So you want a classic motorcycle...
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- There's nothing cooler than roaming the town on a 50 year old motorcycle. They just don't make em like this anymore. However, there's quite alot to think about before you purchase your first classic
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I made the "mistake" of just buying a random bike under $500 with the opposite of all this advice and ended up with the best possible bike for myself, an XZ550, that didn't run but seemed like it wanted to, so I was ready for a fun doable project.. Didn't realize how unique and advanced of a bike I had gotten until I researched it after purchasing. I'm also 14 so I have 2 years to get the bike perfect on my own with some help from my dad so I have lots of time to learn.
Years ago a friend had a CBX 550 it was real weapon great performance and a pleasure to ride
Lol. Did the same thing. Wanted to do a cafe racer so I bought a $700 bike that a guy had already started and it's been a journey but it's been really fun. Ended up doing more of a restomod with a 79 yamaha xs1100 special. Still paint and some cleanup to do but it's such a cool bike
So a year on from your post how's it coming along?
@@sambrooks7862 I haven't done much to it this year but it does run, it has a head gasket leak and I generally haven't worked on it as our family is very close to finishing building our new house where I'll have a much better garage to work in and I didn't wanna lose parts yet
@@RaisinBarXZ550 nice one, I look forward to seeing your updates
I remember old motorcycles when they were new motorcycles. Man, I love this channel.
I've gotten myself a new, old motorcycle. 2018 yamaha sr400. pretty much unchanged since 1978 :D
classic bike look and ride but it's not twice my age and needing an overhaul.
I love that it's kickstart only too
@@TheJunky228 - Years ago, mid 1970's, a friend bought a Yamaha RD-350. He loved it. Then traded it for a Yamaha 650 twin. The Japanese Triumph clone, more or less. Raced his old RD. Lost. Ditched the 650 and bought another RD. Not a good picture but my classic was a '68 XLCH Sportster at left. Click on it and it's a little easier to see.
I remember when they were horses
@@scootergeorge7089
"..was" ? A 68 Sportster
Nice bike.. if you like working on motorbikes
@@TheJunky228
Yes Grasshopper 1978 2J2 👍
One thing that really sparked my passion to learn mechanical stuff was when I got my first motorcycle (73 CB350), it was both a very common and very simple bike, so that it was possible for me to look up info, and learn how every single thing works on the bike. I obsessively watched RUclips vids and repaired/restored just about everything on it. Before I got the bike I wasn’t very mechanical but now I feel a lot more confident to repair stuff!
Myself and some friends all had 1971-1972 Honda 350 CLs when we were stationed in Maine. One guy had a Triumph that always had to have something messed with, the Hondas just ran great.
hi, i hope you read it as i would need tips from someone that had a similar experience to what i might have in the future, i found a left CB500K here (in italy) but it would require a lot of work, as i'm still 16 i would need to wait a couple of years before even riding on it but it means as well that i have a lot of time in my hands to learn about it and try repairing it if i get the bike somehow, is it any hard to repair a machine like that and do you know if it is expensive to do so, thanks.
Obwohl die Honda Motoren technisch kompliziert aussehen, sind sie sehr wartungs und montagefreundlich aufgebaut. Man kann diese fast mit dem Bordwerkzeug zerlegen und wieder zusammenbauen. Ok, etwas Spezialwerkzeug braucht man schon, z.B ein Drehmomentschlüssel sehr wichtig und auf jeden Fall ein Werkstatthandbuch, vor der Arbeit genau studieren! Das einzige, was Geld kostet, sind originale Ersatzteile, wenn diese überhaupt noch erhältlich sind.@@krystiangurkowski
@@krystiangurkowskiIts certainly not hard, it can at times be frustrating diagnosing certain issues...but its well worth it in the end, Ive tinkered with a few not knowing a single thing about them to getting to point where I know exactly what Im doing. Its so much fun and satisfying, and most of the parts on these bikes are dirt cheap- ebay is your best bet. Id say go for it, its gonna take time though and you got enough
I never worked on a motor in my life, but I bought a 65 Yamaha Trailmaster for $500 bucks off marketplace because it looked cool.
Got it running and done in a month and a half. I am a 20 yr old girl so the Facebook group for the bike was certainly there to help me out. I definitely couldn’t have done it without them, but it wasn’t hard at all.
Edit: I only got this because it was a 2 stroke one cylinder so it wasn’t too complicated.
Great going !!!!!
2-strokes are the BEST!
Keep going! Cool job.
That was very smart getting a simple 2-stroke thumper!
BONUS that you bought what some might consider "vintage" (at least in Japanese bike terms) and its worth more now than what you paid for it.
Good luck, stay safe (riding, not the "other stay safe BS") and I'll wave when we pass on the road ;)
Something a lot of people don"t realize about old Triumph's is that they were made on tooling equipment that came from the second world war. This tooling was already worn out so didn't have the tight tolerance's needed to make reliable motorcycles.
My suggestion is that if you are a novice to motorcycling, but you just have to have a " classic" bike, get yourself a modern version as in a Royal Enfield 350 classic.
That's partly true in the machining but if you take your time and know what your doing they can be fixed and run as they should and not leak as well.
Way back when I was a wee lad I was in love with our '73 Honda 350. At 12 yrs old, I attached to that bike so naturally. Soon after being "reborn" as a rider, my dear cousin took it home with him. I never saw it again. I am now approaching 65 I have longed for that "feeling" for a very long time. I believe it's now or never, kids are grown, the wife passed away, time for a new love.
You do that yet old head?
You got you a moto!????
Go for it whatever makes you happy, I was given a BMW R80/7 just over 2 years ago, it leaked and had lots of rust and alloy corrosion, thankfully it still ran and after spending a few $ on gaskets and seal and a lot of cleaning I have a running leak free bike, I just cleaned and touched up the frame where needed but the tank and front guard had a full professional repaint.
Bought a 1980 Kawasaki KE175 and had no prior motorcycle mechanic experience. Now it's running and in 1 year I've learned infinity more than i ever did about bikes. Now I own 5 bikes from 1974-1980.
So glad I got my first project bike.
I looked at purchasing an expensive Classic 70s model Kawasaki Z900 or a Z1R in original running order or FULLY RESTORED and sorted out..What I ended up looking at where ALL only very well used and worn COSMETICALLY restored bikes that looked a million dollars..and still for a huge price..ALL these bikes had either unserviceable steering head bearings and swingarm bearings as well and needed these replaced..plus other issues..So for less than half the price..WITH NO ISSUES at all I decided on a much newer 2010 model Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS with a mere 10250 kms on the clock instead..I couldn't have made a better purchase for the price $AUD5000 with RW Certificate honestly...
