I remember well when they first appeared in the U.K. back in the late sixties.I was 16 and lusted after one for years!In my humble opinion,one of the nicest looking bikes ever made!
What a great video! In the summer of 1971 when I was 16 years old, I worked all summer and sold my 1968 Honda CL 175 Scrambler. I bought a new purple and white 1971 Suzuki Titan 500 from Dallas Suzuki in Dallas, Texas. The out the door price was $926. I rode that bike until 1979 at which time I sold it to a friend and bought a new Kawasaki LTD 1000. That Suzuki was one of the most dependable motorcycles I’ve ever owned. Thanks for this video. It brought back a flood of great memories!
Hi, Doug. Thanks for your kind words - very much appreciated. A Titan 500 at 16 years of age… where did those years go, eh? I’m pleased the video brought back some good memories. Thanks for watching. Len
Great photography and non obstructive music. I learned to ride on one of these, it was my first bike. After I finally purchased one, it was my commuter bike.
A T500 was my first big bike after I passed my test in 1975 in the UK and I loved it. It was turquoise colour with a cream top to the tank. As everyone knows they were a bit smoky, but at the time BellRay brought out a vegetable based 2 stroke oil that was supposed to smoke less - it did but my regular riding mate always laughed saying it smelled like a fish and chip shop when I opened it up!!!😂 Lovely restoration.
@@motostralia5563 I absolutely love the thing! We had to take a Dremel to the wider end of the cutting board and narrow it a bit to make it fit mine, so there's almost no outer border on one of the magnets at all, but otherwise it's great. I show it to people and they just marvel at it. I'm going to do an accessories video of all the stuff on my bike, and that will be the highlight of it all!
Great video.I am 71 years old and I have absolutely original 500 T from 1973 with 41000 kms on odo.I also have 750 gt/boiler/ from 1975. Restored to mint condition.I enjoy every minute driving them.many regards from Croatia/Europe/
Greetings back to you from Oz, Marcel. Thanks for your comments. It’s great to hear that you’re still enjoying your lovely machines. Take care and keep enjoying the ride. Cheers, Len
Very good video. I had a 1972 Titan and I rode it across the country U.S.A. 4000 miles it was almost as big as a Bonneville but less money. No maintenance issues, better mpg than a Kawasaki 500 triple, more reliable than the Triumph 500. Now I have a BMW GS 1200 but I'll never forget my Titan. Thanks again
Hi, Titan500J Thanks for your kind comments. It sure does sound like you really enjoyed the 500 - they were certainly a revelation for many people back in the day. The BM is a very different machine, eh? Thanks for watching. Cheers, Len
My favourite bike and I love them although I’m rather biased as I bought mine in 1974 and still have it today! Excellent video and a lovely looking T500👍👍
In 1974 I was road racing my Kawasaki 350 Triple and there was guy on this underpowered & slow Suzuki T500. He beat everybody every time with his smooth riding style and the darn slow T500.😄😄 I knew I wasn't going to ever ride that smooth but since then I've always wanted a T500.
Nice! I bought a brand new one of those in 1976 for £579 (English Pounds)! The advert in Motor Cycle News said, "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing". Not quite sure about that but a lovely bike nonetheless. Thanks for the vid 🙂
Yes, the CB750 did have a great motor, but at the time the handling still needed sorting. The Suzuki was used for racing, so the handling was certainly good for the day. Indeed, ride safe. Regards, Len
Had a GT500 as my 2nd bike when I was a kid -slow, thirsty and didn't handle all that well - but probably thrashed it everywhere. Blew the engine and bought a Triton. Can't believe the prices of them now, bought mine for a few hundred quid and the Triton for £650........ like quite a few of the bikes I've owned over the last 40 years plus, should have kept the Triton..... the GT I always regarded as a pos though.
