A new addition to the garage

[Oblivion]

Yeap, I now have another bike.

A nice new (old) 1983 GPz550. Was doing a recycling run at the NP dump and came across it in the Bin shopping shed. Got out and had a look, and said to my Dad "You know, this would be a pretty good bike for when I get my full"

850$ and a change of ownership later, its now sitting comfortably in the garage. Bone stock apart from a 4-1 exhaust. If I can find a decent condition set of stock exhausts I'll probably switch them round.

Its gonna be quite the nice resto project in the coming year or so. Going to go back to factory paint scheme, polish, and a tidy up of the general paint work.

I dont have a computer with a card reader or a data cable, so no pics. You can all miss out. :bleh:

Now, to go get my full licence... Its not going to ride itself :lol:

[Katman]

Score!!!!!

[SMOKEU]

http://www.mizozo.com/images/item_images/21000/20815_gallery.jpg

[Oblivion]

...[/IMG]

Can't argue with fire and pitchforks.... :wacko:
I should get them up on Tuesday hopefully :headbang:

[Katman]

The GPZ550 was an absolute gem of a motorcycle.

You should be very pleased with it.

[Oblivion]

I already was, took it for a wee spin and came back with a massive grin. Can't wait to start riding it regularly.

[Katman]

One like this http://www.motorbikespecs.net/images/Kawasaki/GPZ_550_H1_H2_82-83/GPZ_550_H1_H2_82-83_1.jpg

or like this http://dayerses.com/data_images/posts/kawasaki-gpz-550/kawasaki-gpz-550-08.jpg ?

[ducatilover]

Awesome retro-win! I love old GPZs. Hell, I love 80's Kwakas.
We really, really neeeeeeeeeeeeeeed pics.

[Oblivion]

One like this http://www.motorbikespecs.net/images/Kawasaki/GPZ_550_H1_H2_82-83/GPZ_550_H1_H2_82-83_1.jpg

or like this http://dayerses.com/data_images/posts/kawasaki-gpz-550/kawasaki-gpz-550-08.jpg ?

More like the first one. I'm thinkign of making it like that if I do decide to paint it.


Awesome retro-win! I love old GPZs. Hell, I love 80's Kwakas.
We really, really neeeeeeeeeeeeeeed pics.

You have to wait :bash:, I brokeded my laptop. Hopefully I should get it back tomorrow though. Heres hoping

[unstuck]

Good score, I would of grabbed it too. Great wee bikes. I missed out on a 83 750 model for $500 not long ago, I was gutted. :baby:

[Katman]

More like the first one.

Even betterer score.

If it's like the first one it's a 1982 model (probably just first registered in 1983).

[The Lone Rider]

+1 for pics


Whats this bin you speak of?

And where can I find some more wrecks, bag ups, and/or losers who want some quick cash for their old "working and totally awesome" motorcycles?

[AllanB]

Good stuff - a excellent bike. Off the top of my head the 550 was the first Kawa uni-track (single rear shock) road bike.

[Oblivion]

Good score, I would of grabbed it too. Great wee bikes. I missed out on a 83 750 model for $500 not long ago, I was gutted. :baby:

:brick::brick::brick:


+1 for pics


Whats this bin you speak of?

And where can I find some more wrecks, bag ups, and/or losers who want some quick cash for their old "working and totally awesome" motorcycles?

Tis just a shed filled with micellaneous stuff that no-one wants. Apparently it was just there because it was owned by the loader driver. Some guy had put in an offer of 1000$ but didn't get back to him, so I think that i'm lucky that I got it. :lol:

[akkadian]

You can leave it at my place until you get your full licence if you want. Yeah I'm good like that..

[Oblivion]

You can leave it at my place until you get your full licence if you want. Yeah I'm good like that..

Hsssss..... Get your own :girlfight:

On the upside, I should get pics tomorrow. :banana:

[Oblivion]

Right, I finally managed to get round to pics. Just had to support those lost out to sea on the coast of New Plymouth with a Candle Parade tonight. And now I get to be finally in front of a computer. :lol:

267921267922267923267924

[tigertim20]

that looks like a fantastic score, good job!

[Katman]

Is the original plate still live?

Edit: Looks like it is according to Carjam.