You can also go for royal Enfield continental GT 650
@@ashutoshrajput3757 Sorry my brother had the very first model of that bike and on ALL his long trips I was called to pick him up with the trailer..Turned out this second hand bike was tampered with by the previous owner so not reliable..
@@albertsammut433 i agree with u brother. Realy these RE causes a lot of issue while we take it for long journeys. If we ride everyday for 700to900kms it really causes a certain issues, specialy in hot climate zoned areas.
But the issue with interceptor is minimalistic.and its specific due to the placement of relay system beside the engine (where it doesn't get chance to get cooler).
For India its best option just for its accessibility and durable engine(if maintained properly. oil chNged in time, etc) it lasts very well here.
And both continental650gt and interceptor share same engined and other spares.
@@jyotiprakashdas4429 Thank you too dear riding friend..I think Royal Enfield and Triumph are very well build bikes..But my silly brother bought his bike without inspecting it first so it had a terrible previous owner who didnt maintain it well and sold it cheap..so my dear brother bought a cheap problem bike.
@@albertsammut433 u r right brother.
Triumph is amazing
RE also make great bike .
althg Many owners buy there RE bike, they lack proper knowledge of when to change the engine oil and many other things.
Even the authorised service centre don't make proper suggestions abt the oil change interval period(i have seen in most of the region of India).
So atlast a lot of issue arises.(most specific issued piston ring get worn within few months of owning the bike, crank case, valve guide gets worn ,oil stem issue , severe scratchs inside bore block and many others severe issues).
I can't blame the owners coz its the fault of authorised service centre coz they dont make the owner aware abt proper maintenance.(m teling specifically abt India).
I asked some owners abt oil change interval. They just mentioned they have never changed the oil .just refilled it when it got low and driven it like this for months, which further resulted in other shorts of catastrophic failure.
Even the owner are not made aware abt the running in period of these machines(which is mandatory for every RE engine, as per my experience for around 3000kms atleast.) Not following it is also hazardous.
Coz,
Once a rider riden his RE bike constntly for 550kms after buying the bike Frm the showroom at a stretch. After reaching the destination he parked the bike and within few minutes the bike caught fire and blast occured. 500cc bullet it was )
RE are best. But i m never happy with there services.
They don't fix the machine,rather they try to kill the machine like a slow poison does).
Thus within 25-30k kilometres severe breakdown occurs in most oF the RE bikes in India.
If RE is maintained properly it can last for i guess 150k to 200k kms or more with minor issues
My daily driver is a 1983 Honda Goldwing. I restored it in 2015. Did a 2600 mile trip on it 2 weeks ago. Currently working on a 1978 Goldwing, rode it from Greenville to Birmingham today, 350 miles. It's an awesome bike.
I bought my 74' Norton new and still have it today. It's nearly pristine all original and the experience of going thru the starting procedure is still fun. I haven't had the key out of the ignition in over 30 years because nobody can find it's location any way, so why take it out? I've owned a few of the bikes shown in your video and it's been a good life buying them new off the show room!
I had one of those and regret selling it. I know where the ignition switch is.
I bought my 850 Commando MKIII Roadster in 1997, and I just love it. The starting procedure is as you say fun. It is a part of the riding experience. But I take the key out, hehe.
I like your name here. Tom Christenson and Hogslayer are legends.
Really great video! Thanks for the mention of Keep On Wrenching! You nailed it. I find Honda 350s from 1968-1974 are a great bike to work on due to the parts availability and the affordability of those parts. You can grab one for less than a grand typically that's mostly complete. From my experience, it takes about $2,000-3,000 to fully restore one as a baseline. Of course, that depends on what you're starting out with. Totally agree that you should try to get original parts and not cheap knock-offs. At the end of the day, the 350s are super reliable, about as simple to work on as it gets, and can help jumpstart a new hobby. I agree that you should try to look for something that has a freed-up engine (not locked up) if you're just getting started. If my first bike (70 CB350-running) would have been my 2nd bike (72 CL350-locked up) I don't think I would still be restoring old motorcycles! :)
If you change the cam chain, remember to tighten the sprocket bolts. don't be an impatient eejit like I was. When you are nineteen, you know it all but still blow up engines. Another hot tip, check the spacers on the front wheel spindle are assembled in the correct order, such that the wheels line up. I have the scars on my knees to prove that this is important. I enjoyed the Honda 350 but did not enjoy being spat off of it at 60mph.Have fun with your bikes.
Hier in Deutschland war man als Jugendlicher mit der Cb 350 König auf der Straße mit über 30 PS. Das hatten hier nur einige Jahre zuvor wenige Motorräder der 600 ccm Oberklasse von BMW und Zündapp.
@@jensnitsche4994 Das ist so cool. Die CB350 sind so besondere Motorräder. Sie wecken viel Nostalgie.
Having had the cb 550 and cb 750 I'd have to recommend the 550. There wasn't much difference with the top speed as the 550 was a lighter bike.
Cb 750
More relax
Try a CBX550 they're a pleasure
The 550 also makes a great cafe racer
The 550 was such a smooth engine.
I owned a 1971 CL-350 in high school. I thought it was a classic then. Wish I still had it.
I got a 73 cb500f a bit over a year ago that needed a good amount of work and I haven’t been able to ride it yet, a big reason is because I keep changing when I’m going to decide when I’m “done” working on it. I have done a top end rebuild and a lot of engine maintenance, a bunch of electrical work just to update the 50 year old wiring and putting on new tires and servicing the breaks. I have made my fair share of mistakes along the way which is a big reason why I haven’t been able to ride the bike yet but I wouldn’t change the experience for the world.
A big thing for me has been having the help of an experienced classic motorcycle mechanic in my family for those times when I make a mistake or just am not sure what to do. I would definitely say that if you do not have an experienced mechanics help that you should start small on the work that you try yourself. I also have never relied on and don’t plan to rely on the bike for daily transportation. So if you want something cool and fun to work on or ride around every now and then an old Honda especially just cannot be beat
I'm a motor mechanic (recently retired) and, for me, the most important factors are mechanical simplicity and parts availability. I bought my 78 Triumph 750 Bonneville 29 years ago, and was lucky enough to find one with only 1300 miles, and nobody had interfered with it. In my opinion, it is the most practical of all the old Triumphs to own - there are still a lot of them around and you can buy virtually every part new off the shelf from specialist suppliers. They have modern(ish) features like disc brakes and indicators (turn signals to those in the US), and they are probably the lowest cost option, although the prices are going up as the older, scarcer models get even more expensive. As long as you keep it in good condition, its value will only go up, and they are fun to ride, with lots of "grunt", as long as you remember the brakes aren't as good as newer bikes.
