Fairly obvious realization. Not seeing many GSes.

[Redman]

I have this habit of keeping an eye out for GSes (and other vintage bikes).
You may have seen that I have posted a few "sightings" over the recent years.

In my work I go to a few different customers locations, and in my travels I have come to know where the motorcycles park at the various places that I often go past, and look most every time. If I see what could be a bike of our vintage, I will go thru that parking lot to get a better look.

The other day I was going past this particular place, and know to look in this particular portion of that parking lot where bikes often park. I saw what looked like could possibly be a 70s or 80s UJM that I dont recall seeing before, and was about to slow down to turn in to get a better look, then thought, naw, thats a Kawasaki. I surprised myself that I could recognize a Kawasaki from a Suzuki from such a distance. (I think the distiunguising feature was just the general porportions of the tank emblem, and the raised center of the tank.)

Yah, I surprised myself. Made me stop and ponder a few things. Made me think of a few things.

- What a strange thing to be doing so often.

- Have not really seen many GSes in recent years.

- Hey, these bikes are 30 years old.

- Why should I expect to find one? Even a bike from 90s could be 20 years old. Bike from early 2000s is 10 years old.

- Who would have a 30 year old bike and be riding it to work? Lets see; Old guy that has had bikes since the 70-80s and for whatever reason never got a more current bike. Somebody getting first bike and not wanting to spend too much. SOmebody that cant spend much on a bike.

I suppose that is all fairly obvious, but somehow I now see it in a different light.

WHen I got the 82' 650G it was a current model (had it for 20+ years). When I got the 80 850G it was 14 years old (had it for 12+ years). WHen I got the 82 1100GK it was 25 years old (have had for 5+ years now).

I suppose it is just another example of more and more things about me becomming vintage.

Dave

 

[78gs750e]

I am proud to say I ride a 89 Suzuki to work when I'm not on my wifes 83 gr and I will for sure drive my 78 gs to work when its done. And I'm not 30 yet! There is something about older vehicles that is just better than a new one.

 

[Colin Green]

Hi Redman,

Yes it's funny the stuff that goes through our heads sometimes .

I too keep an eye out for our era bikes and get a warm feeling when I see a GS (only happens a few times each year).

As you had earlier indicated (in the 'anyone go for a ride today' thread) that you were keen to know what my breakdown was caused by, I thought you might like to look at the developments.
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=1885794#post1885794

 

[bbjumper]

That's one of the reasons I ride one! They are rare, I love the style bike and you always get comments from those that appreciate the era.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Redman,

I have a habit of looking out for vintage bikes too. I see quite a few here in Dover but I'm not quick enough to snap a picture.

Determining the make/model is tough for me...I'm not good at distinguishing bikes but I look to see similarities with mine.

I'm not one of those guys who owned a bike since the 70s, 80s, 90s, or the 2000s. Heck, my first bike was in 2011...and a crotch rocket at that.

The majority of my life was moving every 3-5 years and being in a new environment. Now that the merry-go-round of moving has stopped, I'm bored at my location. The thought of getting a job overseas seems very appealing.

But back to you...seeing riders on older bikes is exciting. I get a kick out of seeing what people are doing to their bikes.

You've had great ownership of bikes and you're reflecting on the past. That's what I believe you are doing.


Ed

 

[Tim Tom]

You're not alone in the bike spotting hobby.

I have seen three GS' s not owned by me or my friends this whole summer. I too keep an eye out for old UJMs and today I spotted an old Yamaha special. I waved from my GS of course. The highlight of my UJM spotting so far was a mint Kawasaki Z1. It was gorgeous.

Anyway you are not the only one who regularly rides and oogles old bikes

 

[eddie21]

I saw what looked like could possibly be a 70s or 80s UJM that I dont recall seeing before, and was about to slow down to turn in to get a better look, then thought, naw, thats a Kawasaki.
-

Ha ha! I would have been all over that Kawasaki like white on rice! I suppose we get imprinted at the time we begin our affairs with these old bikes and Kawi's were my introduction. As time went on there was always one non-Kawi model that I always wanted... the GS1000S. Now that I have one, I'm enjoying the huge learning curve in discovering all of the idiosyncrasies of the Suzuki brand! I'm omnivorous in checking out all of the old UJM's, the Golden Age for sure!

 

[Buffalo Bill]

How sick would this be?

How sick would this be?

How 'bout blowing up every bike over 20 years old you see? :evil:
Wow, kinda violent radical huh?

How 'bout just putting a sign up in every bike shop sayin' ?We will not work on bikes over 20 years old.? :clap:

That's a whole lot easier.

I see signs like that in bike shops near me.

 

[earlfor]

How 'bout blowing up every bike over 20 years old you see? :evil:
Wow, kinda violent radical huh?

How 'bout just putting a sign up in every bike shop sayin' ?We will not work on bikes over 20 years old.? :clap:

That's a whole lot easier.