Good score. Deserves to be restored back to original.

[mossy1200]

If it is fill out change of ownership and put it on hold.

They look like car coby mufflers.
Looks good but the red front doesnt match the white paint.

[Oblivion]

If it is fill out change of ownership and put it on hold.

They look like car coby mufflers.
Looks good but the red front doesnt match the white paint.

Yeah, I know. Its gonna be painted as part of a restore, so we wont have mismatched paint :banana:

[Katman]

Looks good but the red front doesnt match the white paint.

The white paint doesn't match the red front.

[mossy1200]

The white paint doesn't match the red front.

Correct. Maybe paint the red and the white parts green.

[Katman]

Yeah, I know. Its gonna be painted as part of a restore, so we wont have mismatched paint :banana:

Please tell me you're going to paint it red.

[Katman]

Correct. Maybe paint the red and the white parts green.

A small number did come out in lime green although I don't think we got any here in New Zealand.

[Oblivion]

Please tell me you're going to paint it red.

Of course not. Hell yes

[mossy1200]

Give it to me for a while and ill change some things.

[Oblivion]

Give it to me for a while and ill change some things.

You're just as bad as the person I bought it off's brother. He wanted to streetfighter it :crazy:

[mossy1200]

You're just as bad as the person I bought it off's brother. He wanted to streetfighter it :crazy:

I have a theory. If its not broken. Replace it and tell the wife it was busted up real bad.

[Katman]

I'm about 80% of the way through a restoration on a 1982 GPZ750.

Would be good get them photographed together some day.

[Oblivion]

I have a theory. If its not broken. Replace it and tell the wife it was busted up real bad.

Yeah, sorry babe, I was riding and a land shark knocked me off while I was riding your bike. But its totally ok. I got you a new one. Its the old one. With just a few more mods......

[mossy1200]

20 years ago my mate had a gpz550 but it was a half fairing bike. It was dark blue and silver. He did so many kms on it and the only issue he ever had was a leaking head gasket. I think it had over 150tho on it when he sold it. I had a cbx750 boldor back then and he never had trouble keeping up.
A gpz750 turbo would be a nice bike to keep polished up and take out for a weekend ride every so often.

[mossy1200]

Yeah, sorry babe, I was riding and a land shark knocked me off while I was riding your bike. But its totally ok. I got you a new one. Its the old one. With just a few more mods......


I bought a new triumph bonny and managed to convince my wife the standard carbs were no good for 2 up riding on New Zealand petrol plus the stock bars left me leaning back to far and the stock shocks couldnt handle 2 up.

[Oblivion]

20 years ago my mate had a gpz550 but it was a half fairing bike. It was dark blue and silver. He did so many kms on it and the only issue he ever had was a leaking head gasket. I think it had over 150tho on it when he sold it. I had a cbx750 boldor back then and he never had trouble keeping up.
A gpz750 turbo would be a nice bike to keep polished up and take out for a weekend ride every so often.

If you can find one. If I had the money, i'd snap one up quick smart.


I'm about 80% of the way through a restoration on a 1982 GPZ750.

Would be good get them photographed together some day.

I don't think the camera would be able to handle that amount of sexiness, but thats just me :lol:

[ducatilover]

Looks like an epic project thread is about to start :D Good score dude

[gammaguy]

Yeah, I know. Its gonna be painted as part of a restore, so we wont have mismatched paint :banana:

My first ever new bike was a Kawasaki GPz 550,brought from Dallas Rankine at the Bike Clinic in Tory St.

Unitrak suspension,digital bits on the dash,super stuff.Great Bike,never let me down.

by the way the correct red color is called Firecracker Red.

