I had 3 cx500's when i was a despatch rider in the 80's . All of them covered in excess of 150,000 miles . In that industry we all knew what would fail on them ......camchain tensioners , drive rings and generators ......so we were prepared and able to fix them . Superb machines !
The old plastic maggot😂, they were the dispatchers favourite back then. My mate Paul had one brand new around then too as a long distance dispatch rider , he gave up on London as it wasn't his game. My other mate Alan was a top rider for Addison Lee back then. He loved London work. I rode Paul's CX (same colour as this one) once and tbf it was a different world to my 1961 BSA A5😂 boring as hell but a solid dependable bike for sure
@@ianwhitehead4728 there was more to it than 8 - 10 hrs in the saddle, you had to enjoy the bike & you aren’t going to find many who did on those. GTs/VTs/GSs & BMW were all preferred. Granted, they had a reputation for doing the miles, but what you gained there you lost in the experience. These bikes, & other hondas at the time almost put me off riding for life until i discovered kawasaki.
I have ridden a R1200c since 2014 , it has been my daily commuter from Nottingham to Cheltenham, through all sorts of weather all year round, never missed a beat , easy to ride at any speed, rock solid , pulls like a train with enough precision to take on the early m1 and m5 traffic, bulletproof, bought a workshop manual , tools and service my self, it’s nothing fancy , no troubling electronics just nice and easy. It’s a real head turner be prepared to have numerous chats and even photos, and it’s has a moveable back rest great for long distance, and Freddie , lockable panniers! The old girl is now in semi retirement and still a pleasure to own, Cheers Huw
Thanks for mentioning my Guzzi tyre for £32.90 it is doing really well in our British summer rain, hail and sun weather. I also recently put some Mistral exhausts on my V7 and it ran a bit rough, someone said take it to a Guzzi dealer as it will need remapping, but I found for a £20 I could buy the right cables and £80 got me the correct mapping and did it myself and it cured the issue for a lot less than Guzzi would have charged. A computer is becoming just as much a necessity as a 10mm spanner these days.
Freddie I’ve just purchased a 43 year update Suzuki GS850. The bike still runs sweet as it should. It came with 10 months mot as the previous owner hadn’t registered it as historic. The cost £950 there are bargains out there with bullet proof Japanese engines. People don’t need to spend a fortune for cheap tax free transport.
I had one with over 85000 miles on it. Great bikes for long journeys, so smooth, easy to work on, bombproof engines. Those GS Suzuki 2v per cylinder engines and shaft drive on G models of 850 and 1000cc. The old Kawasaki Z650 from 1976 to 1979 also are great bikes.
Unfortunately there are still too many unprofessional bike dealers. Re Triumph I too almost bought a Tiger 660 Sport, had a good long test ride (tick) got back they'd gone an appraisal on my bike (quite uncomplementary) and the sales guy I was dealing with wasn't there (he'd gone to the dentist) no worries he would ring me back tomorrow. Long and short I missed his call, returned his call left a message...nothing. Enquired about a Moto Guzzi V100, sales experience totally different and I bought it and am delighted with the bike! Triumph need to up their game.
Greetings from Malta Freddie. Was following your comments regarding costs for servicing the bikes. I currently own 3 bikes. A 2013 piaggio x10, a 2016 indian scout and a 2010 bmw r1200rt. I been only driving motorcycles since 2014 and After experiencing ridiculous costs for servicing by Mecchanic’s I had decided to purchase service manuals for all of them and do all the work myself. At the beginning it felt very difficult however as time passed, today I really enjoy it and look forward for the next service. The beautiful thing is that you get to know your bikes more and how they work and function. Thanks for your content on both channel and look foreword to one day see you in Malta and perhaps meet for a coffee and a snack. Kindest regards - Mario Fenech
Hi Freddie , one of my two bikes is a Honda CX500 1978, it has only 22000 miles on it, somebody just stored it away for many years. I use it as my every day transport as I'm retired so don't need to do loads of miles. This bike costs me nothing to tax or mot and as it's just added to my other bike insurance, costs almost nothing to insure .Being a Honda it's incredibly reliable even though it's 45 years old. I love riding it. I had a couple of them back in the late 70's early 80's and even back then they were the most reliable bikes I ever owned. I can even turn up at local classic bike events and get in for free. A fantastic way to get into classic's very cheaply, with the added bonus of everyone of my generation either has rode one or knew of someone who had one, so will always want to talk to you about them. Got to be the bargain of the 2nd hand bike world and now has the added bonus of being ULEZ exempt.
I have been using Maxxis tyres for 12yrs and never had a problem, even these so called budget tyres are good enough for me..I don't believe there is a 'bad' tyre in this day and age. Good enough for Ron Haslem , good enough for me..Tracer 900 rider
Freddie - I've been buying older and "classic" bikes for many years now - I find a nice mid '80's - 90's-2000's cool ride - an interesting model I admired when new, and have fun riding for a season. Then I sell it on and look for something else interesting to try out. I always try to buy from individuals, who are enthusiasts and take proper care of their bikes. For years now, I have been riding bikes with low mileages - generally 20-40,000 miles, that have been recently serviced, and have good tires etc... I have been riding, practically for free, since then. I have owned 43 bikes in my life (I'm 70), and likely will own several more. Nowadays, I only own one at a time... back in the day, I had up to 6 bikes in my stable, and paid a lot for insurance! With these classic aged bikes here in British Columbia, 15 years old qualifies as "Classic" and is far cheaper to run. We have no annual inspections to pass as well. Recent bikes were - Honda V-4 Interceptor, Ducati Monster, Yamaha FJ1300, BMW 1150GS, Honda XL-200 Dual Sport...and many others too - Suzukis, Kawasakis, Moto Guzzi,... and I loved every one...and when I set out to buy another bike, I have almost no preconceptions on what I want and have sometimes bought a bike that a day before, I had no idea I would even like. Spur of themoment can be a great thing - if you are standing in front of a cool bike, and you are intrgued about what it's like to own, NOW is the time to reach into your wallet and buy the damn thing! You can always sell it and buy something else. Just don't get roped into hire-purchase programs on new bikes and stay making big payments forever...
