Project bike - what gives?!

[Bridgehouse]

Evening all.

Lurked a while. Decided to join the rabble and post.

I've just done out the garage and finally got the workshop I've always wanted right on my doorstep. Everything is shiny and painted. Now there's a big gap in the middle that needs filling.

I've been scanning the usual places for a project - you know fleebay, gumtree, freeads etc. etc. but it seems to me that:

- People want an awful lot of money for bags of tat that aren't even rare or special these days
- If something does come up, it's like 250+ miles away
- There's a lot of 'importers' bringing in 'super rare' old 'murican bikes and expecting people to pay big dollar for them

I'm looking in the £500 range for something 70's 80's and not a 2 stroke super rare triple or anything - even basket case c90's seem to go for well over my budget..!

Am I missing something?
Is it the wrong time of the year or summat? (Been looking since prob. November)
Am I expecting too much for too little dosh?

Comments mucho appreciated.
Reward for useful tips - will ensure picture and video heavy resto. thread ensues.

[virus]

your looking on the internet which is full of idiots and money grabbers. you should be looking in small adds in the back of bike magazines, hand written adverts in small bike shops and word of mouth.

Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[Rob Fzs]

You will get nothing for 500 quid, other than possibly a cg in bits

start at about a grand and you might find something decent
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30> Yamaha RD350 YPVS F2 > Kawasaki ZZR 600 D1 > Yamaha TZR 250 2MA >Suzuki TL1000R > Yamaha TDR250 > Honda 929 blade > Suzuki SV1000 > Honda H100
Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

[Bridgehouse]

[chickenstrip]

[Bridgehouse]

[stinkwheel]

Nope. Not on ebay anyway..

Found you a fucked 400/4 on biketrader.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201602030680167

Go to a local autojumble or failing that, go to Stafford show. Take a van and cash, look round the parking area first for something with a for sale sign on.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Bridgehouse]

[hmmmnz]

i just bought a bandit 6 with 16k miles on it for £200
il probably have to spend 200 to get it fully up and running.


i find quite a lot of deals are on facebook, or through mates who know people (i dont know anyone)

see if there is a facebook motorbikes for sale group for your area,
there is about 4 or 5 in the edinburgh area,
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[stinkwheel]

Ruffort Auto Jumble (near York) is held on first Saturdays and is sometimes worth a look if you want to pick up a basket case for cheap. Highly variable in quality and quantity of stuff available.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Rob Fzs]

[marc_cowley]

mine?

https://www.gumtree.com/p/kawasaki-motorbikes/kawasaki-gpz-550-project/1150512280

where are you?
____________________
Chaly Cf70
Gpz900R

[Suntan Sid]

Most important thing, be patient, something will turn up!
I got mine on Ebay, for what I consider a reasonable price, (£400), for a couple of boxes of bits, everything was there plus extras.

Narrow your searching to specfic bikes, and find the specialist forums for those bikes, there'll be people on these forums who will have stuff lying around! IMO, refining your search will stop your brain overloading with the mountains of dross that appear on the web!

If possible, make sure the bike you're after is not one from a year when major changes were made to that particular model, it can make part sourcing a real PITA!

Don't buy it thinking you're going to make a profit on it, buy it because you're going to enjoy fixing it up! The other road leads to ruin!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[Bridgehouse]

Guys, thanks for the collective wisdom

Some really solid advice - Suntan Sid I think has hit the nail on the head - I need to narrow my search and have patience.

Marc-c - you're a bit far from me

And I'm definitely not in it for a profit. I like to keep busy - helps to manage the stress, and I need a project bike I can sink my teeth into purely for myself. I don't have any intention of making any money from it, and if I lose money then that's just fine.

[Suntan Sid]

Have you set up a "followed" search on ebay, ie. a search that sends results to your email address, daily?

I have a search set up for used parts for my project, so I get all the new listings sent every day to email.
Today one of the listings, is for a complete bike with a low starting bid!
Saves a lot of googling!
____________________
"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[Bridgehouse]

[.Chris.]

If you're prepared to spend £1500 you should be able to get at least some of the bikes you've listed in pretty good shape, and not in need of restoration.

I'm most familiar with the XS400 and GT/Z550 and both can be had as projects for around £500 if you're patient and prepared to travel a fair distance.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Bridgehouse]

[mrbox]

roughly where are you located Kempton park auto jumble is pretty good sometimes.
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Current bikes: RE Himalayan, Bandit 12, MZ250ES

[Bridgehouse]

[tommy748]

there are gems out there in sheds just gotta keep your eyes open and make sure that people you know are aware that your looking for something then they tend to come up in conversation. I struck a goldmine, a dry stored 748s ducati with 4600 miles on the clock for very little over your budget, I was extremely lucky but just shows they are out there you just have to be patient, good luck finding something mate.

[nowhere.elysium]

I have an NC24 that I just haven't had the time to do anything much with, if you're interested.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[R1stu]

You can have my gpx 600r for £200. Micron on it too. Electrical fault, but complete.
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Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

[.Chris.]

He bought a CB400/4 in the end.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Deathoctimus]

There is a group on facebook to bear in mind.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/249093018564042/

also may have some project bikes.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/222935171108991/
____________________
Shaun
Current Rides Fireblade 900 RRN / DL1000 past: ZX9R B1 / GSX 600F K3 / YBR125