Best bike make to rebuild as a hobby

gregtaylor · L Plate Warrior Joined: 26 Jul 2013 Karma :

Just retired so have more time to spend on the bikes. Snag is that my own two (Honda CB175K6, Honda CB250NB) are not enough to provide enough of a job. I am looking at buying in old, crappy bikes, rebuild them (slowly) then sell on. I am not looking to make a profit but need to clear my costs so sale price must equal the cost of the bike, parts fitted and any transport costs. I rebuilt a couple of MZs but I actually made a small loss on both because a good MZ seems not to be worth much more than a rough one. The advantage of MZs though is that nearly all parts are still available.

Has anyone any other suggestions? What about Jawa/CZ? They seem to go for less when in poor condition. I am happy tackling just about any job other than welding which I am trying to learn.

Greg

Andy_Pagin · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Nov 2010 Karma :

If you want any chance at breaking even it has to be something both rare and desirable, off the top of my head I'd say look at Nortons, Velocettes, that sort of thing. Though really being lucky enough to be retired your motivation should really be the love of doing it and nothing else.
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Ollie1995 · Banned Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Karma :

I personally disagree with the above, British bikes like that are expensive to buy and prices are only increasing. However so are parts, if you can find parts cheap enough for these bikes then you're on to a winner. If you're in it for the money, buy complete piles of shite that nobody wants, break them and with some patience should also come money. I'm rebuilding my XS250 that I purchased for £120, I've broken the spare engine and sold it all on ebay and I'm currently in profit.

Ollie.
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gregtaylor · L Plate Warrior Joined: 26 Jul 2013 Karma :

Andy, you have hit it on the head. It is for the fun of doing it but I cannot afford to make a loss on each deal. Brit bikes are very fashionable so it is a good idea and I could always stick to the cheaper ones (Bantam, 250 and 350 singles).

Efes123 · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Karma :

Greg, I know someone who bought two Jawas with the intention of creating a single bike out of them. A year later he still can't find the parts.

I don't do it for the money, but the experience of learning about bikes. Try looking at early/mid 80s bikes, they seem to go for pennies (I know, there's a reason for that Crying or Very sad

) Check my sig for my projects; I built the Suzuki GS125 for around £700, and that was mostly with brand new parts (it was going to be the wife's bike), and just got paid £1k from the insurance when it was stolen. Probably could have sold it for around £800 to £900 in reality. The Kawasaki I bought for £450, and that was with nearly a year's tax & ticket on it. Again, it'll probably sell for just under £1k, and I've only spent about £300 on it. The VF I picked up for just under £200, mind you she's cost me about another £500 so far. But then, I'm probably not going to sell her as I really like the look.

It can be done fairly easily, but you have to pounce on the right bike, don't rush it. Do your research before you buy whether the spares are available.
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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

I'd imagine that breaking has a better return on investment, both per bike and per hour.
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Efes123 · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Karma :

UncleFester · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Jun 2013 Karma :

My two cents and not from bike experience .....

Break the stuff you need to break to get the tasty bits for your own toy(s). Keep the good bits and punt the rest on. Or buy two or three dead things to make one known good one.

Restoration isn't going to be cheap, it probably won't go to plan and it will take up all your free time - as suggested above, unless it's a labour of love and you keep it forever / sell for massive profit I don't see the point. Once you've priced your time, you might as well buy what you wanted in the first place.

If you have an eye for restoration, plenty of contacts and you enjoy the work and just want the hobby to pay for itself then stick to mainstream stuff that you can buy for nothing and sell for a little more.

gregtaylor · L Plate Warrior Joined: 26 Jul 2013 Karma :

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I think I am going to stick to 70s/80s Jap bikes but always check for spares availability first. I might start with a two-stroke. For one they are easier (I have done three in the past) and secondly, I don't like riding a two-stroke so no danger of getting attached to it. The aim was to keep to my existing two bikes to ride and have a third to enjoy rebuilding then move it on for no loss or small profit. Mind you, I have never ridden a Yam RD250/350 so who knows what I would think if I tried it!

I am also keeping in mind the option of picking up a few to build one good one from the parts then sell what is left over.

Greg