I ran an identical CX500 in 1982. That is the first model which needed a camchain modification, which I'm sure is long done. Shaft drive, faultless. Easy to service with the headscpoking out to adjust the valves and change plugs. Oil filter on the front. Without doubt the most comfortable bike I've travelled on. 50mpg. The despatch riders' favourite. That looks very good with it's original exhaust and front mudguard which are extremely rare. An investment, abd niw very desirable. Mine cost £700! About £1039 when new at the time. A classic. It's an import because single disc and high bars. But not an issue. Ride safe.
Hi Freddie, with ref to the Moto Guzzi feature, you refer to belt drive , what were you referring to. The engine is a pushrod valve system and the drive train is shaft drive. Interesting video and agree with the ridiculous cost of ownership and tyres, I have just had to replace the Metzeler front tyre on my Triumph Scarmbler after 3250 miles @ £115 !
I'm sure Freddie was saying "belt" but meaning "shaft". Shaft drive is a feature of Moto Guzzis, some of the BMW range and some Japanese bikes, usually large tourers and some cruisers. These days, I'm not sure as to whether or there are any "sporty" Japanese bikes with shaft drive, but I'd place the old Suzuki GS650 Katana into that category. I owned one of those for a time, after being really impressed with one owned by a friend.
BMW R1200C My brother has one and purchased it from someones garage partly dismantled. The guy he purchased it from said it is the bike used in the James Bond film. However, my brother has never bothered to substantiate his claim. He loves the bike but it does have an issue. This model had a lot of chrome, some on metal (ie wheels) and some chrome effect panels. Unfortunately, the quality of the chrome did not match the rest of the German manufacturing. My brother had to completely strip his to get wheels, bars etc. chemically stripped and rust proofed. Then it was re-chromed properly. Nowadays, it looks stunning but it took him months and several thousand pounds to rebuild. I have heard that the chrome was not up to much on this model from other owners and motorcycle retailers. Thanks for a great chat channel. Garry
Many years ago, I replaced one cylinder, head, and piston on my old BMW R80RT without removing much fairing parts at all. It took maybe a couple of hours in total. Contrast that with a 2018+ Goldwing, where you have to practically strip the wretched thing down to the bare frame to change the air filter. Re the CX500, I ran the GL500 SilverWing version for a couple of years. It was as reliable as a stone, and remarkably easy to service. Another bike to consider is its successor, the excellent VT500, which is starting to age into the historic bracket.
The service question, it's also possibley because there are so few bikes compared to the mass number of cars, plus it's very seasonal, as lots of people store their bikes for 5 or 6 months, I'd say this is a large factor 😊
@@tuesdayatdobbs I think this is possibly the biggest factor in the equation, the niche aspect of motorcycling over the scale of the car market. Motorcycle manufacturers have us over barrel and almost entirely in their thrall. There are scarce few independent bike mechanics that have the skills and facilities to perform major service tasks on modern bikes. The manufacturer mandated workshops just pull off the suspected faulty parts and replace them with new until the fault is rectified. If they don't get it right first time, then another expensive part goes on until everything works correctly. Meanwhile, your bill goes up and up. The middle men in the hyper extended supply chain for these parts fill their bank balances while the owner rider weeps.
I miss my 1979 Honda CX500D. I kept it from new all the way through several other motorcycles for over 24 years. I gave it to a friend where he rode it for about 10 years then gave it to his son. For all I know, it's still running and making smiles! Honda over-engineered that engine as it eventually was used with turbos.
When I was on my OE in the 80s the CX500 was THE motorcycle courier bike because they were literally bulletproof. I ended up buying a Moto Guzzi VII 500 in London for my Kiwi adventure abroad because a mate suggested it (neither of us had a clue) and I'll never regret the decision. Me and my MG went very very far. And along the way met a couple on a CX500 and we travelled together to Israel and all over the place. Great bikes and cool times. I'm looking at a classic now for the same reason at your insane laws coming in. NZ will follow I fear.
I didn't feel very welcomed in the triumph dealership. Maybe why I ended up with a BMW and that was in 2014 I still don't think things have got any better
Regarding servicing. I recently changed my Suzuki GSR 600 to a new V Strom 650 with a dealer in Dublin, the first service was free after running in and was told to call in every month for free check up and adjustments. And call any time for bike wash and coffee.
I had my BMW 600/6 it has 75,000 miles on her. My CX500 had 250,000 miles on her when the cam chain broke and destroyed the engine. The alternater died the last year I had her but with the magneto CDI half a step and she would start. Very reliable and dependable.
I passed my test in January and went to several dealers before and after the test. From memory, Honda were great, enthusiastic and supportive, a Motto Guzzi dealer so and so (though the new V7 is amazing!), at Triumph... They didn't seem willing to waste time with me. It's like they are doing you a favor selling you one of their bikes making me feel like I didn't deserve to own one. Finnally went to Warr's Harley Davidson in Chelsea. I arrived 2 minutes after they closed and thought "Well, I'll just have a look through the window". They saw me, opened the door, took me inside, showed me the bikes and invited me to come back after I passed for a test ride. Today I'm the proud owner of a Sportster Iron 883. And yes. I may have paid more for it, but it was totally worth it. Premium service. Also, on the topic of maintenance, I can do everything on my Harley with ease and without much hassle. Everything is accessible, there are plenty of original and after market parts for both customization and maintenance, and it's a pleasure to work on it. Everyone hates this bike. The Harley haters hate it because it's a Harley. The Harley owners hate it because it's a Sportster and it's not a reeeeeaaaal Harley. I love it. Guess you have to own one to really appreciate it. :) Ricardo
Maxxis Tires are the bomb! Over here in British Columbia I first became aware of them about 20 years ago, looking for tires for a downhill mountain bike, and discovered the world of Maxxis - they make tires for everything that rolls... even quality street legal race tires that many of us use on our slalom/time attack race cars - at half the price of the big names.
