26-08-14, 09:05 PM
Exactly what I thought about the seat! Don't know if U.S. spec ones were like that, or it's just been modded. I'm sure U.K. ones didn't have seats quite that huge? Easily changed though.
XJR? Yeah, it's got a lot going for it. But I think it's more of a nostalgia trip with the GS. I've had 3 Z650s now: one, a U.S. import from D.K. Spares in Stoke - ran sweet as a nut, no problems. One a U.K. F1 that was (afaik) used up to when I bought it, but not high mileage for all that. Also no problems.
Then there was a Z1. Didn't run great, spent some time stripping, refreshing and rebuilding, got it running ok, but didn't click with it at the time - another U.S. import.
Two 750 H2s - one a looney-tunes Denco job - had a bit of a sticky gearchange, but was rideable - if you class something that would definitely eventually kill you as that! U.S. import. The other a U.S. import with major problems that couldn't be rectified with anything short of an engine change. That one is the one to learn from, as you're quite right, you never know what kind of problems you might be buying into with these old classics. I guess if I was serious about it, I'd try to find out if there was any available history on the bike first. Unlikely with an import though. So then it would be a test ride, and see what kind of warranty (if any) I might get with it.
The showroom is M/C Megastore, Swindon - a clothing outlet more than a bike seller, and I'm not sure what their set-up is. As said, they had the CBX, GS750 and a CB750 too, but they also have an immaculate RC51 and a number of other odds and ends. I don't even know if they have their own workshop. Maybe they just put bikes in their showroom for customers for a fee. I do, however, know a local chap (who looks after my Fazer) who has many customers with older stuff like this, so there is someone I know I can trust who could keep it running sweet if there are no catastrophic problems. I think if it was good enough on a test ride, I'd be inclined to risk it.
But since I'm not going for it anyway, it's just a wishful thinking discussion point :rolleyesÂ
XJR? Yeah, it's got a lot going for it. But I think it's more of a nostalgia trip with the GS. I've had 3 Z650s now: one, a U.S. import from D.K. Spares in Stoke - ran sweet as a nut, no problems. One a U.K. F1 that was (afaik) used up to when I bought it, but not high mileage for all that. Also no problems.
Then there was a Z1. Didn't run great, spent some time stripping, refreshing and rebuilding, got it running ok, but didn't click with it at the time - another U.S. import.
Two 750 H2s - one a looney-tunes Denco job - had a bit of a sticky gearchange, but was rideable - if you class something that would definitely eventually kill you as that! U.S. import. The other a U.S. import with major problems that couldn't be rectified with anything short of an engine change. That one is the one to learn from, as you're quite right, you never know what kind of problems you might be buying into with these old classics. I guess if I was serious about it, I'd try to find out if there was any available history on the bike first. Unlikely with an import though. So then it would be a test ride, and see what kind of warranty (if any) I might get with it.
The showroom is M/C Megastore, Swindon - a clothing outlet more than a bike seller, and I'm not sure what their set-up is. As said, they had the CBX, GS750 and a CB750 too, but they also have an immaculate RC51 and a number of other odds and ends. I don't even know if they have their own workshop. Maybe they just put bikes in their showroom for customers for a fee. I do, however, know a local chap (who looks after my Fazer) who has many customers with older stuff like this, so there is someone I know I can trust who could keep it running sweet if there are no catastrophic problems. I think if it was good enough on a test ride, I'd be inclined to risk it.
But since I'm not going for it anyway, it's just a wishful thinking discussion point :rolleyesÂ