Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

So ive come to that usual crossroads in having an older bike.

I want to have a bike that feels, and in most respects IS a new bike, but not if you catch my drift.

ive come to the point where ive realised how i will be spending near the cost of getting a new z750 to rebuild most of this bike to a nice standard. but is it all worth it?

i need some guys that ride classics on a regular basis... is it really worth it as your main form of transport?

its a 1982 GPz750, so in my mind isnt that old anyways!

so what is some other peoples general impressions, guides or reflections? stick to spending my guts out on this GPz and rebuild it, or look at buying a new motorbike? either way i will be orgasmic...

pros of the GPz

- its awesome...
- joy of owning a rebuild classic
-its awesome...
- in 10 years from now, what will it be like owning this bike
- riding something that you dont see as often as a z750
- oh and its awesome....

pros of newie.

- reliable
- new electronics!
- new everything!
- warranty!
- less hassle than spending 5 months working on something.
- possibly cheaper in the long run.

chrisw wrote:....I want to have a bike that feels, and in most respects IS a new bike, but not if you catch my drift.....

Those terms are mutually exclusive. An old bike will always *feel* like an old bike, no matter how many *new* bits you install (suspension/brakes/motor etc) - in 99% of cases. If you throw enough money at it, it could be made to feel 'almost' like a new GPz750, but it won't ever feel like a 'new' (ie 2008 model] bike.

chrisw wrote:....ive come to the point where ive realised how i will be spending near the cost of getting a new z750 to rebuild most of this bike to a nice standard. but is it all worth it? ....

Of COURSE its worth it !!! Well, for silly old buggers it is... You obviously are smitten with this old beast, and I understand why - they just don't make 'em like this anymore (ie heavy, steer like a bathtub, shitty brakes and suspension etc etc )

chrisw wrote:....i need some guys that ride classics on a regular basis... is it really worth it as your main form of transport? ....

I currently commute to work on a 1980 Z650. There are some pictures of it on another thread here.....As my main form of 'commuting', its unbeatable. Cheap, reliable, economical. Tyres cost SFA (apparently - I still haven't fitted new ones yet... ).

chrisw wrote:....its a 1982 GPz750, so in my mind isnt that old anyways!....

.

Its not old at all. ProblemChild also has a 1982 GPz750, and also commuted to work last year on it. He enjoyed every single day, it is a great little bike - here is a picture. He did an 'Eddie Lawson Jnr' job. Looks good eh ??

chrisw wrote:....so what is some other peoples general impressions, guides or reflections? stick to spending my guts out on this GPz and rebuild it, or look at buying a new motorbike? either way i will be orgasmic....

They are a great commuter. If it is your *only* mode of transport, then you should consider how much you want to spend v. how much you 'need' to spend. You can get all the simple things done for not too much money - stuff like upgraded fork springs, better rear shocks, stuff like that is basically *mandatory*. Frame upgrades are not really needed on this model, but better tyres and improved brakes will help a lot. The basic ergo's of this model are pretty good really. I can highly recommend the 'cut-away' style of seat that is in the photo above, it makes for a very comfortable ride....

chrisw wrote:....pros of the GPz.....its awesome...joy of owning a rebuild classic....its awesome...in 10 years from now, what will it be like owning this bike...riding something that you dont see as often as a z750...- oh and its awesome....

.

All of the above. Thats funny about 'riding it in 10 years', a couple of the classics in my shed are rapidly approaching 30 years !!

chrisw wrote:....pros of newie..reliable...new electronics!...new everything!... warranty!...less hassle than spending 5 months working on something....possibly cheaper in the long run.

Yes, all the above is also true - But you see, bike ownership is about far more than warranty, or reliable electrics, or being $50 cheaper over 10 years...........its about a whole lot more than that - and you are *guaranteed* to get it from doing up your little geeper - Get moving !! I want to see pics !!!

Dunno how the funds are for you Mate , but maybe don't spend anything on the Gpz . Get a new / newish Zed 750 and ride that as the commuter . Over the next 10 years tinker , restore and ride the Gpz for enjoyment .
If you sell / trade the Gpz now you wont get too much for it and in 10 years you will only be kicking yourself that you let the "old girl" go . Rego is a pain in the arse and so is storage space .
Bringing the Gpz back to top condition will be rewarding and riding a new Zeddy wouldn't be all bad !

Yep plus one to what billy said,Keep the gpz and tinker with it over a period of time,my old z900 doesnt come out that often but its a joy to ride when it does.I originally bought the zx9 so that i didnt clock up too many ks on the old girl.That was a really good choice as i would have clocked up 100,000 ks on her over the last few years as it is shes done 3000 ks.So get something newer to buzz around on,hey heres an idear get ya self a zx9

heh zx9...

yeah i do like the idea of tinkering over a few years while i ride a newer bike. especially considering the only thing i really want left upto a shop to do is the engine and exhaust, parts that either shit me off completely when working (10 minuite streams of obscenities... like this weekend fitting the exhaust collets back in!... dear lord. and they wouldnt go back in due to bent / misaligned exhaust studs).

money isnt a big problem, well, it is, but not majorly. spending 9 grand on it is fine, same with buying a brand new bike under 14K... if there ever was a special on, id LOVE a triumph, or the z750. i know the z's are cheap, but the cheapest modern style triumph is also coincidentally my favourite (apart from the sprint)... the street triple! sex based streetfighter if i ever saw one.

and on the subject of problemchilds kwaka... its almost identical to mine at the moment, apart from the undertail eliminator, and indicators.

whats the brand of those headers / muffler, cause theyre damn near identical to mine!!!!

not sure what brand, they are probably O'Brien or Tranzac at a guess ? They were on the bike when he bought it 10 years ago, it was also fitted with a nice 'Wolf' muffler, since transplanted onto his Katana.

yeah mines a tranzac.

but its up for sale now booooooooooo bloody women i tell ya i mean lovely women, best timing and everything

all correct gos you do know my bikes better than i do. one of the most forgiving bikes you could ever wish to ride.