Kawasaki GPX 750 - From Rat to Normal - Big Pics :-)

[Efes123]

I bought this for £450 in the autumn of 2012. It had 12 months MOT and 6 months Tax on it, but I hated the look of it, I know some love this look, but it’s just not for me. There only seemed a couple of problems; first the choke cable had snapped, and the PO had been using a cable tie, and there also seems to be some blowing from the front pipes of the exhaust.

https://www.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/bikepics/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-original1.jpg

https://www.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/bikepics/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-original2.jpg

https://www.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/bikepics/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-original3.jpg

First things first, I removed the stickers, and gas mask. Applied a little paint remover, and quickly washed it off again. Already it’s starting to look better.

https://www.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/bikepics/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-NoStickers2.jpg

https://www.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/bikepics/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-NoStickers3.jpg

Now, what to do? Should I remove the paint, or just paint over? I found out from the previous owner that the matt black was actually high temp paint. Bugger, this meant it wasn’t going to be easy to remove. I carefully scrapped a little away from the tail, and a pinky/red showed up. Oh well, decision made, I may as well just paint over.

First job, fairings, and plastics off; I think what I’ll try is an initial coat of Hammerite, followed by a gloss high temp paint. I know this might be a little more expensive paint wise, but I do like the depth the high temp paint gives.
Well, tank, and few of the fairings;

https://www.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/bikepics/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-Half-Sprayed1.jpg

https://www.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/bikepics/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-Half-Sprayed2.jpg

https://www.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/bikepics/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-Half-Sprayed4.jpg

I’ve now run out of paint, and starting to run out of spondoolies, so might have to wait a while before doing the rest.
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[blurredman]

Better already
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[mrdelmonti]

Looks like you're managing to get a pretty good finish to that paint, looks much better than the matt look

[virus]

Fair play, that looks like its tidying up well. (and thats coming from a ratter)


proves ratbikes can be bargains though if your willing to either ride it as is, or put a bit of work in on cosmetics.

Nice to see a GPX being treated well for once too, they were always though of the runt of the kwak litter compared to the gpz series but still a solid bike making good power for its age. Cheap horsepower... Nice



Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[Efes123]

Plastic primer for the fairing, and using high temp paint. It really does seem to put depth on the colour
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[P.]

Very good paint work there

[DreadHead]

Looking good! Hope to get mine looking half decent now that I've got it road worthy!
____________________
CBT √ Passed, Theory √ Passed, Mod 1 √ Passed, Mod 2 √ Passed
Riding - '87 Kawasaki GPX750R (Rolling Restoration) and '06 YBR125.
Want - Triumph Speed Four or Street Triple

[Efes123]

[Efes123]

Plastics and decals now on Starting to look pretty nice, although the gold decals don't show up that well in the pics;

https://www.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/bikepics/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-Decals2.jpg

https://www.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/bikepics/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-Decals3.jpg

I now need to find some stripes
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[Efes123]

Finally finished respraying the plastics (and the tank), uncovered a bit more of the exhaust, and put the rest of the decals on;

https://gallery.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/albums/BikePics/Kawasaki/normal_Ipswich-20121111-00403.jpg
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[blurredman]

What are you going to do about the engine? Leave it as it is?
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[Efes123]

No, the engine is next on the agenda. I'm just waiting for the service manual, then I'll be good to go with a full service, then restore the paint etc.
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[pepperami]

It`s looking a whole lot better
What are you going to do about/with the swinging arm?

I hate it when people spray everything matt black , but hey! "each to thier own"
Glad to see you bringing it back to normal?ish .

£450 with 12 month MOT and 6 months tax, sounds like a good buy even if it was as ugly as sin!
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Efes123]

Looks like it's supposed to be silver, I'd like it something like this;

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MNuzAWNN3PA/TtDojO-XmOI/AAAAAAAAAhU/9qBdZ_otEBs/s1600/Kawasaki+GPX+750+R.jpg

But with slightly different decals

How you doing with your Jawas? Still waiting for the thread
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[pepperami]

Jawa thread your having a laugh?.

On serious note, Ye Gods, NOBODY keeps parts for old Jawas
It`s looking like it wont be standard.
It`s an old Jawa and I`m not going to spend big money on it so whatever bits turn up and I can make to fit.

A headlight rim for a 634 is as rare as rocking-horse shite.
The loom is a home made affair and that will require some serious attention before I get anywhere near a spark.

Anyhoo! what goes with the 750 ? any progress?
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Efes123]

[mysterious_rider]

Hi mate, with that high temp paint on the tank, would it melt away if you dropped petrol on it?

Have to say, I like it unratted, but still looked good rat! Currently making my own ratbike.

Cheers

[Mark 37]