After I retired, I decided to get a second, cheaper bike to use in the winter when the Triumph is kept inside to protect it from the salt. I chose a 1980 Suzuki GS550 - it's air-cooled, with simple carburettors and a kick start to back up the electric start, so now I'm a year round biker. Simple is good, less to go wrong and easier to fix if it does.
The other advantage to owning a 40+ year old bike here in the UK is that they are exempt from annual road tax and MOT tests (vehicle inspection), saving around £240 ($300) per year for my two.
Some years ago a friend of mine used a GS550 for dispatching. As he had no mechanical knowledge I did the mechanical work on it. An excellent motorcycle over many miles of year round use. It's final demise was the electrics breaking down - something that can be sorted in today's world with retrospective knowledge
Totally agree, rego cheaper down here for 40+ year-old bikes (58NZD per-year) Dave NZ
Oh the joys of living in England! Unfortunately my time spent in the country did not extend to 40+ years so to get my bikes tax and MOT exempt.
@@Honkawsuzyamal one of the things lifelong mechanics always say is there's nothing that cannot be fixed , that model Suzuki was just a coil wiring harness points condenser and it has to be in time there's really nothing that can wear out and not be replaced on that bike and there wasn't anything really that broke down in the electrics on that bike that I remember any more than a 350 Honda (ꏿ﹏ꏿ;)
Wow, diese Situation würde ich mir hier in Deutschland wünschen...eine vernünftige Regelung !
Don't forget about the most reliable motorbike ever made....the BMW K100 and K75 's from the 80s. Sold my 1985 K100 for $1500 with 347 thousand kms on it and it still ran quite well.
I used to have and old 1981 Honda modified cafe racer that I bought on a whim cus it was pretty. A bit after I bought it the clutch failed and I couldn’t find a replacement anywhere, I asked my mechanic if he could jury rig it and he ended up mounting an old Suzuki clutch on a jackshaft and connecting that to the transmission, it worked pretty good. A few months later it started leaking oil, turns out the engine block had a crack, I had to fill it up every other week. Then the lights failed, my mechanic “fixed them” but they failed a week later so I ended up just charging my battery every day after coming home from work. Then the front brake stopped working and by that point I was already pretty annoyed with it, plus it was really uncomfortable to ride, the seat was to high and the handlebars were too low and it hurt my back so I ended up selling it after only a year.
I had a bunch in the 70's. 160 Honda, CB350. Triumph Tiger 650, Yamaha 400 and loved them all. Here it is 50 years later, I just bought a Honda Rebel 250 at 72 years old. (me, not the bike) I'm excited for spring so I can get out and just enjoy it. Loved your video.
Depends if you count 50cc as a 'motorcycle' because I have a 1976 Simson S50B. It's an East German two stroke with proper motorcycle ergonomics and a 3 speed manual transmission. It's definitely a classic and has a cult following here in Hungaryand all across Estern Europe and Germany . I also have an '81 Jawa Babetta, a Checoslovakian masterpiece with pedals and a purely mechanical (and quite clever might I add) automatic transmission. But that's barely a moped and I ride it ironically. I hope anyone who reads this looks the 'bikes' up and learns a little about Eastern bloc motorcycles! Greetings from Hungary!🇭🇺
Have a C50 and a CB50. I wouldn't call the C50 fun, but it is practical. The CB50, however, is a fantastic lie. It's the most chuckable bike I've ever had, you have to keep the revs up because there is no torque and because it's small and you are so much closer to the ground it feels much faster than it is. It's tiny and slow, but in city traffic it feels like a GP bike.
I had a Simson 50 for a while in England in the early 90s 😃
Tomos are still an extremely common sight here in holland. Especially the quadro model. Its still the cheapest and most affordable moped, even though most of them are around 2 decades old now.
Bart I’m a huge fan of your channel and I don’t think there’s anything to keep you from growing a hugely successful channel. As an owner of a classic motorcycle you pretty much summed up the whole vintage bike ownership experience.
I’ve pretty much managed to keep my 75’ Kawasaki Z1b running with the help of a good Haynes service manual. Fortunately there is still OEM parts still out there and available. But scalpers are scooping up parts and driving the prices upward. I’ve repaired many bits and pieces of the bike with just disassembly and a good cleaning. I know the bike from one end to the other. With that said I’m just not prepared to split engine cases and pull all the internal out and do all the machining and measuring all the tolerances etc. I’m going to go to a well know vintage bike mechanic shop for the internals.
So far my 75’ has 14k on the clock and an extensive internal rebuild is not yet needed. I’ve slowly over time replaced or repaired nearly everything from cables, brake pads and shoes, sprockets &, chain, points, calipers, master brake cylinders, fork seals and the like. As I go I paint and polish to keep the bike corrosion free and looking good or better than it was. And for Gods sake don’t take something apart and let time get away from you getting it back together while it’s is fresh on your mind. Some fasteners and the like have very particular specific places they need to go, and you aren’t going to recall all that years down the road.
Nuf said I’m going to go out the garage and admire my classic 75’ Z1. 😎
Absolut richtig!
Do you think certain classic bikes are gonna keep climbing in price? I’m debating on getting into one before they keep going up.
Here's what I'm finding out restoring a '74 Kawasaki H1 triple to about 95%. I had a '72 Kaw 350 triple, and brother had a '70 Kaw 750 triple back many decades ago, so I am fortunate to know how to work on them. Whatever your estimate might be for restoring a classic motorcycle, triple it (no pun intended) or even quadruple it. There are fewer places for chrome plating and the cost for re-plating is through the roof! For instance re-plating one wheel is $375.00. Re-plating the 3 exhausts $2500.00 (sent to England). Paint to factory original $2,000. Powder coating the painted parts (not the frame) $600.00. Recovering a seat to look like OEM $350.00. Having Don Fulsang (the best in the business) restore the meters $350.00. Parts are available for most classic bikes, but you'll pay through the booty for them. The barn find bike I purchased is mostly complete, but every part has to be dealt with, and many replaced because of 50 year rust/corrosion. Forks were replaced: The original ones were ok, but had specs of rust so I replaced them $100.00 (reproduction). Tires were dry rotted. Cost to replace $420.00. Spokes were rusty - new ones = $100.00. Cost to have a shop lace the new spokes, install the tires, and balance with a digital meter = $275.00 (got a great deal). New rubber dampers $300.00. New bolts and screws $200. Plastic chrome on blinkers flaking off. Cost to replace the blinkers and stems $100.00 (reproduction). New chain, new brake pads, new handlebars, new handlebar switches, new gaskets, new cables, rebuild carbs ect, ect, and ect. I've got hours sanding the frame for painting, polishing the corroded aluminum, putting parts back together, and dealing with 50 year old wiring. It never stops! Figure I'm going to have close to $8,000 plus what I gave for it. Is it worth it? I have a lot of free time, so in my case it is. Hope this gives you some idea what you're up against.
