Topic: Suzuki GT550 two stroke triple.

[Terry in Australia]

I don't think it'd be too much of a problem to rebuild yours Tim, and really, I'd be more worried about main and big end bearings, those KR's were mostly ridden by "Learner" riders, and were notoriously abused, and never maintained.

The Suzuki RGV's (a favorite of mine) were the same, these young punks would just ride 'em into the ground, hence trying to find a good one now in Oz is next to impossible. Cheers, Terry.

[Killer Canary]

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDUwWDYwMA%3D%3D/z/0V0AAOxyIAZRuqv4/%24T2eC16FHJGIFFogsVlcfBRuqv3F5%29w~~60_35.JPG%3Fset_id%3D880000500F&imgrefurl=http://www.ebay.com/bhp/kawasaki-h1-motor&h=225&w=300&sz=9&tbnid=zPKzkAJTq9XX5M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=120&zoom=1&usg=__UXm74G-_9aMcC66E5-IqrbmgZPM=&docid=UV3h7j8stvc4aM&sa=X&ei=DZnPUan5JvGxygG-wICQCQ&ved=0CGUQ9QEwCg&dur=12473
Terry's right. Can you believe that?

[Killer Canary]

http://saskatchewan.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-other-1972-Suzuki-GT750J-W0QQAdIdZ499754978

You couldn't even give this away here. No apes.

[Magilla]

I am hoping that my bike will fetch $2k.  That would cover my costs but not my time.  This is a hobby so my time does not need to be covered.

[Terry in Australia]

http://saskatchewan.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-other-1972-Suzuki-GT750J-W0QQAdIdZ499754978

You couldn't even give this away here. No apes.

Yeah, if it doesn't have Apes and a King/Queen seat it's not quite as "collectable" to me, but even so, that "Water Bottle" is sweet. I don't think it's a "J" though, I think it's a 1973 "K", the first model with disc brakes, and two of the pipes are later model "L", "M", "A" or "B", from memory. 2200 is a bargain though, I wish I could afford it!    

[grcamna2]

I don't think it'd be too much of a problem to rebuild yours Tim, and really, I'd be more worried about main and big end bearings, those KR's were mostly ridden by "Learner" riders, and were notoriously abused, and never maintained.

The Suzuki RGV's (a favorite of mine) were the same, these young punks would just ride 'em into the ground, hence trying to find a good one now in Oz is next to impossible. Cheers, Terry.

Terry,
   Have you got any pics of some Suz. RGV's ??

[Killer Canary]

But what's this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kawasaki-500-H1-Alu-Labyrinth-Oil-Seal-/221063040698?hash=item3378624eba&vxp=mtr

[Terry in Australia]

I don't think it'd be too much of a problem to rebuild yours Tim, and really, I'd be more worried about main and big end bearings, those KR's were mostly ridden by "Learner" riders, and were notoriously abused, and never maintained.

The Suzuki RGV's (a favorite of mine) were the same, these young punks would just ride 'em into the ground, hence trying to find a good one now in Oz is next to impossible. Cheers, Terry.

Terry,
   Have you got any pics of some Suz. RGV's ??

You can google them and find heaps of pics mate, but here's an eBay auction I've been watching for a nice example. Cheers, Terry. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SUZUKI-RGV250-LUCKY-STRIKE-1992-2-STROKE-TWIN-REGISTERABLE-RACE-TRACKDAY-BIKE-/310698842431?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item485718193f

[grcamna2]

I don't think it'd be too much of a problem to rebuild yours Tim, and really, I'd be more worried about main and big end bearings, those KR's were mostly ridden by "Learner" riders, and were notoriously abused, and never maintained.

The Suzuki RGV's (a favorite of mine) were the same, these young punks would just ride 'em into the ground, hence trying to find a good one now in Oz is next to impossible. Cheers, Terry.

Terry,
   Have you got any pics of some Suz. RGV's ??

You can google them and find heaps of pics mate, but here's an eBay auction I've been watching for a nice example. Cheers, Terry. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SUZUKI-RGV250-LUCKY-STRIKE-1992-2-STROKE-TWIN-REGISTERABLE-RACE-TRACKDAY-BIKE-/310698842431?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item485718193f

The seller seems open to having interested buyers come look at it..,are you going to take a look or test ride ?

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, not this month mate, I've just spent over $3K on my newest BMW project, so I'm as broke as a joke!

[Stev-o]

Oops great, Terry. $3K?  Why so much?

[grcamna2]

What model/year is that K bike ?

[grcamna2]

On the GT550 the crank seal can be replaced without a complete motor teardown.  There are a few videos on youtube for it.  With that said I do agree that the right way is a complete teardown.

Also part of the reason mine is smoking the way it is (besides dry seals?) is the overload of Marvel Mystery Oil and SeaFoam that is in the tank.  I always run a heavy load of this in the first tank of any bike I buy.

My bike is OK but not great.  I brought it to a level for the next owner to take it to great.  On a scale of 1-10 its a 5 or 6 at best.  Again if you were in the market for a bike like this, its a good place to start.