I also have a nice factory manual in book form here for one of those;)

[gsxr]

My first race bike was a GPZ550 factory race bike bought off John Boyle back in late 1984 when Boyles needed the money to bring in 3 GPZ 750 turbos. Still remember that night in the workshop drinking piss and assembling the first of the turbos.John took it for the first squirt and came back and I remember his words clearly to this day. FUCK THAT. I took it for a ride and I had to agree with him. The turbo lag was chronic on them. Anyone that has ridden one would probably agree. Grab a handfull of brake and the turbo wants to keep you going forward. Maybe only a fraction of a second but seems a lifetime when you need to stop.
I raped /raced the arse of that 550 over 3 seasons on most circuits and street races before I run out of testicles and $$$$$$ and it was still as fresh as new.
Great wee bikes. For their day they were light, handled well and blew most of the competition out of the water.
With the factory 1/4 cam in it did nothing till 9000 rpm then at around 13 to 14000 rpm it was continual upshifts .
Probably the most favourite bike I have owned .Well I think I still own it just cant remember where I left it lol

[gammaguy]

there was a guy in welly had a Kawasaki turbo

fast eddie was his name,dunno his real one

He took my girlfriend at the time for a ride on the back,at her request,I was behind on the GPz550 at the time.

Coming along the Hutt motorway just past Haywards turn off he opened the thing up,my GF clinging to the back for dear life.

Not sure which was the most overwhelming emotion for me at the time,fear for the life of my GF or admiration for the acceleration of the Turbo.

I broke up with her in due course.

Still love those turbos....

[gsxr]

there was a guy in welly had a Kawasaki turbo

fast eddie was his name,dunno his real one

He took my girlfriend at the time for a ride on the back,at her request,I was behind on the GPz550 at the time.

Coming along the Hutt motorway just past Haywards turn off he opened the thing up,my GF clinging to the back for dear life.

Not sure which was the most overwhelming emotion for me at the time,fear for the life of my GF or admiration for the acceleration of the Turbo.

I broke up with her in due course.

Still love those turbos....

The power and the acceleration of the Turbo can not be disputed.It was way ahead of its time.
Unfortunately it was released before it was refined.
The turbo lag was the major problem. Maybe Fast Eddie will comment.
Once one had ridden one for a while and got used to its inconsistencies then it was probably a GREAT bike.
Get rid of the turbo lag and put the same power plant in a modern frame ,suspension and tyres and your on a winner.
Off topic now opps
Back on topic.
The GPZ 550 was a class bike .Nothing at the time compared in its class.

[Katman]

The turbo lag was the major problem.

They still had noticeably less lag than the other manufacturers offerings due to the frontal positioning of the turbo.

[ducatilover]

They still had noticeably less lag than the other manufacturers offerings due to the frontal positioning of the turbo.
I would hope so!
Once mine is done it should be interesting, I'm hoping for full boost around the 5-6krpm mark :2thumbsup (most pointless turbo conversion ever, it'll never get used)

[Oblivion]

My first ever new bike was a Kawasaki GPz 550,brought from Dallas Rankine at the Bike Clinic in Tory St.

Unitrak suspension,digital bits on the dash,super stuff.Great Bike,never let me down.

by the way the correct red color is called Firecracker Red.

I also have a nice factory manual in book form here for one of those;)

Have you got a pdf of said manual?

Also, Thanks for the colour find. Makes it easier than having the paintjob made by guesswork :rolleyes:

[Road kill]

I watched what was probably the first GPz550 crash in NZ at the hair pin on Pukekohe.
Some bike magazine types had the 550,750 and 1100??,,taking pic's an thrashing em' around the track when the guy on the 550 got a bit too much brakes going on as he came up on the corner,,nek minite,,,crash slide scrap tumble an all that other stuff.
I was putting the roof on the house just over the fence about 50 meters before the corner,,got a grand stand view as every time a bike came down the straight I'd stop an watch.
Boss was getting pissed at my stopping an when the guy decked it he looked at me an said,all you cunts are mad.
Of course I had to defend myself an said,,my bike ain't that fast mate,,,,DOH:Oops:

[gammaguy]

Have you got a pdf of said manual?

Also, Thanks for the colour find. Makes it easier than having the paintjob made by guesswork :rolleyes:

I have a PDF of thousands of manuals

including that one

[Oblivion]

I have a PDF of thousands of manuals

including that one


1997 sports production. :first:


give that man a beer

please PM me with your email address and manual choice:done:


Still valid? :whistle:

[The_Duke]

Still valid? :whistle:

As a witness to your bang-on answer (how did you spot the diff between a std RGV and the SP version??), I'd say..... :yes:

[gammaguy]

Still valid? :whistle:

so pm me with thy email address and verily,the manual will be electronically winging its way to you:sunny: