ClassicMC.no

Terje's tough T500

The latter half of the 1960s marked the beginning of a new era for motorcycle manufacturers. The English machines were “still going strong”, but the future lay on an island in the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese manufacturers now tightened their grip, and one of the first big motorcycles from there was the Suzuki with the fierce model name T500 Cobra. I have taken a closer look at Terje Høiland’s T500 from 1970.

The 1960s were an exciting time for motorcycle enthusiasts. Tempo and Jawa were still in use as a means of transportation, while the English parallel twins were "rolling" on the strip among the rockers. But, something was brewing. Small 2-strokes with radically new designs and not least sophisticated technical solutions were coming on the scene. We are talking about the decade in which Japanese motorcycles had their breakthrough.

1967 was to be an important year for Suzuki . In Japan, Suzuki engineers were busy preparing their new 500cc engine for the international market. It was time for the 2-stroke twin T500 Cobra, or Titan as it was called in the American sales brochures. The T500 Cobra was a motorcycle that combined advanced technology with a new design.

Among the technical details we can mention a vacuum-controlled fuel tap, and automatic lubrication using a separate oil tank for 2-stroke oil. The T500 also got separate "clocks", i.e. separate speedometer and rev counter. Previously, it was common to combine these instruments, often in an oval "house".

With the T500, Suzuki now had one of the biggest and most powerful motorcycles from Japan. The long, smooth lines were emphasized by a number of chrome details, and with a power output of 44 hp, it easily passed 175 km/h. With light trim, it easily passed the magical 200 km/h mark, which really got noticed.

Unlike its English competitors, the bike could be ridden for a whole day at 110 mph, or 176 km/h, without breaking down, which was quite remarkable for a 1960s motorcycle. The sporty design, combined with quality and solid speed resources, placed the T500 Cobra at the forefront, but only for a short while.

In October 1968, the bike that changed the entire motorcycle world came along, Honda's CB750Four, and the T500 was dethroned. However, Suzuki had shown what they were capable of, and in 1972 the CB750 was given competition by Suzuki's new 2-stroke, the triple GT750. Let's not forget that the T500 remained popular, and the model was kept in production right up until 1977.

The last two years, Model A/1976 and Model B/1977, got electronic ignition and front disc brakes. The hourglass for the 2-stroke was now running out, and thus the sporty 500cc went out of production. Suzuki could look back on 10 years of success with the 500cc, a model that was, among other things, rigged for racing, and ridden by Barry Sheene himself.

Terje Høiland from Skjetten knows a lot about classic 2-strokes, and his interest has never waned since he became the owner of a Yamaha LS-2 at the age of 16. -This bike was exactly the dream of a boy, he says, adding that -It was in many ways the ultimate lightweight, where it pulled ahead with its 2-cylinder 2-stroke.

There are many 2-cylinder 2-strokes in Terje's collection of classic motorcycles, and the largest of them all is this sleek T500 from 1970. The 1970 model is based on the 1968 Cobra, but with a few changes, just like the Japanese manufacturers have been good at. Constant upgrades and further development have been and are their strength. Terje's T500 has undergone an extensive restoration, and appears as new.

This is the bike that in the 1960s was said to be impossible to make. Such a large 2-stroke twin was considered a technical impossibility due to vibrations etc., but Suzuki put all predictions to shame. The T500 was one of the hottest things you could buy on two wheels in 1968, and in the months before Honda unleashed the CB750Four, the T500 sat atop the superbike throne.

  • Technical data Suzuki T500, 1970 model:
  • Engine: 2-cylinder 2-stroke
  • Displacement: 492 cc
  • Power: 44 hp at 6000 rpm.
  • No. of gears: 5
  • Front tires: 3.25 x 19
  • Rear tires: 4.00 x 18
  • Electrical system: 12 volts, switch ignition
  • Tank: 14 liters
  • Start: kick
  • Weight: 187 kg (dry)
  • Top speed: 176 km/h