This makes me feel good! GT550 on ebay $3400!

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:29 pm

Yep this guy has a GT550 on ebay for $3400- I think he is dreaming- that is more than what they were new.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Kawasaki-gt-550- ... otohosting

I bought my GT on ebay last Christmas, for $500 and it is 3 years newer and had all the boxes etc. The straps on the boxes were coz I didn't trust the locks- I have since fitted better locks so don't need straps anymore. Pic was taken at Maclean, NSW lookout. Done 10000km on mine already and worn out the tyres that came with it.

I have already been offered a lot more than what I paid for it, but I don't want to sell- have wanted one for a while after riding a friends GT. Been to Newcastle two up twice on it, loaded to the eyeballs and it still got over 20km/L and 430km to a tank. Got lotsa oil leaks but will fix them eventually.

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:15 pm

the bigger brother, GT750, was a Two Wheels 'Bike Of The Year', back in the mid-eighties !!

Both are very good, and very underated, touring bikes.

$500

thats good value, well, its unbelievable value for a bike in that condition ! Did you have to clean it up much ??

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:49 pm

I had to get it running properly which was as easy as new ignition leads, cleaning the carbs (full of mud!), balancing carbs and fitting a new airfilter and fuel filter.(I made it from proper air filter foam.)
So far replaced the front wheel ($55), front discs ($130- SH GPZ1100- a bit undersize still), speedo drive ($40) and LH switchblock ($40) and the windscreen.($44) as well as registering the beast- owes me around $1100-1200 on the road. Really comfy and fast enough. Want to take it to a track to see how it goes believe it or not- new Shinkos on it work well. ($180 the pair!)

Costs nothing to run and no chain maintenance either!

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:17 pm

sounds great - for basically the cost of a years worth of good sports tyres for a ZX12R( ie 2 sets FMD it will send me broke

)... you have a really nice complete motorcycle .....

I had a Z500 in the rack a few years ago, it was heaps of fun, went well if you flogged the shit out of it, had a really nice *loud* 4-1, which made it sound *just* like a z9 from a distance.....the GT550 was a bored-out z500 with shaft drive (and a few frame mods..) - mid-sized bikes are lots of fun, thats for sure.......take it easy on the track though, that shaft drive may give you a bit of grief at speed......

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:26 pm

Yep she sounds great with the 4 into 1- it also came with the original exhaust, and a cut down seat- with a receipt for the seat that says they spent $450 on it getting it recovered and lowered! The seat in the pic is off my friend's GT- she is shorter than me and has claimed the $450 seat. Mind you I have considered flogging the seat on ebay. Just short one seat if I do.

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:43 pm

bonester wrote:..... they spent $450 on it getting it recovered and lowered! ...

shit that is a lot to spend on a seat !!!

must be something about GT550's and short chicks.......one of the guys down here (PeterElectric) - his missus has a GT550 as well, with a *way* cut-down seat, lowered suspension etc, so she can get her feet on the deck. It is a really nice job, very difficult to tell it has been lowered unless you park it next to a stock jobbie.....

ProblemChild · Post by **ProblemChild** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:55 pm

I have an 82 Gpz 750,which is in the same model line so to speak,great bike loves to have its ass reved off.great little bikes.I am sure u will enjoy.

Mattb · Post by **Mattb** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:59 pm

Wow, it was a surprise coming across this thread on joining the forum!

I won / bought that bike on Ebay about 7 weeks back, for $1325! (Actually, for $1500 including RWC, and the new disk required to get it). I've been riding it for a month now, and love it - my first big (bigger) bike, after years riding mopeds. It's really smooth, and that sound...!!! The bike has 126,000, but is in great nic - the fellow bought it for $1100, and spent about $800 doing it up with the hope of making money out of the venture (he's a backyard mechanic and very decent guy - he's since done good *cheap* work for several friends).

I was hoping for a GPz, but the price and condition of this bike, on a student income, was too good a deal. It's a pretty good alrounder really - you can tear along, cruise, tour, commute, and all on a budget. And besides, it has its ancestors / family in the best bikes. From my understanding, it's a touring bike? Anybody know much about its place in the family (and what GT stands for)?

I'd be interested to hook up with any other GT's (or similar) in Melbourne (I'm in Brunswick).

Cheers, Matt.

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photomike666 · Post by **photomike666** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:09 am

GT550 and its bigger brother are the back bone of the London Courier. Very reliabale, easy to work on and low maintainance. I got one to commute the 80km to and from Uni. Unfortunately, after just a few short weeks it got squashed by a Ford Escort (while I was riding it

).

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:46 am

Small world, huh!

I won / bought that bike on Ebay about 7 weeks back, for $1325! (Actually, for $1500 including RWC, and the new disk required to get it). I've been riding it for a month now, and love it - my first big (bigger) bike, after years riding mopeds. It's really smooth, and that sound...!!! The bike has 126,000, but is in great nic - the fellow bought it for $1100, and spent about $800 doing it up with the hope of making money out of the venture (he's a backyard mechanic and very decent guy - he's since done good *cheap* work for several friends).

I think they are a great old bike and cost nothing to run- good for uni students. Not overly sporty but good in other respects. I have since bought another one for $355 on ebay, but she's a bit of a dog- needs lotsa work- I'm not sure whether to restore it or to use it as a parts bike.
If you need any info I have the service manual for the GT.
I think GT stands for grandads tourer.

That's what I call mine anyway. Mine tows a trailer now too.
When I was in the UK in 2002 they were still selling the GT550 new! There was a high demand for London couriers as mentioned I guess. Wonder if you can still buy a new one? I'd be interested in importing a new one!

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:50 am

If this was a bit closer I'd jump on this too!
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Kawasaki-GT-750- ... dZViewItem

Was down at the wreckers the other day, and a GPZ900R fairing could fit a GT with a bit of work. Will make that a project at a later date. I bought a brand new GT tank on ebay recently (red unfortunately) and the 'new' GT came with a genuine plastic headlight fairing (current one is fibreglass) so will paint these first.

Mattb · Post by **Mattb** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 2:13 pm

Yeh, I went to a backyard dealer to check out some fairings, and am fitting a Stone style bikini fairing (it's round, as opposed to the GT's square body, but somehow it works). Also thinking of putting some higher handlebars, to create a kind of sporty cruiser (sporty as far as cruisers go - as far as sports bikes go, this thing doesn't like corners!).

Seen any photos on the web of modified GTs?

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:57 pm

Check these out:(the last one is the nicest GT I have seen- sold on uK ebay- with 12000 miles on it- early 90s model)

mrmina · Post by **mrmina** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:15 pm

fark thats a horrible looking bike.

i'll give $3.40 for it

bonester · Post by **bonester** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:31 pm

Mate when you own 11 bikes I'll accept your criticism as valid.(Do you own even one?) Otherwise it isn't warranted.