Great video! This spring I bought a Gilera 106ss with zero mechanical experience. I bought the shop manuals and watched videos and the first time I got her to fire over was amazing! She's coming along but still a ways to go. Don't be afraid of the projects but don't kid yourself on the amount of work it will take
Back in the day, I rode a '71 Honda CB450. A great bike. Light and easy to handle but enough power to cruise the highway. But I always wanted an inline four, such as a CB750 and started looking around for one. But, I was a little nervous about the reliability and parts availability of a 50 year old bike. Then, I discovered the Honda CB1100, sold in the US from 2013 to 2017. And a beautiful red and silver 2013 is now in my garage. It's an air cooled inline four with classic '70s styling but modern electronics, including fuel injection and Honda reliability. The perfect marriage of old and new.
Brilliant video. Spot on I’d say. Of course I’m speaking with hindsight, having had many bikes and I do all my own maintenance work. I recently broke a cardinal rule…. I bought a pretty bike; a show bike. Having rebuilt bikes in the past, I decided to pay a little more and buy a complete bike which looked superb. In fact the same colour as your title shot, a 1968 CB250K0. It had been displayed at shows. I have ridden it a few times and commuted, but I have had to apply copper slip etc to all the bolts which have never been lubed. Fitted a new clutch, two carb strips, an oil leak from the rocker area, deglaze rear shoes and do on… I’ve got the experience so not the end of the world, but as you say, not something for a newbie if they have no access to a mechanic. Stick to good old advice which I didn’t. Buy a runner, it’s always better than a bike that has been sat.
Having owned 3 Honda CBs (750K, 750F and 900F) among several others, I can say the CB750K is an excellent choice for a classic that feels modern and is also nicely reliable.
The advice about sitting on your idea and letting it settle is absolutely true. I rushed into buying my 240Z. It was the first one I saw and drove, my father told me not to, but what did he know? Well, I found out what he knew.
Like the Kawasaki Z200, where the cams where wearing faster than the tires?
If you have something like a Yamaha R6, then yeah, go ahead and buy that 72 Kawasaki H2A with the bald rear tire! Just don't try and ride it like the R6.
Anyone looking to buy their first classic bike should watch this video. You've described both the magic and reality of classic ownership. It's not for everyone. If you don't have the skills/tools/facility to do maintenance yourself or the money to pay someone else, it isn't for you. Another area you covered, actually having an available local mechanic who is knowledgeable about your specific bike is key. And finally, I loved that you mentioned patience and pre-purchase research - both key to successful classic bike ownership. Great video!
So ist es, nicht zu vergessen einen ruhigen Platz für die Montage! Wenn man Talent und Gefühl für Mechanik hat kann man sich aber mit Geduld einarbeiten.
@@jensnitsche4994 I agree!
I have owned a number of classic bikes and loved them. Getting parts is more difficult. Luckily I can do the work myself because many shops won't even touch anything that old. If you really want a nice "classic" you can also consider a Kawasaki W650 or W800. These are fantastic and beautiful bikes that look very close to a '60's Bonneville, even more so than the new Triumphs. I love my W800 classic, it has all the looks and sound (360 degree firing parallel twin) and much better build quality.
I got an '80 kawasaki kz440 ltd and I love it
Like the man says....read & learn first. I researched my interest bike for 12 months to find the year and model first & another 12 months to find one that I wanted to own. 1995 FXD Superglide. factory condition.
Dude, commercials every two minutes? That's gonna hurt your channel.
Nice video with some very sage advice👍
In france we had moto terrot, peugeot and motocomfort.
Sadly they all either died or stopped building motorcycle most of them in the 1960s
They where all great and reliable especially terrot.
But sadly part are so sparse nowadays 😢 even if you can indeed buy a 125cc for 3000€ if something break you may not be able to repair it for some time.
First of all, new bikes are an absolute nightmare, and are not worth investing in. They are ugly, sometimes hideously ugly (just look at the new Honda "Rebel" or the Kawasaki Vulcan S) It is almost impossible to find a bike anymore that is not 99% matte black, with zero chrome. And most new bikes are more computer than motorcycle, and even the few mechanical parts on them were designed by a computer. They are impossible to work on, and anything but reliable. And there is no fun or satisfaction in owning and riding them. Bikes with ABS take away part of the riding experience by taking away part of what the rider is supposed to do, and turning it over to a computer. And now Honda is going down the automatic transmission road again. So called "modern" motorcycles really aren't even MOTORcycles anymore. And you will usually pay around 30% ABOVE msrp for one.
I advise staying away from older Japanese bikes. They were well made (or at least usually better than most other brands) back then, but everything wears out, and will eventually need parts. And parts for '60s and '70s Japanese bikes are almost impossible to find. These bikes were designed to be disposable to begin with. That has always been the Japanese design philosophy, which pretty much all manufacturers have now adopted. I have a couple of older Japanese bikes, I have some parts bikes to go with them, and I'm a parts hoarder, meaning I buy good parts for them BEFORE I need them, whenever the opportunity arises. Unless you are Allen Millyard, I suggest being very careful about buying older Japanese bikes.
Yes, tinkering does indeed exist. But only if you are not only a mechanic, but a mechanical enthusiast. I am both. I recently retired after working for 40 years as a mechanic, and working on mechanical things, especially motorcycles, has always been my main hobby. You have to actually understand how things work, not just be a parts changer. "Tinkering" means working on a running bike trying to make it run a little better, or trying out a new way of doing things. Due to a lack of parts availability, and a lot of poor design and engineering on the part of motorcycle manufacturers, owning and riding and working on an older bike is always going to involve some degree of improvising and making changes. Being good at improvising, modifying, and fabricating is absolutely essential to keeping an old bike going. Having or knowing someone who has a CNC mill and a 3D printer can be invaluable. I have made motorcycle parts out of stuff I got from Home Depot. And I don't mean building a rat bike, I like to keep a bike as close to stock as possible. But keeping it completely stock is not going to be possible.
While British bikes and older Harley Davidsons were not as reliable as Japanese bikes when they were all new back in the '60s and '70s, they are now a lot easier to work on and find parts for. I have a 1966 Triumph Bonneville, a 1979 Harley Davidson Ironhead Sportster, and a 2002 Royal Enfield. These bikes are way simpler than the Japanese bikes, MUCH easier to get parts for, and much more satisfying to both work on and ride. They have a mechanical look, feel, and sound that even older Japanese bikes just don't have.
