1982 GPz-750 (KZ750R1)

[SonicVenum]

The carbs are all apart except for the pilot jets, which all seem to be sorta stuck. These things were pretty gunked up with old fuel. I found a couple odd things as well. One of the top caps was missing a screw and the remaining three were all pretty much just finger tight. Also, one of the fuel T's was plugged with what seemed to be the tip of a chop stick. The main jets all had "130" stamped on them, so this confirms the bike was re-jetted because the service manual calls for a 110 main jet.

For now, they will spend the night in the garage with WD-40 soaking in the pilot jet holes, which will, hopefully, loosen them up.

[Brakelate]

Any updates on this project?

This whole thing has got me looking and even doing a little snooping for old Gpz's, VFR's and other early to mid '80s bikes to tinker on. Just something else I absolutely have no money, patience or room for. But, so be it.

Unrelated, and probably worthy of it's own "oddball creation" thread; At a local "wheeler dealer" type of car lot that sees strange, yet sometimes often interesting vehicles of various types, I saw the craziest thing. A complete side car and motorcycle rolling package. I saw it passing by at speed and from the distance could not tell what all it was exactly. So, of course, I went back to take a closer look. Much to my surprise, shock and confusion, my inspection revealed the side car rig was attached to, of all things, a 1982 Kawasaki Gpz 550 !!! The whole thing had been mated together in what appears to be a period correct aftermarket produced kit. Why to a air cooled 550, I have no idea. Not sure if it was a matter of convenience or if the kit was specifically built for the KZ / Gpz platform, but it all appeared to have worked at one time. They even went so far as to beef up the front tire with some square edged thing, and add some frame spars for durability. It was a rather large sidehack compared to the scale of the bike. But it showed 30 or 40 thousand miles on the ODO, and many were obviously rolled on in this configuration. The only rather sickening thing, other than the whole scene, was that someone had painted the whole thing a gawdy Silver color at about the same time they put the whole package together. It has obviously been sitting, but was complete and appeared externally to potentially run. I kick myself now for not snapping a bunch of pics to share at the time. The lot was closed with no one around to inquire about it, and it has since vanished. What an odd thing.

The other cool thing they had was a AZ street legal desert buggy. Similar to a Sand Rail, but beefed significantly for open desert racing and abuse rather than the typical light weight fragile sand toys, upon closer inspection it clearly was a high dollar custom build that was straight out of 1990. It was powered by a beefed Inline Four water cooled mill, rather than the typical VW based flat four and sported numerous external fluid coolers, fans and skid plates.

[Brakelate]

Continued from above:

It had all the period components to make it appear to be a "Barn Find" from 1990, with early Centerline wheels, Desert tires, and even the fashionable at the time odd Purple paint job. It had a CB and even a light weight front mounted Winch. With a plexiglass windshield, turn signals and the minimal required road gear, it was a pretty neat piece. It even sported some then-top of the line suspension, shocks, seats and belts. What another odd, but neat thing.

Again, it must have been cutting edge, and cost a fortune 23 years ago. Though it shows some use, and more aging from just being stored, it would still be a fun and effective toy - for the right price. Sadly, it too was gone within a week. I guess the price was right and someone else recognized it for not being what it was, but what it had been - or could be with a little TLC. And no. No shots of it either. Arghh.

Sure is odd what pops up around here every now and again. I am sure it is best they disappeared. Last thing I need is to bring home another stray mechanical cat.

[jhwalker]

Any updates on this project?

This whole thing has got me looking and even doing a little snooping for old Gpz's, VFR's and other early to mid '80s bikes to tinker on. Just something else I absolutely have no money, patience or room for. But, so be it.

Unrelated, and probably worthy of it's own "oddball creation" thread; At a local "wheeler dealer" type of car lot that sees strange, yet sometimes often interesting vehicles of various types, I saw the craziest thing. A complete side car and motorcycle rolling package. I saw it passing by at speed and from the distance could not tell what all it was exactly. So, of course, I went back to take a closer look. Much to my surprise, shock and confusion, my inspection revealed the side car rig was attached to, of all things, a 1982 Kawasaki Gpz 550 !!! The whole thing had been mated together in what appears to be a period correct aftermarket produced kit. Why to a air cooled 550, I have no idea. Not sure if it was a matter of convenience or if the kit was specifically built for the KZ / Gpz platform, but it all appeared to have worked at one time. They even went so far as to beef up the front tire with some square edged thing, and add some frame spars for durability. It was a rather large sidehack compared to the scale of the bike. But it showed 30 or 40 thousand miles on the ODO, and many were obviously rolled on in this configuration. The only rather sickening thing, other than the whole scene, was that someone had painted the whole thing a gawdy Silver color at about the same time they put the whole package together. It has obviously been sitting, but was complete and appeared externally to potentially run. I kick myself now for not snapping a bunch of pics to share at the time. The lot was closed with no one around to inquire about it, and it has since vanished. What an odd thing.

The other cool thing they had was a AZ street legal desert buggy. Similar to a Sand Rail, but beefed significantly for open desert racing and abuse rather than the typical light weight fragile sand toys, upon closer inspection it clearly was a high dollar custom build that was straight out of 1990. It was powered by a beefed Inline Four water cooled mill, rather than the typical VW based flat four and sported numerous external fluid coolers, fans and skid plates.

