My GT750M Finished

Striker1423 · July 07, 2025, 12:09:23 PM

I finally have this bike together and running as it should, within reason. When I first went to buy this bike, I submitted the idea for a small article in the Kettle Club magazine which detailed my trip to get it, and they agreed to write one (see attached)!

Many things have changed since then.

I sold the truck in the article and bought my '94.
I bought my current house.
Little man was born and is now four months away from being three.

All major milestones and it's hard to believe that much time has passed already!

I guess I'll start with the state of the bike when bought. It was in dire need of attention. Although it ran, it ran with a very bad surge at low speeds. It eventually blew the crank seals, and that started me on what was going to be my "budget" build of this stock bike. Of course my budget kept expanding just short of a nut and bolt restoration. My major goal was to be able to take this bike to shows, but actually ride it without the fear of acquiring regular use damage and be able to take it on some longer trips since the RD was definitely not up to the task.

To start, the chrome simply wasn't chrome and was a huge problem cosmetically. Every piece of chrome had rattle-can silver covering what was very bad pitting and rust. Having recently spent $400 on the front fender for my RD to be re-chromed, I determined my best bet would be to find solid used parts that still looked good as chroming was simply out of the question. I turned to Yahoo Japan auctions and purchased through brokers the headlight bucket, ears, and trim pieces. The headlight is of course Japanese spec, so it came with a replaceable H4 bulb, and a passing bulb in the bottom of the bucket.

eBay of course covered most of the rest of the parts I bolted onto the bike. I paid out the nose for some. Got steals on others. I acquired still more parts from the UK, Australia. But, the biggest expense by far wasn't even the paint (nor the time it took to go through two painters) or motor rebuild (thrice). Teazer and M in SC know this one well

... as I bolted a replacement Nova Racing stock transmission into this bike. Essentially cementing that I either sell this bike for huge money or keep it forever, because my "budget" broke all logic with that one.

The exhaust was probably the best steal I got. It's a new Delkevic set that was sitting in some guys wholesale warehouse for what looked like a few years. I made him an eBay offer and got it for $750 shipped. The engine was a hair-pulling shit-show for me. It really made me appreciate the simplicity of the RD and Yamaha's engineering. M in SC, Teazer, pdxjim, and many others were a big help as I vented a LOT on Facebook (sorry!). I went through the ringer with the powerplant.

I found two sets of engine cases, one I ended up using. My stock cases were broken from the PO's chain. Unfortunately, the top of my original engine case disappeared from the welding shop since the shop itself closed. I also replaced the original barrels with a new set since the bike had been crashed and the exhaust sealing on both outer cylinders was questionable at best. My head was destroyed from someone else over-torquing the crap out of it, so eBay got me another one. I also got a new manufactured water-pump from the Kettle Club. Basically, the only parts of the engine that are original are the crankshaft and most of the side covers.

It still needs the handlebar controls to be repainted and the top of the triple tree as well, some decals, and a proper carb syncing. But, I'm calling this job complete. The rest is just run of the mill for me. Looking forward to sandbagging another trophy with the same bike at the local show.

Simmons1 · July 07, 2025, 12:15:07 PM

Great job!! It looks fantastic. Mine is a little less stock than yours is. LOL

TeeZee · July 07, 2025, 03:56:28 PM

Nicely done!

Kawtriplefreak · July 07, 2025, 04:49:20 PM

Absolutely gorgeous

85RZwade · July 08, 2025, 12:14:59 AM

What a journey, Matt! Congratulations on sticking with it and getting it done.

SoCal250 · July 08, 2025, 12:32:31 AM

Wow, what a story! That's a true tale of really being persistent and dedicated to getting to the finish line. Big congrats on your accomplishment!

mnein · July 08, 2025, 07:49:59 AM

Nice job. Buffalo.

paul1478 · July 08, 2025, 09:07:36 AM

Like many others, I have followed you progress and setbacks. I personally would not have made it to the end. Well done, have a great time riding this, looks like a lot of fun.

Simmons1 · July 08, 2025, 10:45:50 AM

No way I would have had the patience to finish a project like this.

I owned a barn find 69 H1 that I saved until retirement that looked in similar condition to the Buffalo you started with. I got started on it and after a while figured I would never get it completed and sold it.

m in sc · July 08, 2025, 02:47:10 PM

man that fat bitch made you work for it but came out beautiful well done.

RDryan · July 10, 2025, 08:42:50 AM

That is a really pretty bike, I like the color/graphics and the rear rack. So it's bigger than the RD and of course it has more power. I imagine it's more stable especially on the highway and or big open roads. Since you mentioned it... Is it more comfortable?

I do agree though my RD is fine for about 10 miles or so but the stock fifty year old seat really isn't something I wanna sit on for a couple hundred miles or just riding all day long. I like to think a newer seat would make a difference.

Evans Ward · July 10, 2025, 09:05:30 AM

You did an awesome job on your GT750!

Love the factory gray as well as the factory rear rack which is so very useful!

I would have kept mine if I didn't have my H2 but didn't feel remorse at all for selling as I was able to purchase a TDR250 for the price I got for my 76 GT750! 200 lbs lighter and so much fun!!

m in sc · July 10, 2025, 11:58:12 AM

Evans i next to send you the keys I have for that tdr... pm me a mailing address

Striker1423 · July 11, 2025, 05:49:13 PM

Quote from: RDryan on July 10, 2025, 08:42:50 AMThat is a really pretty bike, I like the color/graphics and the rear rack. So it's bigger than the RD and of course it has more power. I imagine it's more stable especially on the highway and or big open roads. Since you mentioned it... Is it more comfortable?

I do agree though my RD is fine for about 10 miles or so but the stock fifty year old seat really isn't something I wanna sit on for a couple hundred miles or just riding all day long. I like to think a newer seat would make a difference.

It is much more comfortable, but I have a hard time sitting on a bike for a long time.

The GT is less fatiguing to ride than the Yamaha, but the gt throttle is in need of lube as it's quite hard to turn.

It has much more low torque and a useable touring gear set. The only thing I think it's lacking is a 6th gear. If it had that as a highway gear it'd be perfect.

I think Teazer has done it, but there's some crazy mod to make a 6 speed GS trans work with the GT.

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My GT750M Finished