I bought my first GS in 1984; a GS550ES. I was 19. I loved that bike and rode the hell out of it until electrical gremlins took up residence and then it was dead to me... but I never forgot. Had several GSXRs, a couple of Kawi Zs, and a wonderful Triumph over the years since then and last February, I picked up my original dream bike, an '83 GS750ES (GSX750ES outside of the US). It was the bike I wanted as a teen but couldn't afford. They were rare in my area and there was only one in town. It was white and red and the guy who rode it was older than me and an arrogant jerk. I thought it was the coolest thing ever and I wanted to be that guy. I used to go to the local shop and sit on the 750 they had, and pretend, until I was able to buy the 550 a year later.
So, I ran across an '83 last year. It was rough but ran decently and the price was right. I wanted it. It looked like it had spent most of it's life outdoors but after I spent a few months of the lock down polishing, painting, re-plating and replacing parts, I ended up with a very pretty bike that gets the question, "Is that new?" from the uninitiated and wistful looks from my biker friends whenever I show up on it. When I sit on it, I'm that wide-eyed teen again. I love it. It's not perfect, far from it, which is why I'm here but hopefully it will be one day.
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