Hi - New guy (Sort of)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ramius
  • Start date Start date
R

Ramius

Guest
G'day

Like many of you had a Kat back in the day (1100 WW). Loved that bike even though it was cursed. Anyway got back onto bikes about 7 years ago and immediately started thinking about another Kat. Joined the site and made my introductions then but never followed through to actually buy one.

Well finally bought a 750 last week - the "Awesone Start" thread under listed elsewhere. Its rough but runs and has wire wheels (2.5" & 3.5") - so perfect as the restoration is half the fun right!

So, although i have a couple of posts up - thought i should formally introduce myself.

Cheers
Bill
 
Hi Bill, good to hear from you again. The 2.5 and 3.5 rim size always look good on a Kat and provide a nice selection of rubber. Well bought as that wheel combo would set you back close to $1,000 for the pair just to build them from scratch with used parts these days. Your old W.W. was cursed you say, what evil spell had been cast upon it? Looking forward to the photos and follow up news on your Back To The Kat.

Cheers,
Glen.
 
Welcome back Bill. I'm very interested to hear your tale about your cursed Kat. Also looking forward to some pictures of the new Kat. Hopefully this one is not cursed.

Cheers from Canada :cool:
 
Thanks for the welcome.

It appears that while I can view the site from work i can't post - so sorry for the slow reply. Boogieman - i am in Canberra (don't hold that against me!).

Yeah - regarding the bike. I was living in Bondi at the time as student and the Kat was parked on the road - and constantly covered in salt spray. I never dropped that bike but in the last 12 months i had it:

I was back at home visiting friends I had worked with previously when one looked out the window to inform me that a someone in the carpark had backed into my bike. Smashed cowl etc but at least fixed under her insurance after a quick run down the stairs to discuss the incident.

Soon after, coming back to Bondi after a night away I mentioned to my flatmate that I had a feeling that the bike might might have been stolen. To my relief as we came over the hill -it was still there. On closer examination it wasn't all there. The cowl and covers had been harvested by someone in need. In disgust I got my gear to head over to the girlfriends place and when I got on the bike I realised they had also taken the #$% footpegs. Rode the bike with no fairing, indicators or footpegs for weeks in Sydney traffic until i got the money to fix it

Then, I was at the old toll booths on Harbour Bridge (5 cent toll for bikes in those days - god I'm getting old). As I pulled away a woman in the next lane starting screaming hysterically - I thought she was being murdered. Turned to look just as the traffic in front stopped. Grabbed the brake but a little too late as the front of the bike slid under the table-top tray of the truck in front of me. I threw myself back on the bike and stopped with the tray pressed up against my chest. Managed to pull the bike out without dropping it but result - another smashed cowl and screen.

Decided i couldn't affford this so reluctantly sold the Kat to a mate of a mate. Hear'd not long after that he had parked the bike to make a call at public phone booth - remember them - and watched as a police car came racing around the corner and parked itself on top of the bike which I gather was pretty much terminal.

Still miss it though :)
 
Welcome Bill
Am sure you'll have better luck with this Kat, at least your further from the Sea & Salt spray.

Have fun with the resto, I enjoyed the hell out of mine. So much am looking for an 1100 also now to start again.

Cheers
Stuart
 
Yeah I already have thoughts of an 1100. If i do it will get the wires and i'll put mags on the 750.
Then it'd be nice to have a GSXR slabbie and TL1000R and GSX1100 and...
Of course will have to see how this one goes first.
 
Geez Bill, I'm not sure that there are enough spares around for you to get back into Kats. ;)

However I am a massive fan of your Wishlist. I'm 2/3rds the way there myself.
 
Yeah iv'e seen some impressive collections in signature blocks :mrgreen:
 
Ramius said:
Thanks for the welcome.

It appears that while I can view the site from work i can't post - so sorry for the slow reply. Boogieman - i am in Canberra (don't hold that against me!).

Yeah - regarding the bike. I was living in Bondi at the time as student and the Kat was parked on the road - and constantly covered in salt spray. I never dropped that bike but in the last 12 months i had it:

I was back at home visiting friends I had worked with previously when one looked out the window to inform me that a someone in the carpark had backed into my bike. Smashed cowl etc but at least fixed under her insurance after a quick run down the stairs to discuss the incident.

Soon after, coming back to Bondi after a night away I mentioned to my flatmate that I had a feeling that the bike might might have been stolen. To my relief as we came over the hill -it was still there. On closer examination it wasn't all there. The cowl and covers had been harvested by someone in need. In disgust I got my gear to head over to the girlfriends place and when I got on the bike I realised they had also taken the #$% footpegs. Rode the bike with no fairing, indicators or footpegs for weeks in Sydney traffic until i got the money to fix it

Then, I was at the old toll booths on Harbour Bridge (5 cent toll for bikes in those days - god I'm getting old). As I pulled away a woman in the next lane starting screaming hysterically - I thought she was being murdered. Turned to look just as the traffic in front stopped. Grabbed the brake but a little too late as the front of the bike slid under the table-top tray of the truck in front of me. I threw myself back on the bike and stopped with the tray pressed up against my chest. Managed to pull the bike out without dropping it but result - another smashed cowl and screen.

Decided i couldn't affford this so reluctantly sold the Kat to a mate of a mate. Hear'd not long after that he had parked the bike to make a call at public phone booth - remember them - and watched as a police car came racing around the corner and parked itself on top of the bike which I gather was pretty much terminal.

Still miss it though :)
Click to expand...


Wow that's quite the story Bill. I'm sure most of us here have the same fear of that one day happening to our beloved Kat. I won't leave my Kat for long when I head out to the city only for fear of not finding her there when I return. I can only imagine what it would be like coming back to see her stripped down for parts. :cry:
 
Yeah. It was a bad combination of being a naive kid and not having a lot of choice - but wouldn't be doing it now!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom