Hi, I was wondering if anyone here has owned or does own either a GT380 or GT500 from the 1970's. I keep being drawn back to my youth and 2 stroke engines and always hankered after one of the GT's but for whatever reason never got one. I have always thought the GT380's and GT750's were two of the most gorgeous looking bikes ever built and the GT500's were very nice too. Any tips on what to look out for in terms of mechanicals etc. would be much appreciated. Also, are parts still readily available if required? If money was no issue I would go after a GT750 kettle but they are way too expensive now, not stupid like Z900's but expensive none the less. Oh yeah, this is a potential addition to the 14 not a replacement. Furthermore I still have to convince my "supervisor " to let me have one. Then even if she agrees I will have to weigh up how much it will really cost me over and above the purchase price for her agreement 🤑
Management can be hard to cut a deal with at times Phil.
Do keep us posted.
:wife:
I had a 380M back in the day 1977, kept it along with other bikes until about 1985. Was hounded by a guy to sell it and let it go. Didn't want to sell it because I customised although I no longer used it. It didn't give me any major problems over the years.
We still have the odd two stroke day at VJMC Australia.
Any smoker I see at the right price I snap up regardless of brand, I have about 7 in my shed.
Hi Phil.
I have a modified GT380. I bought it in boxes from the Copdock bike show auto jumble a couple of years ago. AS you know Copdock is fairly local to both of us! It wasn't complete, so I have updated it with GSX750F forks and wheels, modern ignition and dashboard etc, mainly because the prices for original stuff is getting expensive. It cost £800 to get the crank rebuilt and cylinders bored and new pistons alone! All the usual old bike stuff is applicable. Electric looms will be 40 years old by now and Fuel tanks and side panels can be tatty. The tanks rust along the inner bottoms and can leak, and the plastic get brittle. It gets a lot of interest whenever I go out on it. Parts are available although most are replica rather than OEM, and as I said can be quite pricey. Exhausts are also hard to find decent standard condition so I have used new Higgspeeds stainless steel expansion type, (which wake the dead when running)! I find a company called Francos very helpful for bits, but stuff does come up on ebay frequently too.
This is the third GT380 I have had, the first was new in 1975. I love em!
Regards
Chip
Hi Chip, Wow! You know what your doing that must of been some project. Bike looks great and it must of been a labour of love. So by the sounds of it the GT's are as good a classic as most others. Like you say they are 40/50 years old now so obviously there will be issues. Your only down the road from me so if I get into trouble mechanically you may get a knock on your door😂 I'm an enthusiast and reasonably savvy with the fundamentals of servicing a modern bikes but give me the relatively very simplistic old school 2 strokes and I am in my element. As kids we had to learn to do things ourselves back in the day and I can't recall how many times me and my mates had bikes stripped and rebuilt with mostly very rudimentary tools and no internet or even a Haynes manual to hand. They were great times and hence the nostalgic yearning 😍
Kind Regards
Phil
That's a stunning looking GT380
@Alan Moreton :onya:
Keep us udated if you do get one
@Big Phil , It'll be an intersting topic to follow if you do.
Good luck finding a suitable one.
I looked at a GT380 locally about a month ago. Basket case, guards exhaust and spokes needed replaced, frame had been stove enamelled he wanted 1000 quid for it. He had blasted everthing so all alloy was pitted, of coarse I walked away.
Know another guy selling one built and running K model he was asking 3500.
Here's one for you Phil
https://www.gumtree.com/p/suzuki-motorbikes/suzuki-1976-371-cc-/1384832078?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&fbclid=IwAR1aipRKm061yX2VxlkInMbt4-RQea56MKtxOXgSK8uhy3AI7ZtIZnOeLVk
Wow, that's stunning.
The Kawasaki's are popular in our local classic club in Northern Ireland some of yesterday's turn out.
Good piccy Irish. I loved my old 2 stroke days except Honda Elsinore, what a pig. Kawa H2 with 550 Suzi pistons, homemade expansion chambers. Amazing. Had 250, 550, 4 of 750 Suzuki. My L model 750, fully ported to something i found from US performance place, expansion chambers, what a bike. Could match with Z1 Kawas, that was the bench mark back then. Totally reliable, great to ride, just loved petrol. $1350 brand new. Rego was $14.
@grog Yes mate the GT750 is very mild in factory model, they crack when ported to TR specification, a mate in Oz has one in a speedway sidecar like that goes well.
I had few 2 strokes as a teenager, 1971- a Yamaha 50/70 ? and a 90 (had an autolube system?) - seemed to remember constantly using caustic soda to clean the exhaust much to my mothers annoyance ? endless cleaning of plugs :bugga: did borrow my mates RD 350 and that was fun....... :)
You want a stroker, you want this.
https://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/workshop-interview/langen-two-stroke/?mc_cid=54dbcbcb22&mc_eid=9838c60be0
Bargain. $49,000 Australian.
Phil,
I`ve had dozens of two strokes over the years - especially the Suzuki & Kawasaki Triples.