If you don't have much or any experience working on mechanical things, don't enjoy working on mechanical things, and see it as something that has to be done rather than something you want to do and look forward to doing, then classic bikes (or cars) are NOT for you. Even if you have someone who can do ALL the work on your classic bike and keep it running, you probably won't even like riding it. Do you want to kickstart your bike? Do you want to deal with a choke and manual petcock? Will you like the mechanical sounds and vibrations a classic bike makes, and the unavoidable oil leaks? Do you want to deal with drum brakes and incandescent lights? Ask yourself WHY you want a classic bike. You might decide you don't want one at all. Even without all the repairs and maintenance a classic bike requires, it is a MACHINE. And if you don't like machines, and would rather ride a smooth, quiet, computerized 2 wheeled appliance that has no character whatsoever, then just get one of the new "fake" classic bikes, commonly called "retro" bikes. You get the look, without all the other things most classic bike owners love about their bikes.
For me, classic bikes are strictly a hobby, a recreational thing. I don't combine them with anything else. I don't commute on them, I don't tour on them, I go for Sunday morning rides, stop at a local coffee shop, sit outside and drink my coffee while admiring the bike, then hop on and take the long way home. I still do much longer rides, but I have a newer, though still carbureted and pre computer bike to do them on. I will NEVER own a bike with a computer on it. I would rather push my classic bike than ride a computer on wheels. I only have one computer, and it is sitting on my desk right now, being used to type these comments. Computers do not belong on motor vehicles.
True on the OEM parts. My CB550F runs great with the OEM air box. Japanese engineers knew what they were doing. Who I’m I to question that.
Back in '78 I bought a '67 Triumph Bonneville, it needed a front stainless steel fender and a paint job. I found the fender at a swap meet and used rattle cans for the two tone paint job. In '95 I bought a '50 Triumph Thunderbird project and did a concourse restoration on it. It took me over five years to complete it. I won first place in my class at Mid-Ohio swap meet and bike show. I loved that motorcycle, it's the one I miss most. Back in '05 I bought a '39 Harley Knucklehead ( only 214 units made) one year only shift pattern (12N34) I love vintage bikes. Hears a link to view the '39.
Great content, this channel is the best. ruclips.net/video/I4zC4fH1GCE/видео.html
In my experience one classic bike turns into four really quick. My best advice would be to not only get a bike from the big four but one with a relatively long production life. It doesn’t matter if it was made by Honda if you can’t find parts because it was only made for a couple years. Check out parts availability and pricing before buying the bike. Also if it doesn’t have a title call your local titling agency before the purchase to see what options are available to get one. Some places are easy and some like where I live will tell you it’s a parts bike now.
New owner of a 1980 CM400T. It has started me on a journey to becoming a better small engine mechanic. I'm already good with electronic work but mechanical things I've not had the desire nor availability of things to learn on. As soon as I sort out the misfiring around 3k rpm, I'll be so happy!
Any progress on the bike John? I've just picked up an 81 CM400E and would love to hear more about yours!
@@motomotorized I'll be trying to improve the bike over the winter. I've mostly spent my free time enjoying it, the misfiring seems to clear up after about 15m of cruising. Money is always an issue and xmas is coming. My plan before next spring is an oil change (and inspection of a leak around the shift lever), new head gasket, new choke cable, and new tires. I may take the carbs out to clean them but I'm nervous I'll desync them. The throttle doesn't spring back like I think it should so there's another reason to get into the carbs.
All said, it starts and runs good enough that I just ignore most of the above and go for a ride. Honda made amazing bikes in the 70s/80s, I'm a big fan now.
Nice one, Honda 400/4 super sport would be my personal choice, it's the most popular Japanese classic here in the UK, a good owners club and parts still available....
Thanks. You saved me a lot of time and engery. I won't be making that dumb choice I was going to make. 😂
I gave a guy on my Navy ship $300.00 for a CB 650. It struggeled a little bit in the fast lane on the freeway but other than that...like a lot of older Hondas the darn thing was indestructable.
I had a 1982 Honda CBX-1000 Prolink for 23 years from 1998.
Very few problems. I put 86 000 km on it and sold it last year with cac106 000 km on the odometer.
They are surprisingly easy to work on. It just takes a little more time.
Checking the valve clearance 0f 24 valves takes a little more time.
Everything is easy accessible.
The only drawback is the fuel consumption. I averaged 14.6 km/l using it for touring.
Nostalgia. Love old bikes. Makes me go back to my teenage years.
Hi Bart,I like watching your video's and i am a vintage bike guy i have 4 of them and my best one is my lil baby is a 64 bridgstone bs7/d surfrider 50cc with 3k miles
3000miles ? That's your fault you should get around more
My 1972 Wombat is on its fifth speedometer
As someone who has been around old and very old bikes as early as the pre war 30's both from Europe and Japan not having any mechanical skills is not a problem at all, you can do everything short of machining a damaged cylinder by yourself with very little tools.
Old bikes are so simple in their conception and have very little to no electric circuit at all. All you need really is the Haynes manual for the biie you get, preferably the original owner's manual for everyday maintenance and somewhere to work on it without being in the driveway or in the street.
It can seems daunting to take an engine apart to check the valves or redo a finicky transmission but as long as you follow the manuals and use the right tools anyone who's willing to try and get dirty hands from time to time can do everything a shop would and more.
Last word of advice that you don't hear often enough I think is that Japanese manufacturing seems to use Philips head screws for everything but it's actually JIS, Japanese Industry Standard, the shape is slightly different and if you use Philips screwdrivers you'll eat all the screws on your bike so get a set of JIS screwdrivers if you choose a Nippon motorcycle.
I used to own a Sunbeam Alpine. I can't remember how many times I pushed it home. At least it was a lightweight car. When I sold it, I had spent more time working on it than driving it. It cured me of my desire to own a British car. I prefer Japanese and German vehicles now. They are more dependable, and parts are easier to find. Good luck and take care.
Had the same experience with a ‘59 Triumph TR3 and a ‘64 Triumph Spitfire. I learn slowly. I had to go thru TWO Triumphs before I learned my lesson. Never owned ANYTHING British built again for 60 years and then it was a flipping pellet gun that I got a spectacularly good deal on. German, Japanese, whatever, but never again a British car or motorcycle!
When a bike comes from the "Manufacturer" it is in a state of tune for "Reliability" if you want to make you bike faster then Aftermarket is the way to go, not shit from China but proper gear built by proper tuning houses, but this will take the reliability down a long way, there is some excellent stuff out there that will not damage your bike in any way as long as you adjust your maintenance times if you do want to Mod your bike keep all the stuff you have taken off & refit it before you sell.