Ulez: I have a 2005 KTM superduke which I would need ti pay the £12.50 daily charge, booked it in with stinkwheels/Allspeeds in Noak Hill in Noak Hill, Essex. Great service by Tony and after paying the £175 fee, it is now clear of paying the charge. Recommended to anybody who wants to keep riding their “noncompliant” motorcycle with the hassle and cost
Maxxis tyres are great. I have used them on a Suzuki Bandit 1250 (known as the tyre eater due to the amount of torque) and they were great. Toured europe on that bike and tyres.
Buy an old bike as a reliable bike for everyday use? Yes, get the right one and you will have a ball. Both the bikes you featured would be great. My BMW K75 (from 1988) is not yet quite old enough for historic UK reg. In May and June this year I did an amazing trip (over 5,000 miles or 8,000 kms) from Spain, through France and England to Scotland and back again. I am just preparing for my next trip to northern Spain and the French side of the Pyrenees. (Probably 3 to 4 thousand kms). Service kit, with quality synthetic oil, 110€ including the special tool to remove the oil filter. Easy to service it at home. Seems like cheap servicing to me. (I have had the bike since 2008, done numerous trips including the desert and Atlas mountains in Morocco). However, I have just fitted a new rear tyre (Conti RoadAttack 3) at €190. Great tyre, inspires lots of confidence, but sadly not cheap. I must admit, those Maxxis tyres sound like extremely good value.
I live just inside of the original ULEZ and have a 2006 Ducati Monster S4RS which I'm not eager to part with. When ULEZ hit I was advised to get emissions certificate from Ducati and submit it to ULEZ people for exemption. It took Ducati only a week to email me the certificate for my bike specifically and another week for ULEZ to go through it and issue an exemption for my bike. So even though my motorcycle is older than 2008, I don't pay ULEZ. And that's for a big hungry 998cc engine. I'm sure most bikes from the 2000s will pass the emissions test for ULEZ. Hope it's useful information
Great VLOG as usual. I'm really enjoying the way you stimulate debate on biking without the usual macho rubbish so often associated with it. I have two comments on this weeks chat, Firstly I had a really indifferent experience at Triumph Long Eaton when I went for a test ride last year. The bike was filthy and there was an engine warning light on on the dash from the start. I got the distinct impression they couldn't care less if I bought the bike or not. Secondly I did test ride the BMW 1200C when it was new. I do hope you get a good ride on one before you are tempted to part with your 'hard earned' Cheers. Tom
Hi freddie. For elio, i passed my test in 2021 and got the v7 850cc new. I also picked up a v7 750cc for my wife who was learning. The 750cc is less bhp but its lighter too. The 850cc v7 is more grunty but not night and day with it being heavier. I traded the v7 for an r9 scrambler to do my advanced riding test and with a set of pier city bar risers on was very comfortable with the perfect amount of bhp for my experince. Id say the different head stock and more upright position of the scrambler would suit rather than the r9t or pure. I ve since in may moved on to the bike from my childhood posters and dreams...the suzuki Katana 2023 model in blue and gold. Its the k5 engine with tons of torque, lots of top end and a surprisingly sit up riding position. Its still a retro just an 80s retro, which takes me back to staring at the 1981 poster on my wall. Congrats on the 100 k subs
Freddie, thanks a lot for mentioning my doubt about de BMW r Nine t Pure and of course... Many congrats for your 100K!!!💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 Paul, many thanks for your answer, I was thinking about the r9 Scrambler too! I want to grab a Pure and Scrambler and notice how I feel sitting on both bikes (I'm only 169cm). When I take my decision I'll you all my feelings. Thanks a lot.
On the issue of dealers: I had every intention of buying a new pre registered Honda CFR300 Rally from the main dealer in Bunage, Manchester. The salesman totally blanked me whilst he chatted to a colleague for a good 10 minutes. There were no other customers in the shop. I walked away, never to return. I've now ordered a Triumph 400 Scrambler instead.
BMW's and CX500 are super easy to do everything to sevice. Valve adjustment and oil and filter changes are so simple. GP levels of HP required GP levels of maintenance. I have had my Sportster for 25 years and 400,000 miles on the original engine. Belt drive and hydraulic valve adjustment means all you have to do is change the fluids and filter . I have had my Sportster for 25 years now. My daily driver as l don't have a car 🚗.
I have had my Sportster for 25 years and 400,000 miles on the original engine and l have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years now. Both reliable and dependable transportation. Economical as well. Fun to ride and lots of smiles per mile 😂.
75 bmw r60. 17k on it . Had it a year now. No issues at all. Need to get one that's been well looked after. Mine previous owner did all carb bits, wheel bearings etc. Only done about 3000 on it but it's a lovely starting and riding bike.
I had a similarly disappointing experience with Pure Triumph Woburn. My advice would be to take the trip down from Woburn to Watford (triumph North London) - the sales Exec, Ahsan, is brilliant and they’re very accommodating for test rides. Don’t discount an entire brand based on one shoddy dealership.
Agreed. I’ve been using that Triumph branch for a number of years now and have no complaints, extremely happy with their service so far………and they have a great free coffee machine
I owned a V7 and made a testdrive on a Bellagio and was amazed this strange bike has a wonderfull smooth engine with the looks of a cruiser+supermotard rims and steering bars. Very comfortable seating too! I went for a Griso wich has a wide tank which is more comfortable as the V7 at highway speeds and I love it with the exeption if I had to chose again today the fond memory of the Bellagio would come into mind. A Vitpillen might be an option too.
I have a 1978 Honda CB750F2. It is my go-to bike for nipping into town for a coffee. All day riding comfort and starts on the button, first time every time.
Freddie, the final drive on the V7 is via shaft, not belt. With respect to buying 40+ old bikes, I have several old bikes and I constantly have problems with the carburetors jets gumming up due to the ethanol in our gas In California. You also need to find a shop that will work on old bikes. The interesting thing is that I can easily find just about any parts for my old Z-1, Z1-R, and H-1, other than a few cosmetic components. Not so for a lot of newer bikes. Engine parts for KZ and Z-1 models are also plentiful and the motors and clutches are very robust. Just have to ride them more! Very much enjoy your channel.
