Anal Question - 1977 GT500

For those wanting to keep their bike the way the factory made them.

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oldjapanesebikes
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Anal Question - 1977 GT500

Post by oldjapanesebikes »

OK - I'm getting ready to have the tank painted and have sorted out one problem and now have another.

Correct original or reproduction striping kits are not available for the black tank models, but Ellen and Andre at Reproduction Decals kindly supplied me the manufacturer information and colour code of the blue they use for the 61U colour combination kit also used on the GT750 black tanks, so I am now able to get a match for that (they use an Avery Medium Blue, A4555-0 by the way).

On to the next problem - while the tank, frame and fittings are all black, two different blacks are used - gloss (019) and semi-gloss (291 on the fork ears, switches,etc) . My question then is, while the tank is gloss black - which black is the tank cover ?

My assumption is that all the GT500 tank covers were the same regardless of tank colour as no colour code is listed for the part, so if someone has an original 1976 or 1977 GT500 and could take a look I'd appreciate it !
Ian

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Post by rngdng »

I can't answer your question, exactly, but my GT500 (now Dofin's) was all original and had a semi-gloss black tank cover.


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Post by Suzsmokeyallan »

Definitely never gloss on the small tank cover, all were the semi gloss paint.
I wish for once someone would put a 76/77 Buffalo tank on a GT500, i think the full cover looks so much cleaner.
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Post by oldjapanesebikes »

Thanks for the responses :D Semi-gloss it is !
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Post by rbond »

Semi-gloss on mine too, I think a gloss would reflect light too much and possibly blind the rider..... :o :o
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Post by Suzsmokeyallan »

You got that correct, too shiny for glare, AFAIK the 76-77 GT750, RE5 and GT500 covers all used the same semi gloss paint.
Two strokes, its just that simple.

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Post by H2RICK »

Never seen one that wasn't semi-gloss black. Suzuki must have had one paint line just for tank covers..... :D
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Post by oldjapanesebikes »

Thanks guys - we'll see how it turns out. :D
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Re: Anal Question - 1977 GT500

Post by GT500Andy »

I’ve got some photo's of a GT500B with a black tank and 2 miles on the clock never been out of the showroom before, was sold on ebay a few years ago. If you need them?
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Re: Anal Question - 1977 GT500

Post by oldjapanesebikes »

GT500Andy wrote:I’ve got some photo's of a GT500B with a black tank and 2 miles on the clock never been out of the showroom before, was sold on ebay a few years ago. If you need them?
Andy
Yes please ! You can post them here, or better still email them to me at oldjapanesebikes (at) shaw (dot) ca - thanks ! 8)
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Re: Anal Question - 1977 GT500

Post by frappy »

How is your GT500B paint and striping coming along? Am looking forward to seeing it.
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Re: Anal Question - 1977 GT500

Post by oldjapanesebikes »

frappy wrote:How is your GT500B paint and striping coming along? Am looking forward to seeing it.
Thanks ! I got a bit side tracked with life :cry: Illness, death in the family - just how it goes sometimes, but I'm slowly starting to pick up the fun stuff again. We still have another month or so (at least) of winter here so I do have some time - today it is currently -19C (-2F for you folks south of the border) :shock: Of course, it is a dry cold !

The crank and barrels are in for rebuild and rebore and I may have them back this week. I have a few parts dribbling in from various places but I think I have pretty much everything I will need. I do have a guy lined up to do the paint, but I'm holding off till I have the mechanical bits sorted. I'll do updates as things progress 8)
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