1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Project 73 Suzuki GT380

Discussion in 'Other Projects - Other Bikes (non 250's)' started by kiffsta, Sep 7, 2019.

  1. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    Earlier on in the year , I had a customer come in asking me to pickup some old Suzuki 2 stroke engines and other parts he has in his shed. Included was an old gt550 and gt380 which were left to the elements and alas couldn’t be saved as the frames were rusted out.

    After informing Les that the gt380 frame was rotten, he set about finding a replacement, and several months later I was called down to his place to pick it up. He didn’t just find me a frame, it was a complete bike which blew me away.

    Les has been fixing up a gt380 of his own which is almost done. I vapour blasted his cases.

    I have had this gt380 sitting in the shed for a while and decided it was time to get the ball rolling as I kept getting asked if it was for sale. We stripped it on Friday , my painter is picking it up and will paint the frame and swing arm shortly.

    I got onto a website in japan called cruising image who have a heap of pattern parts including crank kits, piston kits and the pricing is very reasonable.

    https://www.cruzinimage.net/



    The plan is to tidy it up and ride it , proper restorations are just too expensive.

    Here she is in all her glory E262F079-7C30-47BC-9491-CE9AB389B2B3.jpeg 89354C4E-890F-4345-8B18-BB14A9535CF9.jpeg
    What I want it to look like

    EF0B2406-87A6-4D62-83C6-2648523BD320.jpeg
     
    • Like Like x 3
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2019
  2. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

    Messages:
    5,102
    Likes Received:
    3,472
    Trophy Points:
    1,148
    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Thailand
    Home Page:
    My Bike:
    Yamaha FZR400 3TJ1, Honda MC22
    Another one saved. :)
    Let's see how that works out. I am thinking "Oh that seat just looks crap against the tank. I will just get it recovered ... and so on until it does look like the one in the pic.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  3. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    I don’t consider my t500 restored ,
    It has been tidied up and is good useable bike. Restorations are big big money and I will try and bring the 380 it back to a useable state that presents well, the engine will get the treatment with new crank bearings, rods, pistons and seals and a vapour blast to boot.

    That cruising image site does seat covers quite cheaply and I have an upholsterer who will sort the foam.
    https://www.cruzinimage.net/?s=Gt380
     
  4. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

    Messages:
    5,102
    Likes Received:
    3,472
    Trophy Points:
    1,148
    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Thailand
    Home Page:
    My Bike:
    Yamaha FZR400 3TJ1, Honda MC22
    Oh okay my bad. We have different definitions of tidied up.
     
  5. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    Haha can’t ride a shitter :)

    Nut and bolt resto’s are such big money these days , I am going to make my own nickel plating kit try try and save a few $$$ on replacing rusty bolts
     
    • Like Like x 1
  6. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

    Messages:
    5,102
    Likes Received:
    3,472
    Trophy Points:
    1,148
    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Thailand
    Home Page:
    My Bike:
    Yamaha FZR400 3TJ1, Honda MC22
    Yep, the nickel is a good option. Now that I found companies doing vapour blasting, plating and powder coating all I need is a 350 Bridgestone and a spray painter to join the happy band of old 2-stroke restos. Speaking of rare bikes, we had a Thai customer order a kit for a Suzuki GSXR400-SP. That has to be the only one in this country.
     
  7. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

    Messages:
    4,289
    Likes Received:
    2,504
    Trophy Points:
    918
    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2016
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Albury 2641
    My Bike:
    1987 Yamaha SRX250, Honda 1974 SL125 K1, 2022 Triumph Tiger Sport 660
    Have a look at www.janekits.com.au
    they were at the Bulli Bike show and their kits seem to be reasonable in price.
    I looked at the electroless Nickel plating but the cost of continually replacing the Nickel solution (you need to boil the solution to plate the items) means it works out expensive if you are using it all the time.
     
  8. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
  9. my67xr

    my67xr Bike Enthusiast Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member

    Messages:
    4,313
    Likes Received:
    2,383
    Trophy Points:
    898
    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2016
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Panel Beater, Spray Painter, Custom Fabricator
    Location:
    Adelaide, South Australia
    My Bike:
    Yamaha's , 1990 FZR250R 3LN3 , 1986 XT250TS 57R , 1984 IT200L 43G, 1976 IT400C 510
  10. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    not much has happened on the GT380, parts are slowly filtering in such as new chrome handle bars, new rear shocks, I traded some parts for a set of new 1mm oversize pistons. My painter has taken the frame, tank side covers , headlight ears and headlight bowl away for blasting and painting. I have ordered my decals, I have decided to paint it red as they go faster :thumb_ups:

