Reproduction carb side covers 350?

[Mike Anderson]

Hey Guy's and Gal's on the site who have 350's. There are many of you on here all the time, why don't you step up and respond to Richard's offer to help you out with an impossible to get part. All he is looking for is a committment from you to help cover his investment. Should not be that difficult. Even those who don't need the covers now, may in the future. You may get another bike or heaven forbid, the covers you have now may get damaged by a simple tip over in the garage. I have tried to repair them and they never look proper when you are finished because the casting is so thin. Maybe we  could make an effort to help one of the few people who are actually trying to help us with our restorations. Once again he even  provides us with a nice internet site to discuss our hobby and sometimes our problems. Just my two cents worth. Think about it.
Later Mike

[reed]

Mike,
I agree with you well said!!
Thanks.
Steve.

[Bikenstein]

I bought a GTR recently, the one for sale in NC for $250. It is missing the left and right carb covers. I bought the damaged right cover that was auctioned recently but could not bring myself to pay more for a good cover than I did the bike! I would love to have a left cover in any condition. I bought a new GTR in 1967. My second bike. My first was a BS175. I in no way intend to put this bike back stock because of the high price of replacement parts. Right now I'm looking for a kickstart lever off of anything that I can modify to fit. I'm not gonna pay $200 for one. I did buy pistons from Richard but that's necessary for that beautiful engine. It might end up with a Triumph headlight, a Suzuki speedo and tach, a Yamaha taillight and a Honda gas tank. Another "Frankenbike" of mine. But it will still be that six speed 40 horsepower motorcycle that I used to outrun the 500's and 650's with back in the day. I might buy the speedo and tach from Richard and make holders for them.  

[Sno Jet]

Congrats on the bike and welcome to the Forum.   We all would have grabbed that GTR!  Way too far away for many of us though.

The Ebay prices are not too bad after you consider the sellers have to pay Ebay and Paypal fees.  A little modification is OK with me as long as it still looks like a Bridgestone in the end.  Enjoy.

[ztnoo]

Well....I see this thread is now resurrected, after previous perceived intentions...and statements.

 

I guess all I would say is Thank God....or whoever, for the internet and sites like eBay.
If is wasn't for American intervention and innovation, most of the stuff we talk about would be sitting in barns and sheds and continuing to rust and oxidize away into mostly base ferrous content materials.
There would be little, if any, potential connection between a potential buyer and a potential seller.
We'd all be lost in space, wandering around scratching our heads and posteriors.
Bitch, complain, and moan and groan if you want about pricing, but if you don't have it and you need it and someone else has EXACTLY what you need....cie la vie.
It called capitalism and "the free market".

Otherwise the hobby.....or any individual's restoration would die on the vine about 99% of the time.
I'm not inclined to complain too loudly about any of this.......................

Welcome to the real world.

Regards,
Steve

[Bikenstein]

Didn't really mean to offend anybody and I agree with you Steve about being thankful for being able to find parts. So I take my statement back. I probably will sell a few parts online myself and will then realize the cost and work put into handling and selling on ebay. I just hate to see any restorable bike stripped and parted out, even though it means spare parts for everybody else. Anyone has a right to charge what they want for a part, but I think fairness in dealing is a good policy. The "real world" has always had those who are primarily, if not totally, motivated by money. That's their prerogative. We all have choices to make and I just try to be fair with people, especially fellow motorcyclists.
If I have what you need and it's the only part in the country, I'm not gonna inflate the price out of site, it's yours for free or at least within reason. There are still plenty of bikes rusting away in barns and fields today. A lot of the older people who own them still don't even own a computer. I found 12 vintage bikes 2 days ago just 5 miles from my house by going out and looking. The guy wouldn't even know how to turn a computer on. Now I just have to make a reasonable deal with him. One that's fair for him and me. Especially me, huh?

[RayK]

Steve
Whilst I agree that without the strong interest in restoring bikes in the USA many great marques would be lost forever. Because of your 300 million plus population and vibrant motorcycle market, fortunately there are heaps of bikes and spares available from the last 50 years.

Don't forget that there is a very keen restoration interest in Australia, NZ and UK that I know of that also keep old bikes 'alive'. 
Australia also has a strong free market economy with a history of constant innovation since 1788 e.g. see link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_inventions

RayK