Buying a project bike, but how far do you take it?

[TimNorwich]

I have just paid £100 to get my old Kawasaki GPZ 500 back, I sold it to my partners sister 2 and a half years ago, she threw it down the road a few weeks later and it spent a while off the road before being stored in the garden (all be it under a cover) for the rest of the duration.

It's a 97 with 23k on the clock (I put 10k on when I first owned it)

It has an MOT (though I don't think that has long left), new rear tyre, a SS 2-1 exhaust (which cost over £100 recently) and I believe the chain/sprockets are in good order too, also an Acumen alarm that I fitted. It's had everything done to make it as mechanically sound as possible but has been sat a while so no doubt could do with fluid changes.

As far as condition goes most pannels are scratched, so I'm not sure what I'll do with this?

I think a lot of hammerite is in order, but not sure if it's worth sorting the fairing out?

I am unsure if I will ride it as I currently don't own a motorcycle, or wether I'll just sell it, the reason I am buying it is for a bit of a project and because it's a bit of a bargain!

What is the usual drill with project bikes?


Appologies for the long post!

This is a picture of it shortly before I sold it;

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/norfolkriders/DSC00708.jpg


Tim
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[maria383]

Which one broke it
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Happiness is realising you have another gear left

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[Teflon-Mike]

[timsmith]

The real question is do you REALLY want this bike? It will cost more than its worth to get it back to top condition if you take into account your time as well as bits.
If you are unsure then punt it out through E-Bay as is or spend as little as possible to get a years mot then punt it out through E-Bay and loose even more money.
If you are sentimentally attached to the thing then take the bull by the horns and properly cost all the bits you will need then double that figure to give a rough idea of what it will cost. Then double it again. Then think how you will do the job in an unheated shed in a British winter and how you will make the time as you will need to spend every spare hour on the project if you stand any hope of completing the job in a sensible time frame.
May sound extreme but if this sounds like fun crack on and enjoy it. Many people do, as indeed I have until I came to my senses and now just buy bikes that are all there and are road worthy.
It's your life to spend how you wish!
Good luck and keep us posted on your decision and the rebuild if you go down that route.

Tim

[TimNorwich]

As it stands the bike is in full working order, the biggest issue will be doing something with the fairing. Apart from that it's just sanding away the rust and getting some smooth black Hammerite on there.

It's a fully working bike with plenty of bits worth money, so even if I decide to pack it in I can't see myself being at a loss?

Thanks,

Tim
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[jjdugen]

A good condition, lowish mileage GPZ is worth £7 - 800 on a really good day, yours, with full MOT and at least six months tax, maybe £500, more like £400. Sold as a spares /repair you are likely to get £200.
IF the engine is good, however, GPZ bits are plentiful and cheap. I recently bought one that needed a full frame restore and a replacement piston just to get it going. I put it back on the road for the grand outlay of about £150 and quite a bit of work,
I did NOT make a great proffit on that one!
Really, unless you are totally geared up to take on full rebuilds, its just not worth the effort. (BTW, the price of scrap metal these days, it is probably easier just to take it to a scrap dealer, bet you'll get at least £150 for it and you've done nothing!).

[pepperami]

[TimNorwich]

It just generally needs a tidy up, but wasn't sure how much money to put into it and was wondering if I'd make anything back, the feedback would suggest I wouldn't... I'll think about what I want to do!
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[Teflon-Mike]