Who digs Kawasaki GPZ's?

FastDoc · 03-03-2012, 08:55 PM

This 1982 550 has been parked and garaged for 24 years!

I'd be all over this if I had time, space, and money.

http://kpr.craigslist.org/mcy/2883185398.html

Weldangrind · 03-04-2012, 12:08 AM

Love the old school bum-stop seat! The mid controls might be a bit awkward for a tall guy, but it's a neat bike.

FastDoc · 03-04-2012, 10:04 PM

Still there. Surprising.

katoranger · 03-05-2012, 09:21 AM

I had two of those in college. Bought a wrecked one to fix from a friend. In the search for parts I found another one in rough shape, but running with clear title. Used parts from the first bike to fix the second and rode it for a summer. Sold both for a profit in the fall.

The runner had a 4 into 1 vance and hines pipe and had been jetted. Still wasn't that fast. Only ran on premium 93 too. LOUD. Woke the apartment complex.

FastDoc · 03-05-2012, 01:53 PM

Mid sized bikes of that era were dogs by modern standards. My 1978 GS750 has got nothing. It's very heavy (to be fair its a full dress tourer), I'd guess about 550-575 pounds. New it had 75 HP now I'd guess more like 60. Performance wise it's about the same as the 2003 Harley 883 I'm riding now, which is to say, poor. :roll:

katoranger · 03-05-2012, 03:17 PM

It was still fun. Usually didn't ride much faster than 40mph around town anyway.

FastDoc · 03-05-2012, 03:28 PM

My GS is good for maybe the ton, but it's not safe above 80.

katoranger · 03-05-2012, 04:23 PM

I never tried to go fast on it. 60 maybe. I only road it in town or on the 4 lane highway for a mile or two. I wasn't coomfortable taking it any distance away from home for fear of a breakdown. I believe it had 40K on it at the time.

FastDoc · 03-05-2012, 04:39 PM

My GS has 45,000. :roll:

katoranger · 03-05-2012, 04:45 PM

40K unloved or maintained miles.

FastDoc · 03-05-2012, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katoranger

40K unloved or maintained miles.

I've had it since 35,000. Under my watch it has been loved and maintained. Prior to my ownership it appeared to have been ridden hard and put away wet.

dapp · 05-25-2012, 03:34 PM

I love gpzs, here's my old 1986 900r

I really want another one, but prices have rocketed in the last few years now that they're reaching classic status :(

FastDoc · 05-25-2012, 04:12 PM

They are very much classics on this side of the pond and most have been buggered pretty badly over the decades.

Nice bike.

Brockway · 05-25-2012, 05:44 PM

I raise you a 78 KZ650.

Sold it back when I bought my Triumph in '09. Fun bike, but I just couldn't trust it.

FastDoc · 05-25-2012, 06:06 PM

Oooooo!

'77?

03-03-2012, 08:55 PM	#1
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Who digs Kawasaki GPZ's? This 1982 550 has been parked and garaged for 24 years! I'd be all over this if I had time, space, and money. http://kpr.craigslist.org/mcy/2883185398.html __________________ Happy to serve.
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03-04-2012, 12:08 AM	#2
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Love the old school bum-stop seat! The mid controls might be a bit awkward for a tall guy, but it's a neat bike. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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03-04-2012, 10:04 PM	#3
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Still there. Surprising. __________________ Happy to serve.
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03-05-2012, 01:53 PM	#5
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Mid sized bikes of that era were dogs by modern standards. My 1978 GS750 has got nothing. It's very heavy (to be fair its a full dress tourer), I'd guess about 550-575 pounds. New it had 75 HP now I'd guess more like 60. Performance wise it's about the same as the 2003 Harley 883 I'm riding now, which is to say, poor. :roll: __________________ Happy to serve.
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03-05-2012, 03:28 PM	#7
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	My GS is good for maybe the ton, but it's not safe above 80. __________________ Happy to serve.
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03-05-2012, 09:21 AM	#4
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I had two of those in college. Bought a wrecked one to fix from a friend. In the search for parts I found another one in rough shape, but running with clear title. Used parts from the first bike to fix the second and rode it for a summer. Sold both for a profit in the fall. The runner had a 4 into 1 vance and hines pipe and had been jetted. Still wasn't that fast. Only ran on premium 93 too. LOUD. Woke the apartment complex.
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03-05-2012, 03:17 PM	#6
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	It was still fun. Usually didn't ride much faster than 40mph around town anyway.
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03-05-2012, 04:23 PM	#8
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I never tried to go fast on it. 60 maybe. I only road it in town or on the 4 lane highway for a mile or two. I wasn't coomfortable taking it any distance away from home for fear of a breakdown. I believe it had 40K on it at the time.
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03-05-2012, 04:39 PM	#9
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	My GS has 45,000. :roll: __________________ Happy to serve.
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03-05-2012, 04:45 PM	#10
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	40K unloved or maintained miles.
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05-25-2012, 03:34 PM	#12
dapp Join Date: May 2012 Location: Devon, England Posts: 67	I love gpzs, here's my old 1986 900r I really want another one, but prices have rocketed in the last few years now that they're reaching classic status :(
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05-25-2012, 04:12 PM	#13
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	They are very much classics on this side of the pond and most have been buggered pretty badly over the decades. Nice bike. __________________ Happy to serve.
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05-25-2012, 05:44 PM	#14
Brockway Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sicily, but from Texas Posts: 56	I raise you a 78 KZ650. Sold it back when I bought my Triumph in '09. Fun bike, but I just couldn't trust it.
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05-25-2012, 06:06 PM	#15
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Oooooo! '77? __________________ Happy to serve.
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