Vintage motorcycles have better parts support and availability. When maintained properly they are reliable and dependable transportation. I replaced the camshafts in my 1965 Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto because they wore out after 50 years. Did it at my friend's Triumph shop with basic tools. The old Soviet Union built URAL came with a tool kit that had all the tools to rebuild the bike with. Old vintage motorcycles will outlast any modern motorcycle simply because they are easy to maintain and not dependant on dealer services. Now there's another good reason to enjoy the pleasures of owning and riding a vintage motorcycles 😂😂
Freddie, not sure about spares availability for the CX, but BMW boxers are eminently usable as every day bikes. Easy to maintain, reliable and spares are plentiful and reasonably priced.
I couldn't fault the local Triumph dealership, always friendly, always helpful.Until I showed up on my 73 plate Moto Guzzi V85TT. Not a word was exchanged and I got my free Drink, sat outside and left. It was all OK before when I showed interest in Sport Tiger. That was a great all rounder and the best real world horse power. But the service cost was more than my sports van, so Guzzi is the one and haven't looked back.
Hi Freddie, the Triumph Thunderbird 1600 and 1700 twins seem not too complicated and a beautiful machine. Royal Enfield are at a good price and maybe the BSA 650 gold star seems basic otherwise Yamaha bolt seem basic with no plastic fairings or even a Suzuki 650 v twin that isn't covered in fairings etc like the v Strom which is a proven machine at a good price and very reliable.
Hi. Freddie.. I'm fortunate to own four classic japanese bikes over 40 years old. Two suzuki triples and two kawasaki fours. All are used regularly and before i retired two years ago, i used my 1982 kawasaki z400j daily for the commute to work. I now enjoy free tax and no mot on them all and do my own maintainance. I also must say that I've owned these bikes for a long time.. one of them since 2001 and i didn't pay above 500 pounds for any of them!. These bikes are eminently useable as everyday transport.( why shouldn't they be?)... what a loophole for ulez!... in closing, I'll mention that my other bike is an RE classic 350 that i bought last year, and like youi absolutely love it!...al the best freddie... Andy
“The plastic maggot” haven’t seen one of them in years. They did a 650 version which I was lucky enough to borrow for my work ride around 1985. Nothing wrong with them but they are top heavy. Small price to pay though if it saves you £12.50 a day.
Regarding servicing motorcycles I'm always surprised that so many owners depend on dealers to service their machines, armed with a factory service manual possibly downloaded, a decent set of tools and with the help of RUclips and a generous amount of time I think it's quite possible for most to accomplish considering most servicing is just oil and filters changed for most low mileage riders, also chain and sprocket replacements are nothing to be afraid of, read and learn. If mileage becomes quite high then O.K. get it to a trusted mechanic but one would have saved £££s towards that one big service unless by now you feel confident to do it yourself.
My 2005 Triumph T100 was down to pay ULEZ. I checked my V5 and Conformity certificate, and my NOX level was lower than TFL ULEZ level. I emailed TFL with a copy, and TFL confirmed my Nox level was within their standard and confirmed I now didn't need to pay ULEZ. So worth checking your V5 or Conformity certificate
I used to service my trusty Honda CBR 600F, the only pain being the removal of the fairing (I left the carbs to the experts though!), but my 848 Streetfighter went to the dealer. It needed a major service every other year, including new belts regardless of mileage. Even the minor service was more expensive than a major service on my car! The Ducati dealership in Alton where I purchased my bike was fantastic, but 2 military postings and 2 other Ducati dealers later, I realised just how lucky I was with the one in Alton. The other 2 didn't care, and their customer service was poor in comparison. On a lighter note, the only thing that went wrong with my beloved Streetfighter over 8 years of ownership, was the front left indicator falling off whilst riding through Bath. Sometimes finding neutral was a bit of a faff, but overall it was an awesome bike and a joy to ride and admire!
The moment you asked which ULEZ busting bike I said out loud, CX500. Was in fact my last bike before my current one. Irony of ironies, when I had mine (1979) every despatch rider in London had one, so yes, the absolutely perfect commuter bike. That price is of course way more than they cost back then but are reliable and a doddle to work on especially tappet adjustments.
I remember when the BMW R1200C was released. I was also drooling over it at the time. I wouldn't blame you if you decided that was your next bike. I don't know if you noticed, but when you're not carrying a pillion, the pillion seat can fold upwards to make a back rest for the rider. I also loved the CX500. I think the transverse v-twin configuration looks great. So much so, I picked up my new Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello last week. You really should try and get one to review.
The T120 as an upgrade from a V7 In the USA a lot of people do a belt drive conversion so that might help with what the chap is looking for, plenty of kits available online
My local Honda dealership shut down. I rang the local yamaha dealership to enquire about servicing. They asked me the age of my bike as they won't book in anything over 10 years old. I guess they may work on one but want to see the biked condition first. I am told this is simply because older bikes tend to cause the technical problems with seized fixings and corrosion. Wouldn't get this at a car workshop.
Hi Freddie. Great and informative video. Another issue to investigate is bike insurers who either do not insure bikes unless they are stored in a garage.. I am fortunate to rent a garage, as I don't have a drive or access to my garden. I have raised this with insurers who never give a substantive answer. This is not a issue with car insurance.. This practice seems unfair to say the least.. Plus new housing estates seem not to have driveways due to high cost, and therefore will have a knock on effect on bike ownership. Cheers Phil
Hello Freddie, I have only recently found you on RUclips and have enjoyed your content. I do wonder about your disdain for older carburettor bikes. Speaking as someone who has never owned a bike without a carb! I still own my first bike a Honda CB125S 1972. It still runs perfectly upon its original carb. It still has points too! All running on 6volts! I do have a modern bike for my running around. It’s a Honda NC25. If your not sure what that is, it’s a 1988 400cc Bros cafe racer. Has this modern electronic ignition but I am pleased to report, twin carbs! Come on get on board! Cheers Kevin.
