View Full Version : Classic bikes - are they worth the trouble ?
Been a fan of classic bikes for years but never had the balls to do anything about it, anyway, was just wondering, if you could buy a classic what would you go for ? I love the Honda 400/4 and my first bike was GT 250 X7 in 78 so would happily go one of them, anyway Im rambling here, what would you go for ?
If you like classics you should try and get to darely moor this sunday :cool:
Cant make it unfortunaely, went to stafford last month though, that was good.
Depends what you define as a classic - I'd love an RC30/45, but I'm not sure that counts ;)
Jamiebridges123
15-05-09, 08:42 PM
In a word.. no. :)
Norton Commando or Triumph 150 for me I think.
appollo1
15-05-09, 09:42 PM
I have a 1978 Honda CB400N Superdream which is good fun but there are better out there.
tigersaw
15-05-09, 09:57 PM
my first bike was GT 250 X7 in 78
Had one of them in 78 too! Those weedy tyres and brakes coupled with that mad 2 stroke power band, microns and some castrol R40.. I want one too
I have a 1978 Honda CB400N Superdream which is good fun but there are better out there.
Classic bikes have a write up on some 400s in the May issue. It's odd to think these are now classics.
skeetly
16-05-09, 08:44 AM
They will cost you money. In little bite and nibbles they will eat your wallet.
Dont think you can buy a running specimen and just use it; they do brea and quite a lot of the bits you cant get anymore so you have to find s/h or pay for copies.
BUT when they are running and you are out on them............. :D
Someones got to do it or they would just rot away ;)
Had one of them in 78 too! Those weedy tyres and brakes coupled with that mad 2 stroke power band, microns and some castrol R40.. I want one too
I saw a couple of ratty ones at the stafford classic bike show recently, think they were in the region of a bout £600- £700, needed a fair bit of tlc of course, but, would be such a laugh, there was a gt 250 for sale in the other bikes bit recently, dont think its sold though, looks like the engine off an X7 though.
Darely Moor this weekend if full on classic racing....lot of classes even down to the olg GP bikes like the bridgestones from when the tyre company made racing bikes that were 10x better than everything else.
Been a fan of classic bikes for years but never had the balls to do anything about it, anyway, was just wondering, if you could buy a classic what would you go for ? I love the Honda 400/4 and my first bike was GT 250 X7 in 78 so would happily go one of them, anyway Im rambling here, what would you go for ?
Ive got a GT 200 x5...will that do?
Ive got a GT 200 x5...will that do?
oh yes, very nice :D
yeah imo if your gonna see the work through properly till the end we used to have a dt250 two stroke that sat unloved for years in the garage as nobody could be arsed sold it to a enthusiast and it's up and going again so definitely worth doing.
had it for 20 years but as its up in Northwich ,I dont grt to ride it much:(
oh and its the fastest colour of red:p
BournemouthBen
16-05-09, 09:48 AM
IMO well worth the kick starts and all the agro.
I have a GT 250 which is for sale ;)
Clickety click... (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=131484)
I agree, they can be a pain in the bum. I'm still restoring my TS185ER, getting parts is difficult. I find myself searching ebay most of the time, then there's the whole risk element to that too.....
HOWEVER, It's nice to have a project, but I have to be disciplined to not keep buying projects!!
So, I'm now after a Honda CB550/4, a Suzuki RG500 Gamma, a Yam RD350, a Yam RD50MX, a Honda CX500 Turbo, .....................................
See what I mean!!
IMO well worth the kick starts and all the agro.
I have a GT 250 which is for sale ;)
Clickety click... (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=131484)
Already broached the subject with the fun adjuster, I think you can guess the result :( looks nice I actually learnt to ride on one of those before getting me X7, is that the standard engine btw ? Im sure it is, just looks like the X7 one
shifter
16-05-09, 11:30 AM
Vincent Rapide or Shadow for me please
AZ Pete
16-05-09, 09:10 PM
Considering that the bikes I have had in my riding history are considered collectables today, that is quite a question.
I have been riding since 1960, and grew up lusting BSA, and Matchless singles. That is what the local "hot shoes" raced in scrambles. I had a 1960 BMW R69 with sidecar, a Yamaha XS650, and a 1978 BMW R100S.
I would love to have any back, in the condition that I sold them.
But I still like the idea of having a Matchless, AJS, or Gold Star, for a "Sunday bike".
skeetly
16-05-09, 09:18 PM
I recently found some new 400/4 forks in flagstaff :) Perfect they were :D
They were actually off a cj360 but same item...
