T500 with new front end for new season - PICS!

BenEberle

I believe most have seen my bike before, but not before these upgrades! Put a few weekends into the bike and got all the little detail repairs worked out: GT550 front end, rear signals, new seat cover, kicker spring and bearing fixed, left pipe baffle fixed, new fuel lines and filters. RUNS STRONG! Best it's run yet. Woweee. Needs bigger idle jets, but otherwise, it's road ready! Oh...wait...it's 40 and rainy. I need to move....

CaptCatFish · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:52 am Post subject:

I love it! Very timely post for me.

In fact, I have been considering a change to the front forks and braking system on my '72 Titan, since I REALLY need a disk brake on the front end for these mountain roads (the leading link drum fades out pretty quick even though I think its adjusted correctly). I know my bike would no longer be considered "original" but I need better brakes before I get into trouble on my newly rebuilt toy.

Please describe in some detail what was involved with the switch to a GT550 front forks and disk braking systems. Where did you find the parts? Approximate cost of the transformation??

Many thanks

CaptCatFish

BenEberle · Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:57 pm Post subject:

Howdy Capt. - Sure thing, man. Here's what I did.

There was a guy on Craigslist with a GT550 which had a totally blown engine. The middle cylinder had seized so hard at speed that it broke the con rod and scrambled the tranny. The seller is a super mechanic and he looked at it and just didn't have the time to fix it. The bike was worth more in parts to him than fixing. So I got the ENTIRE front end: forks, rim, fender, caliper, speedo, brake lever, and master cylinder for 150.00. It even had that nice, relatively new Dunlop on it! Great score. The only things I had to go back and get were the headlamp ears because the signals screw into those on a GT550, whereas on a T500, they're on the triple tree clamp on top.

I really didn't have to modify anything. You just need to use ALL of the hardware coming from the GT550 since the clamp system is different than on the T500. You won't need the GT550 signals - the threads are the same...it's just that the T500's go on the threaded holes on the fork clamp and the GT550's are in the headlamp ears. Otherwise, the triple tree stem is exactly the same length and diameter, and takes just as many bearings top and bottom. If you have a buddy to hold stuff while you do it, this will only take you about 2 hours to do. I was amazed at how easy it was. Actually...you WILL need a buddy to hold the bike as you lean it to get the old forks out and new ones in...but that's about all - either that or put it on a lift.

The new braking power is awesome in comparison. I highly, highly recommend it. Who cares that it won't be original!?! I like the disc look better anyways. Works great. Rides great. Do it. Do it. Do it!

CaptCatFish · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:18 am Post subject:

I'd say you really did score a super value for $150!! Unbelieveable stroke of good luck and I'm happy for you.

I will definitely keep my eye on craigslist and others for something similar as well as renew my prowling through motorcycle salvage yards since I'm currently on the hunt for a Yamaha SR500 or XT500 engine to build as a spare for my lean and mean flattracking machine (see pic).

Safe ridin' and and thank you for the detailed info.

CaptCatFish

BenEberle · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:23 am Post subject:

Wow - good lord! That Yamaha is awesome.

Yes, the score on the GT550 forks was amazing. He was listing the whole bike for 300.00 so, for him, recouping the 150.00 for the front end was a great deal. Cool guy. Motorbike enthusiast, just happy to pass on good parts to another fanatic.

I should also mention that GT380, 500, 550, and 750 forks all fit on the T500. The 380's might be a hair light....but I think Suzuki beefed them up. Those 'little' bikes weren't that little.

Happy hunting.