Now here's my story:
At the age of 16 I bought a tiny Honda CB 50. A year later I watched a dude leaving my Honda dealer's workshop on a blue 400 four and the engine reving up simply finished me off.
Dec 2022. No idea why but out of boredom I checked websites for 400fs and by some supernatural power there she was: A shiny red 1975 model CB 400 four, only two owners.
Long story short: I took only 42 years to make a boy's dream come true.
Good point about how working on your stuff seems cool, but can end up being a chore. Sure I changed the headgasket on my first car, even did it in the drive way - I guess it was cool, but it would have been cooler not to have the car break down to begin with.
I own a 1980 CB 900 Custom. It's it the best all around classic motorcycle I've owned. Although I do love my CB 350 for cruising around for a day 1 up and the reliability of both these bike is amazing.
I've owned my 1985 Suzuki GV1200 19 years without any on the road problems. There is a bit more excitement riding a 37 year old bike.
I park mine up-hill from all shopping trollies. Well locked; and I don't take my eyes off of it; for security reasons (concours H2 750) !!!.
Nice video. You touched on parts availability a couple of times. For me this is a really big deal when choosing old cars/bikes. I hate the thought that if this one little bit breaks or wears out, I can't rely on getting a replacement. Some people love having to go to shows to find that elusive part in a tatty old cardboard box in amongst a heap of junk, but I'm not so keen.
Any bike over 15 years old or 20,000mi means that you should know or learn how to:
Adjust and replace a chain
Remove the wheels yourself
Change sparkplugs
Clean carburetors
Replace lights
Do your own oil change
You don't have to be a full mechanic, but you'll do most of these basic things every year of use.
If none of that interests you...go buy a young or new MT07, CBR whatever, Ninja or MT09 and call it a day....otherwise you'll be unhappy or always waiting for the shop to get to your bike.
It was very interesting to hear your thoughts, and well put together video! 👍☺️
So you wanna fuck with carburetors? Welcome to old bikes.
Beginning riders should focus on safety and a modern motorcycle is far more reliable, safer and easier to ride. Vintage bikes also don't make good daily riders unless you have skills, tools and a place to work because old stuff breaks. Get a classic as a second motorcycle or a project that you know you'll be working on as much as riding.
Triumph Cars are great too, i;ve had a few and looking for another one all now, the TR6 is sweet.
I recently picked up my late uncle's 1971 cl175 from my aunt knowing it'd need some work to get running and more to get road worthy. I had next to no mechanical experience prior but have slowly went through it and learned how to fix and clean parts along the way. The first time I got it to start and run was a magical and exciting moment and seeing a video of it running meant the world to my aunt. It has been a great project and learning experience and I'm not quite done with it yet but I know it's going to be a blast to finally ride!
Another great video Bro! Love my 72 Honda CB450! When I was 12, I helped my dad rebuild a 1969 harley sportster basket case! N got my Son a 1969 honda 125A!
NEW Riders, Buyers Beware! you're local dealer may NOT work on any motorcycle over 10 Years old. I live in Orange County CA, South of LA and have run Vintage Bike OC for 15 years, a monthly meet for motorcycles 30 years and older. The most popular question I get "DO YOU KNOW A MECHANIC?" Mechanics are getting older and fewer and farther apart. If you don't already know someone please be aware that it may be hard to find help. I own a 73 Honda CB750 and a 77 Kawasaki KZ1000 and I also disagree that bikes are "easier to work on than cars" Motorcycle have about 6 square inches of contact patch with the pavement. Every bolt should be critically torqued. In fact my Honda Owner's manual states to Check the torque on all bolts prior to EVERY ride. My KZ needed wheel bearings, and I didn't know it until I got into a speed wobble at 70 mph on a busy freeway. (Not a fun experience).
The wheel bearing job took me 8 hours with special bearing tools including a torch and about $70 in parts (including shipping). It was 8 hours of sweat hoping I was getting it all back together in the correct order.
From 20 years of riding and 200,000 miles of experience. For new riders I would recommend a bike that's relatively new. There is enough to learn about motorcycling without the concern of a vintage motorcycle. Look for something with electric start, electronic ignition, good brakes, fuel injection. Anyhow great video, good information. Just my $0.02 (2 cents)
Great video. Seems like there's never been a better time to get into vintage bikes. Because of the internet, there's lots of places selling parts and tons of videos on RUclips that will teach you how to work on you bike, especially if you get a brand and model that's popular, like an old Honda CB. Just be warned, it can become a bit of an obsession. : )
After getting my first fuel injected bike project, the relief of not having to deal with a carb really cooled my love of classic bikes. I still love them but prefer to love them from a distance now.
Can't really argue with that as I've just bought my first classic (73 cb750) and have the carbs off and torn all apart on my work bench....but I bought the bike to have something to work on so I can't complain either.
The Triumph TR6 is a thing of beauty...
As much as I like the OEM sentiment, its way cheaper to get a non-running old bike and modding it to get it running again. If I went with OEM parts on all my builds I’d be spending twice as much.
I hear ya. In my experience with cars: it's only problematic to use aftermarket parts instead when you don't adjust the corresponding pieces so everything works right. With an intake, for example, if you don't have sensors that will auto adjust to it you will need to get a tune done for things to run right. I can't imagine it being any different for a bike but I suppose I will find out shortly!
Too many rectangular headlights in the 1980s for me.
Maintaining and keeping old things becomes a bit of a lifestyle. I have an 3 classic bikes and a classic car, classic firearms, and an 80 year old home. The most high maintenance thing in my life is a 34 yr old girlfriend...
Have to agree with your observations - had mostly newer bikes - many Italian - then I had a 15 year hiatus when I moved from the UK to Denmark - had kids and then finally persuaded my wife that I a bike would make me happy. I decided on an old Triumph - something that would keep me occupied during the winter - settled on a 1971 TR6C "Desert Sled". All the things you mentioned are true with these bikes - you can't really use them for long distances - although I'm regularly reminded by my older bike club-mates that they road Europe thin in their heyday - I regularly remind them that their bikes weren't 50 odd years old back then. Anyway - it looks and sounds wonderful - even rides great - well - once you get over the very scary brakes.
I would say I'm an occasionally regretful, but mostly happy classic biker. PS the Triumph is my only motorcycle - unless you count a Puch Maxi as a motorcycle!
What do you guys think about JAWA? I personally think they are just great and super reliable. I own a type 559 (250cc) from 1966. I've clocked thousands of miles on it and it's my daily. I use it to go everywhere. But I always have spare parts in my bag for just in case. Been riding it around for 10 years now. Just fantastic!
Jawa? Is that a Czech motorcycle?
