Im Steve from the UK, i've owned my 1979 Gt250 C for the last 4 years, 3 of which it stood idle while i was dealing with other projects.
I bought the back in 2013 with 11400 miles as an MOT'd running bike however upon receiving it found it had been poorly repaired and was downright dangerous to ride so i took it off the road. The bike was Mot'd just before i bought it but it transpires the last time it was on the road was 1993. The MOT must have been a "mates" MOT as it simply wasn't roadworthy. I reported the garage it came from shortly afterwards. Unfortunately the buyer disappeared off the face of the earth and while i didn't pay a huge amount for the bike, about 800 quid, i was stuck with it. So i then began what would be a 4 year long restoration on it.
Unfortunately because it was so long ago pictures are quite scarce. so apologies in advance.
Having kicked the Bike over it ran poorly. Starting with the motor checked it for air leaks and low and behold it had a hell of an air leak. So taking the opportunity to strip the motor i rebuilt it from the ground up, crank was balanced, new seals, rods and pistons, the bores were honed as remarkably they were in decent nick. Got the motor back together and into the bike. The original exhausts were bent, rotten, welded and beaten beyond any use so they were junked in favour of some brand new higgspeed pipes. Carbs were rebuilt and put back on the bike, rejetted for the new pipes. Seat pan was rotten. Managed to find a salvage part at a local scrappers which i had refoamed and recovered in the original design.
Moved onto the front end, the stanchions were too far gone but were straight, so i had them rechromed. Front suspension was serviced while it was apart with new seals and oil. Internal components were not showing signs of wear so they were cleaned and reassembled. Front brake was totally seized up. Took it apart and put a new piston and seals kit in, gave it a jolly good clean and paint with a new goodridge braided line. This was about the time i realised the master cylinder was worn out too. Unfortunately the inner bore was beyond repair so this was junked in favour of a bandit master cylinder i had lying around(this will be changed to a suzuki vintage new one when i get chance). New set of handlebars finished it. Front end was all sorted.
Rear shocks were leaking terribly so replace them for a new set, probably going to put hagons on at some point but for now a new set of chrome shocks set the bike off.
Wheels aren't great but are still round and true so for now these have stayed as they were. Looking to change refurb these this winter all been well. New tyres on as the old road runners were shot.
Bodywork, this was a big one. The front and rear mudguards has been painted, along with a chain guard and the headlight ears. Me, in my naivety, thought it would just be a case of stripping the paint off and rechroming. I was wrong. Someone had welded the original guards and then slapped a good INCH of filler across the entire thing. Completely beyond repair so my search began for a new set of guards. From 2013 to 2016 i slowly picked up these parts where in september last year i found the correct front mudguard and could continue rebuilding the bike.
A new set of mirrors went on with new switchgear. New NOS ears and headlight with a set of indicators and we are left with this:
Last couple of parts have been ordered today so hopefully in the next couple of weeks it will be MOT'd and riding.
Things to sort:
Wheel refurb
Repaint tank and side pods
Refurb the side panel badges
Re-chrome the mudguards.
It will never be a concourse bike as 1. i have no interest in building a bike i wont ever ride and 2 it just didn't have enough decent original parts. But it will be used, it will be at shows and i take great pride in knowing that had i not bought this it would have probably been parted out or scrapped. More pictures to come in the following weeks including its first ride out in about 24 years
