The 900 Journey

Here it is my 900. I had one of these many years ago and like everything in youth, you dont realise what you have until later on in life. One day not long ago I was reading a Motorcycle Mechanics magazine and it inspired me to buy another one, "collectable" was the phrase in the article that that kicked it all off.. Getting a good example was the trick and this blog is a record of the journey of finding one and the work involved when I discovered all was not as it seemed.

It all started when I read the article on the GPz900 in a motorcycle magazine and it suggested that it would soon become collectable. I had previously owned one many moons ago and so the search was on.

I looked everywhere there were a few examples around but nothing to the standard I was looking for….something actually running with little to do except cosmetic touch-ups. I shouldn’t have expected much really considering the GPz is now 25 years old.

I even checked the local Kawasaki dealership…

“Do you get many GPz’s come up for sale”?

“No mate we don’t touch em……the last one we had blew up on the owner 2 weeks after he road it out of the yard”

So the search continued and I eventually found one in far east Queensland – Australia and on Ebay no less.

So I took a punt and bought it and got it sent over by truck. 2 weeks later it rocked up on my doorstep…the moment had arrived; I hadn’t been this excited in a very long time….even the “treasurer” couldn’t believe how excited I was.

With the paperwork signed I wheeled it down the driveway and attempted to start it………turn on the key…..make sure its in neutral…..give it some choke….and hit the start button…….nothing….

“Please at least fire once for me….especially while the “treasurer” is standing just over there watching”

So with a bit of throttle and some gentle encouragement (I tend to talk to inanimate objects when things are not going as they should be) I gave it another try and on the third attempt it fired and the sound was like music to my ears. With a big grin I looked at the “treasurer” and got the nod of approval.

All was well in the Johnson household.