Kwaka GPZ500 anyone?

OK, taken the plunge and invested a whole £250 in a 1995 Kawasaki GPZ500s. It starts and runs, was last MOT'd in 2009 since when it has done about 1000 miles.

I have scoured the net looking for pictures of a cafe'd one with no luck, anyone on here has one, seen one or have pictures they could post so I can get some ideas?

I'm picking it up next week so the pictures and fun will begin!

Hi Paul
Interesting starting point ! Like you I couldn't find any cafe racer examples - yours will be unique !
Be intrigued what you do with it, looking forward to the pictures.
Regards

Mike

I started one but only got as far as stripping it down and needed some money so that's as far as she got :/ good luck with the build and WE NEED PICTURES

found this one (think its a GPZ550) is yours the round framed or square framed model?

Nice, luckily mine's the round framed one. I've found some pictures by Googling GPZ500 cafe racer, but soem are coming up with a radiator which I'm sure mine doesn't have.

Never owned a Kwaka before, it's going to be interesting, it's already got a Nexus S/S system which is apparently worth £250 on it's own

RussJ wrote:

I started one but only got as far as stripping it down and needed some money so that's as far as she got :/ good luck with the build and WE NEED PICTURES

I'm waiting for a 'friend' to help collect it in his van, unfortunately having offered to help he's now dissappeared on a 3-day jaunt to England so it's going to be the weekend before I can collect it

Well, picked it up yesterday, total f*cking shed!

I thought it was round tube, it's square, didn't realise it's water cooled, 13 previous owners, not turned a wheel since March 2009 etc. etc.

Now in two minds, attempt a very hard and dubious cafe, or break the sorry old bus an look for something else?

A gs500 might be a better starting point if you,re trying a more modern cafe , air cooled twin ,simple & bullet proof, cheap to buy, made them for years,parts interchange with earlier gs450 which would be even better if you could find one. About 45 hp. Only problem is the 500 is mono shock & tank sits on frame rather than straddling it.

mike151 wrote:

A gs500 might be a better starting point if you,re trying a more modern cafe , air cooled twin ,simple & bullet proof, cheap to buy, made them for years,parts interchange with earlier gs450 which would be even better if you could find one. About 45 hp. Only problem is the 500 is mono shock & tank sits on frame rather than straddling it.

Yep Mike, fine and dandy, but I haven't been offered a GS500 for £250!  

I've given it a good look over and reckon with a bit of TLC and a new MOT I can turn it round and sell on as a cheapo commuter for £6-700 and use that to fund a different project. If it looks like it's going to be too expensive I'll break it and recoup my money that way.

I,m not saying the gpz is not do-able,but it,ll also be mono,I think the engine has some kind of fins showing so may look ok even if there is a rad. The main thing is getting the tank & bum stop/ seat to look right,& I think the gpz has a decent looking tank at least.

I know what you are saying Mike, the issue really is the tank, it has an indentation at the rear which the original seat covers, with an upward curved section, that would need to be incorporated in the new seat.

TBH I'm not sure if it is worth the hassle, I've got time over the next couple of weeks so will see what's what and go from there.

It doesn't owe me much but I'm reluctant to let it become a money pit if the result won't look right.

I,m at a similar point with an earlier gsxr400 which is a parts bike for my main one,air/oil/water cooled,has nice fins on engine.i,m a bit reluctant to go butchering the frame just yet till I,m sure I can go through with it, I,ve got the bum stop sat there , there's no rush , but am waiting for some inspiration to go further