2 stroke days.

[Big Phil]

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 🤑

[Kiwifruit]

Management can be hard to cut a deal with at times Phil.
Do keep us posted.

[Irish in Oz]

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.

[Irish in Oz]

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.

[Alan Moreton]

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

[Big Phil]

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

[froudy]

That's a stunning looking GT380 @Alan Moreton

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.

[Irish in Oz]

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.

[Irish in Oz]

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

[KiwiCol]

Wow, that's stunning. 

[Irish in Oz]

The Kawasaki's are popular in our local classic club in Northern Ireland some of yesterday's turn out.

[grog]

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.

[Irish in Oz]

@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.

[Notty]

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  did borrow my mates RD 350 and that was fun.......

[Mick_J]

You want a stroker, you want this.

https://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/workshop-interview/langen-two-stroke/?mc_cid=54dbcbcb22&mc_eid=9838c60be0