Rebuilding a older Motorcycle

[Oregonhunter5]

And it's a PAIN!!
Can't find parts very easy at all.
1973 Kawasaki G5 100cc
The bike I learned to ride on. Tons and tons and tons of memories on that bike.
Anyone have any pointers on finding parts easier?

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[TorchRedTulsan]

When I used to build old Honda CBs with a friend (in Tulsa, Ok), we were super fortunate to have an old bike "warehouse" in the rough part of town. I've thought about getting a bike here, but lack of access to a warehouse like that has kept me from it.

Off the top of my head, I used Dime City Cycles, Bike Bandit, Motorcycle Superstore, and ebay for online stuff. You can also check for a bike forum. I found some stuff on Do The Ton classifieds.

Not a "photo shoot" pic, but here was one of my personal bikes that we custom built from the ground up.

 

[cigars]

Cool bike to restore! Might be best to buy a beater for a parts bike, if you can find one. If anything, for those hard to find motor parts. As said above though, keep scouring the internet. You may find one in better condition then you can use your bike as a parts bike.

 

[Mikej]

When I used to build old Honda CBs with a friend (in Tulsa, Ok), we were super fortunate to have an old bike "warehouse" in the rough part of town. I've thought about getting a biker here, but lack of access to a warehouse like that has kept me from it.

Off the top of my head, I used Dime City Cycles, Bike Bandit, Motorcycle Superstore, and ebay for online stuff. You can also check for a bike forum. I found some stuff on Do The Ton classifieds.

Not a "photo shoot" pic, but here was one of my personal bikes that we custom built from the ground up.

View attachment 690574

That is so cool!

I worked as a "Wrench" for about 8 years in a couple of Honda shops in the SLC area in the '70s. Our boss at Honda of Bountiful built a hill-climber out of a CB750 that he bored out to use Honda 350 pistons as they were domed pistons. Extended swing arm, huge chains with every other row of knobs cut off. He was running about 14 : 1 compression. "The Widow Maker" at that time was at the South end of the Salt Lake Valley. Good times!

 

[cigars]

Hopefully these help:

Kawasaki G5 Parts & Accessories - Parts N More - Japanese Vintage Motorcycle Parts

www.partsnmore.com

G5 100 - Johnny's Vintage Motorcycle Company

www.johnnysvintagemotorcycle.com

Bike Bone Yard - Motorcycle Parts

We offer used and new japanese, european, american used motorcycle parts, rokon, atv parts, and snomobile parts all at great prices. We also accept special requests. Enter.

bikeboneyard.com

Classic Japanese Motorcycles

Classic Japanese Motorcycles is the source for vintage Japanese motorcycles as well as hard to find OEM parts. We also answer questions and offer free advice.

classicjapanesemotorcycles.com

https://www.cmsnl.com/kawasaki-g5a-1973-canada_model15134/partslist/\ Schematics on this one.

 

[TorchRedTulsan]

That is so cool!

I worked as a "Wrench" for about 8 years in a couple of Honda shops in the SLC area in the '70s. Our boss at Honda of Bountiful built a hill-climber out of a CB750 that he bored out to use Honda 350 pistons as they were domed pistons. Extended swing arm, huge chains with every other row of knobs cut off. He was running about 14 : 1 compression. "The Widow Maker" at that time was at the South end of the Salt Lake Valley. Good times!

I had a 350 Scrambler that I went the opposite direction of the custom bikes. Upgraded the ignition points and left it stock

 

[TorchRedTulsan]

I don't know the Kawasaki compatibility, but here's a guy in Portland with some parts

1973 Kawasaki F11 250 (and other old Kaw) parts for sale -...

Used and new OEM Parts - good working condition unless noted. Many of these parts are obsolete and...

portland.craigslist.org

I'll add a few more to @cigars list.

1973 Kawasaki G5A Parts | OEM Motorcycle Parts | Partzilla.com

Buy OEM Parts for Kawasaki, Motorcycle, 1973, G5-A

www.partzilla.com

TAILLIGHT -- G5-A- - - Kawasaki G5 100, 1972 - [Motorcycle] OEM Genuine spare parts | Oemmotorparts

Blueprint TAILLIGHT -- G5-A- - for Kawasaki G5 100 in years 1972. Original OEM spare replacement parts.

www.oemmotorparts.com

Kawasaki 100 G5 Parts | Genuine Motorcycle Parts & Accessories

Genuine Kawasaki 100 G5 parts for your 99.00 ccm (6,01 cubic inches) 2-stroke Enduro. Find engine components, Expanding brake (drum brake) parts, transmission components and electrical systems for maintenance and upgrades.

www.genuinemotorcycleparts.com

And another site for schematics

Kawasaki Motorcycles, ATV, SxS, Jet Ski Personal Watercraft

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., distributor of powersports vehicles such as motorcycles, ATVs, Side x Sides, Electric Balance Bikes & personal watercraft.

www.kawasaki.com

 

[2Wheels4Ever]

eBay is still a good place, but you'll need to check in often for the more difficult parts. Facebook marketplace has taken over Craigslist, and is a great way to find parts. You could also make a wtb add on there.

 

[Grumpa]

And it's a PAIN!!
Can't find parts very easy at all.
1973 Kawasaki G5 100cc
The bike I learned to ride on. Tons and tons and tons of memories on that bike.
Anyone have any pointers on finding parts easier?

