I love my 1976 GT500, still a useable classic, with decent performance and while it doesn't have the kudos of a Kawasaki it still has that wonderful 2 stroke sound and makes me smile whenever I ride it. It definitely takes me back to when I first started riding motorcycles as a teenager.
LOVE all those old Suzuki Twins and Triples, particularly the gaudy metallic colours of the early 70's models. Its interesting how Suzuki used one machine to develop a new model. For example the 500 twin was later given an extra cylinder, and liquid cooling and became the GT750. The 250 twin, was given an extra cylinder and became the GT380, The GT550 used the pistons from the 175 off roader, and the 500 was basically the same using two pistons from the 250 single off roader. I read all this in a book on Suzuki Two-Strokes.
A reliable machine. I rode my T500K (cherry red) from Glasgow to Lloret de Mar and back in 1974, when I was 21. Complete with pillion passenger and camping gear. No issues reliability wise and I don’t remember the fuel consumption being too horrific, if you kept the speed to 70 mph.
I owned a 76 Titan. I rode from Moline Illinois to Boloxi Mississippi and all around the south. Wife, plus travel gear, the Titan handled the trip with ease. The vibration through the handle bars was noticeable, but it was still a great trip. Loved my Titan, but traded it for a GT 550.
I rebuild a friend's GT500A engine back in 1989..... and forgot to put the rev counter drive in so had to do it again. Very nice engine to work on. Nobody else in the world had bothered to manufacture a 500cc twin cylinder motorcycle since the 1937 CZ 500 2 stroke twin..... and those were for Police and Vatican Guard use.
The T500 was a great, reliable and very under rated bike , the H1 Kawasaki grabbed the headlines but handled like a camel with a hinge in the middle, IMO the T500 range was much better than the GT550 as it was much lighter , better handling and not nearly as thirsty.
The 500 was better than the 750. My big brother had a 750, mate had a 500. The 500 was a little less powerful but a hellava lot lighter, and simpler, the 750 had three sets of points and ran beautifully for a few days. As soon as the timing went out a bit that ended. Big brother would disagree, he loved that 750.
I had one of those when I was in my early 20's I rode it everywhere including to work because I had no car in fact I had 2 of them. Not very powerful but can cruise 60-70mph pretty easily. Although at those speeds there was engine vibration in the handle bars because it was light.
At 1:09 .....that’s my bike! I bought this exact color scheme ‘71 Titan used in 1973 - just like brand new at they time. I wish I still had it. A whole lotta fun when I was in High School.
Wow! What a lovely, well researched presentation. I had the 1974 Gypsy red T500 L. When I became involved in marriage the two bikes I really loved had to go- The T500 and Moto Guzzi 1000SP, which to this day I still deeply regret. It's interesting that the 500 also used the Mau Blue metallic livery with plain matt black side covers as my very first bike, 1977 Suzuki GT 250B had the same colour. I'd sooooo much love to find another Titan!
I own the same model in the same colour ,but not at the standard this is at , congrats on a beautiful resto. Lots of hours lots of money , outstanding machine
in '68, the t500 was hot, but couldn't quite match later triples. so it was de-tuned and sold to sensible old men, like me. still hot enough, and easy to maintain.
I still own 2 of the 1968 models, Gold in color. I am donating 1 of them to the Barber Vintage museum this next year, as the only have the 71 model on display. The Suzuki 68 T500 was the bike that Cycle World magazine stated that "COULDN'T BE BUILT" , because it was a 500 cc twin 2 Stroke - BOZOS !!!
Back in the early 1970's when I graduated from high school a group of school chums and acquaintances set off from SW Ontario Canada to Vancouver and back, one had a 750 Norton Commander, another a 650 BSA, 750 Triumph Bonneville, 500 Triumph Tiger and everyone laughed at my buddies 500 Titan. The only one who made it all the way to Vancouver then back again without ANY problems was that 500 Titan. Not one of the British bikes made it as far as Vancouver let alone back again!! I think the Titan was a 1969 and all the British bikes were of the same era. It was no wonder that the Japanese quickly conquered as the British bikes floundered. Great bikes, I have a 73 sitting below my car port that some day I hope to restore. As I recall it had lost a gear or something but was still running when it was stored!