That sounds interesting. The buggy. You really find some interesting old stuff down here in Mexico. The problem is that the owners always seem to be the most shadiest of shade tree mechanics, and as I said once before, they really use things up here. "Cherry" is not a working concept. But I am always looking.

[SonicVenum]

No updates as of yet. The carbs are still sitting in rags, in a bag, in the garage. After recovering from inhaling all those vapors from working on the carbs in my enclosed room, I've been pretty busy with work. The pilot jets are still in place and continue to soak in PB Blaster. I do want to get to is soon, though, because I'd like to get that bike on the road.

Cool finds up there! In this modern era of cell phone cameras, it's a low-down, dirty shame not snapping pics of a cool sighting.

[Brakelate]

I thought the same thing (about the lac of pics). It wasn't so much the camera, as I went by today and discovered that the Gpz side hack was moved, but is still there on the lot. But, the weird feeling of going into a closed up, semi-secured lot and doing some up close snooping.

I will draw upon my Ninja skills and go back in the next day or two and take those pics. Perhaps I will leave a note and inquire about it. Not so much for purchase, but more to hear what must be a interesting tale of where it came from, why it was assembled and what was done to it to increase performance and obviously allow it to remain road worthy after all these years.

I am just afraid he will throw some insane clearance "get it off my lot NOW" price at me, and I will crumble and end up with it in my garage. Then what?

[jhwalker]

I thought the same thing (about the lac of pics). It wasn't so much the camera, as I went by today and discovered that the Gpz side hack was moved, but is still there on the lot. But, the weird feeling of going into a closed up, semi-secured lot and doing some up close snooping.

I will draw upon my Ninja skills and go back in the next day or two and take those pics. Perhaps I will leave a note and inquire about it. Not so much for purchase, but more to hear what must be a interesting tale of where it came from, why it was assembled and what was done to it to increase performance and obviously allow it to remain road worthy after all these years.

I am just afraid he will throw some insane clearance "get it off my lot NOW" price at me, and I will crumble and end up with it in my garage. Then what?

Yes you vill crumple... (paying homage to the creators of the "waste of a busa" )

[SonicVenum]

With the REX out of the stable, I can renew my focus on the GPz. The front/rear master cylinder rebuild kits should be here next week. I might just have this thing running before January is over. The guy that bought the REX also has two GPz's in pieces. He said he's been looking like crazy for an unmolested GPz, but they're damn near impossible to find. This makes me think a straight up restoration is the best plan of action. I like the original paint scheme anyway, so I'll just rejuvenate it. I'll have to source the original "Kawasaki" decals missing from the tank, pointed out by my eagle-eyed Ninja. The tail section has been modified to delete the original fender. I don't know that I want to spend the money to replace it with an original tail section. They did a pretty good job of installing aftermarket turn signals on the side of the tail section. This will all be played by ear.

[SonicVenum]

I'm setting a new record pace, for me. I've had the GPz a little over a year, and I'm already making progress on it. The carbs are completely clean with a new coat of paint on them. All that I have left to do is check the float height on them. The brake master cylinders both need to be rebuilt, and I have the rebuild kits in hand, ready to go. I have PB Blaster soaking on the cover screws for the master cylinder in the hopes that I won't have to strip them and use an EZ-out to get them out. The pod filters have all been cleaned, and are awaiting new oil. Other items left before I have a running bike are an oil/filter change, new spark plugs, a good chain cleaning/lubing, and some fresh fuel. Oh, and I'll have to synchronize the carbs, which means picking up a carb synchronizer.

Now, the bigger picture. The paint is rough, and the tail section needs a couple plastic repairs. I was planning on going with the original paint scheme with a very close match on the Firecracker Red and OEM stripes. The problem is, I'm missing several expensive parts to get it back to stock, completely. The tank "Kawasaki" emblems mounting points have been covered, the tail section has had turn signals screwed into it, the back half of the rear fender is missing (along with the original turn signals), and the grab bar is missing. I definitely don't want to spend the money to replace cosmetic items to get it back to stock. So, that leaves me thinking I might as well switch it up completely. I'll keep the "GPz750" badges on the side covers because I already have them. I did some searching around on what other guys have done. It seams most people stick with stock. I've seen a few painted black/flat black, and one painted burnt orange. I've also seen a few painted in Eddie Lawson Racing colors. Seeing the bikes without stripes got me thinking it was doable. Now to choose a color. I'm stuck between Ford's current Ruby Red Metallic and my old favorite, Sonic Blue. Decisions, decisions...

[SonicVenum]

Front and rear brakes now work. Oil, oil filter, and spark plugs are all new. Carbs completely reassembled and mounted with freshly cleaned/oil pod air filters. Problem: I tried starting it after having the battery on the charger for a few days. The cranking sounded weak, and after a few attempts, smoke started coming from the starter area. On the next attempt, the negative battery post started sparking and all the lights went out. So, now I've got to hunt down an electrical gremlin. I already ordered a starter rebuild kit, which should be here Monday. The $21 I spent on that is nothing compared to the $425 a new starter costs. I'll also go through the main power/ground wires and clean them up. The good news is that all the lights work, headlight (low & hi), turn signals, tail light, and brake light. I'm really hoping I can have this thing on the road by the end of next week.