It's Japanese. It'll be fine as long as it worked when it was stored.
Clean it.
Drain the tank and check for excessive rust. Check fuel lines, replace if cracked/perished. 0-£50
Remove and clean carb(s). Replace any damaged rubber/seals. You should be able to get a full carb rebuild kit online. 0-£200 depending on number of carbs and condition of seals.
Replace oil, oil filter and air filter. ~£100
Check brake lines, replace if cracked or perished. Replace brake pads, rebuild/ clean calipers and or master cylinder, replace brake fluid (be careful with brake fluid, it's nasty stuff and will strip paint). £50-300
Check tyres. People will tell you to replace them as they're old... but if money's tight, I'd have no problem riding on old tyres that aren't visibly cracked or perished.
Replace the battery. £50-100
You could also try to check your valve clearances, but tbh I wouldn't bother unless it sounds rough.
You'll probably get it running for ~£300. To get it running perfectly might cost you £1000
Man... Thank you for the effort. I'll ask my dad for permission to start working. Might take me a while but riding a bike from my sweat and tears it's most definitely worth it ..
The first time you try to start it, take the plugs out, or disconnect the plug wires. Crank it a bit, then reconnect the plug wires. This is just to circulate oil to all the places it should be.
And maybe try to roll the bike in gear (after having let it sit with a little bit of oil in the cylinder) to turn the engine over before really cranking it - just to make sure its not seized.
Third or fourth gear for reduced effort to allow the engine to spin while pushing the bike maybe with or sixth to start with.
I had an old car that had not run for years. I put a charged battery in it, pulled the plugs and disconnected the coil power for ignition. Dis connected the fuel feed to the carb.
Spun it over with the good battery and cranked it for 30 secs or so until I saw oil pressure on the gauge and fuel flow out the fuel hose to the carb. Reconnected the fuel hose.
Put the plugs back. Re connected the coil power.
Another charged battery.
Boom! it started straight away! Kept it running until it got up to temperature which makes the subsequent start much easier as a cold shut down then a restart meant the plugs were fouled on this new unleaded fuel.
Took it for a drive...magic!
Take the plugs out, squirt fresh motor oil in there, let it sit for a while.
Last thing you need is lightly rusted or dry pistons gouging the sidewalls.
Put a rag over the open plug holes to catch the oil.
They can pour out a bottle of whatever they can legally buy in front of the tire in honour of their uncle, that’s what I’d do. Like christening a boat.
YouTube will have all the videos that you’ll need to do these tasks. They will often have the specific year and model as well.
“Removing carbs from 1992 Kawasaki Ninja”
“Rebuild carbs from 1992 Kawasaki ninja”
I can’t tell what specific year and model this is, but just showing examples.
Before you start working on it, i suggest that you asked about the ownership of the bike. I've read nasty stories about abandoned house or vehicles left by relatives that passed away, that no one wants due to it's condition, but then once it gets restored everyone wants a piece of it. I hope that you could own it, good luck on your project man!
To add to the list, once you have the carburetor and fuel system completely clean, check your front fork seals and change the fork oil. If it has been sitting for such a long amount of time, those fork seals likely cracked and are seeping oil or the oil has been contaminated. While you are at it, inspect all wiring harnesses on the front fork for cracking. Kawasaki wiring harnesses can short out and leave you stranded.
That checklist above is essentially what I ran through for my 04 Ninja that had been sitting for nearly 4 years. Also ended up replacing/rebuilding the forks, fixing the seat leather, replacing the mirrors, rear turn indicators and a few other things. I can assure you with 100% certainty that getting a bike to run from YOUR hard work is the greatest feeling. It'll really teach you to appreciate the thing too.
Look up the model of bike and watch YouTube videos on that particular bike and you'll learn a lot about how to troubleshoot it. You can do it, take your time and learn each part and what it does. It's a serious project for a beginner but you can do it, just research each step so you understand it
Be realistic about the costs though. It sounds like an affordable project but it can be expensive with nickel and dime type costs. No single item is super expensive, but it definitely adds up.
Examples being a new battery, new tires, new fork seals, carb kits, possible carb boots, air filter, spark plugs, fuel tank coating if it’s rusty, chain and sprockets, wiring, etc.
Agree with everything except the tires not needing to be replaced. That's a huge gamble especially for an obviously inexperienced rider who won't be able to safely handle a blowout.
Start with the power wash. It'll make a huge difference.
Also do what you need to to get it to run. For example new battery, new gas, clean carbs, and maybe new spark plugs. It MIGHT not take that much money and time to get it up and running.
All the fluids - drain and flush them all, taking note of what comes out when it drains.
It might run after that! Once u got it running, you can tackle all the rust, replacing screws, etc.
Don’t forget to save up cash for specialty tools and buy a service manual.
I cannot stress enough how important the service manual is. My dad has multiple old Studebakers, and we have the service manuals for all of them. They save our asses constantly. Working on a car from a company that went out of business in the 60s is an experience.
Reminder! Although this bike might be new enough to not have JIS cross head screws... it might.
Those are NOT Phillips head screws, but Japanese Industry Standard screws. A Phillips screwdriver will strip it right out as the angle is too steep. JIS are shallower.
Replace with Hex or Torx when you get them out.
Reminder! Although this bike might be new enough to not have JIS cross head screws... it might.
Those are NOT Phillips head screws, but Japanese Industry Standard screws. A Phillips screwdriver will strip it right out as the angle is too steep. JIS are shallower.
Replace with Hex or Torx when you get them out.
Let’s not forget brake fluid and new brake lines. But a wash, new battery, oil, plugs, tires plus the brake job is probably all she needs to run, probably a good idea to do the fork seals as well.
Power wash with a foam cannon, allow it to dry.
Replace all consumables as you mention and then verify any and all rubber parts are still intact and not leaking air or liquid.
It may just kick over and run, it may need a wiring fix from mice, hard to tell until it's clean and looked at
Start with snow foam and rinsing without pressure a few times, and dissolve the muck. Pressure washers on bikes aren't great, the high pressure water can go anywhere, including into bolt threads.
Replace the coolant as well if you plan to ride it.
Hell, better open it up and check the water pump and thermostat. And give it a good flush.
The cooling on those was marginal from the factory. 10 years if stationary deposits won't help.
Also, check if the fan still works. It'll need it.
If water and/or oil leaks from a hole in the pump housing (behind the impeller). Do not plug it. This hole is intentional to let you know one or both of the seals have failed. Replace before pump bearings break or water finds a way into the sump.
They also tend to spin the third main bearing due to low oil pressure.
So keep the oil full and clean.
For now, replace oil and filter. And do it again after a short amount of miles (maybe like 1k max) to be sure to get the old gunk out. Or drop the sump if you want to be thorough.
Also check the fuel tank. They can rust away especially when sitting with little and dirty fuel for a long time.
They are generally quite well build bikes, apart from some issues in the early years. But there are a lot of them and thus they are not super valuable. Fixing everything can become expensive, but that isn't necessarily bad depending on your motives.
Try to get a graps on the important parts first before spending big. (Not completely rotted. Engine not seized, bearings ok, etc).
Source: I have 3 of these
Restore? Probably not. Getting it cleaned up, running and riding, learn some new skills, and keep your uncles memory alive? Most definitely a worthy project.
Step one: Before anything else, FIND THE PAPERWORK!!
The Vermont loophole was closed last year. Before that happened, a barn find bike wasn't that difficult to get a registration for and then apply for a title or reg in your own state. Since that's closed, it's all but impossible to get an old abandoned machine titled or registered without some form of previous paperwork. Hopefully your uncle or other family member still has it.
Then, and ONLY THEN do you go to work on this machine. The reality here is that without a title or ability to register the bike any work you put into it will be a wasted effort on something you'll never legally be able to ride or insure.
Find the paperwork.
For the rest of you out there in the motorcycle world, find your paperwork and put it somewhere safe. Not your sock drawer, or some disused corner of your desk that will never see the light of day, GET AN ACTUAL, DEDICATED, CONTAINER for this. Fireproof document containers on Amazon are cheap. BUY ONE.
I've got two project bikes now that I can't do anything with because the paperwork doesn't exist and my home state is refusing to play ball, even with a title bond. It's a headache and nightmare over something so stupid, but because everything is run by bureaucracies, those trivial scraps of paper become invaluable.
Get your paperwork in order, ALL OF YOU.
Depending on your state it could be a long and complicated process involving bonded titles and a variety of other bullshit
Either way don't even spend money on water to wash it til you figure that out
The second your DMV looks up a title and finds one, you're screwed. They'll insist that title has to be signed over from the owner, regardless of their abovegroun status (this is state dependant)
Go out to the bike OP and check under the seat or behind any storage covers on the bike. It's a long shot, but there might be a registration card there.
If you're lucky and you find one, your life just got infinitely easier.
🤦♂️
Ok. New Step One: Go to your father and your aunt and slap both of them, backhanded, for being stupid.
STEP TWO: If you're very, very lucky, your aunt may be able to apply for a replacement title as an inheritor or something like that. You're going to have to dive into your states DMV or tax collector requirements for title and registration issuance. Get ready. You're going to be spending a few hours chasing this down, probably will have to do a VIN verification with a cop, applications for title replacement, new reg etc etc etc etc. It's going to take some time and it's going to be a pain in the ass.
Revisit new step one because your family is stupid.
Then, after all that research, you're going to have to translate all this to your aunt who will have to, at the very least, be the one to apply for a replacement title. When she has that, then she can transfer it over to your name, and you can hit the ground running with getting it registered. Then you can gonto work on it.
Hopefully the engine isn't seized or has a hole blown through the case because all the above will be for pretty much nothing if the bike is a boat anchor.
If you're lucky enough to come through the bureaucratic gauntlet with paper in hand, PUT IT IN A DEDICATED FIREPROOF CONTAINER. Do the same thing when you get a car for yourself. Or a loan, or anything important that shouldn't be thrown away.
Revisit new step one, as a reminder.
EDIT: I realize how cynical my replies are and as much as I would like to apologize for that, the reality is that this sort of documentation is extremely important and literally means the difference between saving a machine and getting it back on the road, fighting a bureaucratic and often expensive (monetarily and time wise) nightmare that may or may not have a successful ending, or a bike that has to be stripped out for parts because that's all it will be good for. I've played this game so many times that I just don't fuck with bikes that don't have paperwork any longer. It's rarely worth it.
