Had an offer on my gt750 , just wondering what it's worth

[Eddie]

Well I have been looking at the Bonneville a lot, so I rode my gt750 to the local bike shop and they had the new cb1100 I know this is a Suzuki site so bare with me, the owner of the shop saw my buffalo and came right out to talk to me, he offered me 6 grand on a trade in for either the Bonny or the cb1100! This was not what I was expecting, I stopped by just to look at the cb1100 , not to trade my gt750 in, my question is what is the gt750 worth? Mine is a 74' all new chrome paint water pump, oil lines redone, and rebuilt the oil pump, all new brakes, swing arm bushings, chain , and more. I thought 6 was a pretty good price, but I don't want to get rid of the old girl even though she gives me problems I love that bike. The only thing that I hant done to this bike yet is rebuild the motor, and that's my other question, I have read threads on here about crank seals, I read that if a bike sat for a long time the seals will eventually fail? How true is this? My bike has 15 thousand miles on it, it sat for years until I got it, and so far it seems as though the motor is kinda going through it's re break in after sitting, it's running better and better so how likely is it that my seals will go? I had considered the trade just because of the seals, but I can always rebuild the motor in the future so it's not a big deal, although I'm not sure how my health will be, I'm still having to go for visits to the mayo clinic, so my big question is how many of you have had gts that sat for years and the crank seals were fine? I read that usually they go bad after running for a while, I have put about a thousand miles on her and she seems fine so far.....

[oldjapanesebikes]

Eddie - that's like asking 'how long is a piece of string'. In a case as you describe, they could go tomorrow, or they could last for many years. My one '76 is still on its original seals and it sat in storage while I was working off-shore for 7 years, and it had sat seized up for a few years before I got it in the 1980's and rebuilt the top end. The seals still seem fine - others have not been as lucky. Its largely luck of the draw.

[pearljam724]

I've owned a lot of motorcycles over the course of my life. Ranging from many different makes, models, cc's and types. I say you would be a fool to trade or sell in order to ride something else. I say that in large part because of how rare and unique they are compared to the run of the mill modern motorcycle. If someone is selling because they absolutely need the money, can't physically ride or someone is dying in the family and you're trying to raise money for a life saving operation would be a different story. Why do you think someone was so quick to offer you that amount on a trade ? I'm not saying seals do not go bad. However, I do believe that it is an exaggeration in our own minds how often it happens as a result of reading it a few times on a website. If they do take a crap. It's only 350 dollars, plus shipping at todays market to completely rebuild the crank with parts and labor. Being yours are fine now. They may last for ten more years if you continue to ride it often and not allow it to set for very long periods. These bikes are very hard to come by. Let alone in moderate to good condition. From what I have seen and followed. The good to very good condition ones are valued between 5 and 8 thousand. Depending on condition. Considering they cost around a thousand dollars new, that should tell you a lot. You should share a couple of good pics.

[Eddie]

Thanks for the feedback!! I was thinking I would rather spend my time riding than rebuilding(if seals went out) right now just because of health issues, but I know I would regret selling, this is actually the newset bike I own, besides my 1999 kx250, but I dont ride it that much anymore. The gt750 is the newsest street bike that I have ever owned, all my other bikes were 60's or early 70's(71 and 72) so this being a 74 is the newsest, which sounds really wierd. The superhawk I have is a 1963, I have a 1970 yamaha r5350, and the gt750, then I have 2 dirt bikes, so as far as reliability to go riding I depend on the gt750, the superhawk is reliable but its a 250cc , so I think what I should do is invest in a newer bike just so I dont ride the gt750 as much, kinda like preserving it I guess, because right now Its the only street bike that I ride.. and I know these bikes are getting hard to find , and I love old bikes so I know I would regret it if I did sell it...... I was just curiuos if 6 grand was good, I thought it was but then I havnt seen another gt750 where I live at all........

[pearljam724]

I agree and understand exactly what you are saying in your last comment. If it were me and I could afford both. Because, I wanted a bike that I could pile more mileage on, less maintenance, better fuel economic, less rare, etc. I would buy an additional bike. It does not have to be new, just newer than the Buffalo. That is what I dealt with. Having the 2 GT's plus a bike I rack mileage up on and do very little maintenance to. That third bike cost me very little. As in $800, but is in spectacular condition. I throw all my spare money at the rebuild 750 I am doing. I plan to sell it or the 550 after keeping them both for a few years. Then I will decide to permanently keep one triple. There are a ton of very reasonably priced used bikes out there if you look hard enough and patient. It's very likely you will lose very little money for an additional bike being you can sell it. If you're smart on which one you buy, how you take care of it and don't wreck it. Lol ! If it were me in your shoes, I'd sell the dirtbikes and the 250 to buy that other bike. I'm willing to bet I'm much younger than you. I have had a lot of modern bikes. As cool and special they are in their own class. No new bike compares to the feel of these old 2 strokes in my mind. But, then again. You also have to experience the feel of a good modern bike. They are very special in their own ways as well.

[Eddie]

That's exactly what I was trying to say! Something newer than the gt750 just so I don't have to rack the miles up on it, or cause more damage to it, I would get rid of the superhawk but I probably would not find another one, ever, it's rare, and this model was never shipped to the u.s. And my dad brought it back from Japan in the early sixties it's a cbm72. The m sets it apart, also the 72 that means it's a 250cc and most were 305 cc, it's like the gt750 don't want to part with it, but the dirt bikes I could sell, I just want one newer bike and the rest old.....