Cheap Motorcycling >125cc (More than 125cc)

[BillyJ]

CB500s are much more than they were a year ago!?!

What is the cheapest winter hack out there?
Requirements:
Electric start
Sub £1000
Ideally >125cc (half commute is on motorway and I want to be able to comfortably sit at 60)
not too knackered
Mileage <40,000
The closer to central London, the better

Worst case scenario I get a YBR125 as an XR125 will just get nicked.
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Had: '06 CBR125R + '01 GSF600 + '07 SPRINT ST 1050 + '80 CB250 RSA + '93 Ducati 900SS
Have: '13 GSXR-1000 + '01 CB500S
"The aryan confuser"

[MahatmaAndhi]

My ER5 was £650. 02 plate. 20Kish miles. Ticks all those boxes.
I saw one on eBay recently similar to mine in a champagne colour for about £750.

Edit: Correction: It was Autotrader

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201610068493958?radius=1501&sort=price-asc&postcode=pe46ep&model=ER-5&make=KAWASAKI&advertising-location=at_bikes&page=1
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2008 Aprilia Sportcity 250

[BillyJ]

Great shout

They are well priced, also need to look at the gs500


Edit: Got another link? That one doesn't work for me
____________________
Had: '06 CBR125R + '01 GSF600 + '07 SPRINT ST 1050 + '80 CB250 RSA + '93 Ducati 900SS
Have: '13 GSXR-1000 + '01 CB500S
"The aryan confuser"

[Barnoe]

[BillyJ]

It's good, just 190 miles away! haha

I'm going to use my girlfriends 125 for a week to see if I can deal with a 125 again
____________________
Had: '06 CBR125R + '01 GSF600 + '07 SPRINT ST 1050 + '80 CB250 RSA + '93 Ducati 900SS
Have: '13 GSXR-1000 + '01 CB500S
"The aryan confuser"

[wr6133]

ZZR600

Decent ones around at that price. Comfy and easy to ride, yet can shift when needed.

[Barnoe]

This ER5 is only £345

and i quote from the ad - "Would make an ideal commuter/winter hack"

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201610038390963

edit - updated link
____________________
You know you are old when you're told to slow down by your doctor and not the police.

[MahatmaAndhi]

[BillyJ]

[Barnoe]

FFS hahahah

try this https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201610038390963
____________________
You know you are old when you're told to slow down by your doctor and not the police.

[BillyJ]

OK haha, yep looks good but its 330 miles away.... i reckon he would deliver for free if I paid cash
____________________
Had: '06 CBR125R + '01 GSF600 + '07 SPRINT ST 1050 + '80 CB250 RSA + '93 Ducati 900SS
Have: '13 GSXR-1000 + '01 CB500S
"The aryan confuser"

[Rogerborg]

[Barnoe]

Kawasaki GPZ500S
30k milage

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201609217997662

thats a lot closer but £900
____________________
You know you are old when you're told to slow down by your doctor and not the police.

[BillyJ]

[G]

Rather than looking for a specific model - look to see what's around you for good value.

[Azoth]

Sub-40K mileage on the bikes you're talking about is all about trust. The old commuter twins will have had, typically, 5 to 8 owners. If they used them for commuting, these bikes will be extremely shoddy (rusty frames a particular problem for Kawasaki) and the bikes bodged in places, and real mileage will be 50K+. It's a piece of cake to wind clocks back. Wipes off tens of thousands of miles in a few minutes or less. This isn't necessarily a problem as the engines on these bikes are quite strong. However, the other parts aren't so good (electrics, cooling system, etc.) So, maintenance is something to think about and plan.

The maths reveals the true story behind all commuter bikes, not just the 500s. Let's say, Mr Average needed to commute 20 miles each way, 5 days a week, for 3 years. He takes long breaks, as, let's say, he's either a temporary agency worker or teacher, so in real terms he commutes for 9 months a year. That's 4x5=20 days a month (he doesn't work or do any leisure motorcycling at weekends). Multiply that by 9 and you get 180 days a year. 180 x 3 and you get 540 commuting days over 3 years. Multiply that by 40 miles, and you see he commuted 21600 miles.

Great! That isn't a high mileage bike. One problem... The bike isn't 3 years old but 15. And it hasn't had just one owner, it's had, say, 7 owners.

You can get an adequate power drill from a hardware store for £20. Everyone seems to have at least that power tool in their garage. Manual clocks? A power drill with no attachment at all is all you need to wind them back, and just before MOT is the time to do it. It's fairly easy to work out that these rust-bucket, neglected ER5 and GS500 ex-riding school, ex-commuter, ex-courier bikes all have much higher mileage than 21600 by now.

That said, if you like these bikes, you may want to have a look at this forum first, to check what the common issues are, such as coolant system, fuel tap failure, warped rear drum, lopey running, etc.:

https://www.bikersoracle.com/er5/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=4

The 500 commuter twins will all comfortably sit at 80. Have a look at 250 bikes instead, if you only need to comfortably sit at 60. These have the advantage of being cheaper to run (fuel, tyres, chains, etc.)
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Safety in numbers

[BillyJ]

Found this
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201609228027655?make=yamaha&model=xj600-diversion&atcido=soc-bikes-twt001

And regarding 250's i found them generally quite expensive
____________________
Had: '06 CBR125R + '01 GSF600 + '07 SPRINT ST 1050 + '80 CB250 RSA + '93 Ducati 900SS
Have: '13 GSXR-1000 + '01 CB500S
"The aryan confuser"

[Rogerborg]

[wr6133]

[stevo as b4]

The thing is that 15years ago there were £1000 1000cc bikes and 500quid bikes of all sizes that were runners too.

I know classic tax has pushed up anything interesting, but a scabby bandit 600 or diversion 600 was lucky to sell for more than £500 then, because second hand bikes were everywhere and if you missed one thered be loads of others to choose from.

It ain't inflation that's upped the second hand prices of old shitters and tatty middle weights so what has?

You can only blame the classic tax thing so far, so is the rest simply that there's more buyers than bikes these days? And is it all due to scummy eastern Europeans taking all out bikes home in trucks?

I suppose Ebay has played a big part too, as before it was in existance bargain bikes were easy finds IMO.

[Alex A]

[331X2]

Another shout for the GPZ500, I was looking at completed auction prices last week and they're fetching next to nothing, decided to keep mine as a result!

[CaNsA]

[Doink]

[CaNsA]