Hi, Soar UK, thanks for your thoughts. Motorcycles can be very emotive things - new bikes today are so much better than the motorcycles of the generation when I first started riding. Some old bikes are pleasurable to ride, and people do love riding them. However, for me the enjoyment doesn’t necessarily come from the power or the handling, but rather from the experience and emotion of owning and riding a piece of history and from the memories that brings - plus they’re great conversation pieces. I owned some really boring new bikes back in the day - eg. my first new bike, a 1975 Honda CB250 (boring from the day I picked it up) - but today people actually spend money buying them to restore. I imagine the boring new bikes being made in 2022 will one day be collectable - if fuel can still be found, or afforded, to run them With the help of my old mate Phil - who owns the T500 - I’ve restored a few old bikes. But in the long term, I never really enjoyed riding them - plus they require a certain amount of care and attention that I’m no longer prepared to give. Dinosaurs are interesting, but I don’t really want to have one as a pet. However, we do occasionally think about machines we should have kept, eh? Thanks for watching. Cheers, Len
I remember well when they first appeared in the U.K. back in the late sixties.I was 16 and lusted after one for years!In my humble opinion,one of the nicest looking bikes ever made!
I just bought a 1970 Titan today! Very cool bikes
What a great video! In the summer of 1971 when I was 16 years old, I worked all summer and sold my 1968 Honda CL 175 Scrambler. I bought a new purple and white 1971 Suzuki Titan 500 from Dallas Suzuki in Dallas, Texas. The out the door price was $926. I rode that bike until 1979 at which time I sold it to a friend and bought a new Kawasaki LTD 1000. That Suzuki was one of the most dependable motorcycles I’ve ever owned.
Thanks for this video. It brought back a flood of great memories!
Hi, Doug. Thanks for your kind words - very much appreciated. A Titan 500 at 16 years of age… where did those years go, eh? I’m pleased the video brought back some good memories.
Thanks for watching.
Len
Great photography and non obstructive music.
I learned to ride on one of these, it was my first bike. After I finally purchased one, it was my commuter bike.
Hi, I’m so pleased the video brought back some good memories for you. And thanks for the compliment, I really appreciate it.
Cheers, Len
A T500 was my first big bike after I passed my test in 1975 in the UK and I loved it. It was turquoise colour with a cream top to the tank. As everyone knows they were a bit smoky, but at the time BellRay brought out a vegetable based 2 stroke oil that was supposed to smoke less - it did but my regular riding mate always laughed saying it smelled like a fish and chip shop when I opened it up!!!😂
Lovely restoration.
Great memories, Gary. I remember the smell of BellRay from those days
Phil is a genius. I marvel at his talents. Beautiful job!
So true! When I need to know something about a particular bike, Phil’s my go-to guy 👍
BTW, how’s the Valkyrie helmet holder going?
@@motostralia5563 I absolutely love the thing! We had to take a Dremel to the wider end of the cutting board and narrow it a bit to make it fit mine, so there's almost no outer border on one of the magnets at all, but otherwise it's great. I show it to people and they just marvel at it. I'm going to do an accessories video of all the stuff on my bike, and that will be the highlight of it all!
@@crupert23225 So pleased to hear it’s working for you 👍
Cheers, Len
Some nice images of the bike, some more info on the rebuild would have been great, would love to of heard more engine noise & less music…..Cheers
A highly enjoyable video about a great machine.
Beautiful restoration. Absolutely lovely.
Great video.I am 71 years old and I have absolutely original 500 T from 1973 with 41000 kms on odo.I also have 750 gt/boiler/ from 1975. Restored to mint condition.I enjoy every minute driving them.many regards from Croatia/Europe/
Greetings back to you from Oz, Marcel. Thanks for your comments.
It’s great to hear that you’re still enjoying your lovely machines.
Take care and keep enjoying the ride.
Cheers, Len
Very good video.
I had a 1972 Titan and I rode it across the country U.S.A. 4000 miles it was almost as big as a Bonneville but less money. No maintenance issues, better mpg than a Kawasaki 500 triple, more reliable than the Triumph 500.
Now I have a BMW GS 1200 but I'll never forget my Titan.
