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1982 GS1000 Z US Version

G

GS1000S Z Katana

Forum Newbie
So here's my story, shortened up as best as I can. My father passed away last year. No love loss there. I inherited some items from his estate, including a 1982 Suzuki GS1000 (Z) Katana. My father was the original owner of this bike along with several other classic bikes and cars. The VIN is: JS1GT72A9C2100847. This bike is in the classic sense, a real original survivor. Original Michigan plate and license plate frame from (Ruttman Motors), which was acquired by Pete Rosenau, of Rosenau Power Sports back in 1990, and still located in Dearborn, MI. I was about 13 years old when my father purchased this bike and remember going to pick it up with him and my mother back in 1981.

Here is the bad:
  • Right side cover is missing.
  • Air box missing (Not sure what my father was doing here. Replacing another battery?).
  • Right front (driver) side foot peg assembly missing (Not sure what my father was doing here either).
  • Both mirrors are missing.
  • Front brake lever, master cylinder, and nose-dive device (brake bleeder) on left side are missing. (Again, not sure what my father was doing here either).
  • Chain guard is missing.
  • Exhaust is pitted. Frame has rust spots all over it. Bike was stored in a Michigan garage, exposed to significant temperature swings from summer to winter. Not stored in a climate-controlled environment for most likely the last 20+ years, which is how I would have stored it.

    Here is the good:
  • Two original keys in MINT condition. All locks work, including ignition, seat lock, steering lock, and helmet lock.
  • No body damage other than a small scuff on the front right side faring. The gas tank appears to be mint but will need to be cleaned and sealed again. There is a little gas in there and it smells off. Fortunately, the petcock valve is in the off position but carbs will probably need to be gone through.
  • Original replacement battery which was engraved with 3-23-88. I remember my father replacing batteries in all his motorcycles often, so I'm confident this is the last time this classic machine ran ('88 or '89).
  • Here's the best part...the bike has 502 original miles on it. Plastic lens on gauges is in near perfect condition! I will document that with the date code (9/81) located on the motorcycle frame, along with date codes of the original tires once I'm able to take some more pictures. The tires which to my surprise, are still holding air and fully inflated.
After looking at this bike and literally shaking my head in disbelief, I thought perhaps I would restore it. I know parts are scarce for these bikes so not real keen in doing that! The exhaust has plugs in it which would have prevented mice from nesting in there, but to recreate the anodizing of the black exhaust to my understanding is difficult, if not impossible to 1980's Suzuki standards. So then my next thought was to strip it down to the frame and resto-mod it and put a nice Yosh 4 into 1 exhaust. Something I would prefer doing in the first place as the bike is dated and, in my opinion, the newer the better as I like new stuff, not old time machines. But then after thinking on this since last night, I honestly have too many other projects going on and this is a project I just don't want to get into at the moment or in the foreseeable near future.

The bike was just taken off the trailer as I just picked it up last night. It's presently in my heated garage and will take many pictures. If anyone is interested, please DM me. After seeing what other specimens have been going for in far worse shape, I'd rather just let it go at a reasonable price and cut my losses.

Thanks for reading.
 

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Airbox is there. Did you mean the airbox lid?

And you should ask a mod to move this to the for sale forum. Gotta put a price on it too.
 
imho, an ultra low mileage, currently close to stock, classic bike like that should be returned to original condition and ridden.
Resto-mod upgrades should be done on bikes past their prime.
 
Even as it stands right now, an untouched Katana with just 502 miles, some small bits missing and needing a service would be worth putting up on Bring a Trailer.
 
Yep, this bike, though I've never liked them, absolutely should be put back to orig. condition by somebody... You can find something to resto mod any place any time. Odds way against finding something that seems this special & rare ever again.
 
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