The CX500 was the standard despatch bike in the 1980's - brilliant around town and comfortable on the motorway. Easy to work on and then they pulled the model. Loved the CX's I had... An unsung hero of the day was the CB250RS (single) which seems to have disappeared off the radar with no trace - you could get 80 out of them with a bit of a tailwind. Moto Guzzis of the 1980's were fab, yes a Mk1 Le Mans is heading into silly money but there are V1000 Spadas out there - like a BMW on viagra As for high mechanic bills - I am reminded of the garage rate card Hourly rate £100 If you watch £200 If you help £300 Ducati Desmo heads are a nightmare to work on. The covers to get at the shims on my Hyper are a nightmare of their own... then 4 valves per cylinder on a twin = 8 valves on a Desmo = 16 shims (I pity the V4 owners) - no wonder it is called Desmo Tax
CX500 - great bike and very usable as a daily. Quick story which may well be an urban myth for the UK. Production ceased in 1983 and the CX500 was no more. Some time around 1985, two years later, a shipping crate (or two) was found at one of the distribution centres. Apparently, these containers had been forgotten. Someone then, at the distribution centre, realised that these containers were unaccounted from the inventory. The containers were opened where each were full of CX500's. These CX500's were then sold in the UK, some two years after the CX500 had ceased production. This collection of CX500's were distributed (assuming to Honda dealerships) and were sold to the public. So.....if this is true.....there are CX500's with registration plates stating the year of 1985/1986, 2 or 3 years after then end of production. Interesting story. Maybe one of your viewers to confirm this myth either way. Great video as per usual.
Perfectly feasible story, although I can't say whether or not it's true. As an example, I have a 1985 GPz1100 A3 that wasn't registered until 1988. This is presumably because the GPz900r was released in 1984 and they just couldn't sell the 1100 in any numbers after that.
Old bikes can be a brilliant option to commute to work and get around the ULEZ nonsense ... if you pick the right bike. I used to commute into Edinburgh city centre on an old Honda XR600R and it was perfect - light, nimble, powerful, can be heard by other road users and simple to work on. The old stuff does need more maintenance but if you've picked something simple and Japanese it's mainly just more frequent oil changes, checking nuts and bolts are still tight and rust prevention.
Regarding you talk about reduced service costs. Royal Enfield bikes are made in a way that you can service them yourself, they are the most accessible bikes made today.
I've never ridden the R1200C - but I tried the 4 headlight tourer version with the heavy fork mounted fairing. The most unstable machine I've ever experienced. Below 20 mph I couldn't predict where it where it would go to within 10 feet. Many reviewers toppled them I recall from the launch reports!
Freddie, when that BMW C was launched I saw it at the NEC Motorcycle Show in a cream/off white and I really liked it. I make a fan club of one member amongst my piers. I am afraid you would enjoy the bike but stand out for it being an oddity - although I agree with you - it is lovely, but not loved
As a lifelong motorcyclist, I’ve always ridden various bikes and I’ve never been able to pay for main dealer servicing, and I’ve always had either air, air, cooled, or BMW k s dirt cheap motorcycling went to BMW f700 never thinking about Cambos. I had the bike for about a year in a bit and I soon sold it. The biggest rip-off nowadays in motorcycling and in cars as well is the Cambos electronic system. They wanted to bring into tuv approval some years ago they didn’t manage to get that so they’ve basically done it. Electronically friends of mine who are involved in a motorcycle dealerships. The prices are having to pay to use the Cambos system on these motorbikes. Nothing short of horrendous. Just my thoughts haven’t ridden motorbikes for a lot of years Michael
The BMW R1200C is one of those amazing bikes that I could never understand why it was discontinued. Same goes for the Moto Guzzi 1400 California/Eldorado family. BMW has nothing like it now for someone who wants a compact cruiser. What do you think of the R18 though?
Hi Freddie, I have a bmw 850c, owned for 2 years now. I really enjoy riding it,very reliable. I put yss suspension on it and it handles really well now. I could ride this around Australia no problems. Panniers are lockable and very useful .
Freddie, listening to this video, you talk about the motor guzzie as having a belt drive as you know it has a shaft drive. Another thing you can have your Bonneville converted to belt drive, it costs around £800.
Hi Freddie, No, I don't think there would be any power loss with belt drive. I can't think that having a belt drive would affect the engine output. HP or Torque.
@@alanedwards350 it the engine output, but the drive loss, I have always understood that belt drive is somewhere between chain and shaft drive in efficiency?
Hi Freddie ,I have looked at several reviews on the belt drive system and none say that there is any power reduction. In fact, it is cleaner , and quieter and the belts last longer than a chain. I don't know why the factory doesn't fit them as standard.@@gryphongryph
I'm lucky enough to be able to buy new bikes often, a regular customer to two examples... a large one in Essex, last purchase was odious, and the servicing even worse! Recently wanted to order another bike, this one from London... I'll never buy another thing from there as on the phone the salesman said aggressively "If you get off the phone now the deal is off, you're not coming back to me after phoning around getting a better deal!". Truly odious experiences. The latter I was buying for a family member so had to get off the phone to confirm what extras / colour he wanted... I'll never buy from them or get the many bikes I have serviced there again.
Freddie powerful bikes are a risk with all the speed cameras nowadays. A simple, practical bike you can fix yourself is good and a moto guzzi V7 seem really good.
I live in twickenham going to be in ULEZ next Tuesdays. I have 2 historical motorbikes one is a cb250n super dream 1980 and a cb900 1982 to which I can drive anywhere in London but I think some 2 strokes motorbikes which are historical are not aloud to drive in ULEZ might need checking.
