I haven't even finished my CB350 restoration project yet and I'm really tempted to buy another bike. It is a running 1974 Suzuki GT550 for $400. Supposedly its all there except the mirrors and the chrome is good tank is clean inside etc. It has 23,000on it. So how much do you think this bike is worth. Seems like a killer deal to me. I've wanted a two stroke for quite a while and this is basically the same bike that my late grandfather used to own when I was a little tyke. He used to take me for rides on it with me sitting up on the tank in front of him. I want to get it but money is tight so if they aren't worth anything (not that id want to sell it) I may have to pass and put the $400 towards getting my CB350 done in time for spring.
should I buy a GT550
- Thread starter Wyld Bill
- Start date
Im sad to say I let it pass. My wife and I are trying to do better as a couple so I asked her what she thought :
She was like "Uh well I I didnt want you to buy the last motorcycle but you did." "You told me it was all ready to go but now it is in pieces in our basement." "And we don't have $400 plus $100+ for gas set aside in a "motorcycle fund" to go get this thing so where would you like me to steal that money from?"
So she had me,..honestly I was hoping she'd tell me that stuff I needed to hear it. Another bike in the house would just distract me (and steal moeny) from getting the CB done. Maybe at some point in the furture.
I still know where there is a 1972 GT550 GREEN!! with only 4000 miles on it sitting in a barn. THe guy (an old farmer) says he doesn't want to get rid of it but he knows I want it so I'm just waiting and I'll ask again in a year or two.
She was like "Uh well I I didnt want you to buy the last motorcycle but you did." "You told me it was all ready to go but now it is in pieces in our basement." "And we don't have $400 plus $100+ for gas set aside in a "motorcycle fund" to go get this thing so where would you like me to steal that money from?" So she had me,..honestly I was hoping she'd tell me that stuff I needed to hear it. Another bike in the house would just distract me (and steal moeny) from getting the CB done. Maybe at some point in the furture.
I still know where there is a 1972 GT550 GREEN!! with only 4000 miles on it sitting in a barn. THe guy (an old farmer) says he doesn't want to get rid of it but he knows I want it so I'm just waiting and I'll ask again in a year or two.
I'd like to see me a T550.
FWIW the only piece I ever came accross for my 75 that wasn't available OEM was an o-ring in the petcock. There's a Kawasaki part # that interchanges. The guys on the triples boards have that all ciphered out.
Mine had over 20,000 miles on it when I got rid of it, never had had the top end off.
The 72s have some pieces that are a little unique to them, nothing insurmountable. I had one for a while.
FWIW the only piece I ever came accross for my 75 that wasn't available OEM was an o-ring in the petcock. There's a Kawasaki part # that interchanges. The guys on the triples boards have that all ciphered out.
Mine had over 20,000 miles on it when I got rid of it, never had had the top end off.
The 72s have some pieces that are a little unique to them, nothing insurmountable. I had one for a while.
ApriliaBill
Yeah...I'm old school.
First, some of you guys have rocking 550's DANG!!!
Second, motorcycle hobby, a little advice.... Lose or sell anything you're not using these days, get a fund started. when stuff like $400 bikes come up you have $ waiting. The 550 could be parted and profit used to finish CB. Every time I sell a bike, I slip the wife some "her $", this shows her our little hobby is paying for itself and her cut makes it much easier when I drag the next p.o.s. home to stuff in the garage. I also make sure any other duties I have are taken care of before I hunker down in the garage. At this point there should never be anything negative out of her. You've shown her your hobby is self sustaining and she is part of your process. Bottom line is I can't tell you how many guys I know that have closet's full of hobbies they no longer take part in, and complain they haven't any $ for bikes.
I know this is sick and now my addiction, but I've gone as far as to quite smoking and drinking so I can buy any bike I feel I need. Unfortunately that means I'm hustling to keep four bikes running. But I always have something on the burner to flip, right now I've run into a Yamaha GT80, I don't know why, but in my neck of the woods they bring good $, and when this is gone, I have two Z50's lined up, altogether I'll clear about $600, a coulpe bills to the wife and more parts for my current rides. Ya gotta work it to get to your goals. At $400 the 550 parted is probably good for 2-300 clear and maybe you keep the frame or other parts for future project...
Second, motorcycle hobby, a little advice.... Lose or sell anything you're not using these days, get a fund started. when stuff like $400 bikes come up you have $ waiting. The 550 could be parted and profit used to finish CB. Every time I sell a bike, I slip the wife some "her $", this shows her our little hobby is paying for itself and her cut makes it much easier when I drag the next p.o.s. home to stuff in the garage. I also make sure any other duties I have are taken care of before I hunker down in the garage. At this point there should never be anything negative out of her. You've shown her your hobby is self sustaining and she is part of your process. Bottom line is I can't tell you how many guys I know that have closet's full of hobbies they no longer take part in, and complain they haven't any $ for bikes.
I know this is sick and now my addiction, but I've gone as far as to quite smoking and drinking so I can buy any bike I feel I need. Unfortunately that means I'm hustling to keep four bikes running. But I always have something on the burner to flip, right now I've run into a Yamaha GT80, I don't know why, but in my neck of the woods they bring good $, and when this is gone, I have two Z50's lined up, altogether I'll clear about $600, a coulpe bills to the wife and more parts for my current rides. Ya gotta work it to get to your goals. At $400 the 550 parted is probably good for 2-300 clear and maybe you keep the frame or other parts for future project...
