Worth Working With???

[Cooked]

Hey Everyone,

I was recently given a 82 GS650E(Z) with 15K miles. I do not know the history of it as a family orginally purchased it... but ended up purchasing other one.

Here is the question... As I working on it yesterday I noticed that the bike has been dropped/laydown. The right foot peg is bent and the right headlamp mounting is out of wack (AKA- Bent). The instrument cluster isn't in the best of shape also. I would say that it appears the front wheel is out of wack (with the handlebars) but I am not sure if what I am seeing is coming from the bent headlamp braket. The fender doesn't appear to be damaged.

Although it ran, she was told that one of the cyclinders ran "cold" and that the carbs probably needed a cleaning. The carbs have been cleaned. Oh yeah... the right nut holdingon the tire has been welded... which I found VERY odd and the reason for most conscern.

Although I love the GS series; I am concerned about the status of the bike and if it is worth moving forward with. I use to have a GS550E and I loved it... so my heart really wants to move forward. with this bike... but my mind (and wife) are questioning if it is worth the money/time. Most repairs have to be day repairs or sent to the local garge.

Any thoughts? How can tell if it worth the time?

Thanks for your time and thoughts!

~ Russ

[wharrah]

it depends on what kind of beauty you see with your heart

(edit) I apologize for the picture being so huge... its on my website and isnt that large there...

I am going to confess to you (and the rest of the group). My bike has similar problems... But I ride it EVERY DAY. I liken dents and bends to having a bent fender, and maybe needing an alignment. Ever owned a car like that, in high-school perhaps?

ok, take a look at her, REAL CLOSE.... what do you see?



My bike is one that a buyer would be told to AVOID if you were to read a 'how to buy a motorcycle' book... if you look at it from straight ahead, the front wheel is not lined up vertically down the centerline between cylinders 2 and 3.

The tank had a dent in it when I first bought it, but I had that fixed. One shock on the back was bent (which I replaced with nice, new PROGRESSIVES.) All the gauges work, but they do not sit straight on the handlebars... the bike 'dog-tracks' a little when I ride it. I cannot do a 'look ma, no hands!' thing... The forks are off of center (to the right) by about 5degrees I think.

But, does that stop me from riding and enjoying it??? Not for a minute. This bike has low miles, less than 7k now, 6k when I got it. It had a very hard life I suspect, long before I got it and I rescued it from being an abused and forgotten garage-queen... I fixed up what I could, and someday maybe i'll get up the nerve to rip off the front forks and find out just what has to be replaced to make it like new... Assuming I don't find a bent-frame or something. Nothing 'rattles' or flops around, so it is safe to ride.

I believe a bike is what it is. I will never get rich selling this particular bike; I may not get back what I invested in it. But I LOVE IT ANYWAY, and it seems to love me back. It starts every time I ask it to, it runs like it was new, and it has heart. why do people own RAT BIKES? Because they like them for what they are, not for what they could be.

Don't tell anyone, but it was even bike of the month in early 2005 (April I think?). Nobody will notice all those flaws but you when you're riding it. I don't think that being beautiful means something has to be flawless, either.

But, the question that you asked you will have to answer yourself.

Considering you have nothing invested so far, what have you got to lose to see what it takes? If you're worried about not being able to get all your money back if you sell it, then just part it out and use that money to get a whole bike you can be proud of instead. You definitely want your wife's/GF/SO's support, so do what works best for ya.

Me? I'm happy enough with my '3-legged-dog'... probably as faithful as they come. And, with two bikes in the garage, I'm as happy as I can be living in a condo. Do you think the plate '3LGDOG' would make sense?

Sometime I'll ask the group what kind of hassle I'd have to deal with to figure out whether I have bent fork parts, steering parts, or a bent frame... But for now, I'm just a riding and a smiling.

And, when I sell it (or when my widow does), she'll have to either sell it cheap, or sell it for parts... but that's ok. It will have survived and lived many more years than it was destined to leaning in that dark garage corner 4 years ago when I found it and gave it a new lease on life, just as it is....

Good luck with your decision.

[GSstiny]

if you like the prospect of a project, go for it. Keep your eyes open for a parts bike, post a wanted ad on here, and as a last resort head to the junkyard. I would be very thorough in checking out that front end. Look for stress cracks around the steerer tube. As long as the frame is good, you may only be a carb rebuild and a tune up away from a good runner.

[mark]

I would be very thorough in checking out that front end.

That's my gut reaction too. You should be able to line up your handlebars with the wheel. Loosen the triple clamps (support the bike of course first!) stradle the front tire and you should be able to line things up.

[Cooked]

Thanks for the advise... \\/

As for looks... I don't think I've ever owed a pretty bike/car. (At least from others eyes). I've always enjoyed the beaters. So does my wallet.

I looked briefly at the steering tube and didn't see any cracks.... but I will take a closer look. And I will for sure attempt to line up the wheel and bars.

It's funny because my wife is wondering why I want to sell a running bike... to go to this one. Then again I am still wonder why she has the need to buy things on sale.... whether needed or not.

wharrah- You have a nice looking bike there... and I agree with you... you never get what you've put into them... at least not usually. I like your thinking. Each of my bikes have had they own "special features".

So... Off to take another look at the front end.... Thanks again!

[mark]

I think our stories are similar. When you start off with a klunker you can fix it up good, but without a fairly large sum of money it will never be as nice as the hidden brand new lookin gem that someone gets for $600.00

Its a little like rooting for the underdog.

