How reliable are old bikes?

[tshort2007]

Looking at getting an older 600/400 bike after i gt my DAS, but am wondering how reliable they are?

I'm Peeved off with repairing my 2T every fortnight, and dont want the hassle with my first 'REAL' bike

Any advice on models to go for

Budget is around £650

[wizzzard]

Iv had six bikes all worth around that figure maybe a couple of quid more or less but not much. Three of them have been 600cc+ and all of them have been between 1982-1996. Never had a real problem with any of them to be honest.

If you choose wisely there are lots of reliable bikes around for that kind of money

Model wise just go for something that you like the look and feel of and can afford.
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[carlperkins00...]

thats a pretty impossible question to answer...

if its old and rusty then dont buy it.
if it looks good and has regular servicing then its most probably ok. just use your common sense?

[Frost]

Low milage might sound like a good thing, but with older bikes often it isn't as it means its been stood for years. Try and find something as unmodified as possible, and used regularly. If someone has been depending upon it, they are more likely to have done maintanence.

[Stelmer]

I cannot comment.....I bought the biggest, most sour lemon possible and did it up.

But i've seen Wizzzard's bikes and I can vouch that there's decent old bikes out there. Just don't ask me...

[wizzzard]

[carlperkins00...]

yeah i agree with wizzard, older vehicles are better.
if you get a top of the line sports car theres so many electrical bits on it if something goes wrong you can't fix it yourself.
they are more like an appliance than a piece of machinery.

[That_Hornet]

Im getting a GPZ 500s for some winter hack. 92 Bike so i think thats old. Almost the same age as me.

IMO old bikes are so much easyer to work on. And bikes need mantience and repair, FACT. I would prefer to do it on a old bike rather than a spanking new Gixxer.

But i would like a new gixxer tho.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Depends on the bike and how it has been cared for. Early to mids 1980s Honda and you will likely need a new cam chain rapidly. Same age Suzuki will go through charging systems quickly.

Then you get the quirks of individual models, such as the self destructing flywheels on early shape GPZ500s.

All the best

Keith
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[That_Hornet]

[Kickstart]

Hi

They seem to last 20k~25k before the magnets start to fall off. Kawasaki do now sell a redesigned flywheel but they are about £250 (from memory).

All the best

Keith
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