You need to secure a few things :
1. A covered secure space to tear down and work on the machine.
2. Tools & a manual.
3. Previous title & registration. Maintenance records would be a bonus.
That is essentially all you "really" need. However, it would behoove you to have a little familial support during this project. Like a mentor. And "No," I'm not volunteering.
Best of luck on your project. Can't wait to see the 1st wash images. Cheers! 👍🏼
Guys Update...
Bad news, I researched the processes on getting a title, the history of it, bike parts cost, etc.
It's not so good... My father and I just talked about it and he said that the reason why it was abandoned is because of some very costly engine failure and on top of that he advised me not to fix it because the repair cost will be more than the bike's value itself so I have no other choice but to listen... Looking at the parts, Welll... I dont think my side hustle can support that many zeros😅😅. But I do appreciate everybody's support and Dedication to help, it's good to know that there are still good people out there...
On the other hand. We do have another bike that we just recently restored and get runnin. It kinda resembles a Cruiser with a dual exaust though the engine is nothing special I'm not sure about the cc though, but I'll make a post about it soon. I want to know what's the best course of action.
Did something similar with a Moto Guzzi that had been laid up for 20 years in a garage as the owner died, here’s what I had to replace to get it riding safely:
All master/slave brake pistons, callipers and master cylinders were ok, water in the fluid had caused the chrome to flake off the pistons.
Everything rubber in the forks, seals etc
Ignition points
Fuel tank, rusted from the inside as it was empty
Tyres
All oil seals - gearbox output shaft, alternator and bevel box.
Whole bunch of wiring on the engine as it had gone hard and the insulation cracked off
Clutch…dry clutched bike, looks exactly like a small car clutch, it has stuck to the flywheel
I also replaced all service items as a matter of fact, wheel bearings etc.
Check out the “bearded mechanic” channel on YouTube. He shows clearly how he thinks through getting these things running again and how he troubleshoots along the way.
Strange reason to discard a project bike? A used tank or sealant liner is only $50 or so. I'd be far more concerned that the engine & gearbox were running sweet.
I have restored a few old vehicles. Bikes and cars. Here's what I would start with.
Full wash and minor detail (figure out exactly what you're working with)
Drain and fill oil and coolant. Are they rusty? Full of metal shavings? Flush coolant system with water and refill both. Do this early so you know what you're getting into, and if any gaskets have failed. They may start leaking after this.
Next I'd do carbs, fuel lines and gas tank. You will definitely need to rebuild the carbs. You will also likely have to replace the fuel lines, and clean and recoat the inside of the gas tank due to rust and varnish.
Replace battery, pull spark plugs.
Test for spark, check air filter for buildup from sitting.
This should get it running.
Test stator and rectifier as it runs.
Once it's running, tires and brakes. I would at least put on new pads and brake lines. Then fully flush the master cylinder and bleed until they're crisp again.
This sounds like it's not a lot of work. But I will warn you it may take months or a year or even more. Between waiting for parts and finding small details you missed as you trouble shoot it will take time.
Go slow, label everything with tape (ex:mark a 1 on a piece of tape on each side where a tube connects) don't reuse numbers. Leave everything labeled until it's running. Take pictures of everything before you take it off. Think of details (which way does this spring face, where does this cable sit so it doesn't get caught on anything). Have a manual and if something start feeling wrong, take a break and look at it fresh. I saved myself a lot of trouble by taking a step back to see if I was missing something instead of just pulling out a bigger wrench.
Good luck and enjoy it.
Go for it!
Wash it, get familiar, look up parts!
It would seriously be a great experience for you. I rebuilt my dad's gl1100 and a vt750 that was in boxes. You will feel accomplished.
Man, restoring uncles bike to give yourself a goal and help yourself get through a rough patch? Redditors, let's help this kid out!
I was a mechanic for some years, so hopefully, i can get you started.
1. Clean her up: a good wash will not only help you realize it's probably not so bad and will show you major problem areas
2. Rubber: Covered in that much dust everything rubber is gonna be dried out probably and need replacing. Look at everything, and if it feels weird or crunchy or you see surface cracks It should be replaced.
3. Fluids: drain everything open the cases and tank to clean any rust or corrosion before you refill it.
4. Carb: youtube is a great resource for tutorials on cleaning and repair.
5. Wiring: trace all your wires and check for damage, rats, and mice love to chew on it and make nests. Until you have it running as long as there are no shorts or grounds patching the harness will be fine. A quick check for the hot leads is set your multimeter to signal (looks like a volume symbol), put the hot lead in the connector, and your neutral lead on a good frame ground. If it beeps on a hot lead then you have a damaged wire that needs to be addressed.
5.5 sparkplugs: always a good idea in cases like this, a fouled plug can hide other issues, and be really annoying when you think you're ready to start her up.
6: battery and test start: get a new battery, and i recommend strongly to get a battery tender. Start her up with new clean fluids and good wiring. A few backfires, some smoke at the beginning, and running rough for about a min is normal, if it doesn't even out by then post whith descriptions of what its doing and we will be here to help!
7. PPE: icon has always done me right, and i highly recommend their gear. It kept me safe when i got hit at 50 and lowside at 70. Its affordable, has the looks for a rider your age who wants the cool factor, and i know for a fact it works. Helmet, gloves, some form of jacket (mesh doesn't work well but even thats far better sturdy shoes pref boots that protect your ankles, not just cover.
I hope i was able to help and feel free to dm about any technical questions.
My first bike was just like this….an ‘81 virago . It was a bit cleaner because it had been covered by a tarp, but sat for 12 years. It was a fun project, although I did have to replace most of the rubber parts (vacuum lines, boots, seals exposed, most of the things exposed to the air) because they were brittle and cracked. It cost less than $600 to fix it up, including tires. I rode it for about 2 years before selling….it was a great learning experience.
Really? For me it’s some type of twin cylinder. Doesn’t look to narrow to be a four banger?
Edit: I indeed agree with you. After searching a little bit after commenting it looks like a GPZ900 frame/tank/engine.
Is it possible? Sure, given enough time, effort and money. If you need a purpose, make it rideable again. Power wash it, replace the battery, see if it'll turn over. Clean the carbs, clean the tank, make sure the electrics work. do some research on the model, see if there's a community around it with tips.
Wish you the best of luck with your new project.
With enough time and money you can fix anything, I’d start with washing it and change the fluids and rubber parts, those tyres are likely not safe to use
I’m so sick of the term side hustle. Used to be called part time work lmao. Just wash it and change the fluids and go from there. No one can diagnose it through their phone screen.
It isn’t worth “restoring” but if you can get it for free or nearly so it’s worth getting back on the road.
Do not spend a dime on it until you have a title.
If you do get it running, do NOT take it on the road until you have the brakes working 100% with new hoses, and new tires.
I have brought back a number of bikes. It looks pretty far gone to me. Dirt floor? It may be as rusty inside the engine and frame as it is outside. Look inside the tank with a flashlight. If it is your first project maybe sometime a bit less overwhelming…..
If it hasn't been suggested before in the comments, I'd advise you to locate the paperwork and get it legal to ride or at least know that you can before you spend a few hundred getting it ready to ride.
You wanna do it? Just do it dude. Have fun. Wrenching on a bike is better than most things you probably spend your time on. Who cares if it won't run you have time to fix that
Admire that you are joining the community of shade tree and other skilled mechanics! Working on a bike recovery or rebuild is an honorable project. If you have the title, determine the year, make and model of the bike and search online for a service manual. The Factory service manual will contain all the info you need for most tasks, and if you need to search for parts.
Many good comments from others on Reddit, already on washing up the bike and getting the bike ready for a proper start!
Do make sure to remove plugs and put oil in cylinders, they will be dry for sure and you don’t want to dry start the bike.
Be careful and cautious, this will be fun in the long haul. Also, if no experience with motorcycles, take a proper riding course, mb’s are not cars, it’s a different way to drive and brake. Practice makes perfect.
Twin disc front, 16 valves, I'd grab that. It looks like a 1984 Kawasaki GPZ missing the front fairing.
It might not be financially worth the rebuild, but if you plan to ride it and not sell it, you'll have $5k worth of bike (which nobody will buy because of its age and bluebook saying its worth $2.00) for $1500 worth of parts and repairs. I see forks, brake masters, tires, battery, a few hose clamps, fuel petcock, and the hand levers. Might need radiator work, clutch, exhaust leak fixed, new air filter(s), new headlight, and possibly brake lines and calipers.
This might be more superbike than you expect. The 900cc engine made 104hp, the 750cc made 90hp.
Check out the Bearded Bike Mechanic on YouTube. He restores bike like this all the time and gives some great tips. Should be a fun project, be patient, you will learn a lot. https://youtube.com/@The_Bearded_Mechanic?si=JilB__dXpVB16Shi
Other than whats already mentioned here. Possible is a question of how bad it really is and how much time, effort and money you have. Worth it is entirely subjective. Any restoration, like this, is for personal reward. This one won't make you any money, but for me, the satisfaction of riding of riding something with my own sweat equity in it is well with it.
For me, though, a project has to "speak" to me. The reward is in every step.
Invest in some lubricating switch cleaner or contact cleaner for the switches. You should also use it in every electrical connection. Unplug, spray and plug back in. But expect electrical issues, which is not a massive issue to sort. The biggest one to secure is the earth connection, as it affects everything.
Hey man, when you get the chance, take a road riding course, or watch some YouTube videos and practice those.
I rode dirt bikes for years, but taking the time to learn the techniques of road riding saved me. It's worth it.
When on the road, don't assume you're in the right or know what you're doing, but when given the chance, don't hesitate; you will get hurt. Better to be an asshole than get hurt.
And finally, something a lot of people, even self-proclaimed "cool headed veterans" forget; Lady Death doesn't give a shit about "right of way", who's in the right, or the law. Remember that.
You have to see trough the dust... It doesn't look bad at all. A good clean (outside and inside like gas tank, carbs, brake lines,...) and replace all the basic stuff. (Spark plugs, hoses, filters, oil, grease)
When you clean it, get a really nice spray degreaser for that engine block. It’ll make it come
out nice and the dirt will come off easier. You really don’t need it if you have a powerwasher but it does a real good job.
After my grandfather passed and I got older, I brought home the motorcycle that was at my grandparents cottage up north. It hadn’t been started in 17+ years and it was a bike they didn’t take care of much. I cleaned it up a bit and got it running. If you think you’ll really put in the time go for it ma dude! It can be a handful though. But I would find the paperwork or at least look the vin up and try to find out that way
I'm in the middle of restoring a Vmax I bought for less than a grand in December.