[Iceman71]

cooked,
I have to agree with these guys all the way...i was given a gs850 that had been dropped, hard and previously very well enjoyed from the looks of it, i even had several very essential parts missing. But after 2 months and $400 bucks ( along with lots of hard work, head scratching and the occasional cuss word) it lives and i have a helluva time ridin her.....sooooo whats to lose by takin a closer look?

[rustybronco]

Want to hear the story of my cb750f that i bought with road rash? well i'm still working on it! fork tubes bent (straightened my myself within .003 on one and .005 on the other) tripple tree bent (replaced by an e-bay wonder) rear section of the frame that supported the fender was bent down 1/2", chrome bar/guard around the seat scraped and bent, lh rear turn signal smashed and bracket bent, lh front peg bent down 1", handle bar bent back and down (straightened by myself), had to overhaul the front calipers, one brake line plugged solid, speedo smashed, head light housing smashed, had to go through all the wiring connections, needed tires and tubes, battery, number two carb body cracked by someone overtightening the drain screw (fixed with j.b. weld) needs rear master cylinder overhauled (waiting for the kit) i still have to paint the tank and side covers and stripe it, yes there is more good than bad (new chain and sprockets, engine overhauled, chrome excellent ect.) i have been going through this bike from front tire to rear tire (i bought it to sell it) and i won't sell a piece of sh*t to anyone! it's not something i could ever bring myself to do, so on and on it goes. you will have more time in it than you than you care to count, but with time and patience and some careful shopping and a lot of fustrating times, all wiill be fine, plus you have the gs resources here at your finger tips!
and who knows, you may have it till the end of time! only you can decide if its worth it to you and your FAMILY (they come first), but in my opinion it beats seeing a nut doctor by a mile.

p.s. not one thing was farmed out, you can do it all too...

[mark]

Want to hear the story of my cb750f that i bought with road rash? well i'm still working on it! fork tubes bent (straightened my myself within .003 on one and .005 on the other) tripple tree bent (replaced by an e-bay wonder) rear section of the frame that supported the fender was bent down 1/2", chrome bar/guard around the seat scraped and bent, lh rear turn signal smashed and bracket bent, lh front peg bent down 1", handle bar bent back and down (straightened by myself), had to overhaul the front calipers, one brake line plugged solid, speedo smashed, head light housing smashed, had to go through all the wiring connections, needed tires and tubes, battery, number two carb body cracked by someone overtightening the drain screw (fixed with j.b. weld) needs rear master cylinder overhauled (waiting for the kit) i still have to paint the tank and side covers and stripe it, yes there is more good than bad (new chain and sprockets, engine overhauled, chrome excellent ect.) i have been going through this bike from front tire to rear tire (i bought it to sell it) and i won't sell a piece of sh*t to anyone! it's not something i could ever bring myself to do, so on and on it goes. you will have more time in it than you than you care to count, but with time and patience and some careful shopping and a lot of fustrating times, all wiill be fine, plus you have the gs resources here at your finger tips!
and who knows, you may have it till the end of time! only you can decide if its worth it to you and your FAMILY (they come first), but in my opinion it beats seeing a nut doctor by a mile.

p.s. not one thing was farmed out, you can do it all too...

The Gospel according to GSResources. Downright inspirational.

[Cooked]

How can I not?

After reading Rusty's post how can I not move forward with my freebie?? Poor little GS just wants a little love right? Hell... if my wife looked at all the repairs she would have to do on me... she would have kept looking for someone in better shape with less problems. For a 76 I'm pretty beat up! :-D

Assuming no cracked frame that is. I am guessing the frame will be ok as I don't believe it was dropped very hard... it may have been a drive way dump. Stuff just bent.... not wiped out.

Thanks for the inspiration!

[jimcor]

OT, Hijack.

What's a '72 Honda 180??? Do you mean a 175?

[Cooked]

You are probably right... it was my first bike back when I was 16.... and my memory isn't the best. I thought it was 180 or 185... but perhaps it was a 175?

I'd ask my memory but I have forgotten where I left it.

[wharrah]

You are probably right... it was my first bike back when I was 16.... and my memory isn't the best. I thought it was 180 or 185... but perhaps it was a 175?

I'd ask my memory but I have forgotten where I left it.

Honda did make 185s... back in the late 70s... I once owned a CM185. Nice bike, but at 6' and 190 lbs, my wife said I looked like an elephant riding a p!ss-ant... so, I admitted she was right, and started my move to 'the big leagues'...

Mine was red, but otherwise looked like this:

[Cooked]

Maybe I am getting my years mixed up then. CM185 sounds familiar and the pics looks like it. But I seem to remember it being older than me... in the early 70's.

And I hear you on the size thing... I'm 6ft and 170lbs. A little small but a great first bike! I ended up dumping it twice... second time it was retired. (Learned some lessons on it though).

Anyhow... Hoping to get over to take a look at the GS650 tomrrow.

[rustybronco]

After reading Rusty's post how can I not move forward with my freebie?? Poor little GS just wants a little love right? Hell... if my wife looked at all the repairs she would have to do on me... she would have kept looking for someone in better shape with less problems. For a 76 I'm pretty beat up! :-D

Assuming no cracked frame that is. I am guessing the frame will be ok as I don't believe it was dropped very hard... it may have been a drive way dump. Stuff just bent.... not wiped out.

Thanks for the inspiration!

sounds like a phoenix about to rise from the ashes...

the frame will be fine, post pictures a lot can be told from them.