Cheap do everything bike to last a lifetime?

Amreet · Trackday Trickster Joined: 31 May 2010 Karma :

Hi,
I know this might be a little tedious but it's another what bike thing.

Basically, I need a new bike, and I want something that I could seriously consider using as my do everything run about for the rest of my life. Can anyone help recommend me a bike? I love the idea of something slightly older than me but also like the idea of a newer but more practical bike so anything is really considered.

I just read about this:
https://www.retrobikes.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=737

And, despite the fact I wont find a vincent or anything remotely like one that I can afford, the idea of one bike for ever, covering that sort of distance and really forming a kinda bond with it really appeals to me. I'd love to cover close to a million miles on a single bike!

So, can anyone recommend me some bikes that could fit the bill? I am not too interested with speed, if it'll pull close to the ton then I'll be happy, just want to be able to cruise around comfortably with a little bit left in reserve.

My current thinking is a Honda CB500, they strike me as a bike that really could last indefinately if I take care of it, and that does everything a bike needs to well enough that I would never need to replace it.

Are there any other bikes around of any age that could potentially do all that for under a grand?

Thanks for the help!

Oldie · Brolly Dolly Joined: 05 Dec 2010 Karma :

Buy a 5 year old.....

Triumph Bonneville
Honda Deauville
Suzuki V Strom

groovylee · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Karma :

+1 for the deauville. i have a 600 revere (plenty on ebay atm) and it has done 80,000 miles in the last 22 years, and still going strong Thumbs Up

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Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

fatpies · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Mar 2011 Karma :

Old Steel framed CBR600F maybe?

The 99 on version was a do absolutely everything bike, the one before that wasn't bad either. It could lose you your licence. It could go touring stunting, commuting even LIGHT off roading. Do up the suspension and it can keep up with quite a few hot sports bikes if you try.

The only concerns are the valve clearances which are harder to do than a CB500. The fact they do 10MPG less than the CB500. And the chain drive though the CB500 has this too.
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instigator · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Karma :

BMW F650 or F800.

60-70mpg (for the newer models), great seating position, fantastic winter commuter (hand guards, tall screen), they like taking luggage, stick on a set of knobblies and you can do some gentle off roading (no...a CBR can't handle that). I'd say the V-Strom is probably a bit too....big....although right kind of bike.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

How about the new G650GS then? Claims 88mpg, aggravates G, what more could you want? Wink

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Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

As a Forever Bike....
Well I wouldn't get a CB500. They are heavy, under-powered, and uninspiring.
The CB750 on the other hand.....
OK; mine is the CB Seven-Fifty, of 1993 vintage. Engine is actually from the CBX750, DOHC, 16v, 'maintenence free' hydraulic tappets; in slightly de-tuned form. Virtually the same wight as the CB500, with probably half as much power on top; and without the complexity of water cooling. It was a built to a budget, 'Retro' style Street-bike, evoking the 'idea' of the original 750 'Four'... but without much by way of styling cues or mechanical legacy; it was actually a head to head rival to Kawasaki's 750 'Zephyr'.
I bought mine in 2005, for £450, as a 'hack'. I had thought when I was going to go look at it, it was going to be an 'unloved' 'Euro-Style' FII, the later '750-Four' or late seventies, early eighties vintage; over weight, under-powered; over rated and over-priced; and that consequently it would be a chitter, fit for little but breaking; BUT I was pleasantly surprised.
The 'original' 750-Four of 1969ish vintage, was an under-square, eight valve, single overhead cam design, with little carried over to the later twin-cam models.
It's now legend, and early wire wheel, chrome mudguard models can command five figure prices; WELL out of my legue. BUT started the legend of the 'four', the first 'Super-Bike' and offered high end but user freindly technology to an average buying public.
Later Euro-Styled versions, got early com-star wheels and to my eye, clumpy ugly plastic body-work, and are less valuable, but as SOHC 750-Four still command high prices. Later DOHC models, were almost as ugly, and hardly any more advanced; and were really a sleeved down CB900, which is probably the real classic, the Fire-Blade of its day, one of usually concervative Honda's more spirited models. But again, Cudos of being a 'real' 750-Four and some seriousely rose tiunted specs makes them a moderately desirable classic these days.

SO, the CB Seven-Fifty. What you get is an unstressed, 75bhp, air-cooled four. It has 'useful' if not impressive power. Motor is flexible and willing, gets a bit more exiting revved hard, but pulls well and very tractibly low down.

Chassis is a conventional low tech twin-shock swing arm affair, but with Showa 'piggy-back' dampers mimicking the classic Mazzocci's of the eighties, on a fairly sturdy steel box section swinger, thats far longer and adopting far more modern geometry than the 70/80's muscle bikes.

Running gear is contemprary Honda parts bin; and uses Wheels / Tyres / Brakes from the CBR600/VFR750, with conventional forks.