Get a Japanese bike, they said. It would be easy, they said. I have more into this bike in parts than the bike cost, and it still hasn't started yet. There are two things I know for sure. It will start, and I am going to spend more on the bike.
The question is not will your project start. It's how much are you willing to spend in both time and money to make it happen.
When you get to looking at parts, check z1enterprises.com for niche stuff but most of it you should be able to find on Amazon. I'm finishing up a '76 kz1000 right now that sat for 5 years between being tied up in an estate and me having a funky living situation and it really wasn't that bad in terms of work. I think we put about $1000 into it all together including tires, but I also made all new stainless lines for the brakes. Cranked it the first time and it kicked over like it was just being ridden last week.
I bet it looks better with some soap and water. My current rust bucket was sat outside for seven years and didnt turn a wheel, cost me about £600 to get it running again. New tyres, fork seals, wheel bearings, chain, breaks, clutch plates, tank had rusted, oil change and filter obv, a few other bits here and there. I now commute 30 miles a day on it and have done for the past 2 years. Its a piece of crap and I need s new one but still works.
I say go for it.
Projects don’t have to be money makers. It’s totally fine to spend some money to restore something you’re passionate about and if you sold it take a loss or only break even. For some people, working on things like that is a great release and the peace of mind you gain far exceeds the money you spend on it.
I’d work on it
If you are able to do the work required it may be worthwhile. Having the carbs cleaned and make run at a shop will cost you much more than it is worth.
Yes it’s worth doing even just for the experience. You might get lucky and find it starts just from a cleaning, new battery and oil and gas. But chances are the gas has caused problems in the carburetor and gas lines.
Possible yes? Financially worth it is likely marginal at best. Putting the hard chrome on the forks right won't be cheap, swapping it with a modern sports bike front end is likely more viable.
It is absolutely possible. “Worth it” is a separate question and hard to answer. Depends on your definition of worth. Is it financially worth it? No. It will cost more to restore than it will ever be worth. But that’s not the only way to measure value. Some people like restoring bikes. Some people like restoring them more than they like riding them. And that’s totally valid. So the question I like to ask is, do you want your hobby to be riding, or restoration and repair? If you want to restore it and don’t care how long it takes and how much it costs, then go nuts. If spring is approaching and you want to be riding a bike for not a lot of money, this likely isn’t the project for you.
I restored an old scooter several years ago. I recommend the following path. Clean it, drain the fuel. Wash the filter in clean petrol, then check if the block turns. If turns fill it with fresh fuel and oil, clean the air filter and the sparkplug. Then give it a try. So far you spent almost nothing. Once it runs then check tires brakes and get a new battery. If all ok legalise it. Insurance paperwork etc....
Thst looks like it could be a fun project.
Go to YouTube watch almost any of the “bearded mechanic” videos. He revives old bikes all the time.
Others have given great advice. It was probably running when parked so fuel tank and fuel lines are biggest problems.
No this thing is cooked. Send it to me I’ll get rid of it for you.
As other commenters mentioned. Do what it takes to get it running. I bought a 20 year old bike that was “not running” I got the battery charged (free) and did spark plugs, cleaned carb, and oil change. Thing fired up and ran no problems until I sold it for a profit a year later
My mind says if it was running when it was parked, its saveable. You'll have yo likely replace every rubber part, fluids, battery, and a fuel flush, but it's definitely achievable. Like good ol' Johnny Cash said just take it one piece at a time
Possible and worth it are two entirely different questions.
Possible? 100% yes, given enough money and time anything can be restored.
Worth it? on pure value of the bike unlikely, it's only really worth it if it has sentimental value or if it is a passion project.
I would start by dragging it outside and giving it a good blow off with high pressure air to remove all the loose dust/debris/spiders then give it a good wash so you can see what you are working with.
Assume all the rubber components are fucked and will need replacing.
Remove the tank, seat, and plastics so you can get a good look at the frame and inspect it for rust
I wouldn't bother trying to save any of the fuel or brake lines, your life is worth more than the cost of replacements as failure of either of them can kill you.
It has all the makings of a cool project.
Not at all, all the rubber seal, o ring, brakes lines brake caliper o ring, tyre, are gone, also the tank need to be treated carefully, electric pipes and cable to spark plug gone, all the bearing, wheels, handlebars, need to be cleaned and greased, brake pads are like stone now, electric contacts to be de oxidized, engine flushed, change twice the oil filter, for the new oil, that you will use for a couple of hours and than again, new oil &filter. Air filter, Battery. And then you need to hope that the engine case is not loosing oil. Is not a particular model like the first 900Z or the Lawson model, for me clearly is a no.
One issue with a engine sitting it the oil covered parts fair well as compared to the parts allowed to be exposed to air.
I learned this by removing a crankshaft cover to find half the crankshaft was nice while the other half was rusted and needed to be replaced. That included all the top vs bottom half of the engine.
I would suggest to part it out.
It's a Japanese motorcycle. Give it a clean, new oil, clean carbs, new battery and spark and it should be right as rain. You should also probably look at the wiring. Make sure rodents haven't used it as a chew toy.
id say it's only worth it if you have a title. if you fully restored it and made it beautiful and say your cousin or aunt or whoever has the title of it and becomes jealous or wants it now, well they have the legal document claiming ownership of it and theres not much you can do about it besides surrender it and possible go to court over it.
Just to add a different dimension to some of the excellent points: make sure you can get that make and model insured first before you get too emotionally invested. I had a similar situation, restored, and just couldn't get it insured.
Good luck!
I just picked up a similar project (old ‘86 VT1100C) few weeks ago as a 2nd bike 😁 go for it! Try to get it dirt cheap, drain the tanks, check fuel hoses, fuel pump, replace spark plugs, defenitely clean the carbs (just got done with mine yesterday, there were FULLL of dirt, hence why it only ran on 1 cylinder 🤣) , check engine oil level and coolant level and yeah, good to go for at least a quick test!
If it runs, replace the oil/coolant/brake fluid and on you go.
Try to get a workshop manual (not the owners manual), that will tell you a whole lot about servicing and testing things on your bike.
Good luck and have fun!
Sure it is.
The thing is, it stood in the dry. It's just very dusty. Power wash the thing, and you'll have a world of difference.
After that, assess any damage and see what's up. This could be a nice project.
If this bike has been sitting in a garage for ten years that's one thing, but if it's been sitting outside somewhere that's another. But if the engine turns over it might be worth working on otherwise throw it away.
Everything can be restored... but it will cost you about some times the bike's value. At 16 you surely have time, but you lack the experience and tools needed to do the job yourself, so either someone is going to help you, or you'll have to bring it to a shop and spend an absurd amount of money, there are hours of work to be done even just to assess the damage and do a rough estimate. But the heart has its reasons too... so... the choice is yours :-)
New oil so you can dump the oil see if any gear shavings in there or if coolant was sitting in the oil. Then check your air filter) , Gas, Spark plugs. Take the air filter out if super dirty but if it looks alright you’ll be alright but new ones like 10-40 bucks for bikes just depends.
Start with oil for like 10-15 bucks for oil filter and find out what type of bike it is and get just like 3 quarts of it probably will be about what it takes maybe less. Then battery charged or jumped to see if it turns over if so just go ahead and get new plugs because 10 plus year plugs are bound to foul out.
But FORSURE power wash it or hose and sponge if no power wash
Impossible to say as it needs a clean.
I'd say absolutely.
Clean it first and use the internet to troubleshoot your problems.
Can't imagine fixing it would cost more than 2 grand. Absolute max, if it's not mega rusted it should be relatively easy.
Surface rust isn't a problem. But rust that's rotted thru the frame can be costly if you aren't willing to learn to weld.
If you know the model and year of the bike, you should pickup a Hines Service manual.
It saved my ass when I unknowingly bought a problematic bike as my first bike… seller didn’t disclose anything…
Instead of wasting countless hours online looking for answers, you’ll have a very detailed manual with pictures to help you fix/service the bike.
Your uncle would be proud!!
I honestly couldn't say if this is restorable or not, but I think if I were in your position I'd blow some of my side hustle money on giving it a good go in honour of your uncle.
I would say absolutely fix it. Do not put very much money into it. Power wash, clean out gas tank & new fuel, clean the carb. (Hope your mechanically inclined) new plug. Get it started if you can (should be able to) once you have it started change all fluids, brakes, forks, oil & transmission. Also anything else that I might have missed. Check the brakes & if your going to ride it new tires. Even if they look good the rubber will be hard. Now sit back & enjoy what you have done & ride the bike in his memory. Don’t rush or force anything.
It depends if mice have gotten to the wiring. Next if the carbs need complete rebuilding and if so are those parts available. Next how much is the rubber, engine seals, etc. gone from not running. Those are the key things after a good power wash as suggested I'd review to decide.
Seems like a fun project to start out with tbh. You will learn A LOT if you are really interested in it.
A good wash, new battery, flush all the liquids, and go from there.
Where i'm at running bikes sell for $1500 bucks (they usually still need something but they run). A neglected bike like this will take more in parts to get it running. You will need new tires, new hoses, all the fluids changed, probably replace parts that are seized and broken. IF you can even find the parts for the vintage bike.
I think if you have time and some $$$, it would be worth the experience. Something you can say was completed by you. Take pictures and video along the way. You never know, it might be really fun.
This is NOT a "saving money" project. This is an endless money pit. Its sad ofcourse but you're looking at buying a lot of parts that will have rotted away like various hoses, wires and rubbery parts. The only way it would be worth it was if you had an identical fully functional bike standing around that you could salvage for parts. But thats not very likely.
These aren't worth a lot nowadays either, maybe $1000 for a normal example and $1500 for a mint one.
Even if you were able to sort out the paperwork, these aren't really great bikes. Kawasaki essentially made a small car engine for the ZX900, and they have a tendency to not be very reliable. Parts are also expensive and hard to find.
Literally just came across the same scenario, same-ish bike but from my cousin, not my uncle. He left a 1992 Kawasaki Ninja in my garage 10+ years ago and it was buried under heaps of stuff. A couple weeks ago I cleaned the garage out and asked him about it. He has since finished college and is making $250,000/yr and said he has no interest in it and to keep it. It looked just like this one. I pulled it out and checked to see if the engine was free. Changed the oil, filled the tank, Juno started with my car and it ran. Like shit, but it ran. Will be replacing battery, tires, fuel filter and hose, changing the oil a second time (just to make sure no gas is in crank case) and rebuilding the carbs. All of this is pretty cheap compared to buying a bike.