+otto Vonostrovo I had a 1972 and put about 30,000 mi on it. I to road with a group of other guys and I was the only one who's bike never broke. I took it on a 4000 mile trip across the U.S. no issues. I regret that I sold it. T500J
5th gear most likely went out due to low transmission oil level. Suzuki in the later years fixed that by raising the oil level. A mod you can do on your bike. I am restoring one now, can’t wait.
in the late summer of 1968 I was pumping gas out of the ground for mary Hudson for 10cents regular and 12cents ethyl,we were having a gas war,it was late and few stations stayed open like we did,i was sweeping up around the pumps in glides one of these,same color,i filled him up, took 50cents in gas,i said what kind of scooter is this,he said a titan,how big, he said 500cc,i said does it run,he left 60foot of black rubber on the drive,any questions,harleys and bsa's ,triumphs couldn't hold a candle to Suzuki for over 20 years after the two stroke rage,i own one now,i start it up every now and again to hear it idle,sounds like a rumbling in the ground when it leaves
Rather difficult to wind out a cobra, or any other T500 in stock form to 120mph! 5th gear was effectively an overdrive, bike was faster in 4th. 5th gear at 7K redline would be 120mph.... but unless it was a remarkable cobra, that would be down a long hill. The cobra was only faster because it had 34mm carbys, which changed to 32mm in 1969. It was much thirstier.
@@annpeerkat2020 A different story if you got one ported,polished and fitted with expansion chambers! Then it was ring a ding ding 🛎️ time through the twisties.
All 1977 Suzuki road-going two-strokes (at least in the U.S)., had black side covers, and was the last year Suzuki would send street-only two-strokes to the U.S. Starting in 1978, all Suzuki road bikes were four-strokes.
Little known fact - Bruce Lee used a GT500 for getting around Hong Kong island during the filming of "Enter the Dragon". Was captured in a BBC documentary riding it shortly before his untimely death.
geez! I don't know what bike you were riding, but unless it was a T500 with a major port job, it was a different type of bike you had. A stock T500 in any of its iterations had a torque curve that was flat as a tack... torque started at about 1500 rpm and climbed linearly from there.... unlike say a 350 yam or a kwaka.... that had very marked power bands. Sounds like a mach 3 kwaka 500.... though you don't mention mad wheelies.
@annpeerkat2020 I bought it used from a guy that did hotrod two strokes, so I'm not sure about ports or timing. It would just lift the front, then the back would would spin. It was all very controllable.
@@ivogarza9339 that sort of power from a titan sounds like a combination of all methods... heads skimmed 20 or 40 thou, radical cylinder porting, perhaps bigger carbys, and expansion chambers. My best (fastest) T500 had all of the above with moderate cylinder porting, and would run high 12s quarter miles @ 100mph... but would never lift the front wheel.
Is it possible that the Suzuki Titan 500 with the colour Stardust, Silver Metalic with Gold is any other model than the 1974 model? - I have just purchased one with this colour and the original owner advises this bike was a 1972 model
Nice pics, nice chronology, where is the "History?" Well I guess in a 3 minute video, you shouldn't ask for the moon. Thanks for the beautiful pics of a classic 2 stroke King.
Considering the verrrry long wheelbase of these, there should be no surprise! The infant 500 suzukis had a swingarm several inches shorter, which would have made lifting the front end easier... but it was lengthened before the 1968 cobra. Might not wheelstand without herculean effort and skills, but it was easy to do burnouts from a standing start, just using the front brake and a bit of throttle/quick clutch release. Most bikes of the time couldn't do that.
Not showing all models/colours... The first cobras I ever saw in australia were white. Also, none of the 1968 or 1969 bikes had a tank rack - oem nos 46510-15100. Some came with these racks. I'm not dreaming, apart from seeing them myself, careful google hunting will show some with racks.
The first year model was way faster than subsequent models. It got terrible gas mileage as well. The T500 was outdated from 1972 forward but was still sold because it was a low priced alternative. The GT550 was way better and smoother. The T 500 would get hot on summer trips and lose power.
