GB400TT

[Bonez]

you're not thinking of dropping a 650 motor into the GB are you My one needs a repaint - a few scratches and the like - the nextdoor neighbours a spray painter so I may be able to organise a perky and being very limited in the inside leg measurement knocking my knees on a fairing is very unklikely. I do in fact have a service manual for a GB500 that someone fairly high up in this here organisation ( no names sp**nk me ) posted on another web site. Its half a dozen pdfs ( reasonably big ) so if you flip me a pm with your address I could burn it to cd and post it to you

Cheers

I live in Palmerston North too so no postage needed. Am PMing my phone number as I post this .

[Bonez]

Took the thing on a longer ride today. Rounded of the tyres a bit. Very easy to ride. It certainly handles and brakes better than the R65 I use to own. All in all I'm very happy with it. The GasAxe is looking a bit neglected. Hope it doesn't decide to pick on the lil 400 when I'm not looking.

[Bonez]

Interesting how things fall into place. Popped over to Levin today to see the the new grandkid-doing well btw. The stepson had trashed his 955i in the Manuwatu Gorge and broken a collar bone in the process. His HD was loosing oil over over the garage floor -only thought ol brits did that I almost fell over when he mentioned he may get a japper. Well, on the way back popped in the see a guy I get m/c bits'n peices off and he had a new replacement 525 O'ring chain for the GB that's been sitting around unused in it's box for years. Also just won an auction for new brake pads for the 550 on Trademe at a third the retail cost.

[Bonez]

Progress report-just started to remove corrosion from the crankcase covers. Stainless steel wool and Ataway to attack the worst of it. Will finish with Solvo Autosol and car wax. Quite an economical bike with 320kms from around 14 ltr main at 110-120kph with around 3ltrs in reserve. Compared to 240kms from the 550 it is great with fuel going up and all. Will order a 14 tooth front sprocket and 36 tooth rear sprocket for around $80 total. This will reduce the revs quite substantually for normal riding. I'll pick up the new o'ring chain next week


Edit-it turns out font sprocket is different on the 500 and is not interchangable.

[Bonez]

Got the chain, ordered new sprockets and purchased oil/filter. Pete Sales's legs
are a lot better now. Have just been told of a low millage example for 2gs. So may have a look at that next week, maybe take some pics even. Apparently it's the standard silver which doesn't float my boat, but hey it's relatively cheap motorcycling. Just keeping an eye out for a nice sticky 90/90 x 18 front tyre at the right price for mine. Also found out that the reg/rect on the cb250t i've just wrecked fits straight into the GBs loom. Yes folks you can have fun on an under powered underated road bike. Oh and thanks Phantom (via spankme) for 500 workshop manual.

[Bonez]

Sprockets puchased from Manawatu M/Cs- a one man band effort with excellent service. Was asked if I wanted to sell the GB yesterday by a gent at my new job. But turned him down at this stage, too much fun. A good indication I will not have a problem flicking it off if needed Will pop into Phil Turnbels today and sort out tyres. I have found them very helpfull in the past 15 or so years dealing with them. Picked up a pair of new points for the CB550 also last week reeel cheap from Tony up at Cycletune. Second item I've gotten off him via Trademe.

[Hooks]

get a quote from Gary Worsely in Feilding for tyres ... I just got a new rear from them for my old bitch and it only cost $175 fitted ... and it's a Pirrelli !! They do great deals on tyres !!

[Pixie]

Progress report-just started to remove corrosion from the crankcase covers. Stainless steel wool and Ataway to attack the worst of it. Will finish with Solvo Autosol and car wax. Quite an economical bike with 320kms from around 14 ltr main at 110-120kph with around 3ltrs in reserve. Compared to 240kms from the 550 it is great with fuel going up and all. Will order a 14 tooth front sprocket and 36 tooth rear sprocket for around $80 total. This will reduce the revs quite substantually for normal riding. I'll pick up the new o'ring chain next week


Edit-it turns out font sprocket is different on the 500 and is not interchangable.

You may be interested to know of a palmerston nth co. Permanent painted coatings.They are the POR 15 agents in NZ.I have their cattledog and they have some useful products.One you may be interested is a clearcoat that will adhere to polished alloy and even chrome.Glisten PC
checkout www.por15.co.nz

Some of the products include a nickel plating kit,the por15 tank sealer kit etc.
The glisten pc is available in tinted form as Colour Chrome, the catalogue has pics of rainbow coloured handle bars. The glisten pc is self levelling and can be applied by brush.

[Bonez]

Had the grand kids over this weekend so not much done. Did manage to convert the old dirty air filter to a foam type. Para Rubber on Main str just done from Mitre 10 have filter foam for those interested. All you need is a the filter foam, hacksaw, craft knife some silocone sealent or brazing equipment access and a dremel type tool with grinders (the Wharehouse one did the trick just dandy btw). Normal story with buying stuff. Got home and discovered hidden away in the garge a perfectly good front tyre. Can't have too many spares ah? Got a new ME33 for the front for the 550 while I was in shopping mode. Oh and an oil filter for GasAxe.

[Bonez]

get a quote from Gary Worsely in Feilding for tyres ... I just got a new rear from them for my old bitch and it only cost $175 fitted ... and it's a Pirrelli !! They do great deals on tyres !!

Thanks, I've ran ME33/55 for years, now made in Brazil now I know but had no issues what so ever, and it works out the around 300-340 a pair depending on the exchange rates.

[Bonez]

Fitted the new tyres today and scuffed them in on a scoot to Havelock North and back via some nice back roads. A few bikes were seen on Middle Rd. Most acknowlaged my existance. Some looked dazed as the GB past by at a lively pace. A harley taking up the whole road as usual may have impacted on a herd of cattle beasts I past a few ks back, oh well no real loss . Fitting the smaller back tyre improved handling no end. Playing cat and mouse with an Mitsi Evo on the way back on Highway 50 though till Woodville just topped the ride off. All in all a great ride.

[GN1NiteStnd]

with little effort xr600 barrels and head drop onto gb motor... great fun! but for buying a stock one i wouldnt pay over 1600

[Jinx3d]

Man,

I used to drool over those GB400/500 TT when they came out.

The guys at Honda in palmy got sick of me coming in sit on them...and dream.

Thats the trouble with motorcycles, you want them when you cant afford em, when you can afford them you want to the one that was brand new when you were 16!!

:-)

[Bonez]

With me it's the other way around. Yes I tend to do things backwards Wasn't too fussed on them when they came out. Had the CB750FC2 a couple of years at that stage and saw no need to trade down. Also I thought they where a bit pricey newand a bit small. Boy was I wrong on the small department, they fit like a glove. Bought a tidy second hand example a month or so ago and wished I'd bought one years ago. Been offered a high millage example for around the same price I got my one for. The low milage one spoken about in earlier in the thread looks like it has been sitting outside for last 10 years so that's kicked into touch unless the guy comes back with a realistic price, like under a grand. Time is on my side.

[Bonez]

Looks like the second GB is going to be in the family quicker than expected and less than half the cost of my current one with about 10,000 more ks. I just love old depreciated/devalued/underated motorcycles.....