Kawasaki H1 500A vs Suzuki T500R

Kawasaki H1 500A vs Suzuki T500R...Which one's better?

[@ohwell2790]

Worked at the Suzuki shop in Santa Maria CA early 1970's and would take the T500 any day. Ride comfort and noise and it was plenty fast enough. Both suffered from really weak brakes but both got disks early on. The thing is, I was constantly getting the H1's into the Suzuki shop for excusive smoking, they where being written up by the cops in town. Never had that happen with the T500. Beautiful examples of both. Neither one had gas mileage figures to write home about. Remember at the time all the motorcycle mags where saying a 500 cc twin would never work, but they did and very reliable. Just two different ways to do the same thing. One for the go fast guys and one for the cruisers.

[@mcmechanic864]

Thanks, interesting comment👍🙂

[@chrisfrob]

Lovely bikes from back in the Golden days of motorcycling. Thanks for sharing.😎

[@markhenry192]

The T500 brings back so many memories for me. I had a later version I brought in mint condition back in the 80's. sadly the engine seized, I think due to the change over from leaded to unleaded petrol. I went all over on that bike, touring and camping. Great bikes, thanks for sharing.

[@mcmechanic864]

Thanks for watching 🙂

[@mrwhite2628]

My first street was a clone of that Suzuki. It was my Dad's bike. He gave it to me for Christmas. I was 15. What a fun bike it was. Wish I still had it.

[@carltontweedle5724]

My first bike was a Suzuki GP100. Rode that from Chichester to New Haven every couple of days worked on the ferries. All weathers first love. I ken slow but freedom. Nice to see bikes that do not look like a bug.

[@Craig52-zq1bt]

Beautiful. My '72 H1 was orange and I just loved that bike. I, later in '84, got a Yammy RZ 350. Raced that bike in the RZ Cup races. What a freakin hoot!!!! Love 2 Strokes. By the way, I used BelRay Si7 oil. And adjusted my injector correctly. My bikes only smoked a little at start up.

[@Arianrhod6]

Two beautiful bikes, I really enjoyed the video. A little story - back in the early to mid 70’s, I was about 13 or 14 at the time, I went to Oulton Park (from South Wales) to watch the Easter Transatlantic Series with my elder brother and a few of his mates. My brother had an H1 exactly like the one here, and it suited his personality and riding style! One of his mates had a T500 just like the one in the video, and that suited his personality too, he was much more laid back, a cool dude fair play. Incidentally the 3rd bike that came was a Triumph Daytona 500. So I went up pillion with my brother on the H1, a hair raising experience, it always was going pillion with my brother on that H1. As it turned out, the chap with the T500 had to come back a day early and, since the racing had finished, I was asked did I want to go back with him, pillion on the Suzuki. So I said yes, and we had a great ride back down through Wales and the Marches, a completely different experience than on the Kawasaki, more enjoyable it has to be said, because you could relax and just enjoy the ride. Bottom line is that I love the Kawasaki H1 but I have a serious soft spot for the Suzuki T500 too - in my view they are quite different machines, and both are great! 👍 Thanks again for the video…✌️

[@mcmechanic864]

Great story, thanks for sharing

[@flatcapcaferacer]

I'm a Kawasaki man from back in 1969. True neither were great handlers but I saw one guy on Suzuki like yours destroy both H1, H2s, z1 and cb750 on a tight road race course. The cat riding the Suzuki was soooooo smooth,

[@garyhoward4064]

The first H1 (69-70) had electronic ignition which worked great.

[@mcmechanic864]

@@garyhoward4064 Oh really, what even in the UK? I didn’t know that 🤔

[@Freimopp777]

@@mcmechanic864 U.K. and Europe models generally came with points ignition.

[@GT380man]

Restored bikes, yes, plenty of supply of completed bikes. Prices accordingly fall, and a growing factor is that fewer old blokes are buying them, more are ageing out and selling, some widows selling up, too, sadly. This era is passing, so enjoy it while you can. Hasn’t it been great? I’ve still got my GT380B (which my wife will sell after I’ve gone) and my GT750A but I don’t ride much these days.

[@grandadsfishingboat7455]

The difference is that on the suzuki you will reach your destination alive 😂

[@cavscout62]

Actually having owned both I can tell you that if you can ride both will take you anywhere. So much BS about the Kawasaki Triples.

[@daviddellit8344]

I bought a new Suzuki T500 in 1973. It was a great bike. At the time I also considered the Kawasaki 500. Under advice from mechanics the exhaust baffles were drilled with more holes, car engine oil replaced the oil in the front forks, flat bars were fitted, the fuel oil amount was increased, and the rear sprocket was reduced from 15 to 12. Everything suggested benefited the bike, and I still had a top speed of 105 mph. Thank you for your interesting comparison. Your restorations are amazing.

[@mcmechanic864]

Cheers 👍

[@graantmnz]

you mean the engine sprocket ?

[@daviddellit8344]

@@graantmnz Yes, sorry, you're correct. That's what was changed. Thanks.