The shipping cost more than the forks ;)
The Basket
16-05-09, 09:24 PM
U gotta have a passion and a real enjoyment for them.
Because when they become money pits then you can stay the course.
No one does it for the money or the glory.
mister c
17-05-09, 06:49 AM
Would love another X7 Suzuki, but I know the problems I had with spares 10 - 12 years ago when I had one, so would give it a wide berth.
We were talking the other day about my FZR, that is over 20 years old, so could I call that a classic? lol
We were talking the other day about my FZR, that is over 20 years old, so could I call that a classic? lol
Yeah, I reckon you could!!
My mate has one, a 1WG FZR400, FAR from mint, but a cracking bike!!!
I think for a bike to have survived that length of time then it should be considered a classic. Renovated or not!
BournemouthBen
17-05-09, 09:26 AM
Already broached the subject with the fun adjuster, I think you can guess the result :( looks nice I actually learnt to ride on one of those before getting me X7, is that the standard engine btw ? Im sure it is, just looks like the X7 one
As far as i know its the original engine. Its been restored in the past by a friends dad, but he didn't change the motor. Its a great bike to ride.
yorkie_chris
17-05-09, 02:45 PM
If you just want some fun riding then;
Decent sized hot (of their era) 2 strokes. Definately
Big muscle bikes with modern running gear. Definately.
Pretty much anything else, no.
You'd have to be a total spacker to want to run about on the standard running gear, the addition of some engine tuning, modern forks, 17" tyres, monoshock rear ends, all massive improvements.
Most especially an electronic ignition. Points are a total pain in the rse.
Don't see the fascination of people who want them to be 100% standard. Some sort of masochism if you ask me.
BournemouthBen
18-05-09, 12:22 AM
If you just want some fun riding then;
Decent sized hot (of their era) 2 strokes. Definately
Big muscle bikes with modern running gear. Definately.
Pretty much anything else, no.
You'd have to be a total spacker to want to run about on the standard running gear, the addition of some engine tuning, modern forks, 17" tyres, monoshock rear ends, all massive improvements.
Most especially an electronic ignition. Points are a total pain in the rse.
Don't see the fascination of people who want them to be 100% standard. Some sort of masochism if you ask me.
I don't know why but somehow, riding with squishy suspension and cr4p brakes is quite fun. My first 'semi big bike' was the GT and i loved it.
yorkie_chris
18-05-09, 12:24 AM
Depends what you want it for, I'd say electronic ignition and a sticky front tyre at minimum. A slippery back can be quite funny.
Thinking about it, my earlier post is far too black and white. It does depend on the bike. A small light bike like the strokers... yeah OK. But I would not want one of the big old brutes on stock running gear.
pencil shavings
19-05-09, 01:01 AM
Ive been looking at RS250s (as always) but have seen that you can get RGV250s for a franction of the price. are they that much worse? same engine just different running gear i think.
Thats the kind of classic I want, somthing that will go and stop and beat some modern bikes! :)
richwill68
19-05-09, 02:39 AM
Have a BSA A10... is that classic enough?
Funny to think that I actually grew up riding things that are now termed 'classic'; RD 350 B, RD250 DX, X7, DT 250 & 175, CB 900... I'm gonna stop now 'cos I'm feeling old!
Regards
Rich
PS Undertook a youngster on a GSXR 1000 tonight... he was knee down and looking cool... I just happened to want to be home a tad quicker!
Caddy2000
19-05-09, 08:10 AM
Have a BSA A10... is that classic enough?
Funny to think that I actually grew up riding things that are now termed 'classic'; RD 350 B, RD250 DX, X7, DT 250 & 175, CB 900... I'm gonna stop now 'cos I'm feeling old!
Regards
Rich
PS Undertook a youngster on a GSXR 1000 tonight... he was knee down and looking cool... I just happened to want to be home a tad quicker!
You lucky lucky get! I really want an A10! I've got a 1958 James Captain though which is a right giggle! Although it does put a bit of a strain on Essex of Essex's heart when he follows me down the lanes (not too sure if it's the smoke or the fact I look like I'm about to crash every time I go round a corner). Needs new rear shocks though, one of them is looking more and more like a banana!