Basically, what you get is a modern, 'Standard' motorcycle, echoing styling of 70/80's muscle bikes, with more useful 'contemporary' geometry and running gear.

Critasised for being a little bit, 'soft', out the crate, it is. But its a 'street-standard' and the idea is its a 'base' for you to adapt, tweek and customise to suit your own use or taste.

Fly screen and top box, you have a commuter. Paniers and wind-jammer you have a tourer. If you want it a bit more sporty, stick sticky tyres on it, and wind up the pre-load or change the shocks.

Its a blank canvas, AND as a 'Forever' bike, one that is versatile enough that you can utilise that versatility, and tweek or adapt not just one, but often.

Could have it set up for back-lane bashing or ride outs, this week, dressed for a continental tour next, and then back to commuter for winter after that.

And.... cheap. You can get good ones for a grand. Rattier ones for half that.

Some classic 'cudos' from the name, but thats about all; but far more day-to-day practical than a 'true' classic, and enough performance to not be religated to the parade lane, and mechanical. All chunks of metal; no silly fuel injection or water-cooling or Micro-Soft age technology.

Worth a thought. I got mine as a cheap 'hack' expecting it to last a year or so, until I could afford anything better; but actualkly found it hard to THINK of anything 'better'... it is very good 'all-round' motorcycle, and COULD be a 'forever-bike'.

One of the instructors at Hinkley though? His 'Forever-Bike' is a 1973 BMW R65.... and I think he has owned it since something like 1975!

This is real 'Forever-Bike' territory. Organic, mechanical, low tech, and built like a Howitzer!

The old Boxers are again real classics; but most people want the R80's 90's & 100's. Many were in the 70/80's Police Bikes, eagerly bought up on retirement for touring use. Plenty around, and prices aren't completely daft, though things like the R90RS do command a premium. Mainly as they have the pace to keep up with more contemporary tourers.

R65, was always considered over-weight and under-powered, in its day, and as a 'budget' model in the BMW line up, for a long while the smallest twin they made, didn't get the advances the bigger bikes got.

Definitely a 'sedate' classic; but if you can live with it; very endearing motorcycle with a lot of period 'charm'.

For air-cooled shaft drive twin's though, I like Guzzi's; and I am still waiting to get my 'Forever-Bike' I promiced myself in 1990, when I started Uni, a (then brand new!) Mille GT; the 1000cc, 'Le-Mans' engine, but detuned, unfaired, with chrome mudguards and wire wheels, recalling the original V85GT, of the 70's.

Always looked on Guzzi;s as BMW's with soul; built by more teutonic Northern Italians on the shores of Lake Como, a stones throw from Austria & Switzerland, who apreciate the bavarian solidity of the BMW, but just CANT bear to build something so clinical, and gave it thier own seasoning, and a lot of passion.

As an italian 'exotic' an old Guzzi still has a lot to offer as a practical one! They are no where near as fickle and tempremental as Ducati's or MV's or Laverda's or anything... Guzi was for a long time Italy's 'BSA' churning out 'solid' dependable every-day bikes, not sporting play-things, or 'cheap' scooters!

V50 is small and a little cramped; the bigger V65 and V75 based on it, not a lot bigger, or more powerful, and stressed by being stretched that far. I like the V50, it was a spirited 'little' bike in its era and would get one for Snowie in an instant if one came along at the right price; but for MY 'Forever-Bike' have to be a big bore one; preferably that wire wheel 1990 Mille, but an original 850? THAT would be very, VERY nice. California? Bit too much chrome for my taste, but a Le-Mans? I think I could live with the lower bars for one of them!

So, back to Britain. Very few indiginiouse motorcycles have escaped accolade amongst the ranks of the classic afficionado's. The 'bench-makr' I guess has to be one of teh big three parallel twins. Original Bonnie; Norton Comando or BSA A65.

All three are well supported; but they really are bikes of a different age, and demand a lot of maintenence for what is now, not a lot of performance, and a lot of expense to preserve the value in them.

You then have things like the Sunbeam twin; that for a while were a 'forgotten' british classic; but now apreciating in price; the Veloccette LE 'Noddy-Bike', which remains 'reasonably priced' but at a mere 200cc was never particularly brisk; and then the AMC singles...

To be very brutally honest, the contension & cliques and general 'hype' around Brit-Bike classics; I would REALLY give all of them a miss, and if I really wanted to experience the feel of a fifties brit-bike, buy a 'modern' Enfield India 'Bullet'... charming, but I dont think I could live with one as a one and only 'Forever-Bike'.

Which brings me to Hinkley Triumph. Original Catalogue Line Up 'Modular' bikes are beggining to be viewed as classics, and the beloved 900, in its different, and currently less apreciated variants, like the barn-door fairing Trophy, might warrant some consideration, as a 'Forever-Bike'.

And so back to the Japanese offerings; and REALLY to be every-day useable, a 'universal' bike with all-round capabilkity and versatility, you would have to be looking at street-bikes, standards and more touring orientated machines.

