Would you spend 500 bucks on this?

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2smoke · #1 Post by **2smoke** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 4:41 pm

I did

1975 Kawasaki H1 500

It was raining here today and i was bored. Then i remembered that i dont own a Kawasaki, so i drove out to the country to an old farmhouse.
The owner led me under the house into a heated crawlspace where he keeps his bikes.
Same old story, he has had this bike for 6 years and never got around to restoring it.....
The tank is clean inside and there is a key. All that seems to be missing is the airbox , rear fender and signals.
Engine isnt stuck but i will go thru it.
Wheels and exhaust have a little surface rust but not too bad.
It weighs a ton!
What do you guys think? Did i do ok for 500 bucks?

silverstrom · #2 Post by **silverstrom** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 4:50 pm

Nice find Colin. Original pipes? They look mint. They would cost a lot more than the bike if you had to replace them. Hard to find too. Looks to be in great shape overall. Cosmetically challenged, but very good bones. That seat is interesting. Looks like someone set it on fire. Lol

If you need a hand finding parts just let me know and I'll see what I can dig up for you. Doesn't look like you need much.

I don't have a Kwak either, but I'm saving that space for a KR-1S. Unless of course you restore that one and it finds its way here. That has been known to happen.

2smoke · #3 Post by **2smoke** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 5:08 pm

He said it was in a barn fire at some point. The taillight and a reflector were slightly melted, seat melted, and the paint on the right side of the tank is "cooked".
This bike has stories to tell

silverstrom · #4 Post by **silverstrom** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 5:57 pm

It looked interesting standing there beside that huge pile of lumber. Not a bad deal given his asking price. You could always part it out and make a bunch of money to finace the RZV build.

Stankflapper · #5 Post by **Stankflapper** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 9:09 pm

Looks like a great deal to me. Those things fly!

Badass · #6 Post by **Badass** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 10:42 pm

To answer the post question, only if I forgot to take my meds. that day, laughs, just kidding. I love two strokes and you can't go wrong bringing one of these back to life in my opinion. It looks like a fair price to me and perhaps a great deal if it's not to bad in the important aspects. No rust in the tank wow!

RuZty · #7 Post by **RuZty** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:16 am

Right on! Can't wait to see this one when you're done. You'll have to post pics as you go. A coworker bought an old bike years ago with a stuck motor, not seized, just stuck from sitting. He poured some diesel in all the spark plug holes and let it sit for a week or so and it free'd up no problem, might be worth a try.

Evans Ward · #8 Post by **Evans Ward** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:11 am

As a Kaw Triple owner, I'll say you made a great deal! I've seen similar condition models go for 2-3X that price. If the pipes are as nice as they appear in the pic, you could easily get your $ back in selling those alone.
Come over to kawi2strokes.com

2smoke · #9 Post by **2smoke** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:44 am

Evans Ward wrote:As a Kaw Triple owner, I'll say you made a great deal! I've seen similar condition models go for 2-3X that price. If the pipes are as nice as they appear in the pic, you could easily get your $ back in selling those alone.
Come over to kawi2strokes.com

Cool. I will take a look at that website. I checked the frame and engine number on one of those sites and they both match 1975 H1F
I am going to tear it down on Monday and then its off to the powdercoaters.

Lets see yours!

Evans Ward · #10 Post by **Evans Ward** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 12:58 pm

Bookmark this site too if not already: http://kawtriple.com/mraxl/

At kawi2strokes, we've even got a Yamaha section!

ricar · #11 Post by **ricar** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 2:15 pm

Some of it looks terrible, some of it looks mint....

I'd say good deal. Fire though, hows the wiring?

2smoke · #12 Post by **2smoke** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:42 pm

ricar wrote:Some of it looks terrible, some of it looks mint....

I'd say good deal. Fire though, hows the wiring?

Not sure

The wiring under the seat looked fine. I will know tonight when i start the teardown. I will start a thread with pictures of everything.
Unless people protest that is not a Yamaha.

RZResurection · #13 Post by **RZResurection** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:14 pm

I think it's money we'll spent - more to be spent

2smoke wrote: Unless people protest that is not a Yamaha.

Call it a Yamasaki and I'm sure the boys here will be OK with it

steveloomis · #14 Post by **steveloomis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 12:00 am

I for one am anxious to see your build. We all like lots of pictures, no matter it is not a Yam.

RuZty · #15 Post by **RuZty** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:35 am

2smoke wrote:... I will start a thread with pictures of everything.
Unless people protest that is not a Yamaha.

The top of my page says 'RZ/RD 350 & MISC. 2-STROKE TECHNICAL FORUMS'