the -71- T500

[RDryan]

Wow, what a beast of a bike Now I have seen a few reeded Kawi triples but I believe that be a pretty rare mod. Did you do that yourself? I can't imagine the amount of skilled work it takes to modify the cylinders for reeds.

[m in sc]

I did a good portion of it. I do have machining experience and at that time, had access to a full machine shop I could use. so, it was def fun. I plan on reeding a set of t500 cyls, to get back on topic sort of. I have a spare set to hack into. should be fun

[RDryan]

That would be pretty awesome and fun just to see you document the process here for us to see.

[Kawtriplefreak]

Get practiced up. I have a Kawasaki Green H2 that needs reeds  

[m in sc]

mmm.. thats..ambitious 

[m in sc]

from last night. still waiting on cyls...

[Striker1423]

Looking good!

[m in sc]

aaand finally! got the barrels and heads back. got it all bolted together, had to tweak a few adjustments.  petcock I had rebuild seeped a bit, so utilized a knockoff pingle I have and all good. replaced the points and verified timing etc. did a quick 5 mile ride, then a longer one after verifying everything I could. so, seems ok. def illustrates the differences between the modified 72 and this.

[2steve]

A lot of cooling fin area on that engine. Cylinder liner thickness looks overly generous too.
Built like a bank vault.

[Kawtriplefreak]

  

[m in sc]

that motor was designed in the mid-late 60s. an air-cooled 500 twin 2 stroke production bike.. they had doubts it would cool.

even nuttier is the 8 head bolts.  the head design is just fkn dismal. total relic.  however, reliabe and functional
 

when you realize it was from THIS era, it makes a bit more sense.   https://petrolicious.com/blogs/articles/stealing-speed-how-suzuki-captured-cold-war-secrets-to-go-faster?srsltid=AfmBOor426-gFZHg0eso3WfB-cwIaOvxE_vvgc1uZpdcGAWVdcKP9wNS

[m in sc]

quick video

[m in sc]

so after swapping the jetting on the carbs to later style  (see here https://www.2strokeworld.net/forum/index.php?topic=5719.15 ).

i needed to adress the failing seat cover. it was original on a spare seat i had with really like new foam  . so, grabbed a cheap ebay cover and got it put on. surprisingly decent quality for 50 bucks. 

[Kawtriplefreak]

Very nice!

[m in sc]

so, the original bodywork was ok but wanted better. so ordered a set of professionally painted and restored bodywork in the blue green/white 71 colors. got it off ebay.  i like it, pretty happy overall but wasnt cheap. 1700ish shipped. came with petcock, emblems etc. only issue was they painted the sealing surface on the filler neck. so i carefully block sanded id down and installed it.

ill keep the original stored for now.