[@nickstevens3139]

The Suzuki has much better low down torque and better fuel consumption than the Kawasaki. The Suzuki is a comfortable touring bike and styling is superior to the Kawasaki.

[@Hiram8866]

Very interesting. Great to see these bikes so well restored.

[@jameslawrie3807]

I had four of the H1s, a '71 and I think a '73 (disc front?) as well as two donor bikes. Oddly endearing bikes with frames made out of liquorice. Like many bikes with many quirks they tended to be the more memorable ones long after they were sold on. The cases are as wide as a barn and you do see a lot of cases damaged on the outside-front. My second had a steering damper which really made a difference. I remember the neutral being at the bottom of the gearbox confronted many people but as the H1 was my second-ever bike it just seemed normal. The later one had expansion chambers, Warren Willing I think, and they made a huge difference. Alas, I've always been a bit of a rolling stone and they were sold long ago and not kept as they should have been. My brother had the GT500, he linked me to this video, and of course we had something of a rivalry. I remember clearly how much better his bike handled in Sydney's wet weather which can be quite heavy when we had it. The missing frame strut always bemused me but it really was a stiffer frame than the Kawasaki's. I endlessly thought about welding a stiffener plate to the swingarm of the H1 and I'm glad I didn't now. That's a beautiful deep blue on that Kawasaki I really enjoyed this video!

[@mcmechanic864]

Thank you 🙏

[@peterbennett4948]

Having rode my father's T500M many many miles in the 70's. I would say the Suzuki is better handling and far more economical on fuel. I never rode a H1 but I did own one of the first H2's. 👍

[@craigjeffrey3236]

Had both as daily riders back in the day. Thw Suzuki was much better for touring on and for general use. The long wheel base helped. The Kawasaki was only good for experiencing the powerband and straight line burning. Drum brakes on them were rubbish. Didn't know the UK Kawa had points, so thanks for that...Miss the smell..lol...

[@mcmechanic864]

Thank you 🙏

[@MHolt-t6y]

I bought a brand new 1971 H1[usa] And the bikes I had after that did everything better than the H1 but the H1 is what I would call the most fun bike ever owned. Low cafe style bars made the bike wonderful. There is nothing better that when the tach is between 6500 and 9500 rpm, it is magic.

[@andypandy9931]

think the H1 is massively faster. I remember the T500 being sold at very low prices.I bought a new H1 E and it was very docile up to 6000 rpm, then it flew.

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

I was a mechanic at a Kawasaki dealership starting in early 73 so I worked on all the triples. Never got to ride a Suzuki 2S street bike. I always thought that Kawasaki and Suzuki missed the boat on early adoption of reed valves. All the 2S street bikes would have benefited greatly. Smoother running everywhere with better fuel mileage and more power everywhere in he rev range.

[@cedriclynch]

Reed valves do not necessarily give better fuel economy. The Suzuki GT250A (without reed valves) can give 70mpg or better if you ride reasonably gently, but you will not get anywhere near that on a Yamaha RD250 (with reed valves), or on a Kawasaki KH250 (without reed valves). The most economical 2-stroke 250 you could get in the 1970s was the single cylinder, non reed valve, MZ made in East Germany; this could beat the 4-stroke Honda Dream 250 and Yamaha XS250 for fuel economy. I think that if MZ had ever made a 500 twin (which they did not) it would have been very similar in character to the Suzuki T500/GT500. What Yamaha did (in the 1980s) that gave a major boost to fuel economy as well as power was the Yamaha Power Valve, which lowers the top of the exhaust port by several millimetres when engine speed is below about 75% of full revs. Yamaha originally developed the Power Valve to meet emission regulations but soon found that it also enabled racer-like power together with decent fuel economy and low-speed running on the road.

[@rdthom147]

Both did well at the 500 production class TT in their day. 1969 Tony Dunnell Mach 111leading by a minute and a half before binning it- 1970 Frank Whiteway, bog standard T500 Mk2 beating Triumph Daytona's into 2nd and 3rd at 89.94 mph.

[@DennisMerwood-xk8wp]

1970 Frank Whiteway's T500 WAS NOT bog standard! LOL Timed at 121mph on the Island course!

[@chrisbarnes9260]

Both beautiful bikes, I would take either. Maybe get a GT 550 next to compare 😊

[@migueldelaguardia]

Lucky guy with those two beauties

[@randydoan7536]

the Suzuki will far exceed the Kawasaki for cost of repairs. as the Suzuki is bulletproof

[@robertmarsh3588]

Lovely bikes but totally different. I remember the Suzuki from later in the 70s when it was restyled and sold as the GT500 - more of a workhorse than anything else. FWIW, the first big bike I went in was as a pillion on my uncle's brand new GT750A. Much faster, but still a relatively soft and comfortable machine. My first bike ended up being a Kawasaki GT125, my only two stroke. I later owned a ZRX1200R - fabulous and one I quite miss today - a smooth and torquey rocket, though it did carry its weight high up.

