Looking for emotional support. I have a Kawsaki 750 Spectre, I love it, I would sell my soul before I part with it. But.......parts are rare....it's 25 years old .....er, that's it. .it runs like a dream, has anybody else done serious miles on a 1980's UJM?

I bought a Suzuki GSX750F earlier this year to go to Poland then veer wildy off to Spain & Portugal but it was blah....utterley efficient ( I cannot speak highly enough of these bikes considering the capabilty per £ ratio) but it was not for me. Likewise I bought a Honda Domiator to do Holland to Latvia last year, great fun bike but a sore arse rules that model out again. Both bikes were bought and used because I didn't trust the Spectre, I have no logical reason not to but then again I have never come across anybody else travelling distance on a 198O's UJM (I've never seen anybody else ever on a Spectre) . I want to go through France to Galicia and on to Cadiz then off to Lodz (Poland) and back to the UK, I need bulling up.

What is the worst that can happen? The bike brakes and you cannot get parts ... scrap the bike and go home. If it broke at home you'd do the same thing?

You could always buy a cheap car - dismantle the bike and put it in the car and drive home.. where there is a will there is a way.

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

OK , you know the bike inside out 'cos you've had it so long and worked on it ,therefore you should know what kind of condition it's in ?
SO :

Change oils , replace wheel and steering head bearings [ generic brand from a bearing supplier if you can't get Kwacker ones ] .

Check tyres and replace if necessary .

Change plugs .

Carry any small spares you think you might need .

Then go !

Conversely , go to BMW dealer and buy a brand new GS1200 ADV "cos everyone knows that you can't be serious about travelling unless you own one of these .
[and they NEVER EVER breakdown of course ] [ sorry Beemer owners - just me trying to be witty !]

I have just finished putting together a Yamaha XS650 [made up from 2 bikes that I swapped for a Leatherman tool ] .As a winter execise it was fun powder coating and making parts for it ,welding up bits and pieces and changing stuff I didn't like .
Searching the Internet for parts and ideas revealed that there is a subculture that worships these bikes and parts are readily available IF you know where , maybe the same is true for your Kawasaki .

Anyway I intend to do a bit of touring on my sub $1k 1970's Ubiquitous Japanese Twin Motorcycle , mainly just for the hell of it .
The parts bike will sit at home and should I need any big parts they can be shipped out to wherever I happen to be .

So I wouldn't worry about not seeing anyone with a UJM travelling , if I were you I'd just go .

[ no warranty implied - your mileage may vary - preserve nature - wear a helmet - don't drink the water - beware goggles ]

Dodger

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Thank you for the replies, so..........it's me not the bike. I thought as much, tomorrow I am going to drag it apart for the best service of it's life.

I would have enjoyed my other trips far more if I had used "my" bike instead of a 100% guaranteed reliable bike. Still wonder why I don't see GT550's & 750's mentioned often?

Flying Gringo said :-

"If you can do something about the fuel capacity on the Yamaha 650 twin, it is a great adventurer tourer, as well as a decent flat tracker and cafe racer. I have driven one from San Francisco to Arkansas, and someone else toured South America on one a long long time ago. But don't use synthetic oil in it. They like the real stuff."
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Yup - I am gonna use a 4 gallon tank and a couple of small Jerry cans fitted onto homemade aluminum panniers .I might make a bigger tank this winter if I am inspired enough !!
If you can find any info about the guy [or gal] who toured S America ,I sure would apreciate it .

Ok , I'm in for it - now why not synthetic ?

Dodger

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

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Hey that's right ,didn't the GT550 and 750 used to be the bike courier's favourite ?
I nearly bought one myself once .

Dodger

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Hi Flying Gringo and others , I found this
http://www.geocities.com/foraster/tdf.html
is it the ride report you had in mind ?

It's an interesting period read for "interesting" times past .

Cheerio
Dodger

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."