 Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Apr 2012
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OP
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Anyone on this board into vintage Japanese bikes? I am forum owner of www.vintagebikeforum.org and I do enjoy them myself. This is my 1976 KZ900A4:  I am currently working on a project 1977 KZ1000A as well and at the rate I am going, should be finished in another 10 years or so...
wiredgeorge
TX Hill Country
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Jun 2012
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The first bike I ever owned was a Kawasaki LTD 750. Wish I still had it.
I'm built for comfort, I ain't built for speed
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,212
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jul 2011
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mine was an 82 KZ 550, after dirt bikes of course.
2007 Speedmaster and miss it!
2013 T-Bird Storm and Luvin it!
Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
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Have had a few vintage Jap bikes. Just sold my little GS750 Suzuki to a guy I know,Still have a '73 GT 185 and a cafe 1977 KZ 1000A , bought it off a guy who needed bail money to get his wife out, $600 , needed some work but I thought it was a good buy and it was for a good cause, old japanese bikes, yes !  That 900 KZ of yours looks sharp and it appears to have a Kirker exhaust ??
Last edited by hill8586; 03/27/2014 6:33 PM.
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Love the vintage Japanese bikes. I don't know if it qualifies, but I have an 82 C70 Passport in a state of restoration (actually a state of disassembly!).
Your Kawasaki looks amazing wiredgeorge!
2013 Speedmaster Matte Black
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jan 2005
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My first vintage Jap bike was a 1973 Z-1 KZ900.Then I purchased a 1983 Honda V65 Magna,sold it to purchase our first house.Finally found a real nice 1985 V65 Magna a few years ago,I just love the older bikes.
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Had an 87 SuperMagna. That was such a cool looking bike, but those carbs were tough to get at!
2013 Speedmaster Matte Black
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
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Had 4 of the Suzuki 2 stroke triples, still have 3. 76 DT360 too, loved that thing.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
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Maybe it was a 74 360, been so long I'm not sure anymore.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Quote:
Have had a few vintage Jap bikes. Just sold my little GS750 Suzuki to a guy I know,Still have a '73 GT 185 and a cafe 1977 KZ 1000A , bought it off a guy who needed bail money to get his wife out, $600 , needed some work but I thought it was a good buy and it was for a good cause, old japanese bikes, yes ! That 900 KZ of yours looks sharp and it appears to have a Kirker exhaust ??
Was that 185 a Suzuki? If it was, it was the first bike I lusted after. My dad took me out to a local small dealer to look at it. (I don't know why, Dad wasn't into bikes) He talked to me about maybe buying it for me. I was 17 and my mom nixed the idea right away.
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Right now I have a 78, 79,and an 80 XS1100. Love all vintage bikes! 
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
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That's too bad, Rich. And, too bad your Dad, not being into bikes as you said, couldn't use the line MY Dad did on my Mom just before she relented and I bought my first motorcycle, a little Honda 90:
"Well, ya know Hattie, I still remember back in 1940 how you were so impressed the first time we met and as I rolled up on my Indian-4!"
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
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Btw George, you would LOVE to see my best bud's collection of bikes in SoCal. He's recently gotten into the Vintage Japanese market now too, and has added to his collection of Brit, Italian, German and American machines some absolutely pristine bone-stock and low-mileage examples of:
A blue 1970 Honda CB750 KO
A rootbeer brown and orange 1974 Kawasaki Z1 900cc
A yellow gold 1970 Yamaha XS-1 650cc (after 1970, known as the XS650)
A blue and white 1980 Suzuki GS1000S (sometimes referred to as the "Wes Cooley Model")
A purple 1974 Kawasaki H2 750cc
A red 1966 Honda CA77 305cc Dream
(...and I know I'm forgetting a few others here)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
Right now I have a 78, 79,and an 80 XS1100. Love all vintage bikes!
And btw Al, I owned a "Black Cherry" 1980 XS1100 "Special" for many years myself. Bulletproof machine!
(...well, except for that notchy 2nd-gear anyway)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: May 2012
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I have a 82 yamaha Seca Turbo, well 2 actually and another one for spares plus lots of spare parts too. Nothing like the kick in the rear when that Turbo comes on boost. Anyone want to buy my other one?
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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YES it is a hot , happin'n Suzuki GT185 , it was a much bigger bike when I was 14 
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
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Quote:
YES it is a hot , happin'n Suzuki GT185 , it was a much bigger bike when I was 14
Thanks for confirming that for me. It was a long time ago and I wasn't sure. And you're right, even at 17 it seemed like a big bike to me. I can still remember the love and daydreams...
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
Quote:
Quote:
YES it is a hot , happin'n Suzuki GT185 , it was a much bigger bike when I was 14
Thanks for confirming that for me. It was a long time ago and I wasn't sure. And you're right, even at 17 it seemed like a big bike to me. I can still remember the love and daydreams...
If I ever hook up with you down the road, I'd love a chance to just ride it around the block, just to know what I missed!
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Vintage Japanese Bikes?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
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I friend of mine had a 185, was a dog compared to my Yamaha.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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