I see signs like that in bike shops near me.

None of the shops near me will work on a bike more than 20 years old.
About the only thing they will do is mount tires.

 

[winfield]

Have seen two GS750L bikes near my location. I drove around the block and slowed way down so I could check them out, hoping the owner would show himself but didn't. One of them I pulled into the parking space next to it at his apartment complex and looked awhile.

About a year ago I was pulling out of my street on to the main road and low and behold a Z1 went by--looked like it was recently restored, stock paint. I was in my pickup and not on my Z1. I followed him. He had a Kerker header, on boy did it sound nice. I stayed with him for a couple of lights but he got away. I was hoping he was headed to a local store and I would have pulled up next to him to have a chat.

The other cool bike I saw within the last couple years was a Honda CBX. I happened to see him pull off the interstate and go to a parking lot. I pulled into the parking lot and parked at a distance and just eyed his bike. It was in great shape. I was waiting for him to start it up so I could hear those 6 cylinders rumble. The rider was putting on a jacket as it was a bit chilly. When he got it on he fired her up and rode away. Made my day. Yea, I got the bug too.

 

[Guest]

I have seen very few vintage bikes over the last 6 years, and I look for them constantly.
One Honda CBX,
One '76 Yamaha XS650,
One 70's vintage Norton Commando,
One Kawasaki Z1900 on a trailer,
One '78 GS750,
One GS450,
One Yamaha RD400,
And the bikes GS Rick has.
The only GS's I've seen on the road are the two I have, GS Ricks GS1000 and one GS450.
I guess these are starting to get pretty rare, even rarer in running condition, very rare in really nice condition. Who knows they might be worth something to someone someday ray:.

 

[BiPolarBear]

The other cool bike I saw within the last couple years was a Honda CBX. I happened to see him pull off the interstate and go to a parking lot. I pulled into the parking lot and parked at a distance and just eyed his bike. It was in great shape. I was waiting for him to start it up so I could hear those 6 cylinders rumble. The rider was putting on a jacket as it was a bit chilly. When he got it on he fired her up and rode away. Made my day. Yea, I got the bug too.

Winfield, that might have been me. I live in Sligo, Kentucky, and have a '79 CBX in Glory Red, and ride it to Cincinnati often, through -- of course -- Boone County. And, by the way, I'm a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan.

 

[dorkburger]

I believe that our passion causes an unconsious pre selection of sorts....Line up a couple hundred cycles and id bet that most here would spot the antique quickly. And yes its sometimes shocking how our bikes have become vintage right before our eyes...

 

[winfield]

The other cool bike I saw within the last couple years was a Honda CBX. I happened to see him pull off the interstate and go to a parking lot. I pulled into the parking lot and parked at a distance and just eyed his bike. It was in great shape. I was waiting for him to start it up so I could hear those 6 cylinders rumble. The rider was putting on a jacket as it was a bit chilly. When he got it on he fired her up and rode away. Made my day. Yea, I got the bug too.

Winfield, that might have been me. I live in Sligo, Kentucky, and have a '79 CBX in Glory Red, and ride it to Cincinnati often, through -- of course -- Boone County. And, by the way, I'm a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan.

BiPolarBear: I like you already. Sligo near LaGrange? The CBX I saw was the one with white paint. Post a pick of your '79 CBX. We'd all like to see it. Maybe put it in the "Other Bike" section.

 

[trevor]

I have seen lots of vintage Japanese bikes here in Victoria. The gsr members alone totals around 12 or so. Vintage is alive and well here.

 

[SVSooke]

I'm with Trevor on this.Seems to me there are lots of vintage guys here on the Island.Some truth to the rumor that nuts roll west?

 

[Tamara]

None of the shops near me will work on a bike more than 20 years old.
About the only thing they will do is mount tires.

The suzuki shop here in town even quibbles over mounting tires if I don't buy the tires from them.

 

[koolaid_kid]

The suzuki shop here in town even quibbles over mounting tires if I don't buy the tires from them.

AFAIK they all do. You are cutting into their profit margin.

 

[Allie]

There's someone around here with a REALLY nice Z900 that I see every so often. It is just so cool seeing that on the road! One day I saw a 750GT in a diner parking lot as I was riding by . What are the odds?? I had to turn back and get a couple of photos



I also saw, about a month ago, a @%#$ing VINCENT in the middle of town, going the opposite way. I almost cracked my forehead against my side window gawking at it! I don't know if it was an original or a repro, but either way, that's an amazing sight. Yes, it looked like a Black Shadow.

 

[Dogma]

BiPolarBear: I like you already. Sligo near LaGrange? The CBX I saw was the one with white paint. Post a pick of your '79 CBX. We'd all like to see it. Maybe put it in the "Other Bike" section.

Here is fine, I'm sure.