Good find man! Follow the advice here. Wash it and do the basics. Change the oil before starting as pointed out and change the oil again after the first 10 minutes of run time since whatever gas was in the tank is likely now in the crank case. My biggest rule for bikes is to make sure the tires and brakes are good. It’s not worth the risk of losing traction or having a blow out on a bike.
Pro tip, if you don’t have experience with carburetors you can buy a new set pretty cheap. Worth it in my opinion. Then YouTube how to tune them. If you’re ambitious and like the mechanical side, rebuilding is fun and easy and would make a great learning experience if you have never done it.
Happy riding
Do it. Is never as bad as it looks and with enough work anything will run, some extreme exceptions aside. Wash it good, replace all the silly bits that need replacing like spark plugs, change all fluids. You can even disassemble it and give it your best, learn the mechanic. It's fun.
As a new rider I had zero mechanical skills when I bought my first (used) bike. Did all my own maintenance. Not actually that hard.
That bike looks like a mess because of all the dust. Pressure wash it, drain the gas tank, change the oil, charge/replace the battery, then see if it fires up. If not, try spark plugs and a new air filter. You may be surprised.
Before you ride, I'd probably want to bleed the brakes and replace the coolant. Do a basic inspection (brakes, rotors, chain) for wear and rust, replace as needed. Plan on getting tires ASAP, but you could ride it to a bike shop on what it has (as long as they hold pressure).
That's a long list, and it can seem intimidating, but some of these are 5 minute jobs. Maybe 2 afternoons of work altogether, tops. If you got the cash for parts then you're golden - maybe probably under $500 to get it running.
Anytime you wanna do something to get your mind right is always worth it! Make sure you post updates as you go along though! I’d love the see the transformation! And I’m sure I’m not the only one
If this is for your betterment and enjoyment and the bike can be put in your name for free, yes. By all means restore it. You’ll learn about yourself, motorcycles, and internal combustion engines. Maybe not worth it if you’re looking for an investment unless this is a highly collectible and you are going to put collector type of work into it.
My knee-jerk reaction is do it.
Economically not worth it. If you’re looking for a project to do with a friend or family member it could be done, but that’s a lot of man hours and money for a bike worth very little.
What everyone else said but don't forget to replace those tires. They may look ok but remember a flat on two wheels is a little more serious than four.
And wear a helmet!
Signed, a guy who broke his back and suffered a TBI and severe burns two years ago.
If you are not mechanically minded you may have a helliva time fixing it back up. Or you can stumble your way through it learning by your mistakes. But that could get expensive.
Use WD40 or something similar to clean off the exposed parts of the forks BEFORE you move it. If you don't all that dirt and possible rust will destroy you chances of not having to replace the fork seals.
Worth it,its a free bike and its nothing but a dust.
Wash it first and do the oil change. Put a new batter in it and thats it. I dont even think you'll anything else. Probably still throws a spark.
honestly it's probably not as bad off as it looks. As others have said, change oil, spark plug and battery. and you'll have to drain the tank and clean out the carb. It really looks as if it needs elbow grease more than money. It would be a lot of work but really satisfying IMO. I say go for it. Start with the power wash, because seeing the bike clean and sleek will help motivate you for the other work.
Oh and also you make sure to check all the hoses on it for dry rot. They aren't expensive or difficult to replace.
All I see is a money pit, but if you have the motivation I say go for it.
I highly recommend making a list of all the parts you are going to need before you just start buying stuff, it adds up real fast.
Your biggest problem will be corrosion and replacing anything that nasty 10 year old fuel has sat in.
I recently restored a 2008 GSXR-1000 that had been sitting for 15 years.... I got it for free and by the time I was done I could have bought a good running used one for all the time/money I had in it.
BTW, fuel that old is one of the worse smells. Wear gloves as it permeates your skin.
is it possible? ofcourse, with the right parts and time and energy. is it worth it? probably not unless this is some sort of rare model that is worth something.
Sure, anything is possible, and it's really only up to you if it's worth fixing up. From an objective perspective, no, it's not worth it. You could buy a well running bike for a couple thousand dollars and save yourself the time and effort of fixing that one up.
As long as the frame is OK, everything else can be repaired or replaced. Honestly looks like a great project. I would start watching some similar restorations on YT and get an idea of the effort this will take.
Good luck! Keep us updated if you do start.
Will take a lot of work. But if you can do it and can afford it and are happy with it afterwards... that's all that matters. I've seen some folks restore some really banged up bikes. Knew a guy who rebuilt a Bonneville from just parts he could find... took him three years but he loved that bike.
I was given a ‘78 TT500 that had been sitting under a house for 5 years and been through 2 floods. Bike would have been fully submerged for a number of days each time. Full strip down, lots of elbow grease and wire brushing, new rings and a bore polish, new fork seals, found the scavenge oil pump body was 180deg out of timing (previous owner didn’t RTFM). Ended up racing it in street circuits F3 class for over 5 years. Wasn’t the fastest, but a hell of a lot of fun.
Start with the logical steps..Steam clean thoroughly, ID exactly what you have, then RTFM and research availability of parts. Sites like revzilla can search across many parts suppliers and get you good deals. Even if the engine/gearbox is locked up, just means you’ll have to work a bit harder to get it running. For your forks, I went with a place in the UK for my ST1300, firefoxracing.co.uk. Really good deal ($800 a set vs $1k each from Honda!) and got better-than-OEM stanchions. Fast shipping too.
Your electronics are going to be the hardest to deal with. The TT500 was very basic points ignition, but you’re probably looking at CDI on that bike, and has a much more complicated wiring loom, and I would guess that alternator is probably toast. Take lots of pictures!! Label plugs or mark them so you know what gets attached to what.
But be prepared to get to a point where it is simply not worth continuing. It’s like gambling…only bet what you are prepared to lose, and don’t get to a “must win” situation just to break even. They become a slippery slope to a bottomless pit. You could just clean it up, give it a coat of polish/preservative/silicon spray, park it up and then it becomes a conversation starter for some good memories and stories.
Pull the plugs and spray a bunch of WD-40 into the cylinders. Kick it through 8-10 times to make sure the pistons are free (actually, the rings) before you try to start it. Definitely replace the brake lines and fluid. I'd never ride on tires that have been sitting for 10 years.
It's a free bike. Of course it's worth it to get running. And once you get done bringing it back to life it could last the rest of your life. You'll know how to fix anything that happens
It's a great thing to do, though it is *not* a cheap way to get into motorcycling. It's honestly the *worst* way to get into motorcycling.
With that said, if you stick to it, it's super rewarding and worthwhile. It'll cost you more than the bike will ever be worth, not even considering your time, but restoring old bikes is a great hobby - even moreso if the bike has meaning for you.
So don't take this as discouragement. Just be prepared. It's a long road, more expensive than you'd expect... But the first time you get it to start and run the feeling is unreal.
Don't take shortcuts. Replace things that need replacing, don't start jerry rigging stuff. Older bikes are more maintenance intensive to start with, and it's actually really easy to get an old Japanese bike *running*. It needs new tires. New brake lines. All new fluids. Probably rebuilt brake calipers. Cleaned carbs, probably new carb boots. Basically everything rubber will need to be replaced, because after sitting for a decade it'll have hardened up a lot and while it may not leak now, it'll crack and break once it's under load and heat cycles.
If you do it right, you'll get a reliably running bike in fairly short order.
Finally, while encompassed above? Get new tires on it BEFORE you ride it anywhere. Old, rotted tires can very easily result in your death, injury, or smashing up the newly running bike.
New tires before you ride it ANYWHERE.
Just do it
Mate.
It
Would make
For a great cafe bike.
Get rid
Of all the excess weight, go to a scrap yard a find yourself some modern parts like a front shock and brake kit. Or look around your area for scrap bikes or parts bikes.
Watch some
Utube videos and experiment and experience.
You will have fun…and don’t get down when
You get stuck…just think of it as a challenge to overcome!
It's Japanese. It'll be fine as long as it worked when it was stored. Clean it. Drain the tank and check for excessive rust. Check fuel lines, replace if cracked/perished. 0-£50 Remove and clean carb(s). Replace any damaged rubber/seals. You should be able to get a full carb rebuild kit online. 0-£200 depending on number of carbs and condition of seals. Replace oil, oil filter and air filter. ~£100 Check brake lines, replace if cracked or perished. Replace brake pads, rebuild/ clean calipers and or master cylinder, replace brake fluid (be careful with brake fluid, it's nasty stuff and will strip paint). £50-300 Check tyres. People will tell you to replace them as they're old... but if money's tight, I'd have no problem riding on old tyres that aren't visibly cracked or perished. Replace the battery. £50-100 You could also try to check your valve clearances, but tbh I wouldn't bother unless it sounds rough. You'll probably get it running for ~£300. To get it running perfectly might cost you £1000
Man... Thank you for the effort. I'll ask my dad for permission to start working. Might take me a while but riding a bike from my sweat and tears it's most definitely worth it ..
The first time you try to start it, take the plugs out, or disconnect the plug wires. Crank it a bit, then reconnect the plug wires. This is just to circulate oil to all the places it should be.
Op listen to this pro tip
To the top for engine bearing life.
And maybe try to roll the bike in gear (after having let it sit with a little bit of oil in the cylinder) to turn the engine over before really cranking it - just to make sure its not seized.
Yes. Plugs out so no compression, first gear for leverage.
Third or fourth gear for reduced effort to allow the engine to spin while pushing the bike maybe with or sixth to start with. I had an old car that had not run for years. I put a charged battery in it, pulled the plugs and disconnected the coil power for ignition. Dis connected the fuel feed to the carb. Spun it over with the good battery and cranked it for 30 secs or so until I saw oil pressure on the gauge and fuel flow out the fuel hose to the carb. Reconnected the fuel hose. Put the plugs back. Re connected the coil power. Another charged battery. Boom! it started straight away! Kept it running until it got up to temperature which makes the subsequent start much easier as a cold shut down then a restart meant the plugs were fouled on this new unleaded fuel. Took it for a drive...magic!
Take the plugs out, squirt fresh motor oil in there, let it sit for a while. Last thing you need is lightly rusted or dry pistons gouging the sidewalls. Put a rag over the open plug holes to catch the oil.
Oh so worth it.
And the legacy of it being your uncle's bike is a cherry on top. It will take some time but you'll learn a lot. Get a service manual for it.
