what's it worth?

General discussion about Street two-stroke Suzuki motorcycles.

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skaz500
Still in the Driveway
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2015 5:59 pm
Country: canada
Suzuki 2-Strokes: gt rg h1 h2 s3 hd

what's it worth?

Post by skaz500 »

my neighbor has an original 1976 gt 500 4200 mi excellent condition...
.new tires brakes plugs .what s a fair price?
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Alan H
Moto GP
Posts: 3250
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: what's it worth?

Post by Alan H »

Whatever you can get it for!!
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
Vintageman
Expert racer
Posts: 1485
Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 5:38 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: Suz, Yam, Honda, Kaw.
Location: New Hampshire

Re: what's it worth?

Post by Vintageman »

4200 miles is good but, it also means it sat still for most its life. The key is oxidation external and internal.

Internal for example, let’s say one cylinder was at or near top dead center or bottom when parked (very likely) . Near top the intake port is open to atmosphere via carb. Piston near bottom the transfer port is open to exhaust port is open to atmosphere via muffler. Next depends where the bike was stored.

Where I live you can have quick temperature changes and moisture in the atmosphere resulting in condensation/dew. In the scenarios above that moist air makes it into the ports and into the rod bearings. On two strokes the rod bearings are needle rollers not plain bearing for it is not a pressurized oiling system. There is a significant air gap between consecutive rollers and rod eye surface,

When the moisture in the air condenses it pools and under needle bearings on the gravity side and rusts rod surface over time like stripes.
You run it for a while and those soft rust spot are analogous to tooth decay and your teeth start chipping away fast as you begin to chew: dentist/new dentures are expensive.

Check the inside of the gas tank, Underside as well (rust in tank , bubbles in paint). Water sinks to bottom of tank and you know the story

You and use NADA.com as guide Be weary of “Excellent” condition.

But It just may be a beautiful bike stored well!

It depends how bad you want it and how much he or she owner has seen “American Pickers” TV show
Current registered, inspected, and running well 2 stroke motorcycles
74 GT250 (T350 upgrade),
76 GT250 (T350 upgrade),
71 T350,
70 T350,
74 GT380,
75 T500,
73 GT550,
75 GT750,
72 Yamaha DS7 (R5 upgrade),
77 Yamaha RD400 (Daytona Cyls),
73 Kawasaki H1 500
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