    The issue I am facing is the 73 GT380 used paint code 716 Catania red which is more of an orange\red , I am thinking of going something with a bit more pop, the problem is that it wont be right. I am torn, I know it is my bike and I can do what I want, but the purists will say that's the wrong colour. At any rate decals have been ordered from the UK, this is going to be a cool old thing

    I have a few days to ponder this

    1973_GT380K_red_700.jpg
    rear_shocks.jpg
    decals.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2019
  11. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

    Messages:
    5,102
    Likes Received:
    3,472
    Trophy Points:
    1,148
    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Thailand
    Home Page:
    My Bike:
    Yamaha FZR400 3TJ1, Honda MC22
    I like the orange myself. Just think about it for longer until you are absolutely sure.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  12. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    I am slowly coming around to it , I will have to grow my hair a bit longer , get a tight white T shirt and slide my camel filters up the right hand sleeve :)
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Funny Funny x 2
  13. Frankster

    Frankster Grey Pride...Adventure before Dementia Staff Member Premium Member Ride and Events Crew

    Messages:
    3,979
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    Trophy Points:
    923
    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2013
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Gardener
    Location:
    Tasmania
    Home Page:
    My Bike:
    Spada, VT250F & ZX2R
    Camel.JPG
     
    • Like Like x 3
  14. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    New pair of fork tubes have arrived all the way from Italy , Tarozzii seemed to be the only manufacturer who make tubes for a gt380, very happy with them. Seals and bushes are on order and should be here on Tuesday.

    I am now a tarozzi reseller so if anyone needs fork tubes, please contact me
    052AB239-CF5E-4757-A27E-9CF0207FB150.jpeg
    painter called today and the frame is being painted this weekend so next week I can get started on the wheels and get her back to a roller. Alas my wheels are in a poor state worth the rims being quite rusty , one of my customers rebuilds wheels so he is going to supply a blank set of rims and will punch the correct spoke holes then re spoke them for me , not cheap but should look amazing.
     
    • Like Like x 5
  15. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    Hello beautiful

    GT380_frame.jpg
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Winner Winner x 2
    • Nice Work Nice Work x 2
  16. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    Made a start on the front wheel today , alas the rim is coroded from neglect and has a flat spot , so I am going to buy new rims , bearings and spokes.
    165B1A41-4D84-4CCA-B89A-FC1466C8DCAC.jpeg C5EDE67C-7D5C-443A-A98F-1BDD5F81C204.jpeg 0A90F90C-C4DC-4861-A616-4DDA2CFC335F.jpeg C88AD6C2-2426-4FDE-B6CA-A8B95F2E8463.jpeg 95777379-EFBE-4D7C-AD84-72D22EB83FE9.jpeg 6D2CC391-F3A9-441F-8CE1-293E6A00095C.jpeg
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Love it! Love it! x 1
  17. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

    Messages:
    6,397
    Likes Received:
    4,785
    Trophy Points:
    1,148
    Joined:
    May 4, 2013
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Tamworth, NSW
    My Bike:
    1937 Royal Enfield 250, CF Moto 250 V5, Honda's XL250, CBR250, FT500 plus a few others.
  18. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    First fork has been rebuilt , still lots of polishing required ( I know the dust seal is wrong, gaiters are on order )

    8B169820-6CC4-4A16-B618-2AC6311AB03B.jpeg
     
    • Nice Work Nice Work x 3
    • Like Like x 1
  19. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    my switch blocks are toast so I have been looking, there is literally none around , I stumbled onto a guy in the Netherlands who had a NOS kill switch and a decent used LH switch block as well as the almost impossible to find clutch perch with a choke lever built in.

    this guy has a fair bit of older Suzuki stuff

    http://www.classicsuzukiparts.nl/

    time to apply for a new credit card, this one is fast running out.

    gt380_switch.PNG
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  20. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    Made a start on the rear wheel , hubs have been blasted clean and I tried out my new grinder as a polisher , but more work then they off to the wheel rebuilder for new hubs and spokes . This is going to be a really nice bike once done

    ECE37929-4029-4730-8EB1-E4543A911C0F.jpeg C8597395-7ED5-455B-BFF2-20C42F528CEB.jpeg 48656947-1A30-4AEE-9E35-12C7AF7A20BE.jpeg FB735F9F-5F2A-4051-8A95-BB92B34848D9.jpeg 63419854-381A-49D9-801C-254C7F25EC2C.jpeg
     
    • Like Like x 6
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Looks good! Looks good! x 1

Share This Page