Freddie, I got my first bike last year, it is a 2007 Gsxr 600, my friend gave it to me as a gift because he wasn’t using it. I got obsessed last summer with bikes before my friend even gave me his. I was looking to start with a Svartpilen from Husqvarna, I thought that looked cool. I love the feeling the Gsxr gives me. I feel powerful and the fastest on the road (till someone with 1000cc passes me) but that kind of aggressive riding that gixxer promotes gets to stressful and tiring. I wanted something better, more classic, more tamed and with character, more comfortable, pretty much a modern classic. The interest rates on bikes are over 8% here in Boston where I live and the dealers kill you with fees when you buy one. I love the gixxer and I wouldn’t sell it but I feel I got stuck with it. On another hand I went to the triumph dealer and wanted to try the Tiger 600 because I feel like here in US an ADV can be more fun and you can enjoy the roads better but I don’t know. How do I find out what I like to ride, Do i need to buy an adv, a classic, a naked bike just to understand the type of riding I like? Is there any other way in a biking community where people switch bikes for a day or something? I’m new to biking but I enjoy it so I’m really hoping you see this, Started watching you last year and I really enjoy all your videos, both Monica and you have great personalities and I want to see you succeed. Best of luck!!!
The Honda CX 500 is perfectly feasible as an everyday bike . When first introduced it had cam chain issues ,which were sorted by a factory recall . Any CX ‘s in service today ,will have well been sorted . Honda also did a custom styled version & introduced a faired tourer called the Silverwing ,with ,if I remember correctly was equipped with a larger cc version of the same engine . 400cc versions of the CX were produced for the Japanese home market ,& the 400cc engine is has now been licensed for the Chinese ,who build them & fit them in some of their bikes . The old BMW ‘s are better built than the BMWs being flogged these days ,& less tech to go wrong . Again any of these bikes still running today ,will have been well sorted & have some sensible tasteful mods to keep them running sweet . I also know somebody who runs a 40 year plus Suzuki GP 125 two stroke ,in standard factory trim & uses it every day for commuting to work ,& other places ,& it never misses a beat . I once owned a 98 cc version of the same bike ,6 volts & points ignition ,rode it to work & toured all North Wales & rode it up the horseshoe pass ,Snowdonia ,round the great Orme the whole nine yards ,never missed a beat & seen 75 mph ( gen 68 - 70 mph ) on stretch of A55 expressway . A lot of bikes built 40 plus years ago are still viable everyday runners ,as long as they are maintained & serviced / ridden correctly . There will be more aftermarket parts & used parts available for the more popular models & conversions from points to electronic ignition. 👍
Freddie, the old bikes with shaft drive, the shaft drive is a economical risk. If you get problem with the shaftdrive, you have to disasamble half of bike to be able to repair. The cheap bike will suddly be a expensive story. If you buy a old bike, it should be chaindriven,
As long as you can get spare parts for these old bikes,its the way to go for cheap transport .i pretty sure bmw are probably the best to own bacause they keep old stock part for even the really old models
I have a Pan America which has hydraulic valves as do all HD bikes for years to cut down servicing costs. The normal service is around £325 at HD but if software is not needed can be done yourself for around £100! This is good for a high performance bike like this as a major service on a Street triple with valve clearances checked and adjusted is around £1000 😮 Royal Enfield and Honda CB500 are super cheap to run.
My experience with Triumph has also been negative. I went in to look at the Trident 650 and get some advice, but I had trouble getting someone’s attention even though I was practically the only one in the dealers. My husband came in after me and as soon as he walked in was asked if he wanted any help. We left and I bought a Kawasaki who didn't seem to have issues selling bikes to woman.
"Replacing a Moto Guzzi V7 iii for a BMW RnineT" I would have taken a look at the Indian Scout range. Plenty of power and torque, belt drive, easy services and lot's of smiles. I would agree they are on the expensive side of the range, but not compared to the BMW. Polaris is a well reputated company, and makes great bikes.
On the subject of servicing. Royal Enfield are pretty unique regarding the ease of servicing their bikes. My Meteor cost around £150 for a full service-including checking the valves. I suppose the key for manufacturers' is, that they will design bikes which are high tech knowing that their customers will be a) able to afford the resulting higher servicing costs. and b) owners will be unable to perform basic servicing themselves.
I live in New England and the Honda CB300s on up last forever here. I’ve owned a couple in the past and I still see them around on their enth iterations each.
I wonder if electric will bring service costs down. My electric car, first service is just £90 and a big service is about £240 and that's at a main dealer!
I had my CX500 in the Air Force and after I served my country ltoured all over my country. I had the bike for 10 years and 250,000 miles. Trouble free until the cam chain ⛓️ broke and totally the engine.
Ohh Freddie, a bit late to reply to your fabulous podcasts 🙏 Such a diverse collection of content, owners & your choice of a potential addition to the trusty, but difficult to buy parts for Bonneville 😉😎 The BMW was certainly out there & different however, nowadays I can only picture you on a Royal Enfield! Imagine this… being shafted from a mechanic on your shaft drive BMW🤔😉 Just ask your Bonneville 🙏
Hi Freddie, I owned and rode a CX500 for dispatch work back in the 80’s. Very comfortable and accessible all round for maintenance which it doesn’t need much of. I upgraded to a new BMW R80ST which needed lots of sorting however, the dealership lent me an R65 that U rode for a week which was actually better and way more economical for London than my 800cc flat-twin. You’ll either have to be very lucky or know what you’re doing with bikes that are 40years old, and/or maybe older. Research like a detective 🔎 and create a portfolio (parts prices) before parting with your hard earned cash, should you decide on a classic. Thanks for a great program Freddie, best greetings from Germany 🇩🇪 Sher ps; did you manage to get a new head-gasket for your Bonny?
Maxxis tyres arent so bad as an economy tyre, in other words id not push them to hard in either heat generation on a spirited ride, and go easy in wet Bridgestone's or Michelin's their not. Ok for most normal mortals to use in most day to day circumstances though, and have had on previous bikes. R850c and 1200c were sales flops here, even with the james bond film....very marmite bike. Tbf, it was brave of bmw to release the R18 but, it doesn't seem to be a massive seller these days either. Safe rides mate...🥂🏁
I was thinking exactly the same about the new Moto Guzzi V7 with the larger 850 engine, but then I remembered about the V9. I remember Honda CX500 when they were new and they were proper work horses. For dealer experiences I am surprised at some of the attitudes, I found the same poor experience with my local Triumph and BMW dealers but the Suzuki and Honda dealers were great, bought a new Honda, but when I started the process of looking I thought I would have had Triumph or BMW so dealer attitude over the actual bikes influenced my purchasing decision.