No , the GT550 was a shit heap. Three cylindered nothing. If anything that middle cylinder would overheat, wait a minute they didn't make enough power to overheat.
If your T500 overheated anywhere but death valley, it was running too lean. The cobra was faster, and had worse fuel economy because they came with 34mm carbys... every model from 1969 on came with 32mm carbys. Somewhere around 1972/73 suzuki fitted longer inlet manifolds, further reducing power from 47hp to 44hp.... presumably for increasing torque/ decreasing fuel consumption.
I love my 1976 GT500, still a useable classic, with decent performance and while it doesn't have the kudos of a Kawasaki it still has that wonderful 2 stroke sound and makes me smile whenever I ride it. It definitely takes me back to when I first started riding motorcycles as a teenager.
Larger version of the X6 Hustler......
LOVE all those old Suzuki Twins and Triples, particularly the gaudy metallic colours
of the early 70's models. Its interesting how Suzuki used one machine to develop
a new model. For example the 500 twin was later given an extra cylinder, and
liquid cooling and became the GT750. The 250 twin, was given an extra cylinder
and became the GT380, The GT550 used the pistons from the 175 off roader, and
the 500 was basically the same using two pistons from the 250 single off roader.
I read all this in a book on Suzuki Two-Strokes.
Ya read it in a book hey?
pity ya didn't live through it, heaps more fun!!!!!
Yes the TS250 were great bikes, every single one. That's why the rest were successful. Twins are simple, triples were just a complication.
Heb ze allemaal gehad , van af 125cc t20, 250,380,550 750.
A reliable machine. I rode my T500K (cherry red) from Glasgow to Lloret de Mar and back in 1974, when I was 21. Complete with pillion passenger and camping gear. No issues reliability wise and I don’t remember the fuel consumption being too horrific, if you kept the speed to 70 mph.
I owned a 76 Titan. I rode from Moline Illinois to Boloxi Mississippi and all around the south. Wife, plus travel gear, the Titan handled the trip with ease. The vibration through the handle bars was noticeable, but it was still a great trip. Loved my Titan, but traded it for a GT 550.
I rebuild a friend's GT500A engine back in 1989..... and forgot to put the rev counter drive in so had to do it again.
Very nice engine to work on.
Nobody else in the world had bothered to manufacture a 500cc twin cylinder motorcycle since the 1937 CZ 500 2 stroke twin..... and those were for Police and Vatican Guard use.
The T500 was a great, reliable and very under rated bike , the H1 Kawasaki grabbed the headlines but handled like a camel with a hinge in the middle, IMO the T500 range was much better than the GT550 as it was much lighter , better handling and not nearly as thirsty.
I had a 1972 T500 which I traded in on a 1975 Suzuki GT550. Between the 2 bikes, I loved the T500 the best!
The 500 was better than the 750. My big brother had a 750, mate had a 500. The 500 was a little less powerful but a hellava lot lighter, and simpler, the 750 had three sets of points and ran beautifully for a few days. As soon as the timing went out a bit that ended. Big brother would disagree, he loved that 750.
Nice vid. I had a Colorado Blue 1973 T500 when I was 16. I have fond memories of this bike.
I had one of those when I was in my early 20's I rode it everywhere including to work because I had no car in fact I had 2 of them. Not very powerful but can cruise 60-70mph pretty easily. Although at those speeds there was engine vibration in the handle bars because it was light.
At 1:09 .....that’s my bike! I bought this exact color scheme ‘71 Titan used in 1973 - just like brand new at they time. I wish I still had it. A whole lotta fun when I was in High School.
Wow! What a lovely, well researched presentation. I had the 1974 Gypsy red T500 L. When I became involved in marriage the two bikes I really loved had to go- The T500 and Moto Guzzi 1000SP, which to this day I still deeply regret. It's interesting that the 500 also used the Mau Blue metallic livery with plain matt black side covers as my very first bike, 1977 Suzuki GT 250B had the same colour. I'd sooooo much love to find another Titan!
I own the same model in the same colour ,but not at the standard this is at , congrats on a beautiful resto. Lots of hours lots of money , outstanding machine
in '68, the t500 was hot, but couldn't quite match later triples. so it was de-tuned and sold to sensible old men, like me. still hot enough, and easy to maintain.
