Z1OwnersClub GB

Sort of fancy doing one of the above, but Never owned one. So has anyone any experience with them?, ie parts supply restoration probs, best model? etc, etc....

TIA

Personally I always preferred the T500 I think when Suzuki re-branded it GT it was a bit past its sell by date and smacked of them using up parts, they just tacked on GT (and added a disc and some other changes) to make it look like part of the family while really it pre-dated them. I'd go for the original but that's just me though. I'd say a good bike. Parts aren't going to be as easy to get as Zed parts, but that's par for the course as you know.

Mates older brother had a red GT500, one of the last ones (S reg?) back in the day. Nice bike to ride, not fast like an H1 but quite torquey and smooth to ride, more of a tourer than a scratcher. We always liked them but the T500 versions were much quicker. If you could get one for reasonable money could be a decent project.

I want one.... I got loaned one in 1982 for a couple of weeks, once your past it isn't as fast as etc etc it's a great bike to ride around on bit like the kettle really.
Parts are easier in the states but Crookes Suzuki here in uk are great also there is Robinsons foundry and Governers bridge. In the US I found KNK cycles very good and Paul Miller on ebay

Would go for the T500,specifically the T500R which in my opinion was the best looking. The T500,s had a problem with oil starvation in the gearbox which led to 5th gear failing so if you buy one check to see if its had the gearbox mod ( which was just a small plate that created a reservoir for 5th gear to sit in)

Cheers people ....

Given pretty much anything from KHI that I'd like to own next is now fetching such comedy prices, I might need to look elsewhere for the next little project, and I've always liked the look of the GT coupled with the fact you rarely see them out (which I also like) means one might be a goer.

Its interesting that the lack of performance is mentioned as the GT is only quoted at around 45bhp, yet Kawasaki managed to squeeze nearly 60bhp out of my H1 which is pretty impressive (if somewhat manic when the revs hit 5K ).

Ah but what a feeling ! Had a Fantic Caballero M***D at 16, borrowed my mates 250 Hustler to pass my test at seventeen and then bought a H1-A. 6hp to 60 hp in one go, and miraculously still here. Much as I love my Z1 you cant beat that loony feeling as the rev counter goes from 6000 to 10000 in seconds with you hanging on for dear life! I think you will find a GT a bit sedate after an H1

corky wrote:Ah but what a feeling ! Had a Fantic Caballero M***D at 16, borrowed my mates 250 Hustler to pass my test at seventeen and then bought a H1-A. 6hp to 60 hp in one go, and miraculously still here. Much as I love my Z1 you cant beat that loony feeling as the rev counter goes from 6000 to 10000 in seconds with you hanging on for dear life! I think you will find a GT a bit sedate after an H1

Strange that everyone always refers to the H2 as the 'Widowmaker' even though it was the earlier H1 that was first awarded the title, and given it's 60bhp, 12.5 sec Quarter mile and 125 top speed in 1969 you could see why.

Also Interesting that it was quicker of the mark and had the Same top speed as the CB750, and was only 7mph slower than the still 3 years away Z1...... What fooking 'Superbikes' Eh!.

That said, I REALLY wouldn't want to do anything like those speeds on a H1. Much above 80 results in the loss of what's left of your teeth and the early onset of Vibration White Finger which is a bit of a pain as you need at least one hand to try to tighten all the nuts and screws which attempt to turn themselves out.

Gary, if you do end up going down the T500 /GT500 route, I think I've still got a few bits in the loft and a guy I know has most things for them.
cheers freddy

Go on Garry go for it, the challenge will be worth it, but buy a reasonable project, in not too bad condition. you know it makes sense

I nearly picked one up a while back, very rough but all there and it ran. Couldn't get for a price I was happy with though as it would have needed at least a few thousand spending to get it to my standard.

In the grand scheme of everyday riding, a decent well ridden GT500 won't be far behind the later 500 triples, probably quicker off the line, but maybe few mph down on top end, and the B model looks ace!

A chap I used to race with hillclimbed a sorted T500 which was squeezing out just shy of (a true) 80bhp, which of course absolutely flew! With a couple of frame braces, a decent set of shockers and the forks sorted it went around corners too...

I hated mine Garry, it was a smelly noisy smoky thing and probably not the best example - if I still had it now I'd give it to you!

With all Suzukis apart from the kettle where you can buy a replica set from delkevic the greatest challenge is finding exhausts that are good enough to rechrome and then finding a chromer who will tackle the Job

But once running right t500 is just a joy to ride