To fix or not to fix...
Discussion
...that is the question.
I got the old GPz1100 fired-up, but I've decided I'm going to sell it. It's an '84 GPz1100 A1 unitrak that I did a full ground-up restoration maybe 20 years ago. But it started to weep oil at the cylinder head after getting some miles on it; and for whatever reason I just stopped using it and the last time it was on the road was 2004! But I also see that having sat for so long in the garage it's also dripping out a seal at the gearchange,
It definitely needs a new battery, and there were a few tight spots on the chain so I'll put a new chain on it and change the oil. That alone will let me ride it to get it MOTd. But I'm in two minds about doing much else. On one hand I'm inclined to strip it down and fix the leaks - but it's time I can't really be bothered spending and some fairly expensive gaskets. I'd absolutely do that on a newer bike; but on the other hand if I was buying a 34 year-old bike not used for 14 years I'd expect to strip it down anyway so maybe I'm just wasting my time and cash doing what's going to be undone anyway?
Clearly if you are paying top-dollar for a new bike you'd want it right - but from the perspective of someone who wants a taste of the King of the air-cooleds - last and greatest of the original Zed line, would you want it oil-tight fully 'fixed' and ready to ride to the ends of the Earth, or tidy, running, but you're going to have to do some work?
So, as per the Picture a day thread, here's the old girl after a hose-down and some jump leads
I got the old GPz1100 fired-up, but I've decided I'm going to sell it. It's an '84 GPz1100 A1 unitrak that I did a full ground-up restoration maybe 20 years ago. But it started to weep oil at the cylinder head after getting some miles on it; and for whatever reason I just stopped using it and the last time it was on the road was 2004! But I also see that having sat for so long in the garage it's also dripping out a seal at the gearchange,
It definitely needs a new battery, and there were a few tight spots on the chain so I'll put a new chain on it and change the oil. That alone will let me ride it to get it MOTd. But I'm in two minds about doing much else. On one hand I'm inclined to strip it down and fix the leaks - but it's time I can't really be bothered spending and some fairly expensive gaskets. I'd absolutely do that on a newer bike; but on the other hand if I was buying a 34 year-old bike not used for 14 years I'd expect to strip it down anyway so maybe I'm just wasting my time and cash doing what's going to be undone anyway?
Clearly if you are paying top-dollar for a new bike you'd want it right - but from the perspective of someone who wants a taste of the King of the air-cooleds - last and greatest of the original Zed line, would you want it oil-tight fully 'fixed' and ready to ride to the ends of the Earth, or tidy, running, but you're going to have to do some work?
So, as per the Picture a day thread, here's the old girl after a hose-down and some jump leads
Rubin215 said:
Yeah, I'd probably give him about £150...
Most kind - I can forward my bank details if you like. Now, what about a price for the bike?As it is, I'm coming round to the idea of doing the minimum to get it through an MOT, give it a proper clean and then sell it in that state.
Having rebuilt a couple of bikes from the mid 80s I wouldn’t touch one without an Mot, more so when the seller says it’ll pass.
If it’s that easy just mot it!
It’s far easier to fix a bike that you know runs well in the first place!
Oil leaks, if you want maximum cash it’s best to fix them. But as it’s a bike not caught up in the current cafe fad it may not be worth a fortune, so you may not get the money back when you sell.
If it’s that easy just mot it!
It’s far easier to fix a bike that you know runs well in the first place!
Oil leaks, if you want maximum cash it’s best to fix them. But as it’s a bike not caught up in the current cafe fad it may not be worth a fortune, so you may not get the money back when you sell.
Holy s
t! Some people are hopeful aren't they/ Or do these things really go for this sort of money:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1983-Kawasaki-GPZ-GPZ11...
Note: Sold as restoration project/spares or repair/non-runner
t! Some people are hopeful aren't they/ Or do these things really go for this sort of money:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1983-Kawasaki-GPZ-GPZ11...
Note: Sold as restoration project/spares or repair/non-runner
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