Moto guzzi enters the chat. With the exception of the latest liquid cooled engine, which is still simple to work on, you can take apart the engine without taking off any body parts. Valve adjustments are just a few bolts to take off, and simple 2 valves with a pushrod. You can replace the spark plug easily as well. Not to mention the lack of chains Pretty much everything is designed to be serviced at home with very little special tools.
On the Other Hand . How could Freddie do all this U Tube Stuff Without Advanced Technology? I remember People saying Why do you need an Electric Start?
I had 3 cx500's when i was a despatch rider in the 80's . All of them covered in excess of 150,000 miles . In that industry we all knew what would fail on them ......camchain tensioners , drive rings and generators ......so we were prepared and able to fix them . Superb machines !
The old plastic maggot😂, they were the dispatchers favourite back then. My mate Paul had one brand new around then too as a long distance dispatch rider , he gave up on London as it wasn't his game.
My other mate Alan was a top rider for Addison Lee back then. He loved London work.
I rode Paul's CX (same colour as this one) once and tbf it was a different world to my 1961 BSA A5😂 boring as hell but a solid dependable bike for sure
i too rode despatch during the golden days & we all ripped the p.i$$ out of cx500 riders.
Bomb proof dispatch rider bike in the day
@@ianwhitehead4728 there was more to it than 8 - 10 hrs in the saddle, you had to enjoy the bike & you aren’t going to find many who did on those. GTs/VTs/GSs & BMW were all preferred. Granted, they had a reputation for doing the miles, but what you gained there you lost in the experience. These bikes, & other hondas at the time almost put me off riding for life until i discovered kawasaki.
I have ridden a R1200c since 2014 , it has been my daily commuter from Nottingham to Cheltenham, through all sorts of weather all year round, never missed a beat , easy to ride at any speed, rock solid , pulls like a train with enough precision to take on the early m1 and m5 traffic, bulletproof, bought a workshop manual , tools and service my self, it’s nothing fancy , no troubling electronics just nice and easy. It’s a real head turner be prepared to have numerous chats and even photos, and it’s has a moveable back rest great for long distance, and Freddie , lockable panniers! The old girl is now in semi retirement and still a pleasure to own, Cheers Huw
Thanks for mentioning my Guzzi tyre for £32.90 it is doing really well in our British summer rain, hail and sun weather. I also recently put some Mistral exhausts on my V7 and it ran a bit rough, someone said take it to a Guzzi dealer as it will need remapping, but I found for a £20 I could buy the right cables and £80 got me the correct mapping and did it myself and it cured the issue for a lot less than Guzzi would have charged. A computer is becoming just as much a necessity as a 10mm spanner these days.
Freddie I’ve just purchased a 43 year update Suzuki GS850. The bike still runs sweet as it should. It came with 10 months mot as the previous owner hadn’t registered it as historic. The cost £950 there are bargains out there with bullet proof Japanese engines. People don’t need to spend a fortune for cheap tax free transport.
I had one with over 85000 miles on it. Great bikes for long journeys, so smooth, easy to work on, bombproof engines. Those GS Suzuki 2v per cylinder engines and shaft drive on G models of 850 and 1000cc. The old Kawasaki Z650 from 1976 to 1979 also are great bikes.
Unfortunately there are still too many unprofessional bike dealers. Re Triumph I too almost bought a Tiger 660 Sport, had a good long test ride (tick) got back they'd gone an appraisal on my bike (quite uncomplementary) and the sales guy I was dealing with wasn't there (he'd gone to the dentist) no worries he would ring me back tomorrow. Long and short I missed his call, returned his call left a message...nothing. Enquired about a Moto Guzzi V100, sales experience totally different and I bought it and am delighted with the bike! Triumph need to up their game.
Greetings from Malta Freddie. Was following your comments regarding costs for servicing the bikes. I currently own 3 bikes. A 2013 piaggio x10, a 2016 indian scout and a 2010 bmw r1200rt. I been only driving motorcycles since 2014 and After experiencing ridiculous costs for servicing by Mecchanic’s I had decided to purchase service manuals for all of them and do all the work myself. At the beginning it felt very difficult however as time passed, today I really enjoy it and look forward for the next service. The beautiful thing is that you get to know your bikes more and how they work and function.
Thanks for your content on both channel and look foreword to one day see you in Malta and perhaps meet for a coffee and a snack.
Kindest regards - Mario Fenech
Belt drive Guzzi? - I thought they were all completely shafted years ago . . . so to speak : )
Hi Freddie , one of my two bikes is a Honda CX500 1978, it has only 22000 miles on it, somebody just stored it away for many years. I use it as my every day transport as I'm retired so don't need to do loads of miles. This bike costs me nothing to tax or mot and as it's just added to my other bike insurance, costs almost nothing to insure .Being a Honda it's incredibly reliable even though it's 45 years old. I love riding it. I had a couple of them back in the late 70's early 80's and even back then they were the most reliable bikes I ever owned. I can even turn up at local classic bike events and get in for free. A fantastic way to get into classic's very cheaply, with the added bonus of everyone of my generation either has rode one or knew of someone who had one, so will always want to talk to you about them. Got to be the bargain of the 2nd hand bike world and now has the added bonus of being ULEZ exempt.