You gotta search and search. Watch YouTube videos of bike restorers, specifically older Kawasakis. You might pick up some links to parts or wrecked bikes.

 

[ron]

I had a 350 Scrambler that I went the opposite direction of the custom bikes. Upgraded the ignition points and left it stock

View attachment 690583

Great memories of riding the Honda Scrambler through the fruit orchards crashing and sliding on the wet grass from the irrigation sprinklers.
Get up start it up and keep riding.

 

[wewaits]

And it's a PAIN!!
Can't find parts very easy at all.
1973 Kawasaki G5 100cc
The bike I learned to ride on. Tons and tons and tons of memories on that bike.
Anyone have any pointers on finding parts easier?

Cycle Heap in Portland is a giant warehouse full of motorcycle parts and custom parts. I've found a lot of hard to find stuff there for older Yamaha's, also check the Japanese secondhand online market they have a lot of cool stuff we never got here. I've spent a lot of time finding parts for old Honda Trail 90s and small displacement dirt bikes, a rabbit hole for certain but when the parts do come and one of them fits without any modifications, grinding, or bending it feels like a real victory.

 

[Mikej]

AKA, Honda CL 350.

 

[wewaits]

Webike: Motorcycle Parts, Accessories, Gears, OEM parts & Reviews

World's largest online store of Motorcycle parts. Huge stock of custom parts, gears and OEM parts with various shipping and payment. Experience over 2mil. items and true Japaense quality & service.

japan.webike.net

Cycle Heap

Portland Motorcycle Salvage Yard.

www.cycleheap.com

Conversely I found the rear end of a Corvair today in the middle of the woods about 40 miles east of Estacada on the way up to granite pass, it wasn't there last week and seems like a long ways to go to dump Corvair parts, but if you know anyone looking for some intact taillight sections I can draw a map.

 

[TorchRedTulsan]

Webike: Motorcycle Parts, Accessories, Gears, OEM parts & Reviews

World's largest online store of Motorcycle parts. Huge stock of custom parts, gears and OEM parts with various shipping and payment. Experience over 2mil. items and true Japaense quality & service.

japan.webike.net

Cycle Heap

Portland Motorcycle Salvage Yard.

www.cycleheap.com

Conversely I found the rear end of a Corvair today in the middle of the woods about 40 miles east of Estacada on the way up to granite pass, it wasn't there last week and seems like a long ways to go to dump Corvair parts, but if you know anyone looking for some intact taillight sections I can draw a map.

Start a build thread

 

[thorborg]

No advice on parts put do have some advice. I restored a 1968, 650 Triumph Bonneville. A beautiful job if I say so myself. All was fine until I went to sell it 20 years later.
I just had to get cute and had painted the frame a non stock color. )though it was dark gray, it was not black!) Primarily because I had some special epoxy paint available thinking it would increase the durability. It was a hard sell, as all that wanted it were recapturing their youth and it didn't fit the memory. Tank, Fenders Other accessories would have been no problem repainting, as they come off easily, but to strip it down to the frame, well now that's work no one wanted to do. I eventually got what I was asking for but could have moved it on a year earlier had the colors been right.

So my advice is if its a "restoration", stick with original colors (especially for the frame) and you will be glad when you move it along.

 

[Oregonhunter5]

No advice on parts put do have some advice. I restored a 1968, 650 Triumph Bonneville. A beautiful job if I say so myself. All was fine until I went to sell it 20 years later.
I just had to get cute and had painted the frame a non stock color. )though it was dark gray, it was not black!) Primarily because I had some special epoxy paint available thinking it would increase the durability. It was a hard sell, as all that wanted it were recapturing their youth and it didn't fit the memory. Tank, Fenders Other accessories would have been no problem repainting, as they come off easily, but to strip it down to the frame, well now that's work no one wanted to do. I eventually got what I was asking for but could have moved it on a year earlier had the colors been right.

So my advice is if its a "restoration", stick with original colors (especially for the frame) and you will be glad when you move it along.

Good advice
I won't be selling this. It's my bike from my childhood. Love it more than guns. Well maybe not more than my .22 lever browning

 

[frontiersman]

1973 RD350, A lot of good advice, talking to local riders and forums helped me and sometimes you have to make your own parts if they are no longer Available. I love the idea of restoring more motorcycles as I have time available and money to burn, but both are hard to come by.

 

[Doomtown]

I have a buddy whose first foray into bike building was a Yamaha XS650 - arguably more aftermarket parts available. That being said, he found A LOT of assistance on Yamaha builders forums. Whether it was troubleshooting, recommendations, parts in classifieds, other companies/venues that were successful for others, etc, he was able to find what he was looking for - was a good 2 year project though. I can't imagine there isn't a Kawasaki forum where you could link up with others who may have some advice on those hard to find parts. FWIW, he ended up buying 2 separate parts bikes on Craigslist which yielding better/cheaper results than going straight aftermarket.

 

[Oregonhunter5]

It's a labor of love
I'm a very sentimental person though

 

[JustShoot]

1973 RD350, A lot of good advice, talking to local riders and forums helped me and sometimes you have to make your own parts if they are no longer Available. I love the idea of restoring more motorcycles as I have time available and money to burn, but both are hard to come by.

View attachment 690673 View attachment 690674

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Very nice , .. mine was ( factory purple ) and my 1st bike I cut my teeth on . they were a Hot little 2-stroke screemer back then, and I actually even went farther with bore, new pistons, with other work on the engine on it .
.