Make or Break? Kawasaki GPz500S.
“What’s he done to that?!”
Bikes that were cheap and plentiful a decade or so ago are now often overpriced wannabe classic bikes. Things like say a humble CB250N Superdream or a Yamaha FZ600, do not turn up cheap on a regular basis.
However, there is always another angle on finding a cheap bike for a project donor. That is to look for the forgotten models from the nineties. There are loads to mull over.
This 1996 GPz500S was the basis for this café racer makeover.
“That’s what is was then!”
With the fairing and seat panels ditched, this GPz looks different straight away.
Chuck in a round headlight, some black paint and some chopper pot exhausts and it’s on its way to that café racer vision that never goes out of fashion. The previous owner also fitted a new YSS rear shock, and even a pair of brand new Metzeler tyres!
He didn’t though see the project through and it is now with me.
“Is it worth finishing?”
Are any project bikes ever finished? Most of the ones I see always need lots of jobs to finish. This black beauty is no different.
I am tempted to just break it, but with spring almost in the air, there is still time for someone to buy it and get it sorted before summer.
Article by Scott Redmond.
