Some of you have kindly assisted with knowledgeable comments when I have been looking at Buffalos over recent times. Well, I'm very pleased to say that I've finally snared one of the buggers. It was on the local version of ebay and the seller had a really low (for our part of the world) reserve. However, the auction process worked a treat and I ended up in a bidding war with some other equally fanatical chap. We were going toe to toe for some time. In the end, I put one final bid in, turned the computer off (to stop me bidding further) and walked away. Turned out to be the winning bid.
It'll take a couple of weeks to arrange transport down to me as she's up at the top of the country (not too far but logistically a bit of a challenge). She's a Jackle Blue J model, so I'm pretty stoked to get the first model. There's a number of things to do to her as she's been ignored for a while but the bones are there. I'll post pics when she gets in my driveway and will be asking for detailed critiquing to help with the revitalisation process
In the meantime: She doesn't have any cones on the pipes and looks somewhat sad because of this. Where can one track down these important bits? Does anyone make good repros?
Thanks Mike
P.S. Down here the bikes are known as the Waterbus
Burt Munro + John Britten + Kim Newcombe + Ivan Mauger = Kiwi Street Cred
MikeH1A wrote:Hey guys,
In the meantime: She doesn't have any cones on the pipes and looks somewhat sad because of this. Where can one track down these important bits? Does anyone make good repros?
Congrats on the purchase - looking forward to photos ! Re the cones - excellent reproductions are available from Cal (PM me for his email address) in Australia who supplies them to Reproduction Decals and I suspect to others also. He may still sell directly to you, but the price now seems to be about the same where ever you go. I bought two sets directly from Cal some time ago before the prices went completely crazy - they are perfect copies, and he also makes the rings.
Ian
If at first you don't succeed, just get a bigger hammer !
Thanks for the offer of the email address. I tried a pm but when I get into the system, the box is full of your message. Is this how it works or have I done something wrong. I'd be keen to get the address.
Thanks, Mike
Burt Munro + John Britten + Kim Newcombe + Ivan Mauger = Kiwi Street Cred
MikeH1A wrote:Thanks for the offer of the email address. I tried a pm but when I get into the system, the box is full of your message. Is this how it works or have I done something wrong. I'd be keen to get the address.
Thanks, Mike
Yes - that's a system default of how the board is configured, and what it does is automatically include the text of the post as a quote, presumably to provide some context about what the PM is about.
I've sent the info to you via PM.
Ian
If at first you don't succeed, just get a bigger hammer !
netbikes wrote:probably Brian Cutler at badgereplicas.com.au
he is a member of the vjmc here and I know him well.
I bought a blue J last week too, it will arrive here Saturday.
Brian is a reseller - just as Reproduction Decals is. Calvin is the fellow that makes them Of slight interest is that once you allow for the exchange rate differences, they both sell them for almost exactly the same price. The quality is excellent, so no complaints.
Ian
If at first you don't succeed, just get a bigger hammer !
I remember talking to Brian at a rally in 2003 and he was talking about making them, I don't know what he did after that.
However If Brian has them in stock Mike will be about $35.00 better off in post rate to get them from Brian. If the wind is blowing south we can just about throw them from the east coast and hit NZ
Thanks for the help guys. I'm sure there will be a few things that I need for her, as I've bought it as a resto project. However, I just can't stand to see a J without cones, so they're gonna be the first purchase. Just heard from the PO that my new toy was picked up today by the transporter and she should be here on Monday
Burt Munro + John Britten + Kim Newcombe + Ivan Mauger = Kiwi Street Cred
She looks a good solid platform to begin working from. Mine is similar in that it will need a very good clean up and then start to see what needs replacing/flashing up. It'd be interesting to do a tran-tasman price comparison as we have bought the same model bike at the same time. What did you end up paying for yours? Are you going to do a complete resto or spruce her up to be a nice looking rider?
Mike
Burt Munro + John Britten + Kim Newcombe + Ivan Mauger = Kiwi Street Cred
hey chris i see the PO had moved the rear blinkers to the tail light ,pressumably to clear hard bags,
when you get your hands on it can you post a pic of how this was done as i have the said bags and want to fit them up.
thanks mark
She will never be pretty but hoping she will be a fun ride.
two-stroke-brit wrote:hey chris i see the PO had moved the rear blinkers to the tail light ,pressumably to clear hard bags,
when you get your hands on it can you post a pic of how this was done as i have the said bags and want to fit them up.
thanks mark
Hi Mark, Bike did not arrive yesterday but here is a pic the po sent me last week, looks like he made a bracket to fit to the tail/number place bracket.
She looks a good solid platform to begin working from. Mine is similar in that it will need a very good clean up and then start to see what needs replacing/flashing up. It'd be interesting to do a tran-tasman price comparison as we have bought the same model bike at the same time. What did you end up paying for yours? Are you going to do a complete resto or spruce her up to be a nice looking rider?
Mike
Hi Mike, 2600, I worked it out to $3305 in kiwi money. In 2004 I bought a 76A model in similar condition for $350.00, all this stuff has shot through the roof, old ebay has had a lot to do with that I reckon.
I got it from http://www.centralmotorcycles.com.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , I have known the owner for a few years now and we speak on a mate to mate level, he told me he paid 1600 so with other costs involved to get it here he's at break even on it. I also bought the CB450 black bomber you can see on that site.
Not sure how I will go with the GT750 yet, I don't think a full restro, just too damm expensive these days. One of the VJMC members here wants it too so I may let him have it???
Chris, I agree about the costs of these things for restoring - why have I done this to myself again The T500 I finished last year ended up costing me about 3K more than I anticipated - most of that due to the ebay auction process plus the extortionate US postal rates. Sometimes the postage was more than the darn item I'd bought
I paid 6K for my J. This was on our local version of ebay. The owner had a darn good reserve of only 4.2K so I was getting pretty excited but some other dude was also keen and we got into a head to head battle, which hiked the price up. Still (for NZ prices) I got a good deal. Just gotta get a hold of her and see how much needs replacing. No doubt the US postal service is gonna make another killing out of me - we don't have many spares for these types of bikes around here.
Mike
Burt Munro + John Britten + Kim Newcombe + Ivan Mauger = Kiwi Street Cred
I bought two sets directly from Cal some time ago before the prices went completely crazy - they are perfect copies, and he also makes the rings. 
The T500 I finished last year ended up costing me about 3K more than I anticipated - most of that due to the ebay auction process plus the extortionate US postal rates. Sometimes the postage was more than the darn item I'd bought 
