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Angry Puppy
13th July 2018, 08:26
Hey folks. I've been off the forum for quite a few years as I haven't owned a bike for well, quite a few years. Mainly because of lack of time to ride and having small children that rely on me to be in one piece and able to pay the bills. Recently I've been thinking about a project bike - something to chip away at in the garage with a view to being road-worthy in a few years when the kids are old enough to fend for themselves. I was thinking about a cafe racer but suitable doner bikes on TradeMe aren't exactly free (Suzuki XV 750 'project bike' @ $1400).

So, I was thinking, if I'm going to spend a couple of K up front on the purchase of the project bike, my ideal would be an '80s GPZ900R à la Top Gun. I haven't seen one come up on TrandeMe and I'm suspecting that in NZ they won't come up that often and when they do, a project bike would probably go for around $4k+. If that's the case I'll look at bringing one in from Australia and save myself a couple of K (Yes I know I'll need to consider shipping, import duties and compliance). So I was wondering if you guys had ever seen one come up on TradeMe in the last couple of years and if so, what did it go for? Thanks for your input.

Andy
Katman
13th July 2018, 08:46
So I was wondering if you guys had ever seen one come up on TradeMe in the last couple of years and if so, what did it go for?

They come up from time to time on Trademe. Perhaps 2 or 3 a year.

The price they go for is entirely down to the condition they're in though.
Hugo Nougo
13th July 2018, 09:53
Just started restoring my old 900r, has sat in the shed for nearly 2 decades but deserves better. I always say it was the bike that taught me how to ride, saved my arse almost as many times as i put it into harms way.
Personally I think they look great standard but good luck with any project you undertake, I remember seeing 1 at Boyles that had zzr1100 running gear, looked slick and apparently handled better, theres also a pre89 race bike around (akld?) with a moulded tank, seat and rear end unit that replaces the original stuff saving huge amounts of weight and again looked amzing.
I nearly cried a few years back at the cold kiwi watching 1 burn on the bonfire, it had a blown motor but i would have paid $1500 for the roller.
Katman
13th July 2018, 09:55
I nearly cried a few years back at the cold kiwi watching 1 burn on the bonfire, it had a blown motor but i would have paid $1500 for the roller.

I shared your pain.
Angry Puppy
13th July 2018, 14:37
Personally I think they look great standard but good luck with any project you undertake.
Yeah I agree, as a project I'd definitely be looking to restore it to standard. Funnily enough it turns out my brother has one in his shed in the UK that he's wanting to sell. IDK how much he wants for it yet and I'd need to look in to shipping costs. I suspect even if he practically gave it to me, it would still be cheaper to buy a project bike and ship it from Australia.
jellywrestler
13th July 2018, 17:04
I nearly cried a few years back at the cold kiwi watching 1 burn on the bonfire, it had a blown motor but i would have paid $1500 for the roller.
yeah but way more than 1500 people got more than a bucks worth of entertainment out of it then....
AllanB
13th July 2018, 19:00
Mainly because of lack of time to ride and having small children that rely on me to be in one piece and able to pay the bills.

Fucks sake buy some life insurance and get ya arse back in the saddle.


GPZ900r

This I always thought would be quite collectible but apparently not so. Maybe I'm bias due to my age (53) and remembering it being the spiffy thing to have back in the day (plus it was on Top Gun).

Never mind. I still think they were and are great. But are not as collectible as the similar period Katana.
Katman
13th July 2018, 19:19
Never mind. I still think they were and are great. But are not as collectible as the similar period Katana.

Back then every year seemed to produce a new King.

1982 was the Katana's year, 1984 was Kawasaki's year.

I think the GPZ range is still very collectable - but having two GPZ750s probably makes me a little biased.
AllanB
13th July 2018, 19:55
Back then every year seemed to produce a new King.



That's a fair point. The output of new Japanese bikes was quite stunning. An impressionable time for a young man :2thumbsup
Voltaire
13th July 2018, 21:05
That's a fair point. The output of new Japanese bikes was quite stunning. An impressionable time for a young man :2thumbsup

On the strength of Top Gun I sold the 500/4 and bought a Z1000J and some Rayban copies.
Many a time it took my breath away as I entered the danger zone.
I bought a GPZ 900 in the late 90's and by then I'd lost that loving feeling and it was gone gone gone...whooooaaaoooo. do do do do.