Sorry to drag up an old thread but even though Im bikeless at the min, ive been trawling around for a new set of wheels, and I found em, 1981 Kwak Z650, 5 previous owners, V5 but no tax or mot, tatty but a runner needs a bit of tlc and 6 miles from my house, £395, ok so for that money its gonna need some work doing on it but no biggie, the engines are pretty bulletproof and it,ll be a learning curve and a laugh if nothing else................and he,s sodding well sold it..arrghhhhh, I was literally checking my bank balance when I discovered it sold, thought I was gonna be back on two wheels there ;) will have to keep looking.
p.s. dont tell the mrs :-$
Zen Beetle
18-06-09, 05:27 PM
1978 BMW R100S. Had one for about 10 years. Lovely engine to work on but crap gearbox. Obviously, a totally different bike to the SV although like the SV it also had loads of character. Like the SV it had around 70bhp and could pull easily from 30mph in 5th. It had a lumpy engine and I actually miss its primitive simplicity and superb build quality.
MCN_LiamM
19-06-09, 09:21 AM
I've got s 1981 Yamaha DT125MX sat in the garage. In two minds whether to sell it in the sh!tty state it is in or fix and clean it up.
Eventually I'd like to own the entire DT series, including a DT400.
I just watched the motorcycle diaries. Highly recommended film for those who haven't seen it before. The dramatisation of the true story of a young Che Guevara's early travels as a medical student with a friend on a battered up 500cc single cylinder Norton covering 5,000 miles of South America.
I thought the Norton was cool. Had a fish for national results on autotrader...came up with only 4!
http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=1026767664
http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=1026767819
I reckon this Norton Commando 750 '62 Reg looks like its in sweet condition. Not cheap at £6,300, but I bet there aint many like this around.
timwilky
30-12-09, 09:34 AM
Old chap at my local (86) has a tiger cub as his run around. A 94 blade and an 77 Z1000. He is still trying to restore his Franny Barnnet. and curses old bikes with obsolete fittings.
He curse himself even more for selling his Brough Superior for £50 in the 60s because he was skint. He used to use one of our garages in the 60s to paint bikes and cars and was a regular visitor on his Panther and DOT. His verdict, if your only going to polish your gear knob over them there is far cheaper ways to enjoy yourself, they must also be used.
I reckon this Norton Commando 750 '62 Reg looks like its in sweet condition. Not cheap at £6,300, but I bet there aint many like this around.
Thank god for that, I think it looks like a nasty gopping pile of over-priced and over-rated crap. Why do you think the Japanese manage to wipe the floor with the British in the 60s. Norton were one of the first to announce they were in trouble.
fizzwheel
30-12-09, 10:46 AM
I thought the Norton was cool. Had a fish for national results on autotrader...came up with only 4!
Autotrader isnt the best place to look if you want to buy an older brit bike.
Get one of the classic mags and go through the classified's, VMCC club magazine also has plenty of bikes for sale, failing that get off to an auction / auto jumble.
Norton / BSA / Triumph plenty about, but the money isnt in them like it used to be anymore.
Personally I'd rather have a nice Brough or a Vincent Black Shadow...
Thank god for that, I think it looks like a nasty gopping pile of over-priced and over-rated crap. Why do you think the Japanese manage to wipe the floor with the British in the 60s. Norton were one of the first to announce they were in trouble.
Really? Had no idea. I just thought if a 50's Norton can survive 5000miles of the dirt tracks and roads of South America in snow and rubble it must be pretty resilient.
Agree with ya fizzwheel on the Vincent Black Shadow. Sweet bike
MattCollins
30-12-09, 04:48 PM
Without all of those nasty pieces of crap from the past we wouldn't have what we have today.
If the intention is buy something as a daily ride, then I'd suggest looking for something from within the past few years.
If preserving a piece of motorcycling history to be ridden on an occasional sunny Sunday is what you want then I'd say go for it.
Rammsteinkid
30-12-09, 10:53 PM
Dads got a 1982 triumph bonneville tsx aka my inheritance. he is the only owner and done 20k miles, might post pics laters.
Dads got a 1982 triumph bonneville tsx aka my inheritance. he is the only owner and done 20k miles, might post pics laters.
Oh thats a shame, if it was the 81 or 83 model it would be worth a small fortune but the 82 isnt worth a lot, cutting me own throat hear you understand but Ill give you a ton to take it off your hands................. ;) nice bike.
sunshine
31-12-09, 06:28 PM
I like the look of the new Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer in the best colour ever yellow!
sel1960
02-01-10, 04:44 PM
Those new nortons look realy good hope they sell well,my choice of classic would be BSA ROCKET 3 A75R what a cool looking bike
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