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Been Down the Road

Winter 2018.

summer 1981.

Probably 1988-89.
A couple of close friends dying, a long-term marriage (not mine) breaking up, one more pal since age 11 with a terminal diagnosis and generally feeling not 23 any more when I get up has motivated me to get all bikes in running condition. Because ... maybe I should?

This winter's project, other than Kenny's MotoGP bike, is my first. A 1981 GPz550 Kawasaki, which I bought brand new in the local Kawi dealership. I drag raced it, road raced it, it was my single form of transportation (year round) for a while. After a pretty hard life I disassembled it in the 1990s. The parts have been in my office closet for probably close to ten years. My wife of 20 years has never seen this bike running.

Situation exacerbated by my being an idiot and buying ANOTHER semi-nice stock '81 GPz550 in 2000. So, for a while, I could get my 19 inch front wheel GPz joy if I need to. But other people have owned that one. My bike, for better or worse, has only ever been "mine".

There was a time when I could take the carbs apart on this bike almost in my sleep, and I knew what all the torque specs were off the top of my head. No more. I stood looking down at the underside of the carbs a few nights ago and felt like I was on an old road which I could no longer remember the bumps.

Thanks to a friend at Kawasaki USA, my new friend Dave in NV, my long-time friends Mitch and Paul Groth, at the moment this GPz has never been closer to being ready to run. Sure, it is still in 800 pieces but the systems are all getting there and it's close.

Some photos from way back when and current jump start.


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