Magilla,
             Did you sell the GT550 ?

[Terry in Australia]

Oops great, Terry. $3K?  Why so much?

Ha ha, sorry Steve, I didn't mean that I've spent another $3K on it, I got it for the bargain price of $2285 last month, and I've just spent another 1000 on it with new tires, Koni rear shock, progressive springs, service kit, new mirrors, and other bits and pieces.

Gr, it's a 1989 K100RS SE ABS. This is only the second one I've seen in Melbourne in the last 24 years, so I had to have it.

[Stev-o]

Oops great, Terry. $3K?  Why so much?

Ha ha, sorry Steve, I didn't mean that I've spent another $3K on it, I got it for the bargain price of $2285 last month, and I've just spent another 1000 on it with new tires, Koni rear shock, progressive springs, service kit, new mirrors, and other bits and pieces.

Gr, it's a 1989 K100RS SE ABS. This is only the second one I've seen in Melbourne in the last 24 years, so I had to have it.

Oh......well that sounds like a much better deal.  Don't understand why you have to borrow a plate?

[Terry in Australia]

Oh......well that sounds like a much better deal.  Don't understand why you have to borrow a plate?

It's not registered Steve, (been off the road for 5 years) and I'm trying to decide whether I'll register it now, (around $1000 including various fees) or wait until next April when it's 25 years old, which is when I can get "club registration" (I'm in the BMW club) for $68. Jeff at Ace Motorcycles has a "Dealer Plate" that you can put on any unregistered bike to legally "test ride". Cheers, Terry.

[Stev-o]

Oh......well that sounds like a much better deal.  Don't understand why you have to borrow a plate?

It's not registered Steve, (been off the road for 5 years) and I'm trying to decide whether I'll register it now, (around $1000 including various fees) or wait until next April when it's 25 years old, which is when I can get "club registration" (I'm in the BMW club) for $68. Jeff at Ace Motorcycles has a "Dealer Plate" that you can put on any unregistered bike to legally "test ride". Cheers, Terry.

Yeah, $1000 is pretty steep. I'd be waiting too. Actually, I just buy old plates on eBay and bolt em on!

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah, I've got spare plates here Steve, but the cops have "number plate recognition technology" which means they can point something at your plate and it tells them if it's the right plate for your vehicle, and you've paid your annual registration fees. Cheers, Terry.

[Stev-o]

Yeah, I've got spare plates here Steve, but the cops have "number plate recognition technology" which means they can point something at your plate and it tells them if it's the right plate for your vehicle, and you've paid your annual registration fees. Cheers, Terry.

No #$%*e?   Wow, you're advanced.  Guessing they have extra time/funds since they are not fighting real crime like armed robbery and murder

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah, I've got spare plates here Steve, but the cops have "number plate recognition technology" which means they can point something at your plate and it tells them if it's the right plate for your vehicle, and you've paid your annual registration fees. Cheers, Terry.

No #$%*e?   Wow, you're advanced.  Guessing they have extra time/funds since they are not fighting real crime like armed robbery and murder

Yeah, murders and armed robs are pretty few and far between here Steve, so they get lots of airplay when one happens.

Sadly our economy in my home state is mostly derived from poker machines and traffic fines, and the state government likes to equip our "cops" (uniformed tax collectors) with the latest in revenue raising equipment.

I assumed it came from the US, but if you haven't got it there, I guess it probably comes from Britain, where our fixed "Gatso" speed camera's hail from. Cheers, Terry.  

[Magilla]

I sold the GT550 last night.  What a project that was.  As it turns out they are not as sought after as I thought.  I guess most people don't know what they are.  That's a shame.

My first buyer was over an hour late.  When I email him to see if he was still coming it pissed him off so he blew me off.  Bottom line is if he wanted the bike, he would have shown up.

My second buyer changed the day he wanted to come get it, about 6 times.  Then when he finally made his final arrangements, he never showed up.

My third buyer showed up last night.  He collects 2 stroke bikes and has 60 of them.  He went over the bike with a fine tooth comb and pointed out every single flaw.  Some that I knew of, others that I did not.  In the end I sold him the bike for only $1200.  Far less than I thought I would get.

I could have held out for more money but there were a few reasons I chose not to.  One is that it is going to a place where it will be fully restored.  I like that.  Another reason is that I just did not get much interest in the bike.  I tested the market and listened to what the market was telling me.

Now I need another project bike.  I moved 6 of them out within the past 4 weeks.  I have nothing left other than my own bikes.

[grcamna2]

Magilla,
     Do you think it might've helped if you gave it Nationwide coverage,like on Ebay ? Sometimes the area where you're selling it isn't very friendly to collectable Vintage bikes.

[Stev-o]

I would have given you $1500!

[Terry in Australia]

I would have given you $1500!

I would have given him TEN MILLION DOLLARS! Damn, now I'll have to go buy another airline instead...............

[Magilla]

It was on both craigs list and ebay