Would you take a chance?

[Fireman on a Storm]

I've been watching a bike on fleebay. It's not been running for 10 years.
Your views please.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 97.c0.m619

[LotusSevenMan]

Well if you want a project then I'm sure it'd be OK, but don't pay anything like what you would for a runner espewcially this time of year. Probably could pick up another engine and overhaul it while sorting out the other non-working bits like brakes/seals etc etc. if this one were 'difficult'.

Would I 'ave a go? Depends how much I wanted this style of bike I guess.

[SWAGGER]

It certainly looks good. Trouble is you have no idea what's below the plastics. If that sells for up to £1K it would be a good buy. I'd pay up to £1.5K max. Those were decent motors.

[bikerpiker]

I'd take a chance ....but..... i wouldnt pay any more than.....say ...£650 for it , i reckon you could get a runner with a years mot for not much more. Check ebay's completed listings ,it'll give you an idea of how much they sell for .

I just think as soon as the price reaches £1000 (which i dont think it will) ,you're not far off more modern stuff ,ie early Firestorm, Blade etc ,.......

[tonyf]

I agree with bikerpiker, have a look in 'completed' - I've only ever done a GPX600 in the past so I'm not an expert on the 900. There is a GPZ900RA2 in very good condition for £2250.... (in Classic Motorcycle Mechanics - doesnt mean that its worth it! )

[warby221]

Personally I’d say it’s only good for parts
After 10 years all the rubber parts will be rock hard and letting damp past
So chances are the back and front wheel bearings are gone
Chain will be shot and there’s a good chance the output shaft seals seen better days
Remember half the engines internals have been sat in 10 year old oil and even worse half’s been out in air.
When an engine stops some of the valves in the head will have been open so letting the bores and rings rust together
Fuel lines will have perished, carbs will need overhauling, and tank’s probably got internal rot
The list goes on
All of the above is fixable depending on how deep yer pockets are
On the plus side the plastic looks good
I’d say it’s overpriced already as you never save on a bike by restoring it when its cheaper to buy a good runner in the first place

[tony.mon]

We all buy with our hearts, not our heads, but my vote's on a No.

How has it been stored, inside or out, and was it prepared before storage? (almost certainly not). If in a garage, ask to see the garage; if there are things like rusty lawn mower, paint tins and pushbikes in there it's a good clue that the garage gets damp and there will be corrosion on the bike, too.

There will be quite a lot of work to do, as well as some expense- tyres and battery will need replacing straight away, an MOT, fork seals will probably be hardened by now and the brakes seized on, the chain will need a good soak in chain cleaner and penetrating oil at least but will probably need replacing along with the sprockets, so that's more, and personally I don't buy the "relay" explanation- that's too easy to fix; plug and play, and I can't believe that someone would take a bike off the road just for that. You don't even need a genuine relay; any suitably-rated one will do.
So there's possibly be a starter motor/electrical fault to find, fix and add to the cost.

That'll take it to over a grand, even if it goes for the £600 odd it's up for already. I've allowed for new filters, oil, and shim clearance checks in that total, but there's always something you find as it's coming apart....and little bolts, clips, pipes, bits 'n' bobs all add up.

It might be worth it if you already had one and needed a donor motor, major parts or plastics, or could sell off any unwanted bits to get some of your money back, but in my humble opinion you'd be better off with an accident-damaged runner- that way you'd need forks, and/or plastics, but either way you could cost it accurately and know how deep a money pit you were buying into.

Is it anywhere near you; can you go and have a good look? Offer to take a battery and relay with you to see if it'll actually turn over- try putting it in gear and turning the rear wheel or wheeling it along, to see if the engine's free.
Preferably a small amount of clean engine oil down the bores first to help the rings start to move again, but only a few drops, and turn it over with the plugs out first to give it an easier time.

These are not yet collectable, but you see the occasional article in mags like PB saying how good they were, and how "real-world useable" they are compared to latest megabikes.
A mate's got one, and loved it. Fairly bullet-proof engine, so unlikely to be any trouble getting it running again, but typical Kawasaki; the odd furry bolt and lustre gone off the paint and trim.

But as I said at the beginning, we don't buy stuff for entirely logical reasons, and so if it's the one model you've always wanted, needed or can't live without and you can afford to spend up to another £500 getting it up to good roadworthy condition, go for it!

[Animal]

In addition to what everyone else has said. Unless the fuel has been drained from the carb float bowls it will have emulsified. The carbs are likley to need a serious clean by someone who specialises in ultrasonic baths costs approx £300, or they could be damaged beyond repair . Fuel tank could also be rusty as hell and have a lovely smell of varnish where once again the fuel has emulsified(this is from experience).
I wouldn't pay more than £6-700

[benny hedges]

dunno tbh, depends if you want it bad enough & are prepared to do a bit of work on it.
ive bought a few barn find bikes that have been stored for donkeys.
my cbx750 hadnt run for 7 years but just sat in a garage under a blanket.
i just jump started it & rode it home - on 7yr old fuel, no blockages, no backfiring, no perished seals (apart from fork seals had been packed with rag under the cover!)
fair enough the bottom end was fkt after 30 mile, but imo that was my fault for not changing the oil before i rode it.
put a new engine in it and it hasnt missed a beat apart from fork seals, stator windings, r/r & a new battery.
and tyres.
i paid peanuts for it and it's been a good winter bike for years. 25 years old and still mint.

regarding the gpz900, it's one of those retro bikes that you probably lusted after in your youth & that's why you fancy it.
there are loads of better machines out there, better handling, faster, better looking, easier to get parts for, but i can understand why you want it.
its like these guys who pay 2500 for an old yammy fiz - they were only £200 new lol, handle like sh1t, slow as crouton, ugly as sin but probably one of the most sought after bikes in the uk.

[Beamish]

Just my opinion but if it was a private sale for £600 I would say go for it but as it is an Ebay sale it will no doubt fetch top dollar so the risks become extremely high! Two options........
1. F**k it and go for it (it could be a blinder)
2. Run like the wind and look out for a bike with some recent history (my choice personally) .

[Fireman on a Storm]

Thanks for your views guys. This one is not for me. It could be a lucky buy but more likely a big can of worms!
When I first started riding I had an 87 GPZ750, but couldn't strech to the 900r.
I'll have to wait for one that works and I can view before I buy.
OR win the lotto and get a 19l storm or SP2
Anyone got a money tree I can borrow!

[tonyf]

??? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/kawasaki-gpz1000r ... 2eb2490124

[Fireman on a Storm]

Sold for £690
With what you guys said might need doing to get it up and running I think I could definately buy a clean runner with and MOT!
Thanks Paul