As a potential new owner, you have to appreciate that although they were fast back in the `70`s, you`re not gonna leave anyone for dead nowadays on one. But thats not the point. They are great fun to ride, they handle better than their reputations would have you believe, and the sound and smell like nothing else.
BUT, they`re all really expensive nowadays, and you could pay big money for a heap of rubbish. Far too many have been so called `renovated` and ruined in the process with a mix of `wrong for the year`parts and paint jobs. Take someone with you who really knows their stuff before parting with your cash.
The GT 380 has always been a great little bike. The `M`, `A` and `B` models were the best. Pay a little bit more for originality, but its worth it.
The GT550, its bigger brother, is a better all rounder and likewise, the later models were better, `M`, `A`, or `B`.
The GT750 `B`is arguably the best 750 Triple ever produced, but they are all fantastic from `74 on. The really big problem with neglected ones is blown crank seals, and radiator issues. There is an easy check for knackered seals, but i won`t bore you with that here!
Sorry to really dissapoint you but the GT500 was a hopeless bike. It did nothing well and would really struggle to a genuine 90mph. I wouldn`t waste money on even a good one! On the other hand, if you really fancy the big twin stroker, look for an original T500M. OK, they didn`t stop; had rubber seals on the bar mounts, but they did have lots of character and were slightly more `powerful`than the GT.
On the other hand there are the Kawa Triples of course. There are more of them UK registered today than there were in `75, thanks to the American imports. For some reason they`ve always commanded more value than the Suzuki`s. If you were to invest in one, avoid the KH series - they were down on power and the engine/exhaust note just wasn`t as good due to the internal baffling and airbox mods. As for the Suzukis, check and double check that what you`re looking at is `right`. So many aren`t.
You`ll be suprised that most parts are readily available for both Suzukis and Kawas if you know where to look. There is stil NOS stock out there or excellent repro stuff - however, you don`t want to be needing new pipes or mainstands `cause they`re like hens teeth...and you don`t want to be stuck with awful sounding set of cr4ppy chambers. If you do need those, then buy genuine Allspeeds or Denco`s. Nothing else comes close.
Good luck with your search. Keep us posted. If you`re unsure about anything you see and are considering and you want a genuine opinion, drop me a line.
Oh, if you come across an S3A, Reg. KJM 915P, i`ll give you BIG money for it! :cheers:
My first road bike was a Mach111 ......... I can still hear that howl when on the gas in my head. Fun times
I guess most of you seen this izzIv6Av8Cw
Before Rick moved stateside his museum was in Nottingham, UK. I was fortunate enough to pop up and see him several times - his museum and workshops were a mecca for Triple enthusiasts. I especially liked the H2B, still crated WTF!!
RB is probably the most knowledgeable guy in the world on Kawa Triples, and a really helpful and approachable bloke too.
I bought my near mint, standard H1B from him (which he delivered 120miles for free!).....what an awesome machine that was. For those interested, i think i put a pic of it on my gallery page here.
WOW!!!
What a collection :drool: :drool:
I thought of you when posted DP. Didnt realise youd know him. Wow.
TT, thanks ever so much for the sound advice which is really appreciated. I did think about the T500 because of price but wasn't too sure and now you've sealed it for me and I will stick with later versions of the GT380 or GT550. I will definitely drop you a line before I make any offers on a bike. I do understand I am going back to my youth and will pretty well be plodding along compared to the 14 but that's not what it's about, as I am sure you know.
My real stumbling block right now is getting this past my better half. She is very understanding and let's me indulge myself with most anything. But I already have the 14 and a 1999 750 SRAD which is a bit of a basket case but hoping to get her running again over winter and back ready for a few tack days. The Mrs thinks that's enough motorcycles, she has no interest in them at all. I may have to wait until Christmas at which point she usually gives in🤞Again, a sincere thank you for the advice.
Sent you an email DP1400 well 2 actually forgot to add a link to the first.
@DP1400 Is that the same guy auctioned a lot of last year including 2 NOS H2's in the crates.
Irish,
Since he went to the States i`ve not kept up with him. Unless his personal circumstance have changed drastically, i`m pretty sure he wouldn`t sell any of his collection, let alone two crated NOS H2`s!!!
Dave.
https://www.facebook.com/1709421379/videos/10207882093726123/?extid=wZLtnoSf7uu3dhtH
A mate took the standard pipes off last week and put Higgspeed on.
Unfortunately i can`t access the link as i`ve never had a Facebook account.
A few years ago I restored an H2C. The only problem with the finished bike was that one of the seams started to split on the upper of the two pipes (r/h side obviously). Whilst sorting that, a `Hogsped` set of chambers was purchased. Big mistake. An awful fit, and the usual awesome tone of the pipes was turned into an awful row, despite there being no air gaps at the port gaskets. The worst chambers ever. Just my opinion of course...... :whistling:
The last time I saw Mr Hogsped he was riding his own GT550 at a KTC Rally, with his own brand chambers fitted. It sounded cr4p too :rolleyes: