gt380

[mcneilk]

two summers ago before the site crash i posted my big purchase from the closest wrecker. a '74 gt380 and a '78 gs850. these two beauties were in a group of maybe 25 bikes. the wrecker hadn't been into bikes for 20 years so i knew they had suffered through many long saskatchewan winters. Last winter i tucked the 850 away and went to work on the 380.

being no mechanic i struggled along. first i cleaned the carbs and replaced broken hoses. ebay supplied carb kits, new points and condensors, new(old) throttle/oil pump cable. as spring neared i hooked the battery charger up to terminals (no use buying a battery yet) and gave the old girl a kick. nothing happened. i switched the petcock to prime and kicked a couple more times. back to on position and kicked again. to my complete surprise the bike fired right up filling the little shed with two-stroke smoke. what a feeling it was.

now i had riding in mind so i muffler taped up the rotted right muffler and put air in the tires. spring had sprung and i rolled the bike out to take the first ride. it didn't last long. i had only one gear and it wasn't first. second or third maybe but could only shift between neuteral and this one gear. back to the shed i went vowing to get this bike working right.

thanks to the sundial moto sports site (which has since disapeared) i found my problem with the shifting was the shift shaft register. by now it was full on spring and time was limited between farming and riding my katana. somehow i found the time to take the clutch apart and set the register. then take the clutch apart again and put it together right or so i thought. then the bike blew fuses everytime i turned the key on. by now it was fall and harvest was over. the cows weren't home yet but the bales were made. time to get that thing goin.

first off i replaced the rotted out muffler with another ebay special. a little time was all it took to get the electrical sorted. then one more time with the clutch and it was finally ready. my first ride was only about 25km but it shifted fine and ran GREAT. my second ride i put on over 100km with no problems.

part of the reason i picked this bike was what i read on this site. i think it may have been a first bikes thread. there were a few people who had a 380 and said it was great. i remember one post that said "i used to let my friends ride the 380. the more it was abused the better it ran." this sticks in my mind because at the end of the 100km ride i abused it for a bit. wheelies and burnouts all over town and like the man said the more i abused it the better it ran.

now its winter again. the 380 still has needs. front signal lights and a rebuild kit for the front master. i already have the lights and the kit is on order. no worries. it'll be a piece of **** to get that done. last night i rolled out the 850. this one will be a bigger test. i plan on a complete motor teardown and rebuild. with that in mind wish me luck

[rudy]

Luck wished, but doubtful you'll need it. All you need is GSR! An engine rebuild really isn't a big task as long as you have the ability to ask questions, and follow advice. You have all winter.

Where you located?

[Redman]

Mcneilk,

Hum, Just an hour ago I saw an article in Classic Motorcycle about GT380. Was in March/April 2007 issue that still had laying around in living room that I supposidly was cleaning up. Actaully I sat there looking at magazines and the magazines are still there, but in a nicer looking pile har har

Is a 2 page artical that I could send you a copy if you are intersted. PM me an email address.

>>
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>>Later Note:
Actaully it is "Motorcycle Classics" magazine.
In addition to articalls about exotic-never-expect-to-see-one, there are articlas about bike from 60s, 70s or 80s including Japeneese, British, German, ectera that most of us would be more familiar with.

Will send email here shortly.

.

[Rat44]

Keep plugging away at that thing.
My first street bike was a '76 GT 380.
Learned a lot on it.
Did I mention it was Fun to ride?

[Misterj1953]

I had two GTs, a 72 "Indy" 550, and a 75 "LeMans", Water Buffalo. I still remember the way they both smelled, the way they sounded, and the way they smoked, (over 80 mph anyway). The GS owes the ruggedness of its bottom end design to the bottom end design of the GT.