Help for New Purchase!

[akronos]

hello to all, I found three bikes that could make my case and I like a lot:

Yamaha FZ 750 ( 1986)

Kawasaki Gpz 900 r (1984)

Suzuki GSX 1100 EF (1984)


I also need some information on the maintenance side.

Are strong bike? What are the most valuable?

[akronos]

gsx 1100 ef

[akronos]

fz 750

[Tracer1234]

Not sure why, but always had a thing for the Yam FZ. But tbh, thats purely down to athletics and what owners had said, so not exactly an objective opinion.

So yeah, cant be of any hep other than i think the FZ looks the best.
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Riding: Yamaha MT-09 Tracer Occasionally Riding: 08 Suzuki SV650, Potato: 2011 Yamaha YBR Custom.
Used to ride: 2015 Yamaha MT-09 Tracer (smidsy) 09 Triumph Street Triple (P/X'd) 08 Yamaha YBR (Sold)
CBT 04/14. A: Mod 1 & 2 13/04/15

[natefz6]

I had a Suzuki it rotted, I have a Yamaha it has rotted less. For that reason I would go for the Yamaha or the Kawasaki and out of the two I go for the Yamaha all things equal but at that age something in good condition is going to start to start adding up.
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"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[pompousporcup...]

i own the kwak 900r. If you have deep pockets, they're a fantastic classic tourer and they don't half shift when you crack the throttle.

That said, you'l be paying 2.5k+ for something that is "Good" condition with reasonable mileage.
Don't do what i did and buy one that needs work because parts are getting harder and harder to get hold of and you could well end up spending a grand or more sorting out he issues. Unless you want one to strip and rebuild from the ground up.

Issues i have experience with and know of:
Oem Fuel taps fail to stop fuel dribbling out the tank, which combined with old shite needle valves allow fuel to fill up the cylinder. When you start it, hydraulic lock happens and you bend conrods.

Rust isn't really an issue tbh. The front upper and lower subframes that hold the fairing on can get rusty but easily remedied.

Early model fork anti-drive things are a pain to maintain. Early model brakes are cheaper than later models so kind of offsets it a bit.

Starter clutches go. You can up-rate them with zzr1100 units but it means engine out and strip down.

Unitrak suspension linkage can get a lot of play in and cause it to fail the MOT. The bearing kit is expensive and a faff to fit. I removed my centre stand making it almost impossible to test the play.

Tyres are a right PITA to get as the rear wheel is 18inch on all models, with the early model having a 16inch front and the later model having a 17inch front. There is a conversion to a 17inch rear but its hassle so you are limited to a select few makes/models of tyre.

Carbs and airbox assembly is the worst job on this bike. The carbs don't do well with POD filters and do like the airbox but fitting the two together requires patience and time. Repair kits for the carbs are expensive as are the airbox rubbers.
The bikes also don't run well with a fuel filter so if you have rust in the tank they can clog up pilot jets really quickly.

[akronos]

in Italy the price of Gpz 900 are low..
in my country the 80s motorbikes are not so sought after so they have low prices.

the thing I'm most interested in is the robustness of the engine of these three motorcycles

[pompousporcup...]

They're good bikes, fast too look to see how easy it is to find parts before committing to buying one

[Shaft]

[Robby]

They're over 30 years old. Whilst bike don't age in the same ways cars do, at that age rust is steel frames and swinging arms can be a serious issue. Often the fix isn't a simple job, it involves welding in new sections in odd shapes using a jig.

Rubber parts in the chassis will be knackered, along with a few roller bearings. They'll cost a surprising amount to replace. Shock absorbers will probably be shot.

The engine is likely to be the least of your problems. A lot of 80s engines were tough, particularly the ones that are still working now. It's the rest of the bike that's a problem.

Be on the lookout for rusted fuel tanks. The cost of a good replacement in the right colours could be obscene.

[Shaft]

[Enduro Numpty]

I can't say what one will be like now but I had one of the first GPz900R's in 1984. Very few bikes can be described as a true game changer but if any can it's the 900.

It's difficult for younger riders to appreciate how much of a leap the GPz and other bikes that quickly followed were. They were much faster than what immediately preceded them but much more importantly they came with handling and brakes that prior to then could only be found at specialist frame builders.

All 3 of the bikes you list were absolute belters back in the day but if it were my money I'd have the Kawasaki but I am seriously biased. Trying to find a good one....that's the problem.