[Slick_Yota]

Next to be bought was a 1980 Honda CM200T.  Talk about nostalgia!  Scored this baby for $250 not running of course…

It was on a 6V battery system and I couldn’t for the life of me find one… so I put an e-bike battery in it just to get it started.  Ended up selling it for $500, just because I needed the room in my storage locker.

[Slick_Yota]

Had to upgrade my trailer to “fit” the Taco….  put 15″ wheels on it:

[Slick_Yota]

Then I happened upon another 1987 Kawi Concourse with high mileage, but excellent running condition for $500!  All it needed was a $30 speedo cable!  I was going to keep it as a parts bike for my first Connie, but decided to sell it – for twice what I paid for it 😀

[Slick_Yota]

Then I bought a 1992 Ninja 500 for $375 not running.  This one needed a little more elbow grease…

Battery, plugs, rebuilt carbs, rebuilt forks, brakes.  Still wasn’t running quite right, so I flipped it for what I had into it.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by Slick_Yota.

[Slick_Yota]

Welcome BigRed!

Do you notice it get worse or go away when you turn one way or the other?  Wheel bearings could show the signs you mentioned, but not if you’ve only got 16K on the runner.

Make sure you show the dealer exactly what it’s doing, so they don’t say “it’s fine, just bring it back if you notice it again”.

Don’t let them brush you off (my dealership didn’t like me at all 😀 )

 

[Slick_Yota]

Next bike was the Suzuki GS400.  Bought it in Kitchener for $600 not running.  Put a lot into this one because it was the one I taught my  daughter to ride on.  Then later my girl friend.

Serviced all bearings, brakes, mufflers, throttle and clutch cables, fork seals, rebuilt the carbs, new battery and plugs.  Ran like a dream.

[Slick_Yota]

Bought a battery, spark plugs, rocker cover gasket.  Fixed the neutral safety switch.  Replaced fork seals and brake pads.  Repacked triple tree bearings and she was good to go!

I was going to teach my daughter to ride on this bike, but it was WAY too fast!  So I sold it and doubled my money on it.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by Slick_Yota.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by Slick_Yota.

[Slick_Yota]

Next I bought a 1983 Kawasaki GPZ750.  Got it for $600 barely running…

 

[Slick_Yota]

Then I bought this for $100… 1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore.  Man it was hard to get parts for this thing!

Stripped it down, rebuilt the engine.  got it running and driving (previous owner put the front wheel on backwards).

I didn’t even turn the wheel back around to sell it…

• This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by Slick_Yota.

[Slick_Yota]

Then voila:

From this:

To this:

[Slick_Yota]

First winter I had the Connie, I stripped it to the frame.  Did all serviced / replaced bearings and had it painted 202 Toyota black.

 

[Slick_Yota]

It was about $700 per year.  I still  have it plated, but took it off the road when I got the 2008 Kawi Z1000 (I’ll show this one later).  The Z is about 800 per year.  I don’t have insurance bundled, so no savings yet…  Have to buy another house first…

• This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by Slick_Yota.

[Slick_Yota]

@ Toy-Yota yeah, J had the 81.  Made my truck look like a dinky toy!

[Slick_Yota]

Welcome aboard Steve!  Those rigs look pretty unstoppable!

[Slick_Yota]

Still have it.  I was looking at the new Tacos and a 2017 Tundra TRD  Pro, but just couldn’t do it…

[Author]

Posts