Suzuki T500 Titan

Vintage Bike Take-A-Ride Series
1974 Suzuki T500 Titan
500 cc, two-cycle, twin-cylnder
"Still learning the 2-stroke power band..."

[@Titan500J]

I bought mine in 1972 and put 35,000 miles on it. One trip was 4000 miles accoss the country. It was very reliable. I sold it and got a GT 750, I still miss my Titan. I road with a touring group on the East coast, of all the other bikes my Titan was by far the most reliable. Great Video Thanks

[@sesquashtwo]

7 moving parts to the whole engine...yes, very reliable.

[@oldman9843]

Thanks , I owned one in the 70's , lots of fun . I was the only kid in H.S. that owned a bike in N. Michigan .

[@IndySnowman]

This brings back memories. Probably my favorite bike.

[@RodneyMurray]

Brings back fond memories. I had one in the 70s. Sorry I sold it. Thanks!

[@sesquashtwo]

Me too, had a '74 new off the showroom floor. Only 7 moving parts in the whole engine....had you able to anywhere with mechanical confidence, you'd be back....from a great and fun ride! The only thing, was the poor gas mileage. A long trip drained the pocket...

[@glenmo1]

My Dad had one through the 1970s ..I got a brand new 78 Honda Hawk in 1977 . Then Dad & me went on a 400 mile CT to upstate New York ride one Saturday. ❤️... I laid down my Honda once on rain and oil slick road. While my headlight and signal light were being replaced.. I got the ride by fathers Suzuki 500 2 stroke for 2 weeks...WOW ! What a fantastic bike that also turned heads ❤️

[@edd.4085]

Ran a few red lights on mine with those drum brakes LOL

[@xisotopex]

sounds like a beast

[@proberts411]

Nice ride, and nice location! Loved the tour of my favorite part of Austin!

[@ironheadr3]

The model I owned had a shaft through to other side so you could convert to right side gear change. I think it was to encourage the british bike riders to change over brands.

[@peterfallows6802]

"never new that about the gear change shaft conversion {left2right} "

[@franksimpson339]

@@peterfallows6802 yes, if you look at the clutch cover you will either see the splined end of the gear change/shift shaft or a blanking plug.

[@mikeymike3240]

hi there, great video man, the bike is amazing. to me, it feels like you are starting off in second gear, or else first gear is a very tall/long gear. but that doesn't take anything away from the bike, I love it. I've got a 1973 suzuki GT250K model, the very first one in Northern Ireland on my birthday, April 1973. she's candy apple green, with the white stripe and red pin stripe. all restored and ready to be built back up. 😀 👍 👍 👍

[@murkartik]

Man if you ever decide to sell it please let me know. I am in Wicklow and have been thinking about a T500 for a long time. Imports from NI to ROI are a complete mess at the moment but hopefully there will be a workaround soon - myself and my brothers always tried to buy bikes from NI.

[@prairiemom3]

Possibly the best motorcycle buy of all time.

[@mechanicalnature2884]

I learned to ride on one of these.

[@trevgreen9515]

Owned 1 of these babies, Impressive !

[@digschopper9321]

I've wanted a Titan for years.

[@PhemoneMedea]

I drove a 1975 across Canada. It was a dependable machine.

[@danricheson1362]

SW Michigan to Tijuana, mid 70's on a '74. Keep simple maintenance up and it doesn't miss a beat.

[@sporty05]

Holy Schnikeys! 35,000 miles! I must find one!

[@slopappy]

I owned two of these in the Seventies. They were okay bikes, but vibrated a lot and had ignition weakness. They were light and had low center of gravity. Hated their drum brakes however. I finally upgraded to a Kawasaki 500 with disc brake, solid-state ignition and less vibes. Your idle speed seems too high here. Maybe you could balance the carbs and then ease back that idle speed.

[@calebgrant7176]

What do you think the top speed would be

[@groovee1]

Nice bike, nice relaxing ride!

[@runnikcatti5997]

Nice job on keeping the wind out of the mic of the camera. Love the bike BTW :)

[@TR5T]

Had a blue one in 69, awesome machine!!

[@crobulari2328]

+TR5T I had one in 72 along with a plethora of strokers. Ported the T500 up a little. Great bike.

[@venderstrat]

I miss my GT500B.

[@michaelcarmean4906]

💥Nothing Like ✅ Two Strokes💥

[@franksimpson339]

Only just seen this video. I had the GT500 with the disc front brake. The brake with the warning sticker about the braking performance changing with a wet disc lol. First read about one of these in a copy of Cycle World dated around 1967/8. They rode tested it with a ride through Death Valley expecting it to be not capable as a large capacity 2 stroke, of getting through the heat without distorting itself around the frame. Needless to say, it performed admirably and didn't miss a beat. Loved mine until a would you believe Volvo T boned me and took the forks and triple tree/yokes clean off the frame. Loved it, the engine is still alive and has been put to good use racing.