Thank you for this.
every biker should have one in his history. easy, cheap, smooth and fast enough.
I still own 2 of the 1968 models, Gold in color. I am donating 1 of them to the Barber Vintage museum this next year, as the only have the 71 model on display.
The Suzuki 68 T500 was the bike that Cycle World magazine stated that "COULDN'T BE BUILT" , because it was a 500 cc twin 2 Stroke - BOZOS !!!
Very well done! I have owned five different T & GT 500's, we used to Club Race in So. Cal. after High School!
Sell it to me instead.. I'll take just as good of care for it :)
I love going to the museum. Ill keep an eye out for your bike!
I enjoy the styling of the 1968 model best, but will settle for any of these models. Thanks for the video.
Back in the early 1970's when I graduated from high school a group of school chums and acquaintances set off from SW Ontario Canada to Vancouver and back, one had a 750 Norton Commander, another a 650 BSA, 750 Triumph Bonneville, 500 Triumph Tiger and everyone laughed at my buddies 500 Titan. The only one who made it all the way to Vancouver then back again without ANY problems was that 500 Titan. Not one of the British bikes made it as far as Vancouver let alone back again!! I think the Titan was a 1969 and all the British bikes were of the same era. It was no wonder that the Japanese quickly conquered as the British bikes floundered. Great bikes, I have a 73 sitting below my car port that some day I hope to restore. As I recall it had lost a gear or something but was still running when it was stored!
+otto Vonostrovo I had a 1972 and put about 30,000 mi on it. I to road with a group of other guys and I was the only one who's bike never broke. I took it on a 4000 mile trip across the U.S. no issues. I regret that I sold it. T500J
+otto Vonostrovo very true
5th gear most likely went out due to low transmission oil level. Suzuki in the later years fixed that by raising the oil level. A mod you can do on your bike. I am restoring one now, can’t wait.
Handy slide show - thanks...
2:27. That's Suzy. :) My old girl, which i foolishly wrecked back in 90. Still miss her.
I was fortunate enuff to own one of these in the early 90s shure would love to have another
I had the 72 500J..Never knew the colour scheme was "Summit Copper"...I just called it the orange one....lol...
in the late summer of 1968 I was pumping gas out of the ground for mary Hudson for 10cents regular and 12cents ethyl,we were having a gas war,it was late and few stations stayed open like we did,i was sweeping up around the pumps in glides one of these,same color,i filled him up, took 50cents in gas,i said what kind of scooter is this,he said a titan,how big, he said 500cc,i said does it run,he left 60foot of black rubber on the drive,any questions,harleys and bsa's ,triumphs couldn't hold a candle to Suzuki for over 20 years after the two stroke rage,i own one now,i start it up every now and again to hear it idle,sounds like a rumbling in the ground when it leaves
The Cobras were the quickest with a 120 mph top speed. Pretty good for a 500 cc bike of the day.
Rather difficult to wind out a cobra, or any other T500 in stock form to 120mph! 5th gear was effectively an overdrive, bike was faster in 4th. 5th gear at 7K redline would be 120mph.... but unless it was a remarkable cobra, that would be down a long hill. The cobra was only faster because it had 34mm carbys, which changed to 32mm in 1969. It was much thirstier.
@@annpeerkat2020 A different story if you got one ported,polished and fitted with expansion chambers! Then it was ring a ding ding 🛎️ time through the twisties.
Nice ! I am more with the GT !
I put 69 thousand miles on one of these. All over the U.S. and Canada. Only failed me once when the Zener died and I lost all electricity.
All 1977 Suzuki road-going two-strokes (at least in the U.S)., had black side covers, and was the last year Suzuki would send street-only two-strokes to the U.S. Starting in 1978, all Suzuki road bikes were four-strokes.
Still see & hear Titans rigged for vintage track racing.A great piece of engineering never dies,
Those were the days,👍😃
Little known fact - Bruce Lee used a GT500 for getting around Hong Kong island during the filming of "Enter the Dragon". Was captured in a BBC documentary riding it shortly before his untimely death.
i had one in the 80,s ran onto reserve from full after 70. miles..
