In Pursuit of a Limited

by John S.

Part 1 -- Dream or Nightmare?

January 21, 2008 

While meeting Fred to purchase some of his OEM plastic, I mentioned in passing that I was looking for a clean 86 750. He said he knew someone who had a really nice black and red 750 and was thinking of selling it. So I asked him to pass on my number. A week later his friend called me and said that he really didn’t want to get rid of the 750 yet, but he had a Limited for sale. I told him that I was interested, what did he want for it? After quoting a price that was too good to true, I told him to send me some pictures of the bike.

In the next couple of weeks I pursued him like a fat girl at a Sadie Hawkins dance. Calling him every couple of days asking for pictures and trying to nail him down to a time I could see the bike. Cursing Fred and realizing he was never going to get rid of me, we set a date. That morning before I began the treacherous 6 hour round trip across the Rocky Mountains in the dead of winter, I found some picture in my e-mail. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. But now I knew why the price was so low, or now should I say, too high. But I really wanted a Limited, and since they’re hard to find, this may be my chance of owning one. 

Three hours later after winding my way through icy roads, blowing snow and a six car pile-up of snow skiers, I arrive at my destination determined to bring home my dream bike. He led me into a large finished 3 car garage that was cleaner than his house. Neatly lined up were 9 beautiful vintage and late model sport bikes. Two of them absolutely gorgeous 86 GSXRs! And off in the corner, as to not get shabby germs on the rest of his bikes, was The Limited.

It was immediately obvious to me this bike had been raced hard, put away wet, and just for good measure, throw down the track several times. It had bent clip-ons, broken gauges and a rear sub-frame that had been cut and was as crooked as the devil’s dreams. 

Yet my fevered mind quickly took inventory: RR frame!  Matching R705 motor with dry clutch!!  Swing arm with race stand inserts!  Correct forks and rotors, milled top triple clamp and of course, the all elusive one piece tail! “I can work with this!” I thought optimistically.  

So after some very shrewd negotiating (on his part) I handed him $1,000 and we loaded the bike (flat front tire and back wheel sliding back and forth on an axel with no hub) into my truck. And as I drove back through the Rockies, passing flashing “ICE ON ROADWAY” signs, I thought sickly, “If I spin-out and crash and die I hope the bike doesn’t get hurt.”