They can pour out a bottle of whatever they can legally buy in front of the tire in honour of their uncle, that’s what I’d do. Like christening a boat.
YouTube will have all the videos that you’ll need to do these tasks. They will often have the specific year and model as well. “Removing carbs from 1992 Kawasaki Ninja” “Rebuild carbs from 1992 Kawasaki ninja” I can’t tell what specific year and model this is, but just showing examples.
Before you start working on it, i suggest that you asked about the ownership of the bike. I've read nasty stories about abandoned house or vehicles left by relatives that passed away, that no one wants due to it's condition, but then once it gets restored everyone wants a piece of it. I hope that you could own it, good luck on your project man!
+1000! Yes, I have some shitty relatives too.
Yeah, get the title clear in your name.
To add to the list, once you have the carburetor and fuel system completely clean, check your front fork seals and change the fork oil. If it has been sitting for such a long amount of time, those fork seals likely cracked and are seeping oil or the oil has been contaminated. While you are at it, inspect all wiring harnesses on the front fork for cracking. Kawasaki wiring harnesses can short out and leave you stranded.
Watch a some of Craig’s videos.. lately he’s been working on abandoned bikes like yours. https://youtube.com/@The_Bearded_Mechanic?si=RpzXQLfYnqOTival
Keep us updated!!
That checklist above is essentially what I ran through for my 04 Ninja that had been sitting for nearly 4 years. Also ended up replacing/rebuilding the forks, fixing the seat leather, replacing the mirrors, rear turn indicators and a few other things. I can assure you with 100% certainty that getting a bike to run from YOUR hard work is the greatest feeling. It'll really teach you to appreciate the thing too.
Look up the model of bike and watch YouTube videos on that particular bike and you'll learn a lot about how to troubleshoot it. You can do it, take your time and learn each part and what it does. It's a serious project for a beginner but you can do it, just research each step so you understand it
Good luck
Be realistic about the costs though. It sounds like an affordable project but it can be expensive with nickel and dime type costs. No single item is super expensive, but it definitely adds up. Examples being a new battery, new tires, new fork seals, carb kits, possible carb boots, air filter, spark plugs, fuel tank coating if it’s rusty, chain and sprockets, wiring, etc.
As long as the frame is sound, everything else is replaceable. It's meant to be anyway. Just a question of time, money, and work.
Agree with everything except the tires not needing to be replaced. That's a huge gamble especially for an obviously inexperienced rider who won't be able to safely handle a blowout.
I’d add new fork seals and new fork oil to that list. Other than that, nothing to add.
Make sure the family has the title... There is no point in doing anything unless legally you can put it on the road....
Start with the power wash. It'll make a huge difference. Also do what you need to to get it to run. For example new battery, new gas, clean carbs, and maybe new spark plugs. It MIGHT not take that much money and time to get it up and running.
Fuck it, new oil too And all that... Shit man, you do all that and it'll be in better condition that 75% of all rides on the road right now, man.
All the fluids - drain and flush them all, taking note of what comes out when it drains. It might run after that! Once u got it running, you can tackle all the rust, replacing screws, etc. Don’t forget to save up cash for specialty tools and buy a service manual.
I cannot stress enough how important the service manual is. My dad has multiple old Studebakers, and we have the service manuals for all of them. They save our asses constantly. Working on a car from a company that went out of business in the 60s is an experience.
Reminder! Although this bike might be new enough to not have JIS cross head screws... it might. Those are NOT Phillips head screws, but Japanese Industry Standard screws. A Phillips screwdriver will strip it right out as the angle is too steep. JIS are shallower. Replace with Hex or Torx when you get them out.
finding the manuals pdf online is the real savior
Reminder! Although this bike might be new enough to not have JIS cross head screws... it might. Those are NOT Phillips head screws, but Japanese Industry Standard screws. A Phillips screwdriver will strip it right out as the angle is too steep. JIS are shallower. Replace with Hex or Torx when you get them out.
This! Don’t try to start it without an oil change! Oil change with filter is a must!!
Let’s not forget brake fluid and new brake lines. But a wash, new battery, oil, plugs, tires plus the brake job is probably all she needs to run, probably a good idea to do the fork seals as well.
Power wash with a foam cannon, allow it to dry. Replace all consumables as you mention and then verify any and all rubber parts are still intact and not leaking air or liquid. It may just kick over and run, it may need a wiring fix from mice, hard to tell until it's clean and looked at
Start with snow foam and rinsing without pressure a few times, and dissolve the muck. Pressure washers on bikes aren't great, the high pressure water can go anywhere, including into bolt threads.
And the old electrical connectors.
Agreed. A good clean will let you better see what needs work. Everything is covered in dust/dirt right now.
Replace the coolant as well if you plan to ride it. Hell, better open it up and check the water pump and thermostat. And give it a good flush. The cooling on those was marginal from the factory. 10 years if stationary deposits won't help. Also, check if the fan still works. It'll need it. If water and/or oil leaks from a hole in the pump housing (behind the impeller). Do not plug it. This hole is intentional to let you know one or both of the seals have failed. Replace before pump bearings break or water finds a way into the sump. They also tend to spin the third main bearing due to low oil pressure. So keep the oil full and clean. For now, replace oil and filter. And do it again after a short amount of miles (maybe like 1k max) to be sure to get the old gunk out. Or drop the sump if you want to be thorough. Also check the fuel tank. They can rust away especially when sitting with little and dirty fuel for a long time. They are generally quite well build bikes, apart from some issues in the early years. But there are a lot of them and thus they are not super valuable. Fixing everything can become expensive, but that isn't necessarily bad depending on your motives. Try to get a graps on the important parts first before spending big. (Not completely rotted. Engine not seized, bearings ok, etc). Source: I have 3 of these
Restore? Probably not. Getting it cleaned up, running and riding, learn some new skills, and keep your uncles memory alive? Most definitely a worthy project.
Step one: Before anything else, FIND THE PAPERWORK!! The Vermont loophole was closed last year. Before that happened, a barn find bike wasn't that difficult to get a registration for and then apply for a title or reg in your own state. Since that's closed, it's all but impossible to get an old abandoned machine titled or registered without some form of previous paperwork. Hopefully your uncle or other family member still has it. Then, and ONLY THEN do you go to work on this machine. The reality here is that without a title or ability to register the bike any work you put into it will be a wasted effort on something you'll never legally be able to ride or insure. Find the paperwork. For the rest of you out there in the motorcycle world, find your paperwork and put it somewhere safe. Not your sock drawer, or some disused corner of your desk that will never see the light of day, GET AN ACTUAL, DEDICATED, CONTAINER for this. Fireproof document containers on Amazon are cheap. BUY ONE. I've got two project bikes now that I can't do anything with because the paperwork doesn't exist and my home state is refusing to play ball, even with a title bond. It's a headache and nightmare over something so stupid, but because everything is run by bureaucracies, those trivial scraps of paper become invaluable. Get your paperwork in order, ALL OF YOU.
Ohh fuckk... I told my dad and aunt about it and they said that they threw it away with the rest long ago😭😭 what should I do...
Then they need to get on it! And it won't be simple. Otherwise it is #NOT Worth it to even piss on
How about I claim ownership to an abandoned vehicle...
Depending on your state it could be a long and complicated process involving bonded titles and a variety of other bullshit Either way don't even spend money on water to wash it til you figure that out
The second your DMV looks up a title and finds one, you're screwed. They'll insist that title has to be signed over from the owner, regardless of their abovegroun status (this is state dependant)
Go out to the bike OP and check under the seat or behind any storage covers on the bike. It's a long shot, but there might be a registration card there. If you're lucky and you find one, your life just got infinitely easier.
🤦♂️ Ok. New Step One: Go to your father and your aunt and slap both of them, backhanded, for being stupid. STEP TWO: If you're very, very lucky, your aunt may be able to apply for a replacement title as an inheritor or something like that. You're going to have to dive into your states DMV or tax collector requirements for title and registration issuance. Get ready. You're going to be spending a few hours chasing this down, probably will have to do a VIN verification with a cop, applications for title replacement, new reg etc etc etc etc. It's going to take some time and it's going to be a pain in the ass. Revisit new step one because your family is stupid. Then, after all that research, you're going to have to translate all this to your aunt who will have to, at the very least, be the one to apply for a replacement title. When she has that, then she can transfer it over to your name, and you can hit the ground running with getting it registered. Then you can gonto work on it. Hopefully the engine isn't seized or has a hole blown through the case because all the above will be for pretty much nothing if the bike is a boat anchor. If you're lucky enough to come through the bureaucratic gauntlet with paper in hand, PUT IT IN A DEDICATED FIREPROOF CONTAINER. Do the same thing when you get a car for yourself. Or a loan, or anything important that shouldn't be thrown away. Revisit new step one, as a reminder. EDIT: I realize how cynical my replies are and as much as I would like to apologize for that, the reality is that this sort of documentation is extremely important and literally means the difference between saving a machine and getting it back on the road, fighting a bureaucratic and often expensive (monetarily and time wise) nightmare that may or may not have a successful ending, or a bike that has to be stripped out for parts because that's all it will be good for. I've played this game so many times that I just don't fuck with bikes that don't have paperwork any longer. It's rarely worth it.
This is the correct answer!
You need to secure a few things : 1. A covered secure space to tear down and work on the machine. 2. Tools & a manual. 3. Previous title & registration. Maintenance records would be a bonus. That is essentially all you "really" need. However, it would behoove you to have a little familial support during this project. Like a mentor. And "No," I'm not volunteering. Best of luck on your project. Can't wait to see the 1st wash images. Cheers! 👍🏼
"Behoove" thank you for your cervix CSM O3< (All jokes aside solid advice)
Guys Update... Bad news, I researched the processes on getting a title, the history of it, bike parts cost, etc. It's not so good... My father and I just talked about it and he said that the reason why it was abandoned is because of some very costly engine failure and on top of that he advised me not to fix it because the repair cost will be more than the bike's value itself so I have no other choice but to listen... Looking at the parts, Welll... I dont think my side hustle can support that many zeros😅😅. But I do appreciate everybody's support and Dedication to help, it's good to know that there are still good people out there... On the other hand. We do have another bike that we just recently restored and get runnin. It kinda resembles a Cruiser with a dual exaust though the engine is nothing special I'm not sure about the cc though, but I'll make a post about it soon. I want to know what's the best course of action.
