First project?

Was thinking of starting a project but don't have much mechanical knowledge, can anyone recommend a simple, cheap starting point? Thanks.

This?

I was thinking more along the lines of something old that needs restoring to get back onto the road. (sorry should have said)

how about my bike?
http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=170266

In all honesty that looks like it needs a miracle to get back to roadworthy condition, or a lot of money, both of which i'm short of.

Originally Posted by urmum1523

In all honesty that looks like it needs a miracle to get back to roadworthy condition, or a lot of money, both of which i'm short of.

worth a try...
so your looking for something old that runs? or something that has been at the back of a garage for many years? posting on a SV forum, so after a SV?

[TamSV]

What do you want to get out of it - is your main motivation having the completed bike as the end result or is it mainly for the experience of doing the work?

Even if you're thinking about it purely for the work, I'd say it's still preferable to get something you've got an interest in owning afterwards - it'll help keep you motivated to finish it.

So what do you want to have at the end of it? A Brit or Jap classic/track bike/heavily modded streetfighter/2 stroke engine tuned up the wazoo? Approach it from that angle and folk could probably make some suggestions for a good starting point.

[DaveW_42]

I have a DT125 in pieces sat in my shed - couple of bits missing (forks, pegs, handlebars, etc.... but nothing that couldn't be sourced off ebay for a few £). The engine died on the A1 once (did get it running again, but sounded very rough.) I was going to completely rebuild it as a supermotard but just never found the time...
Any use?

TamSV, hopefully get some mechanical know how and a bike that i've put effort into to get working, and not being too picky when it comes the end result.

DaveW_42, that DT125 sounds like it may be of some use, would you by any chance know what it would take to get the engine running well again?

[DaveW_42]

Not sure, to be honest, but I think it was quite severe. It was very low on oil when it stopped and it took an age to get any compression, but once topped up I could eventually kick start it again. I left it to go home on the van though and I've not started it since...
The bike didn't stop all at once, it was just a slow decrease in power until I stopped to check it out and it wouldn't start again. There's no ticking as far as I remember, but it did smoke a lot. I've not run it for over a year now.
I was looking into getting a replacement engine:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-DT1...item1c1e49ad9b

Apart from that, it was in good nick. Plastics all OK except one scratch and it'd never been down the road. I used to do some green laning on it, so it was always filthy but reliable and was completely standard except for a DEP pipe. (now sold though)
I started sanding back the frame with the intention of coach painting it, but never got round to it. It's going a bit rusty now, but is still structurally sound.

I can take some pics if you need