GPZ 305

[Andy C]

I currently have a RXS100 which I mainly brought as the GF needed a way to get around at summer so we went halfs on it. She didnt really enjoy the experience since we got a car she doesnt want to ride it and so no longer need a sub 125cc bike.

I like how the 100 is cheap to run but seems pointless to not get a slightly bigger cheap to run bike as I have a license (and its always nice to change bikes).

I have been thinking about getting a GPZ305 as reckon it will be a cheap runaround till I graduate (e.g. 65mpg, disc brakes, 95mph top speed, 6 gears etc).

Just wanted to get some feedback from owners/previous owners, I would like to spend upto £800 on one. Any other bike I should look at instead which would be better? Cheapness to run is more important than performance.

So, they good bikes? Seen a few on ebay and seems chain and sprocket conversion is done a lot and new 2 to 1 exhaust, guess the orginal rotted? Anything to look out on them when buying one?

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery/Kawasaki%20GPZ305.jpg

Trying to save up at the moment so a sports bike is a not going to happen till Im out of uni
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99 RS125 --> 02 SV650s --> 03 Speed Four --> 92 RXS100 --> 93 CB400sf --> 01 CB600f Hornet

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Spend £500 on a CB500/GPZ500S. I liked the 305 about 15 years ago, I'd be surprised if there's many in a decent enough condition now.
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Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Joenitro]

I had one about 12 years ago. Was the most economical bike i've ever owned. Quite quick for what they are but turn nasty if you push them hard in the corners. 6th gear is an overdrive and they need frequent oil changes cos the heads wear.

[Andy C]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Wouldn't fuel be pretty similar as you'd be thrashing the 305 more?
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[user]

If you have £800 to spend, for the love of god, buy something else. They're terrible.

However, mine's cluttering up the garden at the moment, so if you really really want one and you enjoy fixing things, make me an offer

[Andy C]

[That_Hornet]

I have a 500s and i can't say it bad on fuel at all.

Much better than my hornet.

I get about 115 to a tank and fill it up about 13£ a time and i absolutely rag the living shite out of it. Getting air over the speed bumps is fun.

[Blau Zedong]

Stinkwheel will be along shortly with his gallery of GPZ 305 related fail....

The Z250 twin wasn't a reliable bike, so Kawasaki thought it would be ok to take it out to 305cc is anyone's guess..maybe they did it for teh lulz? As a bike they are actually pretty good as a balance of power / weight / economy, as an engineering study they are disgraceful.

£800 will get you a reliable and useful device that's not a GPZ 305.
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[user]

[Polarbear]

I would really wonder if these are now to old to be financially viable. It's one thing for cheap running costs, but if spares are silly money due to rarity youd be much better off with a cb/gs/Z 500 of more modern era.
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[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Belt prices used to be horrendous, conversion to chain was common.

I think they had taper head bearings which are akward and expensive also.

Too many niggly faults that will cost you to sort. Just get a parallel twin that will do everything better for less money and a lot more reliably.

[Robby]

Have a look in the used bike bible for them, the concencus is that they were pretty terrible 20 years ago and haven't aged well. Cheap reliable transport they are not.

£800 will get you a decent 500. If you want cheaper simple wheels then any other 250 twin will do - CB250 is simple and slow, for example.

[lonner]

they were a bad kawasaki bike new dont do that to your gf unless your trying to get shut of her

go with the gs500 cb500 er5 gpz500 etc as she will do all the things you like then simples:up:

[MarJay]

[Billy Balthorpe]

Never owned one myself but i did used to know a guy who had a few of them. All of them were knackered to some extent and unrideable. he couldnt make one good one because they all had engine problems. He was a bit of an enthusist about the 305 and even he said they were crap.

Buy a 500 CB/GS/ER or a 600 Divvy. I reckon the GS will be the cheapest to buy and insure, theres lots of them about so if you need any spares you should have no trouble finding them.

The GPZ500S is a damn good bike but will be more expensive to insure.

If insurance is your main concern, get a quote for all of them. The MPG will be about the same for all of them and dependent on how you ride.
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M.O.B. Successfully taking the piss since 2014.

[MarJay]

I also heard that the GPZ305 has chocolate cams that pit very easily...
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[lonner]