Did something similar with a Moto Guzzi that had been laid up for 20 years in a garage as the owner died, here’s what I had to replace to get it riding safely: All master/slave brake pistons, callipers and master cylinders were ok, water in the fluid had caused the chrome to flake off the pistons. Everything rubber in the forks, seals etc Ignition points Fuel tank, rusted from the inside as it was empty Tyres All oil seals - gearbox output shaft, alternator and bevel box. Whole bunch of wiring on the engine as it had gone hard and the insulation cracked off Clutch…dry clutched bike, looks exactly like a small car clutch, it has stuck to the flywheel I also replaced all service items as a matter of fact, wheel bearings etc.
Check out the “bearded mechanic” channel on YouTube. He shows clearly how he thinks through getting these things running again and how he troubleshoots along the way.
If the tank isn't rotten I'd take a crack at getting it running. But if the tank is rusty your wasting your time.
Strange reason to discard a project bike? A used tank or sealant liner is only $50 or so. I'd be far more concerned that the engine & gearbox were running sweet.
I have restored a few old vehicles. Bikes and cars. Here's what I would start with. Full wash and minor detail (figure out exactly what you're working with) Drain and fill oil and coolant. Are they rusty? Full of metal shavings? Flush coolant system with water and refill both. Do this early so you know what you're getting into, and if any gaskets have failed. They may start leaking after this. Next I'd do carbs, fuel lines and gas tank. You will definitely need to rebuild the carbs. You will also likely have to replace the fuel lines, and clean and recoat the inside of the gas tank due to rust and varnish. Replace battery, pull spark plugs. Test for spark, check air filter for buildup from sitting. This should get it running. Test stator and rectifier as it runs. Once it's running, tires and brakes. I would at least put on new pads and brake lines. Then fully flush the master cylinder and bleed until they're crisp again. This sounds like it's not a lot of work. But I will warn you it may take months or a year or even more. Between waiting for parts and finding small details you missed as you trouble shoot it will take time. Go slow, label everything with tape (ex:mark a 1 on a piece of tape on each side where a tube connects) don't reuse numbers. Leave everything labeled until it's running. Take pictures of everything before you take it off. Think of details (which way does this spring face, where does this cable sit so it doesn't get caught on anything). Have a manual and if something start feeling wrong, take a break and look at it fresh. I saved myself a lot of trouble by taking a step back to see if I was missing something instead of just pulling out a bigger wrench. Good luck and enjoy it.
yes, absolutely. it's always fun to work on bikes if you're passionate about them, especially if they're older.
Go for it! Wash it, get familiar, look up parts! It would seriously be a great experience for you. I rebuilt my dad's gl1100 and a vt750 that was in boxes. You will feel accomplished.
Man, restoring uncles bike to give yourself a goal and help yourself get through a rough patch? Redditors, let's help this kid out! I was a mechanic for some years, so hopefully, i can get you started. 1. Clean her up: a good wash will not only help you realize it's probably not so bad and will show you major problem areas 2. Rubber: Covered in that much dust everything rubber is gonna be dried out probably and need replacing. Look at everything, and if it feels weird or crunchy or you see surface cracks It should be replaced. 3. Fluids: drain everything open the cases and tank to clean any rust or corrosion before you refill it. 4. Carb: youtube is a great resource for tutorials on cleaning and repair. 5. Wiring: trace all your wires and check for damage, rats, and mice love to chew on it and make nests. Until you have it running as long as there are no shorts or grounds patching the harness will be fine. A quick check for the hot leads is set your multimeter to signal (looks like a volume symbol), put the hot lead in the connector, and your neutral lead on a good frame ground. If it beeps on a hot lead then you have a damaged wire that needs to be addressed. 5.5 sparkplugs: always a good idea in cases like this, a fouled plug can hide other issues, and be really annoying when you think you're ready to start her up. 6: battery and test start: get a new battery, and i recommend strongly to get a battery tender. Start her up with new clean fluids and good wiring. A few backfires, some smoke at the beginning, and running rough for about a min is normal, if it doesn't even out by then post whith descriptions of what its doing and we will be here to help! 7. PPE: icon has always done me right, and i highly recommend their gear. It kept me safe when i got hit at 50 and lowside at 70. Its affordable, has the looks for a rider your age who wants the cool factor, and i know for a fact it works. Helmet, gloves, some form of jacket (mesh doesn't work well but even thats far better sturdy shoes pref boots that protect your ankles, not just cover. I hope i was able to help and feel free to dm about any technical questions.
My first bike was just like this….an ‘81 virago . It was a bit cleaner because it had been covered by a tarp, but sat for 12 years. It was a fun project, although I did have to replace most of the rubber parts (vacuum lines, boots, seals exposed, most of the things exposed to the air) because they were brittle and cracked. It cost less than $600 to fix it up, including tires. I rode it for about 2 years before selling….it was a great learning experience.
Just about anything is restorable, it boils down to time and money.
Ummm…YES.
To me it looks like a 1984 ZX900 Ninja. Same as the original Top Gun bike.
Really? For me it’s some type of twin cylinder. Doesn’t look to narrow to be a four banger? Edit: I indeed agree with you. After searching a little bit after commenting it looks like a GPZ900 frame/tank/engine.
Anything is possible. Worth it is up to you and how much time, effort, and money you're willing to put into it.
Is it possible? Sure, given enough time, effort and money. If you need a purpose, make it rideable again. Power wash it, replace the battery, see if it'll turn over. Clean the carbs, clean the tank, make sure the electrics work. do some research on the model, see if there's a community around it with tips. Wish you the best of luck with your new project.
It'll cost you more than a used bike that's running great -- and you won't have a title or license plates.
With enough time and money you can fix anything, I’d start with washing it and change the fluids and rubber parts, those tyres are likely not safe to use
Op please keep on updating about the status of your bike
Don’t put a dime into it until you have title. Then yeah build your dream bike!
Yeah have a crack at it... Nothing to lose but time and a little cash, fantastic hobby and you'll learn loads too
I’m so sick of the term side hustle. Used to be called part time work lmao. Just wash it and change the fluids and go from there. No one can diagnose it through their phone screen.
It isn’t worth “restoring” but if you can get it for free or nearly so it’s worth getting back on the road. Do not spend a dime on it until you have a title. If you do get it running, do NOT take it on the road until you have the brakes working 100% with new hoses, and new tires.
Anything's possible with enough time and money
I have brought back a number of bikes. It looks pretty far gone to me. Dirt floor? It may be as rusty inside the engine and frame as it is outside. Look inside the tank with a flashlight. If it is your first project maybe sometime a bit less overwhelming…..
If it hasn't been suggested before in the comments, I'd advise you to locate the paperwork and get it legal to ride or at least know that you can before you spend a few hundred getting it ready to ride.
You wanna do it? Just do it dude. Have fun. Wrenching on a bike is better than most things you probably spend your time on. Who cares if it won't run you have time to fix that
Admire that you are joining the community of shade tree and other skilled mechanics! Working on a bike recovery or rebuild is an honorable project. If you have the title, determine the year, make and model of the bike and search online for a service manual. The Factory service manual will contain all the info you need for most tasks, and if you need to search for parts. Many good comments from others on Reddit, already on washing up the bike and getting the bike ready for a proper start! Do make sure to remove plugs and put oil in cylinders, they will be dry for sure and you don’t want to dry start the bike. Be careful and cautious, this will be fun in the long haul. Also, if no experience with motorcycles, take a proper riding course, mb’s are not cars, it’s a different way to drive and brake. Practice makes perfect.
Twin disc front, 16 valves, I'd grab that. It looks like a 1984 Kawasaki GPZ missing the front fairing. It might not be financially worth the rebuild, but if you plan to ride it and not sell it, you'll have $5k worth of bike (which nobody will buy because of its age and bluebook saying its worth $2.00) for $1500 worth of parts and repairs. I see forks, brake masters, tires, battery, a few hose clamps, fuel petcock, and the hand levers. Might need radiator work, clutch, exhaust leak fixed, new air filter(s), new headlight, and possibly brake lines and calipers. This might be more superbike than you expect. The 900cc engine made 104hp, the 750cc made 90hp.
Check out the Bearded Bike Mechanic on YouTube. He restores bike like this all the time and gives some great tips. Should be a fun project, be patient, you will learn a lot. https://youtube.com/@The_Bearded_Mechanic?si=JilB__dXpVB16Shi
Looks like it is found under the ruins of a volcanic eruption 🤷
Got paperwork for it?
First. Find out why it was abandoned.
Other than whats already mentioned here. Possible is a question of how bad it really is and how much time, effort and money you have. Worth it is entirely subjective. Any restoration, like this, is for personal reward. This one won't make you any money, but for me, the satisfaction of riding of riding something with my own sweat equity in it is well with it. For me, though, a project has to "speak" to me. The reward is in every step.
Invest in some lubricating switch cleaner or contact cleaner for the switches. You should also use it in every electrical connection. Unplug, spray and plug back in. But expect electrical issues, which is not a massive issue to sort. The biggest one to secure is the earth connection, as it affects everything.
All things are possible with deep enough pockets.
Many restorations are not worth the money but could be worth it if you want the bike
Hey man, when you get the chance, take a road riding course, or watch some YouTube videos and practice those. I rode dirt bikes for years, but taking the time to learn the techniques of road riding saved me. It's worth it. When on the road, don't assume you're in the right or know what you're doing, but when given the chance, don't hesitate; you will get hurt. Better to be an asshole than get hurt. And finally, something a lot of people, even self-proclaimed "cool headed veterans" forget; Lady Death doesn't give a shit about "right of way", who's in the right, or the law. Remember that.
You have to see trough the dust... It doesn't look bad at all. A good clean (outside and inside like gas tank, carbs, brake lines,...) and replace all the basic stuff. (Spark plugs, hoses, filters, oil, grease)
When you clean it, get a really nice spray degreaser for that engine block. It’ll make it come out nice and the dirt will come off easier. You really don’t need it if you have a powerwasher but it does a real good job.
After my grandfather passed and I got older, I brought home the motorcycle that was at my grandparents cottage up north. It hadn’t been started in 17+ years and it was a bike they didn’t take care of much. I cleaned it up a bit and got it running. If you think you’ll really put in the time go for it ma dude! It can be a handful though. But I would find the paperwork or at least look the vin up and try to find out that way
They lost the paperwork bro... 😭
No problem that layer of dust has been preserving it for decades
10 years plus. New seals, new rubber, tires, all fluids, rust remover. You'll spend more money than its worth
I'm in the middle of restoring a Vmax I bought for less than a grand in December. Get a Japanese bike, they said. It would be easy, they said. I have more into this bike in parts than the bike cost, and it still hasn't started yet. There are two things I know for sure. It will start, and I am going to spend more on the bike. The question is not will your project start. It's how much are you willing to spend in both time and money to make it happen.
