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Post by RE5Gary on Feb 8, 2009 13:57:55 GMT -5
I have had my eyes on a Kawasaki H2 dragbike for some time and there is a chance that the owner might sell it now. If I get it, one of my bikes has to go. It's not officially for sale yet so that is why I am posting here. Reasons not to sell are that the bike is in excellent shape. Even the frame looks almost new. I am the second owner and there are only 6000 some miles on it. I could never replace it with one in similar original condition at a good price if I sell it. The seat looks like it just came out of a NOS box. The bike is not perfect but one of the better looking originals out there. I'm probably posting here now to talk myself out of selling the bike. After a year and a half though, it is still not on the road. Plus, I really want that dragbike. It is an old school 1972 dragbike that can run in the mid 10's or better. It looks like my H2 with a wheelie bar on it. It is something that I could bring home and start working on it right away and know exactly what I am doing. The only other bike I would consider selling is my S2 but I know that bike won't get me anywhere near as much as my RE5. Time will tell.
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Post by deadmeat on Feb 8, 2009 15:05:23 GMT -5
WHAT!!!!!!!!
Sell the S2 ( I have one too and it goes before the RE5). Besides wouldn't that be more fun to build your own H2 dragbike than to buy one? And why isnt your RE5 on the road yet? It cant be that far from running down the road.
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Post by g11ary on Feb 8, 2009 21:23:39 GMT -5
Shame to sell such a great bike.
I used to own an H2, its on the tripple forum.
What a dilemma
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Post by Jess on Feb 8, 2009 21:56:32 GMT -5
Don't do it man....
You'll regret it! Low milage nice original RE5s are getting scarce.
The used bike market is in the toilet. You will have a HELL of a time replacing it in the future.
I'm with meat... build your own H2 drag bike... You'll have a lot more fun doing it yourself, You will TRUELY know what you have... and you can do it a little at a tim when you get cash ahead...
Just my 2 cents... I am sure you will amke the right choice.
Best,
Jess
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Post by suzukiclub on Feb 9, 2009 4:33:16 GMT -5
Keep the Re5 ,if you sell you will regret it. I sold mine 8 years ago and was one of the dumnest things i ever done ...but i did buy it back a year later for £200 less than he paid me ...would never ever sell it again
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Post by tom93gts on Feb 9, 2009 11:28:13 GMT -5
I bought my RE5 specifically for the purpose of fixing up and reselling. I haven't been able to bring myself to sell it because like you said, I will likely never find another one as nice for a reasonable price. I have to know I am 100% done with it and have lost all interest before I will sell.
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Post by RE5Gary on Feb 11, 2009 13:19:02 GMT -5
If I think of the RE5 as an investment, then it has to be kept as I know it is a good investment that will only go up in value. It was also the bike that I was hoping to be able to use as a longer ride cycle that I know would be a lot more comfortable on a long ride than my H2.
The H2 dragbike that I have my eyes on is a special bike that I have wanted for a long time. It is built exactly like I would want it to be. To build one from scratch just like this one would cost me a lot more than buying this one and getting it ready for the track and repainting it to make it look as nice as possible. Cost wise it just makes sense to get this one.
I still don't have my gas tank on the RE5 repaired. Mainly because of my worries about ruining the paint if I don't do the job right. I have the POR15 kit. That being said, the RE5 has just sat since last March when I discovered the leak. There is another thread on this board about the leak. So, the bike has just sat for almost a year now. Doing this can't be beneficial to the overall condition of the bike and I am thinking why let the condition deteriorate which in the long run will lower the value of the bike. If I'm not going to get it fixed and on the road, I might as well sell it to someone who will before it starts losing its value. I want to ride the bike myself but if I don't get to that point this year, then I might as well sell it to someone who will take better care of it than I have so far.
The best case scenario would be if I could keep all the bikes and still get the dragbike. I don't know if I can do that or not.
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Post by g11ary on Feb 11, 2009 13:37:46 GMT -5
Your quite right, you will never build a drag bike for one that someone else has already spent the money, as long as Ive been around cars or bikes Ive never seen this happen.
You do need to buy this bike, especially as H2's have a soft spot with me and cant wait to see it.
H2's were never a good ride, I never bought mine for that, its was just brute power with no handling capabilities. Mine had been ported.
Dont ever buy a bike for an investment, buy it because you love it. Unless you cant buy it cheap and turn it around as a dealer would or sit on it for a very long time.
Most enthusiasts will spend more on the upkeep and buying the bike than they will get back.
Who says they will be worth anything when petrol runs out (now theres a can of worms) if no one can ride them.
There are far better investments out there.
For the relatively small amount you will get for the bike, keep it and find a way to get the drag bike.
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Post by deadmeat on Feb 11, 2009 18:33:00 GMT -5
Where's your tank leaking at? The reason I ask is I thought I had a leak on the seam and it turned out to be the fuel sending unit, Just a thought.
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Post by RE5Gary on Feb 11, 2009 20:21:42 GMT -5
It's definitely a leak from the tank. Here is a pic of the hole.  |
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Post by deadmeat on Feb 11, 2009 21:00:13 GMT -5
Bummer. My spare tank is the same. Does anyone know if the RE5 tanks are the same as a '77 GT750?
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Post by Jess on Feb 11, 2009 23:04:57 GMT -5
Re5 tanks are not the same as GT750 tanks...
Gary, send me your tank, and I will repair it...
Best,
Jess
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Post by RE5Gary on Feb 13, 2009 0:04:40 GMT -5
Thanks Jess. I may take you up on that. I guess if I mask off the tank good enough I could try it. My worries came about when I saw mixed comments on whether or not the paint could be ruined by the POR15. They started out saying no worries about that but then people mentioned that there paint was completely ruined by the stuff getting on the paint.
I think my biggest problem is making up some plugs for the sensor and the petcock holes and something to block the gas cap area. Sam mentioned to make up some plugs with plastic and wrap some tire inner tube around the plastic for the sensor and petcock to stop any leaking there. Once I make the plugs up and figure out what to protect the paint with, I should be able to get things rolling if I do the job.
If I ruin the paint, the bike is definitely history as I won't want it. That's how irritated I get if something like that happens.
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Post by RE5Gary on Feb 16, 2009 2:35:49 GMT -5
The bike that I want is now officially available and the price is right. The seller isn't going to advertise it unless I tell him I don't want it. The bike is in better shape than I expected and once I get it cleaned and buffed up it will look a lot better. If there was any other dragbike for sale I wouldn't even consider it but this one I want and will do whatever it takes to get it. Now I have to decide what I am going to do.
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Post by Jess on Feb 16, 2009 22:43:51 GMT -5
Gary,
Hope you get what you want buddy... Good luck!
Maybe you can figure out a way to keep your re5 and get your drag bike...
Best of luck and keep us posted...
Best,
Jess
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