Please do not buy these bikes and butcher them into some excuse for a cafe racer.if you must do that do it to a modern bike that's common.you are not going to build a masterpiece,you are just going to destroy a rare machine.and remember,just because you think your efforts look good,in the real world it's a different story!
My standard 1978 SR500 stands out in the crowd of unrestorable racers and bobbers
Motorbikes are the closest thing to flying without leaving the ground!! Classics are extra special like taken out an old P51 for a sunset flight
TR6 was my dream car in high school. Quite possibly the coolest classic roadster
Great video!!
Cheers mate
USA
I got an old honda xl 185 (1979) for free by my neighbor i didn't really want it first but it was free so i had to take it. It didn't run and I'm still fixing it but i think i really gonna get it running. I have a guy who has worked basically his whole life on motorcycles and he is helping me with this journey. I got it like a month and a half ago and im 15 so there is lots to learn yet but my goal is to get it good running and make it looking good again. It was standing almost 30 years but it looks actually good for that time.
Classic ended when the Honda CB 350 and 750 showed up. A quantum leap in reliability.
I have mostly sportbikes from the 90’s but also a 72 cl100 it’s little but it is a blast to ride. I do restoration paint on bikes so I would also say if the paint isn’t right and you want to make it perfect it will cost a lot to have it done right. Just something to remember if you think it will need paint it adds up real fast.
Japanese bikes yes
English bikes no
I’d give my left nut to get my hands on a 1976 Yamaha RD 400, the first bike I bought brand new. I was 20, and paid, NEW, including PDI, $1,385.00 Canadian, I’m in Montreal. Now, you can’t find these for less than $5-6,000, US funds. The other bike I looked at was the also new for 1976 was the Honda CB 400 Super Sport, the beautiful 4-in-line scooter. But….the smell of 2-stroke won me over.
They don't make them like they used to! It took me 2 years to find my '77 RD400, It was all original with about 10k on it. I'm currently hopping it up for next year's VRRA events. I paid under 5000 Canadian, you have to be patient and also vigilant for when they pop up.
- A 2 stroke addicted Torontonian
I had a RD400 back around 1978/79 it was rocket would do the ton two up no worries
I'm glad I found your channel it's been enjoyable and refreshing.
Had a couple of old 1970 models. Like 1972 SL 350 . I’d love to have that again and a 1978 CB 750 super sport. Love to get my hands on those two again.
I have a new classic vstrom 2002 with wide open GPR exhausts so I have the sound and it's 20 years old.
450 Honda is the best bike I ever owned
Great video!! I just brought home my dad’s’77 cb400f super sport and can’t wait to dive in. Dad bought it brand new off the showroom floor so this is a keeper. Safe travels!
Be careful dissing the tinkerers, that is the tuning factor of hopping up a worn used bike. In Ebgland the word your looking for is bodging that is a non traditional mechanical fix.
You've gotta "tinker" 👍
Get things just right
I prefer to call it "fettling"
I agree with pretty much all of this. I've been wrenching on Honda bikes (and a few other mfg) for 50+ years. I have restored about a dozen or so bikes as well. I also own the 1971 Honda CB750 that my Dad bought new back in the day. I restored that one back in 2006. I love the Hondas because for that era (late 60's/early 70's) parts and documentation is readily available. While I also own more modern bikes, I get a special thrill out of taking a 50 year old bike for local rides and love seeing peoples reactions to it. Great example - In my area, we have the annual Laconia (NH) bike rally. Thousands upon thousands of bikes in a relatively small area. A lot of these are expensive, late-model, custom Harley Davidsons. But when I park my classic CB750 among them, people are immediately drawn to the bike. I hear a lot of people saying they either had one, or someone they knew did. It generates a LOT of conversations. You cannot understate the cool factor with these. As you stated, the biggest part of being a classic bike owner is to get educated! I prefer to do my own wrenching - this helps especially if you ever have an issue while riding. 99% of the time, I am able to address whatever mechanical issue that might crop up and get myself rolling again in short order. Knowledge = power here, kids! Good work and keep up these great videos.
My list of classic bikes, 1945 350cc BSA B31, 1958 250cc BSA C11G , 1968 250cc BSA B25 Starfire , 1965 Triumph Tiger 100 500cc, 1972 650cc T65 Trophy Triumph , Triumph 650cc Thunderbird custom , 1975 Triumph T140V Bonneville 750cc , 1981 Triumph T140ES Bonneville 750cc , 1972 Norton Interstate 750cc , Honda CM450e 1983 , Honda CM450c 1982 , Honda CMX 450 Rebel 1986 , 1998 Triumph T959 Daytona , 1993 Triumph Thunderbird 900cc , 1998 Suzuki Marauder 800cc, and a custom flat tracker made with all the left over bits in the workshop and garage (not finished yet) .
Agree about Bring A Trailer. I recently won an auction for a 1983 Suzuki GS650G from Ultra Motor Source (look them up here on RUclips) and had it shipped cross country, all for a very reasonable price.
I also can't stand the word "tinkering". I means f**cking with something with no idea of the outcome. So keep your ham fists off of it. In music, guitar playing especially, people have a term called "noodling". Hearing it makes me think of violence.
Thanks for another great video!
50 years ago, I bought a worn out Yammy 250 twin 2-stroke for $400- (1969 "DS6" AKA "RD 250" and precursor to the RD350 and then RD350SLC). Bought the repair manual and lots of parts and rebuilt it over the winter, and rode it the next summer.
BTW: I was 14 when I bought it, 15 on the road, and only stopped by police once before I was old enough for a license.
After owning a few bikes bought used, I worked up to a new vStrom 1000 in 2008, and rode it for 10 years. But since then, I've had a 2008 Moto Guzzi, 2004 vStrom 650, and a month ago I traded the tall vStrom for a 2003 vStar 1100 Classic.
With a new XR150L stablemate to handle "off pavement duty", I've now gone from decades of fuel-injected bikes with center stands to a couple of carbureted bikes minus stands. I bought a lift.
I'm looking forward to doing the valve-lash adjustments on the vStar (on one of the longest lasting engines ever), replacing the rear spring/shock, and maybe rebuilding the forks with progressive springs, over the winter.
Both bikes are air-cooled, which eliminates the issues of antifreeze up here by the North Pole (north of Winnipeg MB) but also the hassle of draining and refilling coolant whenever the engine is worked on. Another consideration with older bikes.
The XR150 needs the stock "CARB compliant" jets replaced with some that won't cause burned valves due to running too lean. However, the vStar, with its twin down-draft Mikunis, has smoother throttle response than many of the injected bikes that I've owned or ridden. I found that shocking (in a pleasant way)
If I did move up to a newer, injected cruiser, I'd likely get a vStar 950 for the injection while remaining air-cooled, but also drop my insurance costs. Though the older Kawi Vulcan Nomads with hard luggage whisper to me whenever I see one advertised under CA$5k.
