Picked up the GPZ1100 on Friday. Took it for short test run at the guy's house in Gisborne. Damn thing stopped about 1km from his house!!!!! Hopped off looked at it, wiggled a few connections, still did'nt start and I looked up the road to his house, all uphill. Fuck that with a 250 kilo bike, Tried the starter again, fired into life, rode back. He assured me that it's never done that. Kinda believed him, he's about 70 and was genuinley horrified, plus he had a couple of old Triumphs in his shed, so could'nt of been a bad guy of course. Loaded it on the trailer, brought home where it promptly rained all weekend out my way, so no riding, plus I wanted to give it a good going over. He's owned it 14 yrs and done 1000 kns on it in that time. But it was always started and run down the road every 3 weeks. A few little things I discovered, mainly electrical with the warning lights on the dash playing up etc, Fixed all that up, repaired some connections, dumped the oil & filter, new plugs, fuel filter. Took it out for its proper maiden run under me tonight. Felt really good and surprisingly light, considering its nearly 100ks heavier than my Ducati. Took it up to 200 no sweat, came home, all good. Look down....to my horror the LH side cover's gone!!!!! Where the hell can I get one of those, and its the cover that hides all the electrical EFI stuff. Spent 2 hrs searching the roads, and amazingly found it in thick grass, right where I cranked it up. Thought I'd never find it since i live country and theres high grass all along the roads. Seems to have a small oil leak (visions of my T160) Couple of little things to do then a 200 or so km cruise on Saturday to make sure all's good for the trip to Taumaranui next week. Checked his service book, found out it had a recon cylinder head and rings about 2000 ago, plus chain, sprockets and a few other things, mind you that was 16 yrs ago. Plus the old fella had put new Metzlers on 300 ago. I'd classify its condition as very good original. So very happy with it, felt good to be on an old Jappa again, not exactly what I was after, but most times it never is when I look for a bike.
Sounds like a good score there. The GPZ is a good bike too - a typical Jap heavyweight though. Funny how the weight disappears when under way.
wow, good luck on finding the cover! sounds like a nice score indeed, looking forward to seeing it in flesh
Very cool Dooley. Look forward to seeing it up close
Yeah was my fault I lost the cover, did'nt push it hard enough into the grommets.
Sounds good dooly. nice bike…and nice find…..hell I lost a pair of glasses last year when I put them in my “crotch area” as I rode down the road…only got 300-400 metres before I realised they had gone…..spent days looking for them….nothing….my missis still reminds me of that one….something about them being worth $800………..
Nice score Dooly. Pleased to hear that you found that run away cover. Would have been a shame to have to buy that spare bike , just to get another cover!!
What a dag eh, was moving the GPZ out of the shed to take a pic to put up here and dropped the thing!!! Was backing it out and turned right and just lost it and 260 kilos bogged me down! Slow drop. I stood there and surprisingly just laughed. Called the missus and we hurled it back up. Lucky it has crash bars on each side of the engine. Paint chip off them, tin of spray paint, 5 seconds later, sweeeeeeet as!!! I'd be spewing if it was any of the other 2 bikes tho
glad to hear no damage to either of you (but still bummer when it happens) happend to me once. luckily it was on the grass so no damage (other than, well, the pride...)
Gravity sucks I drop my Duke putting it in the shed, it fell between the door and work bench and got wedged in. big scracth on front gaurd , bent mirror, dent in tank and broke the tie down strap for the tank. Its still sitting in the far corner after the demit losing episode Might get a adventure bike , even had a look at one . what are Honda Dominators like?
Is that for dropping the duke or for thinking of buying a honda Croc?
Sympathy flinches for the duke and GPZ.
