Kawasaki Gpz500s Longest Day Challenge

Discussion in 'Other Bikes' started by Leesey, Sep 4, 2021.

  1. So I saw on YouTube a video earlier in the year about the longest day challenge where riders ride bikes they bought for £300 from lands end to John Ogroats in 24 hours without using motorways.
    I saw it and thought that looks amazing.
    http://longestdaychallenge.com/
    so I set about arranging it for 2022 I’ve been given a provisional place and I set about looking for a noble steed!
    This took me to deepest darkest eBay and Facebook marketplace and having this morning viewed one (3 1/2 hour round trip) I turned it down it was an absolute dog.
    I arrived home with my mate and he found one on Facebook marketplace and before you know it were off on another 3 1/2 hour round trip in the other direction to Bridlington to look at a bike. I initially fancied a Honda dullsville due to the shaft drive and reliable engine with wind protection and panniers built in, but everyone wants circa £800 - £1000 for a bike with no mot that isn’t running. (This seems to be for all bike not just dullsvilles!
    Anyway off to Bridlington I went with the Motolug in the car just in case.
    We were greeted by a Kawasaki GPZ500S with just over 11000 miles on the clock and it’s been off the road since 2008.
    there isn’t any history but it is all there and the engine turns but it won’t start as the fuel tap has had it.
    The oil in it is from 2008 as is the fuel so you can imagine what needs doing to it (in short everything!)
    Well I picked her for the princely sum of £290 and she is now safely tucked up in the garage with the 916, 4XV R1 and the street triple R.
    Yes she needs lots of work but it is do-able and for a good cause as I’ve lost to many people in my life to cancer so always willing to try and help, so buckle in and get ready for the work to be completed on the Kwak.on a side note I have until June next year to do this and a large family so it will get done but it will be a steady project.
    Thanks for looking
    Jon

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  2. Goodluck with the project and the ride.

    Someone else on the forum did it recently on a Honda and tacked on a big tour of Scotland afterwards- have a search and you'll find the thread.
     
  3. Wow I haven’t updated this in a while!
    The bike was slowly taken apart and we found a lot of grime and muck, most things were seized (make that everything) but over all she was honest.

    I even ended up getting help from my youngest.

    I had a box of service bits delivered from wemoto as the oil was around 14 years old along with everything else. She was serviced and then the real work started in stripping the carbs.

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  4. That’s got a lot of rusty bits or is that called patina now, hope you have the young apprentice making the tea:upyeah:
    How do you find the Motolug.
     
  5. The motoring is brilliant.
    I may sell it soon as I’m wanting the two bike one. This one has the ungraded 10 inch wheels too.
    Haha it’s not patina on this it’s rust she has just passed her mot with no advisories. But she isn’t running right so I’ve had the carbs off again as it was so low on power it was unbelievable.

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  6. @Cream_Revenge
     
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