[@henryalain1502]

J'en ai eu une dans les années '70. Je n'en garde pas un bon souvenir. Et le gars qui me l'a rachetée, encore moins. La pompe de graissage séparé s'est bloquée et il a explosé le moteur! 'Had one in the' 70s. I do not keep a good memory of it. And the guy who bought me one, even less. The separate lubrication pump was blocked and the engine exploded!

[@LSTRAW1234]

Had an early 70s Suzy Titan 500..real fun bike...fast and good handling...but my feet and hands were numb from vibrations after 15 minutes! Had to tighten all nuts and bolts constantly! Then got a water buffalo 750...really liked it until it threw the drive chain into the engine case! Final drive chain and sprocket were not beefy enough for the powerful engine!

[@davidmclavey1667]

I remember my purple 500.. No freakin nuts!!Couldnt get that front end up!!!

[@Merlin-pm4vm]

Mine was modified with J&R chambers big mikuni carb and a racing clutch,, I could only get the front up with a passenger. Acceleration was an adrenaline rush.

[@mikevos7163]

yOU RIDE A TWO STROKE LIKE A FOUR STROKE, POOR BLOODY BIKE.

[@philcharr]

having lived so long to suffer such outrage :(( The revenge of Norton, BSA, Triumph... :))

[@wassock55]

super

[@TheTitanrunner70]

I have a 1970 Titan that I have owned for 21 years and I just love the old bike, I have redone it but using original Titan parts, frame up redo with older fenders from a 67 Cobra(check out my video). I have to replace the transmission due to the pre 74 factory defect but already have the gear clusters and the fix for the lower case to increase the oil level. nice old bike and keep it safe. the clutch can be tempermental at times though but worth it for a bike that is 42 yrs old. thanks for video

[@wisestudent1463]

That was the style......!!!

[@aldopadpo7589]

bonjour, belle machine , j'en ai eu 2 ...1970 , et 1972 le principal defaut pas de frein ! la 2 emem avit 140 000 kilometres quand je l'ai vendue et elle consommait 14 litres d'essence au 100 kms des que je sortais de la ville , je ne voyais plus rien dans les retroviseurs pendant 10 kilometres avec la fumée , j'ai eu aussi une suzuki 380 gt 3 cylindres , cela freinait mieux , mais elle consommait repsque autant d'huile que d'essence !!! souvenirs

[@techmaven5900]

Poor clutch!

[@johnfarnor4632]

I found this bike to vibrate a lot.

[@venderstrat]

Really? Mine was smooth as silk.

[@VenganzaCayey]

is that motor like having a banshee motor looks similar to the yamaha banshee

[@ottovonostrovo1486]

Get those revs up before shifting up!! You're shifting far too early!!

[@user-of2rk8tt6z]

Работает как юпитер 5😁👌👍

[@philcharr]

:)) niet, that's just because he stayed under 4500 rpm, that's when you got good sound and thrust

[@seanm.12]

Its still here in our backyard rotting😂

[@RodneyMurray]

I had a T500 in the late 70s. Mine had a different color scheme. Were they all designated 'Titan'?

[@silviofontana3666]

whats with the spacers on the bottom of the mirrors?

[@grabir01]

Turn up the wick!! Make it go!! Jee wizz. Why have such a bike if you are afraid to make it go!!

[@edd.4085]

ran afew lights and stop signs with those drum brakes

[@nigelmitchell351]

The last model I think about 1974.?

[@guylacombe2673]

Je me demande si cela n'est pas mon ancien 500cc il est usé par le soleil au Même endroit.

[@seanm.12]

Bro my grandfather has one of those but he said it was a verry smooth bike he said u cant really hear it coming it was all chrome though and i cant identify the model cuz its worn out

[@leon-lr1pv]

Rodage ?

[@philnox7734]

I have one f k night mare with oil lines seaping love my t500j i have orderd oil plpe from ebay from tank to pump new cost arm and leg can any body help thanks

[@user-fv2rl3ce7n]

最高です

[@xisotopex]

this looks like austin texas....

[@xisotopex]

it is... been gone 30 years but I still knew it instantly.... even the way the sunlight was I knew it right away....

[@tehnologUZ]

Мотоцикл хороший,но прокладка не очень)))

[@wassock55]

i wouldnt change down on braking though pointless on a 2 stroke(ino)

[@dsruddell]

poor clutch