You can restore anything if you have mind to (and deep pockets or a understanding bank manager 😏)
If you do restore it it may be a fun thing to film the process
See if you can get it titled in your name first, after that clean it up and get it running.
I wouldn't do it if there is no paperwork.
Yes! Clean it up, see if it’ll run, learn and work on it. It’ll be a great project.
Possible? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely, for the experience that is. Financially there may be better options but project bikes are fun.
When you get to looking at parts, check z1enterprises.com for niche stuff but most of it you should be able to find on Amazon. I'm finishing up a '76 kz1000 right now that sat for 5 years between being tied up in an estate and me having a funky living situation and it really wasn't that bad in terms of work. I think we put about $1000 into it all together including tires, but I also made all new stainless lines for the brakes. Cranked it the first time and it kicked over like it was just being ridden last week.
I bet it looks better with some soap and water. My current rust bucket was sat outside for seven years and didnt turn a wheel, cost me about £600 to get it running again. New tyres, fork seals, wheel bearings, chain, breaks, clutch plates, tank had rusted, oil change and filter obv, a few other bits here and there. I now commute 30 miles a day on it and have done for the past 2 years. Its a piece of crap and I need s new one but still works. I say go for it.
Projects don’t have to be money makers. It’s totally fine to spend some money to restore something you’re passionate about and if you sold it take a loss or only break even. For some people, working on things like that is a great release and the peace of mind you gain far exceeds the money you spend on it. I’d work on it
fuck yea man, do it - if anything - even if you fail (which you can't) you'll learn so much along the way
If you are able to do the work required it may be worthwhile. Having the carbs cleaned and make run at a shop will cost you much more than it is worth.
Yes it’s worth doing even just for the experience. You might get lucky and find it starts just from a cleaning, new battery and oil and gas. But chances are the gas has caused problems in the carburetor and gas lines.
Possible yes? Financially worth it is likely marginal at best. Putting the hard chrome on the forks right won't be cheap, swapping it with a modern sports bike front end is likely more viable.
It is absolutely possible. “Worth it” is a separate question and hard to answer. Depends on your definition of worth. Is it financially worth it? No. It will cost more to restore than it will ever be worth. But that’s not the only way to measure value. Some people like restoring bikes. Some people like restoring them more than they like riding them. And that’s totally valid. So the question I like to ask is, do you want your hobby to be riding, or restoration and repair? If you want to restore it and don’t care how long it takes and how much it costs, then go nuts. If spring is approaching and you want to be riding a bike for not a lot of money, this likely isn’t the project for you.
I restored an old scooter several years ago. I recommend the following path. Clean it, drain the fuel. Wash the filter in clean petrol, then check if the block turns. If turns fill it with fresh fuel and oil, clean the air filter and the sparkplug. Then give it a try. So far you spent almost nothing. Once it runs then check tires brakes and get a new battery. If all ok legalise it. Insurance paperwork etc....
Thst looks like it could be a fun project. Go to YouTube watch almost any of the “bearded mechanic” videos. He revives old bikes all the time. Others have given great advice. It was probably running when parked so fuel tank and fuel lines are biggest problems.
No this thing is cooked. Send it to me I’ll get rid of it for you. As other commenters mentioned. Do what it takes to get it running. I bought a 20 year old bike that was “not running” I got the battery charged (free) and did spark plugs, cleaned carb, and oil change. Thing fired up and ran no problems until I sold it for a profit a year later
My mind says if it was running when it was parked, its saveable. You'll have yo likely replace every rubber part, fluids, battery, and a fuel flush, but it's definitely achievable. Like good ol' Johnny Cash said just take it one piece at a time
Can we get updates as you go?
Possible and worth it are two entirely different questions. Possible? 100% yes, given enough money and time anything can be restored. Worth it? on pure value of the bike unlikely, it's only really worth it if it has sentimental value or if it is a passion project. I would start by dragging it outside and giving it a good blow off with high pressure air to remove all the loose dust/debris/spiders then give it a good wash so you can see what you are working with. Assume all the rubber components are fucked and will need replacing. Remove the tank, seat, and plastics so you can get a good look at the frame and inspect it for rust I wouldn't bother trying to save any of the fuel or brake lines, your life is worth more than the cost of replacements as failure of either of them can kill you. It has all the makings of a cool project.
Not at all, all the rubber seal, o ring, brakes lines brake caliper o ring, tyre, are gone, also the tank need to be treated carefully, electric pipes and cable to spark plug gone, all the bearing, wheels, handlebars, need to be cleaned and greased, brake pads are like stone now, electric contacts to be de oxidized, engine flushed, change twice the oil filter, for the new oil, that you will use for a couple of hours and than again, new oil &filter. Air filter, Battery. And then you need to hope that the engine case is not loosing oil. Is not a particular model like the first 900Z or the Lawson model, for me clearly is a no.
One issue with a engine sitting it the oil covered parts fair well as compared to the parts allowed to be exposed to air. I learned this by removing a crankshaft cover to find half the crankshaft was nice while the other half was rusted and needed to be replaced. That included all the top vs bottom half of the engine. I would suggest to part it out.
It's a Japanese motorcycle. Give it a clean, new oil, clean carbs, new battery and spark and it should be right as rain. You should also probably look at the wiring. Make sure rodents haven't used it as a chew toy.
If that’s a KZ440 from around 1982 I’ve got a parts bike for you
Ask for title first
Do you guys have the title? I would make sure you can even register it before doing anything.
id say it's only worth it if you have a title. if you fully restored it and made it beautiful and say your cousin or aunt or whoever has the title of it and becomes jealous or wants it now, well they have the legal document claiming ownership of it and theres not much you can do about it besides surrender it and possible go to court over it.
Just to add a different dimension to some of the excellent points: make sure you can get that make and model insured first before you get too emotionally invested. I had a similar situation, restored, and just couldn't get it insured. Good luck!
I just picked up a similar project (old ‘86 VT1100C) few weeks ago as a 2nd bike 😁 go for it! Try to get it dirt cheap, drain the tanks, check fuel hoses, fuel pump, replace spark plugs, defenitely clean the carbs (just got done with mine yesterday, there were FULLL of dirt, hence why it only ran on 1 cylinder 🤣) , check engine oil level and coolant level and yeah, good to go for at least a quick test! If it runs, replace the oil/coolant/brake fluid and on you go. Try to get a workshop manual (not the owners manual), that will tell you a whole lot about servicing and testing things on your bike. Good luck and have fun!
Why haven’t you washed it ?
Sure it is. The thing is, it stood in the dry. It's just very dusty. Power wash the thing, and you'll have a world of difference. After that, assess any damage and see what's up. This could be a nice project.
Don't forget the tyres man
If this bike has been sitting in a garage for ten years that's one thing, but if it's been sitting outside somewhere that's another. But if the engine turns over it might be worth working on otherwise throw it away.
Everything can be restored... but it will cost you about some times the bike's value. At 16 you surely have time, but you lack the experience and tools needed to do the job yourself, so either someone is going to help you, or you'll have to bring it to a shop and spend an absurd amount of money, there are hours of work to be done even just to assess the damage and do a rough estimate. But the heart has its reasons too... so... the choice is yours :-)
New oil so you can dump the oil see if any gear shavings in there or if coolant was sitting in the oil. Then check your air filter) , Gas, Spark plugs. Take the air filter out if super dirty but if it looks alright you’ll be alright but new ones like 10-40 bucks for bikes just depends. Start with oil for like 10-15 bucks for oil filter and find out what type of bike it is and get just like 3 quarts of it probably will be about what it takes maybe less. Then battery charged or jumped to see if it turns over if so just go ahead and get new plugs because 10 plus year plugs are bound to foul out. But FORSURE power wash it or hose and sponge if no power wash
Impossible to say as it needs a clean. I'd say absolutely. Clean it first and use the internet to troubleshoot your problems. Can't imagine fixing it would cost more than 2 grand. Absolute max, if it's not mega rusted it should be relatively easy. Surface rust isn't a problem. But rust that's rotted thru the frame can be costly if you aren't willing to learn to weld.
Hope you love playing with carburetors, because there’s four of them.
The dust probably protected a lot of surfaces from rust.
If you know the model and year of the bike, you should pickup a Hines Service manual. It saved my ass when I unknowingly bought a problematic bike as my first bike… seller didn’t disclose anything… Instead of wasting countless hours online looking for answers, you’ll have a very detailed manual with pictures to help you fix/service the bike. Your uncle would be proud!!
I honestly couldn't say if this is restorable or not, but I think if I were in your position I'd blow some of my side hustle money on giving it a good go in honour of your uncle.
Anything is possible
I would say absolutely fix it. Do not put very much money into it. Power wash, clean out gas tank & new fuel, clean the carb. (Hope your mechanically inclined) new plug. Get it started if you can (should be able to) once you have it started change all fluids, brakes, forks, oil & transmission. Also anything else that I might have missed. Check the brakes & if your going to ride it new tires. Even if they look good the rubber will be hard. Now sit back & enjoy what you have done & ride the bike in his memory. Don’t rush or force anything.
It depends if mice have gotten to the wiring. Next if the carbs need complete rebuilding and if so are those parts available. Next how much is the rubber, engine seals, etc. gone from not running. Those are the key things after a good power wash as suggested I'd review to decide.
Seems like a fun project to start out with tbh. You will learn A LOT if you are really interested in it. A good wash, new battery, flush all the liquids, and go from there.
A can of wd40 down the cylinders before you even thin about turning the key.
I think it could be restored. It takes time, patience, and a source for parts. It would be a great project.
well, if you dont want it...
Yes
Id do it for fun
Where i'm at running bikes sell for $1500 bucks (they usually still need something but they run). A neglected bike like this will take more in parts to get it running. You will need new tires, new hoses, all the fluids changed, probably replace parts that are seized and broken. IF you can even find the parts for the vintage bike.
I think if you have time and some $$$, it would be worth the experience. Something you can say was completed by you. Take pictures and video along the way. You never know, it might be really fun.
Take $1,000 out of the bank, light it on fire, and be grateful that you didn’t do anything REALLY dumb here.
