ZappBranigan
October 3rd, 2007, 10:59 AM
Ah, streetbikes! Every time I get out, they pull me back in! :D
So after 25 years of street riding, I sold my street bike, a 2001 Triumph Thunderbird. I decided that with all the great dirt roads and trails around here, I'd get myself a dual-sport, something like a KLR 650. I also had some bills to pay off and honestly, the Triumph was something of a demanding (and expensive) bike to maintain. I had just paid $400 for a new chain and sprockets and was looking at having to spend at least that much for a valve adjustment and carb synch. I can't say I didn't get my money's worth out of it, though: I bought it in March of 2005 for $5k and sold it in August for $3600. When I bought it it had 1958 miles on the clock. When I sold it, it had over 27,000. :eek: So basically I paid $1400 to rent a motorcycle for 2 1/2 years and put 25,000 miles on it.
Anyway, I scoured Craigslist to see if I could find that KLR, but everything I found was too new and too expensive. Then, while looking up "Kawasaki", I came across this old 82 750 Spectre. I remember the Spectre, it came out the same year I started riding. Instead of chrome, it had the "blacked out" look (similar to the Yamaha "Midnight Specials" of the 70's.) I went out and took a look, it ran fine, though it obviously needed a carb cleaning and possibly a valve adjustment. It showed signs of 25 years of use, but was in great condition for such an old bike. Tires looked new, everything electrical worked on it, no problems with the steering to indicate a worn head bearing, and no obvious signs of crash damage. Just over 21k on the odometer.
Honestly, I thought it was a little too rough for me, so I made him a lowball offer, thinking he'd never take it, and $800 later, the bike is mine. :D
So I'll spend the Winter getting this bike a little more up to snuff. First thing to go will be that hideous luggage rack that obviously was intended for another bike. It feels like it needs fork seals, also, so I'll replace those and the fork boots as well.
Been having a blast with it, though! I'd forgotten how much fun these bikes are to ride, especially once the engine gets above 3k - it just takes off like a shot! Shaft drive means no chain to oil or replace, cast wheels means no inner tubes, and air cooling means no radiator to fill or water pump to worry about.
Anyway, here she is, up above Evergreen this weekend:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z256/ZappBranigan/Kawasaki%20Spectre/spectreinthemountains.jpg
And a driveway shot...
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z256/ZappBranigan/Kawasaki%20Spectre/Firstworkride2.jpg
So after 25 years of street riding, I sold my street bike, a 2001 Triumph Thunderbird. I decided that with all the great dirt roads and trails around here, I'd get myself a dual-sport, something like a KLR 650. I also had some bills to pay off and honestly, the Triumph was something of a demanding (and expensive) bike to maintain. I had just paid $400 for a new chain and sprockets and was looking at having to spend at least that much for a valve adjustment and carb synch. I can't say I didn't get my money's worth out of it, though: I bought it in March of 2005 for $5k and sold it in August for $3600. When I bought it it had 1958 miles on the clock. When I sold it, it had over 27,000. :eek: So basically I paid $1400 to rent a motorcycle for 2 1/2 years and put 25,000 miles on it.
Anyway, I scoured Craigslist to see if I could find that KLR, but everything I found was too new and too expensive. Then, while looking up "Kawasaki", I came across this old 82 750 Spectre. I remember the Spectre, it came out the same year I started riding. Instead of chrome, it had the "blacked out" look (similar to the Yamaha "Midnight Specials" of the 70's.) I went out and took a look, it ran fine, though it obviously needed a carb cleaning and possibly a valve adjustment. It showed signs of 25 years of use, but was in great condition for such an old bike. Tires looked new, everything electrical worked on it, no problems with the steering to indicate a worn head bearing, and no obvious signs of crash damage. Just over 21k on the odometer.
Honestly, I thought it was a little too rough for me, so I made him a lowball offer, thinking he'd never take it, and $800 later, the bike is mine. :D
So I'll spend the Winter getting this bike a little more up to snuff. First thing to go will be that hideous luggage rack that obviously was intended for another bike. It feels like it needs fork seals, also, so I'll replace those and the fork boots as well.
Been having a blast with it, though! I'd forgotten how much fun these bikes are to ride, especially once the engine gets above 3k - it just takes off like a shot! Shaft drive means no chain to oil or replace, cast wheels means no inner tubes, and air cooling means no radiator to fill or water pump to worry about.
Anyway, here she is, up above Evergreen this weekend:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z256/ZappBranigan/Kawasaki%20Spectre/spectreinthemountains.jpg
And a driveway shot...
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z256/ZappBranigan/Kawasaki%20Spectre/Firstworkride2.jpg