Thanks again
Hi, Titan500J
Thanks for your kind comments.
It sure does sound like you really enjoyed the 500 - they were certainly a revelation for many people back in the day.
The BM is a very different machine, eh?
Thanks for watching.
Cheers,
Len
My favourite bike and I love them although I’m rather biased as I bought mine in 1974 and still have it today! Excellent video and a lovely looking T500👍👍
@Blueboy9055, thanks for watching. It’s great to hear you still have your T500 - well kept, indeed. Enjoy 😊
Cheers, Len
@@motostralia5563
Thank you👍👍
In 1974 I was road racing my Kawasaki 350 Triple and there was guy on this underpowered & slow Suzuki T500. He beat everybody every time with his smooth riding style and the darn slow T500.😄😄 I knew I wasn't going to ever ride that smooth but since then I've always wanted a T500.
great video takes me back
Thanks, Paddledog. I appreciate you watching.
Yep, Phil certainly does a great job on his restorations.
Cheers, Len
Had a 1976 model loved her fuel economy on long trips was amazing compared very well with the Honda 4.
I had a 76 mine was labeled at GT however.
Great video Lenny 👍
Thanks, Scott - the old fella still does some great work, eh? 😁
Gorgeous.
Nice! I bought a brand new one of those in 1976 for £579 (English Pounds)! The advert in Motor Cycle News said, "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing". Not quite sure about that but a lovely bike nonetheless. Thanks for the vid 🙂
You are a lucky man.😂
I had one, 😂
And a 125 , 380 ,550 750 boiler,great times.
Greetings from Holland
Hi, Peter.
It’s so good to remember the old days, eh?
Greetings from Oz ✌️
Cheers, Len
@@motostralia5563 Yes, with my girlfrend with the 750 to TT in Assen, en my wife at home.
Memory s.....
great job.
Good job mate.
Thanks, old mate. You’ve done a great job with little Sid - the bike is a credit to you 👍
実は同じ年代のCB750K0より好きなんだ
めちゃくちゃ綺麗に乗ってるね いつまでも大切に乗り続けてください
Yes, the CB750 did have a great motor, but at the time the handling still needed sorting. The Suzuki was used for racing, so the handling was certainly good for the day.
Indeed, ride safe.
Regards,
Len
TONY SOUTH AFRICA BUSY WITH A 1976 GT500B
Had T350 1973 in 80 s loved it but was worn out but alas I got bloody four stroke 4 so boring sorry Kawasaki gpz 550 still miss lil T
Anyone have a PDF version of the TM available for the t500?
Had a GT500 as my 2nd bike when I was a kid -slow, thirsty and didn't handle all that well - but probably thrashed it everywhere. Blew the engine and bought a Triton. Can't believe the prices of them now, bought mine for a few hundred quid and the Triton for £650........ like quite a few of the bikes I've owned over the last 40 years plus, should have kept the Triton..... the GT I always regarded as a pos though.
Hi, Soar UK, thanks for your thoughts.
Motorcycles can be very emotive things - new bikes today are so much better than the motorcycles of the generation when I first started riding. Some old bikes are pleasurable to ride, and people do love riding them. However, for me the enjoyment doesn’t necessarily come from the power or the handling, but rather from the experience and emotion of owning and riding a piece of history and from the memories that brings - plus they’re great conversation pieces.
I owned some really boring new bikes back in the day - eg. my first new bike, a 1975 Honda CB250 (boring from the day I picked it up) - but today people actually spend money buying them to restore. I imagine the boring new bikes being made in 2022 will one day be collectable - if fuel can still be found, or afforded, to run them
With the help of my old mate Phil - who owns the T500 - I’ve restored a few old bikes. But in the long term, I never really enjoyed riding them - plus they require a certain amount of care and attention that I’m no longer prepared to give.
Dinosaurs are interesting, but I don’t really want to have one as a pet.
However, we do occasionally think about machines we should have kept, eh?
Thanks for watching.
Cheers, Len