New project

garyphantom222 · Apr 1, 2012

Hi,went to Columbus,Ga.today to pick up a 1980 kawasaki 550 from a friend of mine,he didn't want it so I took it off his hands,needs some tlc,he left it outside so there is quite a bit of rust,mostly on the forks and shocks,also the seat is trashed,but it will a good project,will post photos soon,also it seems to me I may posted about this already so sorry if this is a second one but could not find the first post.

garyphantom222 · Apr 3, 2012

Took photos of my project today, just to rebuild and have some fun doing it,of course it will need lots of tlc,plus it didn't cost me anything except gas to go get it.

WALLSXB · Apr 3, 2012

RUST? What rust ? What direction you going with the rebuild stock or cafe racer style ? Good luck with the project. [up]

garyphantom222 · Apr 3, 2012

Yeah,I thought someone would notice the minimal rust on it,I think maybe cafe style but not 100% sure yet,at least the engine does not look too bad,only has about 16000 miles on it.

netty2424 · Apr 3, 2012

That's so awesome! I'm definitley following this build thread! [up]

garyphantom222 · Apr 3, 2012

First order of business is to get it in my barn out back,it will sit next to my buell,that way I have all tools right handy,Aready been searching ebay and other sites and have found some very good deals on most of what I need for the rebuild,also I know the owner of the kawasaki shop in Dothan,Al. who can help.

anrkizm95 · Apr 3, 2012

that bike brings back memories.[up]

Loki · Apr 3, 2012

Leave it rusty and rat it out.

garyphantom222 · Apr 3, 2012

Huh,didn't think of that Loki,and anrkizm it does bring back memories, when I lived in Columbus,Ga.and my friend had a suzuki gt550 then I bought a gs550,we had some good times,he bought this kawasaki in 1980 new,then unlike the rest of us he outgrew the bike bug.

garyphantom222 · Apr 6, 2012

Hi,finally got the Kz in it's new home while I get started on the teardown,as you can see it sits by the buell ,what a difference 32 years can make as far as some technology goes,also check out the last time it was tagged.

anrkizm95 · Apr 6, 2012

he outgrew the bike bug.

how does that happen [confused]

garyphantom222 · Apr 7, 2012

You got me cause I never thought he would,when I first met him he would ride his bike everywhere and in any kind of weather even after he bought his 1974 firebird which he sold to one of his sisters not to long ago,this kawasaki was his last one.

garyphantom222 · Apr 7, 2012

Got out in the shed today and started the teardown,will post photos on Sunday,it does not look to bad after I got the tank and seat off,the seat is trashed just as I knew it would be,the frame does not look as bad as I thought,just a few spots mainly around the foot pegs.

garyphantom222 · Apr 7, 2012

Earlier yesterday my wife went out to have a look at the kz 550,she wanted to know how I was going to build the bike so I told her I was thinking of turning it into a cafe bike but when I said that she kind of frowned at me,it seems she may want to start riding with me again so I may combine a little of both worlds,sport and street so she can ride also.

Junkbone · Apr 8, 2012

Love the ole Kawi's. Your wife may be right. I think the cafe racer style will be played out just like the choppers. Make it cool but comfortable. I had a Kz 550, not sure of the year anymore, may have been a couple of years newer (it was the green machine) and damn that thing would fly. Good luck on the build.

garyphantom222 · Apr 8, 2012

I am not sure Junkbone but I think it was a couple of years into the 1980's the Kawa's started having the optional green because Eddie Lawson raced on mean green machines.

firefighter1c57 · Apr 8, 2012

I think cafe racing it would be tits. Sorta a old school next to a new school racer as a pair. That said, I rat bike hardtailed my old Suzuki.

garyphantom222 · Apr 9, 2012

Well I am a day late posting more photos,got the tank and seat off so I could see how the frame and wiring looks,mostly it is dirty and the frame isn't as bad as I thought but the battery box will need to go ,next will be to take apart fenders and brakes.

netty2424 · Apr 9, 2012

How the hell do you clean all that up? Remove the rust and crap like that?

garyphantom222 · Apr 9, 2012

netty,most of what you see on the frame is dirt,there are some areas that look bad but I have a son in law who is going to help clean the frame and in case we find more than we can safely fix I already have a few frames I am looking at for not much money,I have also found shocks,carbs,forks and mufflers ect. so I am not looking at but few hundred dollars,just going to take my time on it,the engine mostly needs cleaning and new gaskets.

New project

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