On the other hand, in 2028 the vStar 1100 will get Collector Plates and that will cure the insurance cost issue. ;)
1977 and 78 KZ1000, Honda CB750F, 900F, 1st and 2nd gen GPz1100, 1st gen Ninja900, ZX11, ZRX1100/1200 are the kinds of classic bikes that can be ridden like modern bikes but have none of the modern bike tech heavy features. BMW Airheads are slow AF. That's my main gripe about classic bikes. They are SLOW with shit brakes and suspension. AMF era Harleys are cantankerous PILES OF SHIT. Any pre EVO Harley is a cantankerous PILE OF SHIT. Don't even bother. Classic bikes are fine as long as you have low expectations. Do not expect much in the way of reliability or performance.
I own a 1971 Honda CB350. It is a one owner that I purchased in May of 1971.
working on my 81 Harley FLH Shovelhead right now. snapped clutch cable the other day. big headache lmao. not for the faint of heart, but real rewarding.
I've also gone coast to coast on a 1970 Honda CB450, and recently went from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Cape Canaveral, Florida on a 77 Yamaha Xs750 triple. I love the old Hondas, very reliably, very easy to work on, and they were the cutting edge tech of the day, and can hang with most newer cruisers in terms of performance.
As the owner of two Triumph Tiger 800 (2011 and 2016), my preferred bike would be a Triumph X75 Hurricane from 1973. That bike was actually designed in the US by a guy named Craig Vetter, if I am not mistaken. Second would a Benelli 750 Sei, a wonderful awesome-sounding Italian 6-cylinder machine. Third would be the bike I had when I was a teenager: a 125 cc Kreidler.
RE CB350: Parts availability is a big consideration when buying an old vehicle, regardless of whether it has 4+ wheels, just 2 wheels, or a prop. I recall reading an article in one of my older brother's motorcycle magazines, back in 1973, that fully 1/4 of ALL the motorcycles on the planet were Honda CB350 models.
I also learned in 2007 (while in Thailand on a missions trip, visiting homes that my companions built after the tsunami) that Thai law banned the sale of motorcycles with engines larger than 350 cc. That's because the Thai Police rode Honda CB450 bikes, and wanted to be able to catch anyone else!
I have a strong suspicion that they might have since removed that law, with larger engines being so common now. If anyone knows what the Thai police currently ride, please reply in the comments.
PS: While in Thailand, I also passed the factory that builds the current Triumphs. I wonder if they're a lot cheaper to buy there?
Older than 25 years old= Classic. Also, hard or impossible to find parts for and if you aren't mechanically inclined just forget it.
Leave all the 70's and 70's junk in the motorcycle graveyards where they belong.
Get yourself a classic Honda Rebel from the early 80's up until into the 2000's...
Modern styling, easy to work on, looks good, parts are plentiful, longest motorcycle run ever next to like the Cub and SuperCub
No kick starting. Comfy seat unlike straddling a bench. I paid $500 for my project bike, and put another $400 into it over time pay as I go.. Yeah, finished it, no problem.
As a BMW owner be prepared for the cost of upkeep. Parts are high and it really needs to be a German made. Just a heads up.
RE: Triumph TR6 - see if you can buy tires before you buy the car. At least a decade back, the last tire company selling those tall, skinny tires announced they were discontinuing production, and the panic in the UK was so strong and vocal that the British Gov't forced the company to continue making them. I doubt that they continued till now, though.
Of course, you can probably go with a much larger diameter rim and get into "normal profile" tires, but you'd lose the look of the original.
Just an FYI.
Believe me, i'd much rather have my classic bikes than anything modern, and definately nothing with fuel injection, the best upgrades, modern tyres, modern clutch plates, electronic ignition, upgraded charging system with a quality lithium battery, led lights, way brighter and very little current consumption, i've had bikes from a 1945 BSA B31 to 500,650 and 750 Triumphs, BSA and Nortons, recently i'm into 80's Honda's, especially the CM/CB 400/450 and the CMX 450 Rebel and yes i've been in mechanic work since i was 8 years old with my Dad, i'm now 57, the only thing i dont do to my bikes and i've restored many from piles of bits and even specials made with bikes from different makes, countries and decades, get stuck in and learn to do it yourself. Reliability wise, well just about anything can be made reliable if you know what youre doing, one of my most reliable bikes is one of my Triumph T140ES Bonnevilles, i've put over 120.000 miles on it myself and it had been through a few others before me including the police force, God alone knows the mileage, actually, aftermarket parts etc can be made to work but again, you need to know what youre doing, pod filters are ok but not on CV carbs, theyre a pain to set up properly but the typical slide carb is easy to tune with a free flowing exhaust and pod filters, but i do agree , i like my bikes pretty stock ish, too many people get a bike and feel that what they should do is to chop it up and make something different, its your thing but very often the bike might look better to you but will generally make it worse, ride it stock and see from there, i've dont so many projects and yes, i've dug bikes out of the ground or from in the swamp, from burned out sheds, under cellers etc, nothing wrong with a project but just recognise your skill level, no use buying a basket case if youre new to the game as it were.
three bike I regret selling, #1 Yamaha RD350LC, #2 1970 Honda CB350 #3 1980 Honda CX500.
I bought a new CB 350 in early 70's. It was my first bike and I loved it. Later 1980's I owned a Yamaha Virago 1000. That was my favorite bike.
I bought a new 1974 MG Midget and I loved that little car. It fit like a glove. Kinda like a big go-kart. I always admired the Triumph TR6 but never owned one.
What a truthful video. Maintenance on a newer bike is can be daunting at times. I have a 2005 BMW GS 1200 and I do my own maintenance. I have 2 manuals and videos on DVD and allot of specialized tools.
I want a to get a bike from the 70's. I owned a Suzuki 500 2 stroke twin and a GT 750 triple when they were new but buying one now I be taking a chance on parts availability. My opinion is get a popular bike that has lots of part and enthusiastic owners available on the internet .
Also these old bike have limitations especially with breaks. Remember it's been 50 years of development with breaks, be cautious.
Above all have fun.
I love this video.
Best!!
I have been riding street bikes since I got my license at 15 in the mid 1980s and I have lot of motorcycles. I want to say stop spreading misinformation Ohc engines are a disaster for maintaining. Stick with Ohv motors look for 650 or 750 Ural, 5 speed Harley sportster, BMW airhead, 1950s through 1980s triumph, bsa, royal enfield 500 singles and any moto guzzi would be the best to own and maintain in your garage. The only Japanese engine I would recommend would be the XS650 because of the availability of aftermarket parts making owning an older bike easy.