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Low budget cafe

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 10:08 am
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

Re: Low budget cafe

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 10:31 am
by jabcb
Nice work. :up:
Is the dealer happy with all the parts the sold you?

Re: Low budget cafe

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 10:55 am
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.

Re: Low budget cafe

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 12:36 pm
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:

Re: Low budget cafe

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:38 pm
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

Re: Low budget cafe

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 12:25 pm
by rngdng
I wish I knew of a source like that....

Re: Low budget cafe

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:56 pm
by Alan H
Keep up the good wok Karl. Excellent job on the 500.

Re: Low budget cafe

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 5:52 am
by stevebee
the seat on the 500 looks good

Re: Low budget cafe

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 11:49 am
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:

Re: Low budget cafe

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 8:43 pm
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 :)

Re: Low budget cafe

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 7:39 am
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.

Re: Low budget cafe

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 9:30 am
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.