I'd have one but alas have reached peak shed.:confused:
husaberg
13th July 2018, 21:29
This I always thought would be quite collectible but apparently not so. Maybe I'm bias due to my age (53) and remembering it being the spiffy thing to have back in the day (plus it was on Top Gun).
.
Yeah but so did Kelly Mcgillis then
https://blog.libero.it/wp/tvdonnevip/wp-content/uploads/sites/1271/2018/06/kelly3-300x150.jpg (https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiR9Zzl4ZvcAhXBF5QKHcn9DNIQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.libero.it%2Fwp%2Ftvdonnevip %2F2018%2F06%2F14%2Fsex-symbol-top-gun-signora-mezza-eta-la-metamorfosi-charlie-ora-irriconoscibile%2F&psig=AOvVaw38DFAVx6B8tmwLHRwVftPV&ust=1531560514264405)
AllanB
13th July 2018, 21:59
Yeah but so did Kelly Mcgillis then
https://blog.libero.it/wp/tvdonnevip/wp-content/uploads/sites/1271/2018/06/kelly3-300x150.jpg (https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiR9Zzl4ZvcAhXBF5QKHcn9DNIQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.libero.it%2Fwp%2Ftvdonnevip %2F2018%2F06%2F14%2Fsex-symbol-top-gun-signora-mezza-eta-la-metamorfosi-charlie-ora-irriconoscibile%2F&psig=AOvVaw38DFAVx6B8tmwLHRwVftPV&ust=1531560514264405)


I'm pretty sure that is beyond restoration ................ and it probably leaks fluids.
husaberg
14th July 2018, 00:45
I'm pretty sure that is beyond restoration ................ and it probably leaks fluids.
Yes a nasal drip
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y-0r1SRDXeg/hqdefault.jpg
At arround 18 secs you can see where its mounted on the trailer at front right lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTj-jJDkYkM
jasonu
14th July 2018, 02:09
Fucks sake buy some life insurance and get ya arse back in the saddle.


GPZ900r

This I always thought would be quite collectible but apparently not so. Maybe I'm bias due to my age (53) and remembering it being the spiffy thing to have back in the day (plus it was on Top Gun).

Never mind. I still think they were and are great. But are not as collectible as the similar period Katana.

IMO at the time the GPZ was a great bike but there were many other greater bikes bought out that over shadowed it ie RZ500, RG500, GSXR's
jasonu
14th July 2018, 02:11
I'm pretty sure that is beyond restoration ................ and it probably leaks fluids.

Plus I'll bet the flange is totally worn out
rastuscat
14th July 2018, 21:55
Yeah I agree, as a project I'd definitely be looking to restore it to standard. Funnily enough it turns out my brother has one in his shed in the UK that he's wanting to sell. IDK how much he wants for it yet and I'd need to look in to shipping costs. I suspect even if he practically gave it to me, it would still be cheaper to buy a project bike and ship it from Australia.

Had an 81 GPz 550 H2. Wish I'd kept it. Some bastard stole it.
jasonu
15th July 2018, 02:38
Had an 81 GPz 550 H2. Wish I'd kept it. Some bastard stole it.

Shoulda called the fuzz...
Voltaire
15th July 2018, 08:43
I don't think Tom is riding the old GPZ this time.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/31/23/4CCC2EF100000578-0-image-a-77_1527805924262.jpg

They should be using a Harley to make Umureka Grate again.

Maybe for the prequel. If its got Nazi's Harrison Ford would be keen.

http://www.uhlstudios.com/catalog/images/taj.jpg
rastuscat
16th July 2018, 18:39
http://www.uhlstudios.com/catalog/images/taj.jpg

Great photo. Epitomizes Harleys. Great for posing and not much else.
husaberg
16th July 2018, 18:46
Great photo. Epitomizes Harleys. Great for posing and not much else.
The silicon boob of the bike world?
potato potato
GrayWolf
21st July 2018, 00:15
to be honest, having had a 1000cc kwaka in the 80's and a ZZR1100,
I'd go for an 1100 and restore that, it's a far better bike.
skippa1
21st July 2018, 15:29
Great photo. Epitomizes Harleys. Great for posing and not much else.
Great comment. Epitomizes ex cops. Great for stupid generalisations and not much else.
AllanB
21st July 2018, 19:35
Bit of shade being thrown tonight :corn:
Grumph
21st July 2018, 20:01
to be honest, having had a 1000cc kwaka in the 80's and a ZZR1100,
I'd go for an 1100 and restore that, it's a far better bike.

Yes it is - but it has it's faults and it's an intimidating ride for someone who wants a classic.
The 900 was the first fruit of that engine family and the 1100 the last before the redesign for the 1200.
Arguably the best in that family is the ZX10. Big leap forward in chassis design and the engine is still a sweetie.
But the 900 can be made to go pretty good while retaining reliability. The 1100 is at the limit of the bolt in main bearing cap - and the starter/alternator drive chain tensioner was asked to cope with a wider,heavier chain too - which it doesn't like....

I've been involved on the fringes of both the 900's that have been raced in Post Classics - one NI, one SI. Both are still pretty mild IMO.