The Forgotten 500
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics|March 2019

Andy Bolas asks why the workmanlike and wonderful Kawasaki GPZ500S has been largely forgotten when there’s so much to love.

Andy Bolas, Andy Catton
The Forgotten 500

It’s 1987 and Kawasaki has just released the 500cc GPZ on the British public. Back then it was billed as half a GPZ1000RX, which at the time was the fastest production bike in the world. It’s funny how quickly the motorcycle industry moves on, and so it was with the parallel twin GPZ500S.

You see, having started its life as a mid-range kind of ‘my first sports bike’, by the time I started riding it was seen as little more than a cheap commuter bike, which is such a shame as the GPZ isn’t really a bad bike at all and is so much more than just an ‘A-to-B’ machine.

In many respects the GPZ started out as a fairly sexy model. On paper you’d easily compare the 500 to a 350 powervalve or such like, and certainly in terms of outright performance. OK, so the bike weighs around 20kg more than the 350 stroker, but to be honest it isn’t that noticeable, especially when you’re actually on the move. The 500 shares its wheel size with the RX, having 16-inch front and rear wheels, which will limit your tyre choice somewhat, but such is life. If you want to move to something more easily shod with modern rubber, you could choose the D/E model.

Of course we like older bikes here, and we have to say those ‘sexy’ first generation GPZ500s come in some rather pleasant colour schemes, which are quite restrained for the late 1980s early 1990s, but ones that set the bike’s original clean lines off perfectly. Of course, it wasn’t without its issues. Build quality (while better than some) wasn’t up there with the Hondas, and like many Kawasakis from this era, the GPZ500 suffered from carb icing, with many bikes having a heater kit fitted under warranty to cure this. Strangely, our test bike has had this removed – according to its owner – and we’re not sure exactly why.

Esta historia es de la edición March 2019 de Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición March 2019 de Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICSVer todo
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Honda VFR750R - RC30

If there’s a more worshipped V4 out there, we’ve yet to see it: welcome to our reboot of the awesome VFR750R RC30…

time-read
2 minutos  |
September 2021
Mountain tension!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Mountain tension!

Award-winning motorcycle engineer!

time-read
5 minutos  |
September 2021
Fazer set to STUN!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Fazer set to STUN!

What do you get when you mix CRK’s lovely café racer kit to Yamaha’s budget middleweight and the recently-retired Martin Fox? Well, one helluva foxy Fazer!

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2021
Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!

This month, while we wait for backorder engine parts, we strip the chassis back to the bare frame, assess what is needed and plan the reassembly…

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2021
Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!

For the best finish on his Z900’s motor Ralph wants the best, so he visits Stephen Smethurst Casting Renovation to find out how it’s done properly.

time-read
10 minutos  |
September 2021
Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!

We’re getting down into the nitty-gritty this time with component testing and loom building. What could go wrong?

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2021
Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balance…
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balance…

Only The Beach Boys had good vibrations… so what’s Mark been up to, to sort out the bad ones coming from his TX750?

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2021
Splitting links
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Splitting links

Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox.co.uk so he knows what works.

time-read
4 minutos  |
September 2021
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

STAVROS: PRINCE OF PRANKSTERS!

It’s probably fair to say that Stephen JamesParrish’s persona and overall levity throughout his life have muddied the waters as to just how good a bike racer he was back in the day.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2021
Metal magic!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Metal magic!

Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox co uk so he knows what works.. .

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2021