And really what takes your fancy? Mentioned the CB Seven-Fifty, and its contemprary the Kawasaki Zephyr, that has similar virtues, but?

What about a VFR750, so frequently vaunted as one of the most all-round capable machines ever made? Or a CBR1000F, the jelly mold battle-ship, a real grunt-monster, or the even more grunty ZZR1100? Currently sitting not so loved in the bargain basement.

Earlier air-cooled accross the frame four's, would tend to have aquired a lot of classic cudos of late, but probably the BEST ever, air-cooled Accross the Frame four, was one of the last, and lasted well beyond many more contemprary water-cooled machines; Yamaha FJ1200... that is a REALLY tough old boot, with loads of capability, comfort and usefulness as an every-day 'forever-bike'.

But all depends on your own idea's I guess, and what you want it to do.

Some bikes NEED to be ridden every-day to keep them alive and stop them decaying; others can be left in the garage for years on end, when situations change, and pulled out, dusted off and recomissioned with little more than some new fluids and a battery; others left to thier own devices would need a complete restoration to re-commission.

BUT, some food for thought.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I've only ever seen (with my own eyes) one bike that has done half a million miles.

That was an ex French Police BMW R100.

This one in fact:
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/summer%20run%202007/28520004.jpg
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Amreet · Trackday Trickster Joined: 31 May 2010 Karma :

Thanks for that teflon mike, great post, lots of help.
And, it persuaded me to have a quick look at insurance prices, expecting something horrifying but was amazed to see that i an insure an R100 for LESS (£80 pounds less infact) Than the afforementioned CB500. The R100 has always been one of my favourite bikes but I just never thought that I would be able to insure one right now.

That got me thinking, so I tried the CB750, came out at the same price, and then tried the K75 which came out slightly higher but still about the same as the CB500.

Mighty impressed really, my only other consideration now is other running costs, basically petrol, rubber and chains. If I find a nice Beemer though, Ill go and have a look but probably go for it like a shot, I absolutely love those bikes! But prices are climbing pretty high.

On the slightly cheaper side of things, a kawasaki GT550? I know, slow, uninspiring, but ones just come up near me, it's affordable and well taken care of. The reasonable MPG and shaft drive is very attractive, it's also the cheapest bike to insure out of everything I've tried.

What do you reckon? Is this material for a forever bike or will it turn into a money pit and/or dissolve after a couple of winters? It's only down the road so I might get down and have a sit on it but it's mighty tempting.

Thanks for all the help!

sidewinder · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Aug 2011 Karma :

Divvy 600 supposed to be indestructable

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Amreet · Trackday Trickster Joined: 31 May 2010 Karma :

Thanks for the help everyone, I really do appreciate it. But, after some more thinking, I love the R100s, I really do. I love the image, look and the ethos. They fit my 'dream bike' criteria, or a bike Id love to have a go on now and then (which is convenient, as my Dads thinking of getting one Wink

) BUT I dont think they fit the critria for my daily and forever bike. I like them but wouldn't want to run one everyday, I need a bike I can afford to enjoy and to run and the tax and fuel mileage of the R100 would be quite an obstacle, especially considering the amount of money I can spare right now, and for the forseeable future.
It's the image and mentality of the boxers that I love, but theres some of the more immediate aspects of owning a bike which aren't close to ideal for me

In short, as much as I like them, they don't qualify for my forever bike I think. (plus I'll hopefully be able to borrow Dads for the odd weekend trip later on, so I can enjoy the best of both worlds really!)

The bike that has come to mind as my ideal bike, for everything, could be a SRX 400 (of course, amongst many others, this is just the bike Im considering right now)

Incredible MPG, cheap insurance and tax, readily available generic yamaha parts for the majority, kick start, thumper, light, narrow, reportedly reliable, well built etc. etc. so think I'll keep an eye out for one of those.
Any thoughts? This is a bike that I also think looks and sounds amazing, seems to have a reasonable following and would suit my needs extremely well (and my needs don't tend to change, even if I can afford something else, I'm more enclined to live frugally and also spend money improving what I've got, rather than replacing it, so fitting my needs now won't make it a stop gap between now and when i can get something different)

If it takes me places reliably, then it would be something that I would most certainly hide in the loft!

GSTEEL32 · Traffic Copper Joined: 24 Feb 2010 Karma :

Honda hornet.

I win. what prize do I get ?

600 is cheap, 900 is cheap but reliably quick, your choice.

Personally, I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole, a bit like a bandit or a gpz.....

But they are the best ever all-round bikes in the history of the universe. Apart from the c90 cub, natch.

F**k all-rounders, bore off... italian v-twin or english triple is the way forward......

Okeydokey · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Sep 2011 Karma :

I saw this and thought of you Laughing

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Moto-Guzzi-V50-Mk2-Classic-Motorcycle-/320802577252?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item4ab152db64
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UnspeedySam · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Karma :