Yep, thirsty as hell. My '75 blue one could get as low as 18mpg...
I had a model 1972; incredible sound, drum brakes, autolub machine for a few. Left miss!
Had the blue '70. No power until 4k, then the switch flipped. Chain stretched every time you used full throttle in 1st gear. Wish I still had it.
geez! I don't know what bike you were riding, but unless it was a T500 with a major port job, it was a different type of bike you had. A stock T500 in any of its iterations had a torque curve that was flat as a tack... torque started at about 1500 rpm and climbed linearly from there.... unlike say a 350 yam or a kwaka.... that had very marked power bands.
Sounds like a mach 3 kwaka 500.... though you don't mention mad wheelies.
@annpeerkat2020 I bought it used from a guy that did hotrod two strokes, so I'm not sure about ports or timing. It would just lift the front, then the back would would spin. It was all very controllable.
@@ivogarza9339 that sort of power from a titan sounds like a combination of all methods... heads skimmed 20 or 40 thou, radical cylinder porting, perhaps bigger carbys, and expansion chambers.
My best (fastest) T500 had all of the above with moderate cylinder porting, and would run high 12s quarter miles @ 100mph... but would never lift the front wheel.
Is it possible that the Suzuki Titan 500 with the colour Stardust, Silver Metalic with Gold is any other model than the 1974 model? - I have just purchased one with this colour and the original owner advises this bike was a 1972 model
Paint job colour means nothing unless it's new.
Nice pics, nice chronology, where is the "History?" Well I guess in a 3 minute video, you shouldn't ask for the moon. Thanks for the beautiful pics of a classic 2 stroke King.
I tried to show all years and colors they came in, in order from first to last
I had a 68.....sold it and bought a new 73......swapped it for a car......and later bought a new 75 model.
My first bike was a red 74.
DAMN FKIN NICE
NOT SLOW BIKES
Hmm, Colorado Gold or Morro Green :)
..... although mine had drums front and rear
❤
Meu sonho até hoje
GT500 1976 was Candy rose
I had one of these in 1971,,, total sled!!!, Could not get the front end up!!!!!
Considering the verrrry long wheelbase of these, there should be no surprise! The infant 500 suzukis had a swingarm several inches shorter, which would have made lifting the front end easier... but it was lengthened before the 1968 cobra. Might not wheelstand without herculean effort and skills, but it was easy to do burnouts from a standing start, just using the front brake and a bit of throttle/quick clutch release. Most bikes of the time couldn't do that.
I'll take a '69 in Mesa Orange, please!
The 1969 one has a front disc brake? I don't think that's original, my 1975 one had a twin leading shoe drum on the front (which was rubbish)
Not original. As far as I know the disc brake came with the GT series.
mmm.......1969 Colorado gold with a disc brake?
Not showing all models/colours... The first cobras I ever saw in australia were white.
Also, none of the 1968 or 1969 bikes had a tank rack - oem nos 46510-15100. Some came with these racks. I'm not dreaming, apart from seeing them myself, careful google hunting will show some with racks.
В СССР был в то время иж 56.
The first year model was way faster than subsequent models. It got terrible gas mileage as well. The T500 was outdated from 1972 forward but was still sold because it was a low priced alternative. The GT550 was way better and smoother. The T 500 would get hot on summer trips and lose power.
No , the GT550 was a shit heap. Three cylindered nothing. If anything that middle cylinder would overheat, wait a minute they didn't make enough power to overheat.
@@redtobertshateshandles The GT550 was on of the best 2 strokes of the era when driven the way it was meant to be.
@@rdaystrom4540 kabollocks
If your T500 overheated anywhere but death valley, it was running too lean. The cobra was faster, and had worse fuel economy because they came with 34mm carbys... every model from 1969 on came with 32mm carbys. Somewhere around 1972/73 suzuki fitted longer inlet manifolds, further reducing power from 47hp to 44hp.... presumably for increasing torque/ decreasing fuel consumption.
beautiful and ugly all at the same time
Richard Mann ????
especially the tail lights.. but i love them :)
Melkein heitin lusikan nurkkaan😝