is this a good idea

[adamh]

hey guys i just got a gpz500 offered to me for $200 and im told that all it needs in new radiator(spelling) and has a crack in the exhaust and bearings in the bars. it also needs warrent and rego.

just want ur guys opinion if i should try fix it up as i have been told it will only cost a couple of hundy to fix but around $1000 all up including new rego and w.o.f.

thanks in advance

edit: radiator lol

[idleidolidyll]

the old GPZ was a good bike but by the sounds of it I'd be looking deeper for more problems. You might be biting off a bucket load of problems.

however, if you really can have it in good running order for $1000 all up, go for it

[Crisis management]

Do you believe the seller????

In my experience everything costs 3 times what you expect so plan on spending lots more......if you want to go ahead with this get it inspected at a bike shop (you pay for this service) and decide after that.

[adamh]

well the seller is my brothers flatm8 and friend also kiwifruit knows him and probably more about the bike than i. but kiwifruit even said around 1k to get it going and to get an exemtion on my licence to ride it lol.

[adamh]

and i know a bike mechanic personally and am sure he will check it for free.......maybe

[Colapop]

El Fruito told you to get it? Have you had it into a shop for an appraisal?

[idleidolidyll]

and i know a bike mechanic personally and am sure he will check it for free.......maybe

do that first.

as an ex service bloke in a bike shop i could tell you lots of stories about runaway costs fixing up old crap.

[Pwalo]

There's nothing wrong with a good GPZ, but as has been said if you're not sure what condition it's really in get it checked by a mechanic.

Just remember you'll probably need to have a look at a few things. Carbs (if it's been sitting around for a while), tyres, chain and sprockets, clutch and throttle cables, steering head and wheel bearings, cooling hoses. The usual stuff on any used bike, but especially one that's being offered at such a low price.

Look it could be a real bargain, but restoring bikes is not cheap. Have a look at the thing and make a list of what needs to be done, and get some costs together.

[adamh]

its got BRAND NEW tyres on it and yea ill need it checked because he binned on it i beleive and put a hole in radiator and crack in exhaust. mr fruit was gonna buy it but was offered it at a higher price lol i think he just wants to get rid of it.

[Crisis management]

My concern (for you) is that I suspect you don't know much about the mechanics of motorcycles, it's the "bearings in the bars" needing replacing that sort of gives this away.
An old bike like this is guaranteed to have a gazillion things wrong with it, which is ok if you can fix them but not so ok if you don't have those skills, so I'm suggesting that a "profesional" opinion might be of some use eg. mechanic.

Don't use your friends for this opinion, get someone independant and save yourself the agony of pissing off your mates complaining about the "assistance" they gave you.

Treat this as any other purchase, check it out properly and make up your own mind.

[xwhatsit]

I wouldn't bank on getting the exemption, it's not a given that you'll get it.

That said, if you're in Taupo you could probably get away with no exemption ^_^

Is it deregistered? Or has the rego/WoF just lapsed -- if so, find out how long the rego has lapsed for, because you're liable to pay the inbetween bits (continuous registration drama, or something), aren't you?

[adamh]

El Fruito told you to get it? Have you had it into a shop for an appraisal?

havnt had it in a shop yet as i only saw it last friday at my brothers party. would take it in but dunno if seller would mind or not

[adamh]

I wouldn't bank on getting the exemption, it's not a given that you'll get it.

That said, if you're in Taupo you could probably get away with no exemption ^_^

Is it deregistered? Or has the rego/WoF just lapsed -- if so, find out how long the rego has lapsed for, because you're liable to pay the inbetween bits (continuous registration drama, or something), aren't you?

lol wat are u saying about taupo?? lol

it was deregistered i think about 2 months ago and wof has lapsed.

i may get an exemption if i sit on a small 150 and 250 and take a photo at an angle that make me look tall as kiwifruit said cause im 15 and 6'1 or 6'2 cant remember :P

[xwhatsit]

lol wat are u saying about taupo?? lol

it was deregistered i think about 2 months ago and wof has lapsed.

i may get an exemption if i sit on a small 150 and 250 and take a photo at an angle that make me look tall as kiwifruit said cause im 15 and 6'1 or 6'2 cant remember :P

Hahaha -- Taupo, wild, lawless town

Ah, it was deregistered. I'm not sure, but I think you have to get a CoF. They do a much nastier and thorough check than just a normal WoF. I think many bikes on this forum would fail such a check, even if they get through WoF no problem. I'm sure somebody can advise you better with this.

Yep, I still wouldn't count on the exemption. Restricted or Learners? Also -- importantly -- do you have a car license? Because if you do, your chances are quite low. That said, you just said you were 15 so maybe not.

I wouldn't call it a good idea, but my opinion's not worth that much.

[breakaway]

What the fuck? $200 and you have to ask? Buy it.

Get the appropriate chceks done though (money owing, rego lapsed, etc)

I don't get why when anyone comes up on a killer deal (Saw some dude get a hold of a FZR for hardly any money (<$500)) recently, and I can't beleive he had to ask.

Just buy it, if it turns out that it's fucked, sell it, for parts, you'll get more than $200 for the rims / discs alone.