Low budget cafe

Retro, Wild, Cafe, etc. The stuff only your imagination can come up with.

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karl pa
To the on ramp
Posts: 490
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2015 3:14 pm
Country: us
Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT
Location: southeast pa

Low budget cafe

Post by karl pa »

Last fall, I received a call from the local Suzuki dealer, wandering if I was interested in a 75 T500 they had. It was in rough shape with locked engine, after looking it over we agreed on $50, when I went to pay, their computer locked up, so they said to just take it ,they would get their money back anyway. When I got the engine open, I found the top end was rusted fast but the bottom end was fine, I did Alan's trick of using diesel fuel in the crank and turning over occasionally, I replaced the top end with new parts, and parts I had, but with the rough condition I decided to clean it up the best I could and make some changes. Out of my bikes, this one draws the most attention when I have it out, it is a fun bike to ride, and I put several 300 mile trips on it without being to uncomfortable.
Image20160716_134211 by karl pa, on FlickrImage20170402_135543 by karl pa, on FlickrImage20170625_114225 by karl pa, on Flickr
76 GT185
77 GT250
77 GT380
76 GT500
73 GT550
73 GT750
74 GT750
71 T250 scrambler
75 T500 cafe
User avatar
jabcb
Moto GP
Posts: 4240
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
Location: southwestern Pennsylvania

Re: Low budget cafe

Post by jabcb »

Nice work. :up:
Is the dealer happy with all the parts the sold you?
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
karl pa
To the on ramp
Posts: 490
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2015 3:14 pm
Country: us
Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT
Location: southeast pa

Re: Low budget cafe

Post by karl pa »

They didn't get to much money from me on this one, but over the years they got quite a lot of my money, this is actually the fourth bike I got out of their basement, the others were GT185,GT550,T250 scrambler.
76 GT185
77 GT250
77 GT380
76 GT500
73 GT550
73 GT750
74 GT750
71 T250 scrambler
75 T500 cafe
sportston
Expert racer
Posts: 1119
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:04 pm
Country: England, UK
Suzuki 2-Strokes: FZ50, GP100, RG125 Gamma, GT380, Bandit 1200S

Re: Low budget cafe

Post by sportston »

That is some dealer. $50 is a snip! But for free?! :shock: My goodness, you must be overjoyed with your thrifty smoker. It looks great now you have smartened it up. :up:
karl pa
To the on ramp
Posts: 490
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2015 3:14 pm
Country: us
Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT
Location: southeast pa

Re: Low budget cafe

Post by karl pa »

sportston wrote:That is some dealer
The owners are getting up in age, and were the mechanics back in the day. They like seeing the old bikes being fixed up, and realize they wont get to them, so they are letting some go.
Here is my 71 T250 scrambler they sold me for $50, It took me several attempts before they agreed, if I don't sell it in the near future.
Image71 t250 1 by karl pa, on FlickrImage71 t250 2 by karl pa, on Flickr
76 GT185
77 GT250
77 GT380
76 GT500
73 GT550
73 GT750
74 GT750
71 T250 scrambler
75 T500 cafe
rngdng
AMA Superbike
Posts: 1769
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:47 pm
Location: Blythewood, SC, USA

Re: Low budget cafe

Post by rngdng »

I wish I knew of a source like that....
If you stroke it more than twice; you're playing with it.

Too many bikes, too much time, ENOUGH SPACE, FINALLY! Never enough money.........
User avatar
Alan H
Moto GP
Posts: 3160
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:50 am
Country: England
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 4 x GT550s - J, M, A, B.
Location: The Republic of South Yorkshire

Re: Low budget cafe

Post by Alan H »

Keep up the good wok Karl. Excellent job on the 500.
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
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stevebee
On the main road
Posts: 108
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:04 am
Country: australia
Suzuki 2-Strokes: t500 kawasaki z900 harley davidson flsti
Location: nsw

Re: Low budget cafe

Post by stevebee »

the seat on the 500 looks good
User avatar
Alan H
Moto GP
Posts: 3160
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:50 am
Country: England
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 4 x GT550s - J, M, A, B.
Location: The Republic of South Yorkshire

Re: Low budget cafe

Post by Alan H »

Let me know when you want rid of the 250. I'll make sure you make at least $20 profit! :wink: :up: :lol:
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
karl pa
To the on ramp
Posts: 490
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2015 3:14 pm
Country: us
Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT
Location: southeast pa

Re: Low budget cafe

Post by karl pa »

Alan H wrote:Let me know when you want rid of the 250. I'll make sure you make at least $20 profit! :wink: :up: :lol:
Not planning on letting go of it anytime soon, I still enjoy taking it off road and on dirt roads, nothing crazy but enough to get it dirty :)
76 GT185
77 GT250
77 GT380
76 GT500
73 GT550
73 GT750
74 GT750
71 T250 scrambler
75 T500 cafe
karl pa
To the on ramp
Posts: 490
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2015 3:14 pm
Country: us
Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT
Location: southeast pa

Re: Low budget cafe

Post by karl pa »

Imageimage000000 (4) by karl pa, on Flickr

My grandson trying out his bike, he needs to grow a little yet.
When I built the bike I had plans on giving it to him, now I gave it to his dad to enjoy till the little guy is old enough.
Now I will work on getting a title for my GT550.
76 GT185
77 GT250
77 GT380
76 GT500
73 GT550
73 GT750
74 GT750
71 T250 scrambler
75 T500 cafe
karl pa
To the on ramp
Posts: 490
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2015 3:14 pm
Country: us
Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT
Location: southeast pa

Re: Low budget cafe

Post by karl pa »

So somehow the cafe found it's way back to my garage, a month ago I took it for a ride and noticed a lot of smoke out the left pipe, when I checked the transmission oil it was low. So I tried the magic in a bottle (blue devil seal repair) it stopped smoking and gearbox oil isn't dropping. I just don't feel it's a permanent fix, so might tear down this winter.
76 GT185
77 GT250
77 GT380
76 GT500
73 GT550
73 GT750
74 GT750
71 T250 scrambler
75 T500 cafe
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