Made smoke today - started on the first kick ! To say that I'm pleased would be an understatement ! This is what I started with - I'll post photos of the finished item later this week.
Two GT500 wrecks on the right side of the trailer.
The project.
Two very tired engines.
Some wiring problems.
I still have to finish the tank, but the engine sounds good, the generator seems to be charging the battery and so far at least, no leaks.
Ian
If at first you don't succeed, just get a bigger hammer !
I haven't decided about the exhaust - likely will rechrome, but could replace it next year as new good reproduction systems are available. At any rate, this is where I've managed to get to.
Brown faced gauges, and in KPH as was correct for late 1977 in Canada as that was the year we changed over to metric road markings. Its actually the first motorcycle I've ever owned that reads in KPH !
Ian
If at first you don't succeed, just get a bigger hammer !
Bike looks great. Was that color scheme available for 77 GT500, or did you just paint it that way. It looks factory, but I didn't know the GT500 ever came with a black scheme. Looks good. Looks like an early GS style.
I finally got one of my GT500's roadworthy and dependable (knock on wood), and have been riding it daily for a few weeks now. (i'm taking it to Vintage Days) I think its the quietest 2 stroker I've ever ridden. Also just got my GT550 running good as of yesterday.....the 550 will knock the socks off the 500. Its faaast.
76 GT500 - restoration project in work
4 other 76 GT500's
1.5 GT550's
4 GT380's
5 T500's (72-75 models)
4 GT750's
Suzuki GT hoarder...and a bad case of OBD.....(old bike disease)
wvc wrote:Bike looks great. Was that color scheme available for 77 GT500, or did you just paint it that way. It looks factory, but I didn't know the GT500 ever came with a black scheme. Looks good. Looks like an early GS style.
Thanks ! That actually was one of the two stock colour schemes offered in 1977 with the B model. The other colour was red - a very similar black configuration was offered on the rest of the GT line, being gloss black tank and satin black fork ears, bucket and side covers. All I had to go on was photos, but I did manage to track down the original registration and confirm that it started life with the black colour scheme, so I decided to try and duplicate it as best I could.
By the way - I think the left side cover is a replica of the original made by one of the members of this board - Coyote possibly ? I picked it up from Allan.
So now to see if my next winter project - a 1968 Cobra - can be made to look as good ! Hopefully I'll end up with two examples that nicely bookend the production of the T/GT500 series.
Ian
If at first you don't succeed, just get a bigger hammer !
Ian it looks great, you did a superb job on it and while I'm not a fan of black bikes, theres something about the 77 Buffalo and GT500 that makes it look 'just right'.
That's why I wanted to re-create a 77 Buffalo in black, especially having all the specific parts for making one, it becomes a project worth pursuing.
Madbuffalo wrote:Yeah Ian, what a difference between the before and after pictures! It looks great. How did you manage to track down the original registration?
Thanks !
The bike came from British Columbia which has a government insurance scheme called ICBC. On the off chance, I paid for them to do a title search and they sent me details on the last known registration they had on file, and also a file reference number I could use if I wanted to call for additional info. When I called they were able to confirm the original colour. Each province up here is a bit different - I don't know whether I would have been able to do the same thing here in Alberta as they purge older records if the registrations are not kept current.
Ian
If at first you don't succeed, just get a bigger hammer !
oldjapanesebikes wrote:By the way - I think the left side cover is a replica of the original made by one of the members of this board - Coyote possibly ? I picked it up from Allan.
If it's fiberglass, it's one of the repros Jughead was offering.
This is what I started with - I'll post photos of the finished item later this week.