[@stevelawrie9115]

My younger brother had several H1's in the 70's and I had several 500 Titans. His bike was a lot faster but totally unruly and mine was ok but handled a lot better. You knew where you were when you came to the first curve. 🙂 I think he'd happily have another H1 and I'd happily have another Titan. He now rides a SR 800 Ducati and I ride a K1300S BMW. How things change 🙂

[@jameslawrie3807]

Hi Steve! I just mentioned you! :)

[@roadwarrior8560]

Beautiful bikes, subbed.

[@nicnak4475]

The good old days ! 👍

[@qtronicqilt8898]

Fantastic comparison of those two (2) Stroke bikes side by side, subscribed. Best wishes, QQ.

[@mcmechanic864]

@@qtronicqilt8898 Thanks 🙏

[@gixxerman0016]

As usual, really really lovely bikes. The Kwacker is, I imagine (I never rode 1 but had friends with KH250s & 400s....& 1 guy I kind of knew had an H2 750), obviously the more exciting of the 2 to ride - but I know I'd rather spend many more hours travelling on the Suzook.....but better still the Suzi GT550, although I know from my own GT550s - I had 2 - the fuel consumption was pretty shocking (never better than about 35mpg) & I bet the Kwackers is probably a bit worse than that (although on 1 serious thrash back in the day I worked out I had just gotten slightly under 17mpg on my 550, which was pretty shocking, great fun tho), the T/GT500 seems to be a bit more reasonable. I love these 70s machines. Bravo!

[@GT380man]

A few years back I got a total of 81 miles from brim full to reserve on my GT750A. It was a fun afternoon!

[@lesmontgomery6498]

I raced an F 21 M kawi with neutral at the bottom. Pain in the burr had to count gears coming into slow corners. The stock tires in those days were rubbish. At the dealer I worked we called them rim protectors

[@garythornhill4635]

I have a restored 1970 (red) Mach III that I bought with about 800 miles on it in 1970. My first H-1 was stolen and I wanted the red model, so had to buy used. It has over 50K on it- two rebuilds as I rode it very hard. The mileage figure of 18 mpg is misleading-you would have to be redlining it constantly in order to get that low mpg. I averaged around 33-35 most of the time and could actually attain mid forties on longer trips at constant speeds. What was so surprising about the big triples is that they were very reliable if you treated them properly and were not constantly revving them past redline. I still have the original CDI unit and coils on it! I don’t know if this company is still around, but I bought, but never installed, a Lakeland CDI unit, which has been highly praised by many in the Triples community. One thing that I find curious is that I see the original shocks on so many restored bikes. They were completely inadequate at the time and any modern shocks from Progressive Suspension or other manufacturers will significantly improve the ride quality and handling. I have Progressive shocks and they are so much better. I also replaced the steering stem bearings with a set of tapered roller bearings and replaced the swingarm bearings with needle bearings. Modern tire compounds also make a huge difference in handling and turn in. I have found that TT 100s make the bike fall into turns more than most other tires and they are horrible on rain grooved surfaces in Californiia. I have ridden both bikes and can say that the Kawasaki is the more thrilling of the two, but the Suzuki is a better ride for touring and around town use. These two bikes are absolutely stunning. Congrats on the superb restoration job on both of them! I would love to have either one in my garage!

[@mcmechanic864]

Thanks for your comment, the longest one I've ever had 🙂 interesting all the same. Yes like I said in my video 18mpg if you thrashed them, I knew the previous owner, and that's what he told me. I don't thrash mine and I think it probably does about 30-35 mpg

[@robertmountfort6519]

Bought a new suzuki 500 for 899 .vibrated and was slow but reliable as a stump. Weak clutch would vibrate the shift lever off about twice a month

[@bobbyblueace]

Lovely bikes, thanks for showing them. Do you put anything on the polished aluminium to slow down tarnishing?

[@mcmechanic864]

@@bobbyblueace Thanks, no I just re-polish every so often with solvol autosol 🙂

[@PhilippeMartigne]

Hi, You did it. Many thanks. For sure front brake of the Suzuki was very bad. It was not working when warm. Both bikes are in mint condition. I would dream on the first H1 with white tank but i believe that I would prefer T500 for a long trip. Regards from Grenoble France. Philippe

[@mcmechanic864]

Yes you’re idea was a good one 👍 I will do one on my 250’s next 🙂

[@fabbri4497]

In France it's 3 T500 for the price of 1 500 H1, and as you say in collector's use both are equal.

[@garryhills8648]

Both great looking bikes enjoy!! What multi bike insurance have you got

[@mcmechanic864]

I’m with Carole Nash 🙂

[@garythornhill4635]

Thanks for the reply!😊

[@sidneydawe9937]

Given the choice I would take the Suzuki any day. If 47bhp isn't enough then you will never be satisfied.

[@keithbolton-t3y]

My brother had the Suzuki T500, it vibrated badly and wouldn't even reach 100mph even on a slight downhill, smoked heavily, handling on the tyres at the time was awful.

[@stephenthorpe8142]

The only thing that’s similar is they’re 2 strokes. Other than that chalk and cheese

[@ASI-l2w]

18mpg! 😱

[@Paul-fv4no]

Aaaay yupp Stu baby