Topic: 321 bikes brought back to life by forum members.

[Hunter 1]

Add a K5 to the list

[MoMo]

To me, any bike purchased that has not run for more than a year has been brought back to life by the present owner. my .66(one penny for every year on the earth)....Larry

[flybox1]

I'd even go as far as to say any bike you couldn't (or shouldn't) ride home from the PO's.
You've made it road worthy, and avoided continued neglect and eventual scrap.

[marknpb]

Mine was garage decoration for 20+ years. My carbs were shot, had to put a new set on and tune them, new tires, chain, sprockets, recoated the headers with ceramic after rust removal, new muffler, new coils, wires, plugs, control cables, gauges, regulator/rectifier, fuse panel, wiring harness, plus had to rewire headlight bucket mess, battery cables, fork oil replaced, rear swing arm bushing redone, head stem bearings replaced, air box seals replaced along with carb rubbers (both sides…air box to carb and carb to engine), fabbed new bracket to stop kickstand from rubbing on chain (old one must've fallen off)
So, yeah, almost all my work was pretty much overdue maintenance. But it was not rideable when I got it. Still, nothing major like engine damage or transmission rebuilding. These old bikes are tough. Leave a new one sit for 20+ years and see if it just needs a tune up to get going.

 

So my question is how many of your bikes were brought back from the dead. Not just general maintenance to get it back on the road.

We are at 321

[Stev-o]

Make it 322.  This bike has been sitting for a long time but is now roadworthy and running great!

[DH]

#323

dragged out of a warehouse full of old jap bikes in 2005. Complete, but with non-oe exhaust and covered in
fire extinguisher chemical. P.O. appeared to be a real carb Einstien...Substituted storm door screen for petcock strainer.
Must've done carb work as well. Lit it up, but got lucky, and got the fire out just as the plenum chamber was
starting to melt

[Stev-o]

#323

dragged out of a warehouse full of old jap bikes in 2005. Complete, but with non-oe exhaust and covered in
fire extinguisher chemical. P.O. appeared to be a real carb Einstien...Substituted storm door screen for petcock strainer.
Must've done carb work as well. Lit it up, but got lucky, and got the fire out just as the plenum chamber was
starting to melt

Thats beauiful, DH.  I have a '74 as well that I plan to restore...

[carnivorous chicken]

Last couple years...
'66 CB160
3 1973 CB350F
1972 Yamaha CS5
1969 CB350
1981 SR250
1975 CB400F
1967 Suzuki Hustler
Mini bike, can't remember -- Rupp engine?
1978 CB550
1978 CB750

Those are all the ones that hadn't run in years. One of the 350Fs hadn't run in 20 years. The CS5 hadn't run since 1973 and only had 55 miles on it.

[edwardmorris]

I've been looking for this thread for a while, add my K2 to the count please

[mrfish2]

I'll throw mine in:

1 CB550
1 CB650

My 550 hadn't run in 22 years before I got it back on the road, and the 650 hadn't been on the streets in almost 10 years.

Current project is a 79 Yamaha XS1100 that I'll get finished as soon as I get done remodeling the barn into a modern workshop.

[carnivorous chicken]

I've been looking for this thread for a while, add my K2 to the count please

very nice.

[Stev-o]

1967 Suzuki Hustler

Still have it?  Was my first motorcycle....

[carnivorous chicken]

1967 Suzuki Hustler

Still have it?  Was my first motorcycle....

Funny story and since you kind of asked... Friends of mine who own a skateboard shop in Tempe bought it for $100 -- dunno how they found it, I think it was on CL, dunno how I missed it. They had it at the shop and were going to spray paint it and use it as an obstacle in the Phoenix Am skate contest. I went down to the shop and said "no way -- that thing is too nice, let me get it running." I found them a junky bike out of the boneyard in Phoenix that they let us just take, and we brought the good one to my house. Had it up and running in a week or two. The shop paid for parts (plugs and battery, oil, gas... not much else as  I recall), but they're friends so I didn't charge them for any labor (one of the guys bought me lunch, and they hook me up in other ways). Back to the shop it went, then on to one of the guy's homes, where it sits to this day. My stipulation was that I get to buy the bike for what they put into it when they are ready to get rid of it. I check in with them every once in a while, and am about to move back to Phoenix in two weeks, so I am hoping to lay claim to that thing. Fun little smoker! Very nice shape, AZ bike (no rust), clean title...

[carnivorous chicken]

I take it back -- they might have paid $200 for it...

[DH]

#323

dragged out of a warehouse full of old jap bikes in 2005. Complete, but with non-oe exhaust and covered in
fire extinguisher chemical. P.O. appeared to be a real carb Einstien...Substituted storm door screen for petcock strainer.
Must've done carb work as well. Lit it up, but got lucky, and got the fire out just as the plenum chamber was
starting to melt

Thats beauiful, DH.  I have a '74 as well that I plan to restore...

thanks again steve. It could be better than it is, and i'm still spending on it. Getting there slowly.

[Stev-o]

1967 Suzuki Hustler

Still have it?  Was my first motorcycle....

Funny story and since you kind of asked... Friends of mine who own a skateboard shop in Tempe bought it for $100 -- dunno how they found it, I think it was on CL, dunno how I missed it. They had it at the shop and were going to spray paint it and use it as an obstacle in the Phoenix Am skate contest. I went down to the shop and said "no way -- that thing is too nice, let me get it running." I found them a junky bike out of the boneyard in Phoenix that they let us just take, and we brought the good one to my house. Had it up and running in a week or two. The shop paid for parts (plugs and battery, oil, gas... not much else as  I recall), but they're friends so I didn't charge them for any labor (one of the guys bought me lunch, and they hook me up in other ways). Back to the shop it went, then on to one of the guy's homes, where it sits to this day. My stipulation was that I get to buy the bike for what they put into it when they are ready to get rid of it. I check in with them every once in a while, and am about to move back to Phoenix in two weeks, so I am hoping to lay claim to that thing. Fun little smoker! Very nice shape, AZ bike (no rust), clean title...

Great story!  I'd be interested in it too, if/when the time ever comes.

[Stev-o]

#323

dragged out of a warehouse full of old jap bikes in 2005. Complete, but with non-oe exhaust and covered in
fire extinguisher chemical. P.O. appeared to be a real carb Einstien...Substituted storm door screen for petcock strainer.
Must've done carb work as well. Lit it up, but got lucky, and got the fire out just as the plenum chamber was
starting to melt

Thats beauiful, DH.  I have a '74 as well that I plan to restore...

thanks again steve. It could be better than it is, and i'm still spending on it. Getting there slowly.

They are never done!  I looked at mine today in storage, I need to get a battery and rebuild the carbs, then I could attempt start up. But...have 3 projects ahead of it!

[Don R]

 Wow, the Sandy was my last post, since then I've recommissioned a 79 GL1000, a 77 cb 400F,, A yamaha JT60 mini enduro for a friend, and am oh so close on a 72 cl100s and another 76 cb 400F.