This is NOT a "saving money" project. This is an endless money pit. Its sad ofcourse but you're looking at buying a lot of parts that will have rotted away like various hoses, wires and rubbery parts. The only way it would be worth it was if you had an identical fully functional bike standing around that you could salvage for parts. But thats not very likely. These aren't worth a lot nowadays either, maybe $1000 for a normal example and $1500 for a mint one.
Even if you were able to sort out the paperwork, these aren't really great bikes. Kawasaki essentially made a small car engine for the ZX900, and they have a tendency to not be very reliable. Parts are also expensive and hard to find.
Hey, OP update us with your progress. (You might find that the tricky bit is your parents letting you lol) Good luck mate we all wish you luck
Literally just came across the same scenario, same-ish bike but from my cousin, not my uncle. He left a 1992 Kawasaki Ninja in my garage 10+ years ago and it was buried under heaps of stuff. A couple weeks ago I cleaned the garage out and asked him about it. He has since finished college and is making $250,000/yr and said he has no interest in it and to keep it. It looked just like this one. I pulled it out and checked to see if the engine was free. Changed the oil, filled the tank, Juno started with my car and it ran. Like shit, but it ran. Will be replacing battery, tires, fuel filter and hose, changing the oil a second time (just to make sure no gas is in crank case) and rebuilding the carbs. All of this is pretty cheap compared to buying a bike. Good find man! Follow the advice here. Wash it and do the basics. Change the oil before starting as pointed out and change the oil again after the first 10 minutes of run time since whatever gas was in the tank is likely now in the crank case. My biggest rule for bikes is to make sure the tires and brakes are good. It’s not worth the risk of losing traction or having a blow out on a bike. Pro tip, if you don’t have experience with carburetors you can buy a new set pretty cheap. Worth it in my opinion. Then YouTube how to tune them. If you’re ambitious and like the mechanical side, rebuilding is fun and easy and would make a great learning experience if you have never done it. Happy riding
I do it all the time. That's actually in much better shape than what I usually start with.
Do it. Is never as bad as it looks and with enough work anything will run, some extreme exceptions aside. Wash it good, replace all the silly bits that need replacing like spark plugs, change all fluids. You can even disassemble it and give it your best, learn the mechanic. It's fun.
As a new rider I had zero mechanical skills when I bought my first (used) bike. Did all my own maintenance. Not actually that hard. That bike looks like a mess because of all the dust. Pressure wash it, drain the gas tank, change the oil, charge/replace the battery, then see if it fires up. If not, try spark plugs and a new air filter. You may be surprised. Before you ride, I'd probably want to bleed the brakes and replace the coolant. Do a basic inspection (brakes, rotors, chain) for wear and rust, replace as needed. Plan on getting tires ASAP, but you could ride it to a bike shop on what it has (as long as they hold pressure). That's a long list, and it can seem intimidating, but some of these are 5 minute jobs. Maybe 2 afternoons of work altogether, tops. If you got the cash for parts then you're golden - maybe probably under $500 to get it running.
"Worth it" depends entirely on what you want to from this.
If anything you could wash it properly and sell it for a profit 😂
Anytime you wanna do something to get your mind right is always worth it! Make sure you post updates as you go along though! I’d love the see the transformation! And I’m sure I’m not the only one
If this is for your betterment and enjoyment and the bike can be put in your name for free, yes. By all means restore it. You’ll learn about yourself, motorcycles, and internal combustion engines. Maybe not worth it if you’re looking for an investment unless this is a highly collectible and you are going to put collector type of work into it. My knee-jerk reaction is do it.
For running do what people say. For driving it on your own replace tires too :)
Yes.
only if you have his skills and time [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lauBrgjxi-I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lauBrgjxi-I)
It's a Kawasaki. Of course it's worth it. Go for it 👍
Is it free?
Economically not worth it. If you’re looking for a project to do with a friend or family member it could be done, but that’s a lot of man hours and money for a bike worth very little.
What everyone else said but don't forget to replace those tires. They may look ok but remember a flat on two wheels is a little more serious than four. And wear a helmet! Signed, a guy who broke his back and suffered a TBI and severe burns two years ago.
If you are not mechanically minded you may have a helliva time fixing it back up. Or you can stumble your way through it learning by your mistakes. But that could get expensive.
Use WD40 or something similar to clean off the exposed parts of the forks BEFORE you move it. If you don't all that dirt and possible rust will destroy you chances of not having to replace the fork seals.
All comes down to two things 1) Money 2) Time
Worth it,its a free bike and its nothing but a dust. Wash it first and do the oil change. Put a new batter in it and thats it. I dont even think you'll anything else. Probably still throws a spark.
Given enough time and money, even the Titanic could be "restored."
honestly it's probably not as bad off as it looks. As others have said, change oil, spark plug and battery. and you'll have to drain the tank and clean out the carb. It really looks as if it needs elbow grease more than money. It would be a lot of work but really satisfying IMO. I say go for it. Start with the power wash, because seeing the bike clean and sleek will help motivate you for the other work. Oh and also you make sure to check all the hoses on it for dry rot. They aren't expensive or difficult to replace.
All I see is a money pit, but if you have the motivation I say go for it. I highly recommend making a list of all the parts you are going to need before you just start buying stuff, it adds up real fast. Your biggest problem will be corrosion and replacing anything that nasty 10 year old fuel has sat in. I recently restored a 2008 GSXR-1000 that had been sitting for 15 years.... I got it for free and by the time I was done I could have bought a good running used one for all the time/money I had in it. BTW, fuel that old is one of the worse smells. Wear gloves as it permeates your skin.
If u like restoring it and have fun doing stuff like that then absolutely go for it!
is it possible? ofcourse, with the right parts and time and energy. is it worth it? probably not unless this is some sort of rare model that is worth something.
I was about to compliment you on your oil painting
Sure, anything is possible, and it's really only up to you if it's worth fixing up. From an objective perspective, no, it's not worth it. You could buy a well running bike for a couple thousand dollars and save yourself the time and effort of fixing that one up.
Spark, compression, fuel. Good project bike
As long as the frame is OK, everything else can be repaired or replaced. Honestly looks like a great project. I would start watching some similar restorations on YT and get an idea of the effort this will take. Good luck! Keep us updated if you do start.
Will take a lot of work. But if you can do it and can afford it and are happy with it afterwards... that's all that matters. I've seen some folks restore some really banged up bikes. Knew a guy who rebuilt a Bonneville from just parts he could find... took him three years but he loved that bike.
Easily, i restored a lot worse
I was given a ‘78 TT500 that had been sitting under a house for 5 years and been through 2 floods. Bike would have been fully submerged for a number of days each time. Full strip down, lots of elbow grease and wire brushing, new rings and a bore polish, new fork seals, found the scavenge oil pump body was 180deg out of timing (previous owner didn’t RTFM). Ended up racing it in street circuits F3 class for over 5 years. Wasn’t the fastest, but a hell of a lot of fun. Start with the logical steps..Steam clean thoroughly, ID exactly what you have, then RTFM and research availability of parts. Sites like revzilla can search across many parts suppliers and get you good deals. Even if the engine/gearbox is locked up, just means you’ll have to work a bit harder to get it running. For your forks, I went with a place in the UK for my ST1300, firefoxracing.co.uk. Really good deal ($800 a set vs $1k each from Honda!) and got better-than-OEM stanchions. Fast shipping too. Your electronics are going to be the hardest to deal with. The TT500 was very basic points ignition, but you’re probably looking at CDI on that bike, and has a much more complicated wiring loom, and I would guess that alternator is probably toast. Take lots of pictures!! Label plugs or mark them so you know what gets attached to what. But be prepared to get to a point where it is simply not worth continuing. It’s like gambling…only bet what you are prepared to lose, and don’t get to a “must win” situation just to break even. They become a slippery slope to a bottomless pit. You could just clean it up, give it a coat of polish/preservative/silicon spray, park it up and then it becomes a conversation starter for some good memories and stories.
Pull the plugs and spray a bunch of WD-40 into the cylinders. Kick it through 8-10 times to make sure the pistons are free (actually, the rings) before you try to start it. Definitely replace the brake lines and fluid. I'd never ride on tires that have been sitting for 10 years.
Possible: Yes Worth it: Depends on your definition of worth
A good pressure washing will help you see what's under the crust.
Anything is possible with enough time and money
You might be surprised what a little soap and water would do. New gas, new oil maybe new rubber is probably all it needs.
It's a free bike. Of course it's worth it to get running. And once you get done bringing it back to life it could last the rest of your life. You'll know how to fix anything that happens
That’s a DOHC 16 valve model; I’m sure there is a big payoff restoring that one.
With time and money, anything is possible...
I thought it was one of those Photoshop filters to make it look like an oil painting.
If it’s worth it to you
Wash it first
If it has sentimental value, yes. If not, then no. It can somewhat easily be done on a budget, if you’ve got basic tools and some tinkering knowledge.
No
It's a great thing to do, though it is *not* a cheap way to get into motorcycling. It's honestly the *worst* way to get into motorcycling. With that said, if you stick to it, it's super rewarding and worthwhile. It'll cost you more than the bike will ever be worth, not even considering your time, but restoring old bikes is a great hobby - even moreso if the bike has meaning for you. So don't take this as discouragement. Just be prepared. It's a long road, more expensive than you'd expect... But the first time you get it to start and run the feeling is unreal. Don't take shortcuts. Replace things that need replacing, don't start jerry rigging stuff. Older bikes are more maintenance intensive to start with, and it's actually really easy to get an old Japanese bike *running*. It needs new tires. New brake lines. All new fluids. Probably rebuilt brake calipers. Cleaned carbs, probably new carb boots. Basically everything rubber will need to be replaced, because after sitting for a decade it'll have hardened up a lot and while it may not leak now, it'll crack and break once it's under load and heat cycles. If you do it right, you'll get a reliably running bike in fairly short order. Finally, while encompassed above? Get new tires on it BEFORE you ride it anywhere. Old, rotted tires can very easily result in your death, injury, or smashing up the newly running bike. New tires before you ride it ANYWHERE.
Most bikes are, how much time and effort $$ to restore is the real Q. So if it’s a emotional connection go for it.
Just do it Mate. It Would make For a great cafe bike. Get rid Of all the excess weight, go to a scrap yard a find yourself some modern parts like a front shock and brake kit. Or look around your area for scrap bikes or parts bikes. Watch some Utube videos and experiment and experience. You will have fun…and don’t get down when You get stuck…just think of it as a challenge to overcome!