Older Bikes

[Shreeve]

Merry Christmas all!

I recently sold my GSXR750K4 as I have scratched the itch of 'what is a fast bike like' (and the mrs didn't like me telling her how fast it goes...). I'm now looking to get another bike to enjoy when I have the time.

I want to improve my mechanical knowledge and have been looking at older bikes as they need more TLC and i'll be forced to get my hands dirty. I've been looking at:

Honda CB500/450/350
Suzuki GT250/500/750

The list goes on - essentially, I would like to get a bike from the 70/80's and my budget is £1,500.

Hoping some of you wiser chaps will be able to suggest something or give some insight in to personal experience.

Cheers
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Current: Suzuki GSX650F (2010), Suzuki GSXR1000 K7, Suzuki GS250T (1980) currently restoring: Clicky.
Previous: Honda CBF 125 (2011), Suzuki GSXR750 K4

[Copycat73]

been there done the "Buy a slower bike" thing .. lasted 2yrs..
slower older bikes are for a second bike or third ... and parts availability can some times be difficult.
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
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[Shreeve]

Sorry I should have explained more clearly - I already have a GSX650F which is fast enough for what I do with it so this will be for a second more 'hobbyish' bike.
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Current: Suzuki GSX650F (2010), Suzuki GSXR1000 K7, Suzuki GS250T (1980) currently restoring: Clicky.
Previous: Honda CBF 125 (2011), Suzuki GSXR750 K4

[chickenstrip]

My thoughts are that 2 strokes tend to be a bit simpler to work on as a starting point, but all the old stuff tends to fetch silly money these days, seemingly regardless of condition.

Parts availability can be the big problem, as Copycat said, but there are some good sources out there. David Silver spares for Honda, Z Power for old air cooled Kawasakis etc, so before buying, it'd be worth doing some research in to any particular model to see if there's much out there to support your tinkering. Firms like Hi Level and others do carb repair kits which can be very handy.

Sometimes worth getting hold of damaged used parts like side panels, mudguards etc if you're thinking about restoring to standard, as then you have a pattern to get a new part made. Magazines like Practical Sportsbikes and Classic Mechanics feature bikes from that era and can be useful for picking up hints and tips, from everything to what the bikes were/are like to where to go for bits and any more complicated work that might be beyond you.
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[Shreeve]

Cheers, appreciate the advice.
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Current: Suzuki GSX650F (2010), Suzuki GSXR1000 K7, Suzuki GS250T (1980) currently restoring: Clicky.
Previous: Honda CBF 125 (2011), Suzuki GSXR750 K4

[Copycat73]

yeah seen a few buyin older stuff to do-up
most usefull information I have
a web.site to look at if you like

https://www.vjmc.com/

been to a show / jumble @ lotherton hall .. was lots on sale there
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[Whosthedaddy]

Honda C90
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Something undesirable would be your best bet.

A Honda CB125T (little 125 parallel twin) should be good. The 80's ones arent very desirable yet but good little bikes. A CB250RS may also be a good shout (one being re-built on this site already).

Kawasaki Z250's and Z550's also seem like a good options.
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[Polarbear]

Good luck getting a GT750 for a reasonable amount. I'd love one of them.
A GT 500 I had one from new back in 1977. I never gelled with it although others on here have a different view.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Bru]

Kawasaki GT550/750. Classic UJM, 1970's design which was in production until the 1990's. Also - shaft drive, which saves chain hassles.

[MCN.]

Buy a 2t yamaha, big grins and cheap spares easily available.

[Shaft]

As I spend a large amount of time dealing with older vehicles, the question of which starter classic frequently comes up.

It's already been mentioned but, IMHO, for the inexperienced the number one priority when choosing an old bike (or car) is parts availability and price; the internet is littered with unfinished projects and the main reasons they stall are either running out of money, or motivation.

Unless you're the sort of person that gets some sort of perverse pleasure out of spending all your spare time playing hunt the part, make absolutely sure you aren't going to get caught out by lack of spares.

Similarly, it's no good being able to get everything, if it's all double dear; you will very quickly lose heart if every part you touch needs a second mortgage to obtain.

So, having drawn up a shortlist of bikes, spend a while researching what you can and can't get easily, or what can be adapted from other makes and models (an owners club forum is a good thing to join).

Don't forget it's the little things that can trip you up; a good example is carb rubbers, which can be surprisingly difficult and/or expensive to source new and, by definition, aren't easily available second hand.

Somebody else mentioned going for something that's less desirable, which will keep the initial purchase price down, but will also limit it's price and saleability at the end, so sinking a fucktonne of time and money into it, probably won't work out economically.

Bikes are also very good at using model specific parts, so once again, if it didn't sell in big numbers to begin with, likely there won't be many spares about.

Also consider why it didn't sell well; sometimes it's as simple as it was overpriced or underspecced compared to the competition, but it could also be because it quickly developed a rep for being unreliable or just generally awful, so is that what you want from your classic?

As you can see from my sig, I'm a big fan of old stuff and I think it's perfectly possible to run them as daily vehicles (in fact, I have virtually no interest in modern machinery) but until you have the wherewithal to deal with any problem that comes up, either by fixing it yourself or knowing someone that can, you do need to go into it with your eyes firmly propped open.
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[Stewie]

I would look for an old trailie XT / XR /TA that sort of thing, mid range 600cc keep there value and parts are readily available for most.
Easy to work on, do a complete rebuild and have a future classic or just make it roadworthy and have a blast on the trails and back roads.

[ScottT]

If you fancy having some fun and improving your riding skills you could pick a reasonable twin shock trials bike for your £1500, loads of fun and if its a yamaha you'll be able to get any spares you'll need.
Have a year or 2 entering a few trials and when you get fed up you'll get most of your money back.

[stevo as b4]

[chickenstrip]

[Raksha]

[Shreeve]

Well I've bought a 1980 Suzuki GS250t as it was available at a very good price (less than half my budget!).

MOT till August and runs well, pics to follow.

Thanks again for the responses, I expect I'll learn quite a bit in the coming months.
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Current: Suzuki GSX650F (2010), Suzuki GSXR1000 K7, Suzuki GS250T (1980) currently restoring: Clicky.
Previous: Honda CBF 125 (2011), Suzuki GSXR750 K4

[stevo as b4]

[Shaft]

[Scootaloo]

Buy a CB-1

They are cheap, parts are everywhere, and there almost bound to go wrong
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(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[garth]

I just picked up another cb-1 yesterday for £325

Got MOT and new tyres too.
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