GT380 Cafe Project (is it worth it)

[miked914]

Evening all,

Well, I just sold one of my two 1974 GT380s, the other one is on the lift and is in the early stages of being transformed into a cafe bike. It will get 3 into 3 JEMCO exhaust (which I bought last year and have ready to install). Fiberglass seat pan, custom remote mounted oil tank ( I have both), new SS spokes, tires, headlight, bars, custom rear sets, stock tank that I will modify for knee dents and a custom flush mount cap. Powder coat frame, custom paint etc....

Essentially, everything will either be new, custom made or rebuilt to new. In my mind the bike will be gorgeous and a blast to ride.

Here is my issue. I've spent the last 18 months collecting parts while I finished other bikes. This one will require a LOT of time this spring and summer. With a new job requiring more travel and the rest of my free time (very happily) devoted to my 3 and 5 year old, my question is...what do you guys think a 1974 gt380 cafe done up nicely would be worth?

I have other projects that are on the list and if I'll only be able to get $2500 (For arguments sake) for this bike when it's fully polished and screaming down the road, then in my situation at least, I'm better off selling it either partially finished or parting it out...


I hope you guys are catching my drift. What would you do?

Thanks

Mike

[Vintageman]

Interesting.

How are the stock items now (seat, tank, chrome items)? Do you have everything to make it complete now? If you just want to sell it and everything is in good shape. Just give it clean and sell may be good way to make profit

There is some good data on what you can get for a original GT380 in nice condition and values keeps climbing (older crowd mostly in their 50s – 60s my guess… some have money too!)

Cafes.

Getting more popular (crowd a little younger I think) not sure if anyone is compiling sales history

I see cafes for few reasons.

1) The original bike is rough cosmetically, OK mechanically or missing key cosmetic items and would cost as much if not more to find original parts and restore.

2) People are real fine artist and people want something unique in bikes. One can spend a lot of time here (depends on experience I imagine). Its an art and what someone will pay for it. However, it seems like some people are getting a reputation for turning out nice cafes/art.

3) Performance. Light weight and better handling

I have been wanting certain bikes and looking at this more for #1 initially. Then #3
But, I am liking cafes/bobbers that I am now seeing for looks. Too old to lay on tank or ride bike like Superman flying having to make my neck bend up at a 90 degree angle to see safely ahead. So my style would be more upright.

[pearljam724]

If you're looking at resale value. The café or custom bikes don't sell as high as the bikes in original stock form. I realize it's only a matter of changing bars and a seat. That's just the way buyers are. They want the original look, including paint. As far as parting the bike out. People often have false dreams in regard to selling these parts used because the bikes themselves are fairly collectible. But, there still remains a lot of new parts for them. An example, look at all the far fetched prices on Ebay for used parts. People are asking way too much for old grungy, rusty used parts. It's very difficult to fetch low prices on some of these parts when people can obtain them new or replica. People looking to restore a bike of their own, want new. Because they already have old grungy parts they could restore. Are old parts worth anything for these bikes ? Sure, but not the prices people are asking or hoping to get. Very good condition tanks, odometers, fenders, seats are different. But, there's not enough there to obtain a good overall price. As far as wanting to sell it and collect as much as possible. Your best bet is to have a good running bike and return it to stock form. Realizing it's honestly in good condition or not. Otherwise, it's going to cost someone a lot of money to get it to that point. My .02

[Coyote]

Heed my words. If you want to build a cafe, build it for yourself without intentions of selling it off when finished. You will never get back what you put in. Not even close. I just sold a very fine GT550 cafe.. No interest at $3000, no interest at $2500. Settled for $2000. About 1/2 the input. So build it for you and not to sell off.

[Tripleking]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but what expansion chambers are on the GT550? I bought a GT380 a few years ago with chambers which look just like yours. I am trying to find out what brand they are. I will say that they provide excellent mid-range.

[pearljam724]

Chris, were those Lester wheels designed for the GT's ? I'd like to get my hands on set of those. I haven't looked hard, but I assume they're tough to obtain. ?

[Coyote]

Tripleking, judging from other photos I have seen the pipes are Basanni (spelling). There is no name on them. Copies maybe.
PJ, the wheels are not Lester's. They are rarely seen Morris mags. The big plus to Lester's is they have a stock rear drum brake. The Morris wheels were produced in the late 70's as an upgrade for the GT550. The kit included a rear disc and caliper. I got those items but didn't use them. The caliper mounting was a horrible clamp on device. It was a quality caliper made by Lockhart, but the mounting hardware apart from being ugly as sin, left a lot to be desired. So I cabbaged on a awing arm from an 80 GS and used the GS caliper and brake stay. I used the 80 master cylinder and made up linkage to operate it.
The big downside to the Morris wheels is they have no rubber aided sprocket drive. There is (now) an adapter that bolts directly to the wheel. The sprocket bolts directly to the adapter. I believe these wheels came stock on a 78 Kawasaki model. Not sure which one. Never did the research.

[RING_DING]

I concur 100% with Coyote. Build it for yourself. The enjoyment you will get out of the project and the subsequent ride ..... priceless.

[Tripleking]

I concur 100% with Coyote. Build it for yourself. The enjoyment you will get out of the project and the subsequent ride ..... priceless.

+1!