed to put a smile on your face!!!

I had a 71 T500 in high school ($600.00 used). In 77 I replaced it with a 68 Triumph Bonniville, which was ok when it ran but mostly a nightmare to keep running. It was cooler looking but that was all.

I owned a 71 T500 for 13 years,stopped checking the milage after the odometer broke at about 50K miles.As you noted a very under rated ride especially for distance traveling,reliable primary transportation for a while.Perhaps its relative obscurity might be explained by the fact its virtues were not among the reasons most people bought a motorcycle

I think you are right. Same people who buy Toyota cars and trucks. Not the fastest things on the road but just keep running. Other folks (fanbois) say they have no soul. I beg to differ, they have the soul of a mule and I like that.

I am currently in the beginning stages of restoring a 1974 T500 and I must admit that it is one beautiful machine. This is my 1st restore project and I will post a photo as soon as I have completed (or close to) the restoration. Any advice from past T500 owners or affecicionados would be greatly appreciated!

In 1973 I was 16 and looking to upgrade from my Honda CB175 to a bigger bike. After reading every road test and review I could get my hands on, the 500 Titan was at the top of my list. Finally went to the nearest Suzuki dealer (still over 50 miles away) and they had no Titans and tried to get me to buy a dirt bike since that was mostly what they stocked. Went back to my local Honda dealer and bought a CB450. But I have always wondered about the Titan.

Hi my name is Jack I would be interested to buy your Suzuki t500 if you could send me any more information on it as it has any work done to it modifications and mileage it would be helpful for me to purchase I know I saw the listing it is from last year but maybe you still have it for sale my phone number is 414-617-8576 you can call or text me are use the email thank you for your time and consideration

I love my T500! Love the seating position. You just sit on it . Not feet forward with ape hangers or like modern sport bikes forward and on the gas tank. I bought it at a auction many years ago for very cheap nothing but fun, miles and smiles

Yeah I used to know them very well.Rode mine almost daily to high school 20 miles each way and everywhere else .Never late. More reliable than most 4 strokes .Smoothe & slick shifting .Mine had Bates fairing& bags making it a truly enjoyable ride to any distance. Yes 40+ mpg at good speeds. Friends also had some. Earlery chrome side tank were quicker. They ate Harleys Hondas British & yes even the Kawasaki 500 triple in quarter mi drag if the kaw had any kind of slight glitch. The t500 launched strait &true with a vengeance of traction, burning rubber in dashes & short skips (gear changes) &torq leaving the more powerful kaw. struggling for control &traction ofen crossing the / before the kaw got its 60hp together.Best bike I ever had.

All the comments over time, presumably as people found the original post from a Google search, are fun to read. Lots of T500 or later Suzuki experiences. I put a few hundred miles on an earlyish Titan which a coworker loaned my while I was rebuilding the motor in my Honda CB400F, in 1978.

my friend who was with me on that trip had a Honda CB 750. On the first day out as we climbed the Sierras, he remarked he never heard my bike..just his. He was too busy dropping 2 gears and winding it out to climb a grade that just required me to roll the throttle.

Wish I could find a 1972 T500. Was the first street bike I owned. People said I was crazy to drive a 2 stroke cross country USA but I drove mine from California to N.H. and it made the trip like the happy wombat it was with minimal issues and my girlfriend on the back!

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