Maxxis tyres are well known in the MTB world and are considered a very good make (50 quid plus on the MTB) but are still budget on cars 🤷
I have been using Maxxis tyres for 12yrs and never had a problem, even these so called budget tyres are good enough for me..I don't believe there is a 'bad' tyre in this day and age. Good enough for Ron Haslem , good enough for me..Tracer 900 rider
Freddie - I've been buying older and "classic" bikes for many years now - I find a nice mid '80's - 90's-2000's cool ride - an interesting model I admired when new, and have fun riding for a season. Then I sell it on and look for something else interesting to try out. I always try to buy from individuals, who are enthusiasts and take proper care of their bikes. For years now, I have been riding bikes with low mileages - generally 20-40,000 miles, that have been recently serviced, and have good tires etc... I have been riding, practically for free, since then. I have owned 43 bikes in my life (I'm 70), and likely will own several more. Nowadays, I only own one at a time... back in the day, I had up to 6 bikes in my stable, and paid a lot for insurance! With these classic aged bikes here in British Columbia, 15 years old qualifies as "Classic" and is far cheaper to run. We have no annual inspections to pass as well. Recent bikes were - Honda V-4 Interceptor, Ducati Monster, Yamaha FJ1300, BMW 1150GS, Honda XL-200 Dual Sport...and many others too - Suzukis, Kawasakis, Moto Guzzi,... and I loved every one...and when I set out to buy another bike, I have almost no preconceptions on what I want and have sometimes bought a bike that a day before, I had no idea I would even like. Spur of themoment can be a great thing - if you are standing in front of a cool bike, and you are intrgued about what it's like to own, NOW is the time to reach into your wallet and buy the damn thing! You can always sell it and buy something else. Just don't get roped into hire-purchase programs on new bikes and stay making big payments forever...
I ran an identical CX500 in 1982.
That is the first model which needed a camchain modification, which I'm sure is long done.
Shaft drive, faultless.
Easy to service with the headscpoking out to adjust the valves and change plugs. Oil filter on the front.
Without doubt the most comfortable bike I've travelled on.
50mpg.
The despatch riders' favourite.
That looks very good with it's original exhaust and front mudguard which are extremely rare.
An investment, abd niw very desirable.
Mine cost £700! About £1039 when new at the time.
A classic.
It's an import because single disc and high bars. But not an issue.
Ride safe.
Hi Freddie, with ref to the Moto Guzzi feature, you refer to belt drive , what were you referring to. The engine is a pushrod valve system and the drive train is shaft drive. Interesting video and agree with the ridiculous cost of ownership and tyres, I have just had to replace the Metzeler front tyre on my Triumph Scarmbler after 3250 miles @ £115 !
I'm sure Freddie was saying "belt" but meaning "shaft".
Shaft drive is a feature of Moto Guzzis, some of the BMW range and some Japanese bikes, usually large tourers and some cruisers.
These days, I'm not sure as to whether or there are any "sporty" Japanese bikes with shaft drive, but I'd place the old Suzuki GS650 Katana into that category. I owned one of those for a time, after being really impressed with one owned by a friend.
BMW R1200C My brother has one and purchased it from someones garage partly dismantled. The guy he purchased it from said it is the bike used in the James Bond film. However, my brother has never bothered to substantiate his claim. He loves the bike but it does have an issue. This model had a lot of chrome, some on metal (ie wheels) and some chrome effect panels. Unfortunately, the quality of the chrome did not match the rest of the German manufacturing. My brother had to completely strip his to get wheels, bars etc. chemically stripped and rust proofed. Then it was re-chromed properly. Nowadays, it looks stunning but it took him months and several thousand pounds to rebuild. I have heard that the chrome was not up to much on this model from other owners and motorcycle retailers. Thanks for a great chat channel. Garry
Many years ago, I replaced one cylinder, head, and piston on my old BMW R80RT without removing much fairing parts at all. It took maybe a couple of hours in total. Contrast that with a 2018+ Goldwing, where you have to practically strip the wretched thing down to the bare frame to change the air filter.
Re the CX500, I ran the GL500 SilverWing version for a couple of years. It was as reliable as a stone, and remarkably easy to service. Another bike to consider is its successor, the excellent VT500, which is starting to age into the historic bracket.
The service question, it's also possibley because there are so few bikes compared to the mass number of cars, plus it's very seasonal, as lots of people store their bikes for 5 or 6 months, I'd say this is a large factor 😊
This is a very good point re seasonality
@@tuesdayatdobbs I think this is possibly the biggest factor in the equation, the niche aspect of motorcycling over the scale of the car market. Motorcycle manufacturers have us over barrel and almost entirely in their thrall. There are scarce few independent bike mechanics that have the skills and facilities to perform major service tasks on modern bikes. The manufacturer mandated workshops just pull off the suspected faulty parts and replace them with new until the fault is rectified. If they don't get it right first time, then another expensive part goes on until everything works correctly. Meanwhile, your bill goes up and up. The middle men in the hyper extended supply chain for these parts fill their bank balances while the owner rider weeps.
I miss my 1979 Honda CX500D. I kept it from new all the way through several other motorcycles for over 24 years. I gave it to a friend where he rode it for about 10 years then gave it to his son. For all I know, it's still running and making smiles! Honda over-engineered that engine as it eventually was used with turbos.
I bought a new cx 500 custom in 1983 ,i looked up the bike on the DVLA it's still on the road amazing.
When I was on my OE in the 80s the CX500 was THE motorcycle courier bike because they were literally bulletproof. I ended up buying a Moto Guzzi VII 500 in London for my Kiwi adventure abroad because a mate suggested it (neither of us had a clue) and I'll never regret the decision. Me and my MG went very very far. And along the way met a couple on a CX500 and we travelled together to Israel and all over the place. Great bikes and cool times. I'm looking at a classic now for the same reason at your insane laws coming in. NZ will follow I fear.
I didn't feel very welcomed in the triumph dealership. Maybe why I ended up with a BMW and that was in 2014 I still don't think things have got any better
Regarding servicing. I recently changed my Suzuki GSR 600 to a new V Strom 650 with a dealer in Dublin, the first service was free after running in and was told to call in every month for free check up and adjustments. And call any time for bike wash and coffee.
I had my BMW 600/6 it has 75,000 miles on her. My CX500 had 250,000 miles on her when the cam chain broke and destroyed the engine. The alternater died the last year I had her but with the magneto CDI half a step and she would start. Very reliable and dependable.
I passed my test in January and went to several dealers before and after the test. From memory, Honda were great, enthusiastic and supportive, a Motto Guzzi dealer so and so (though the new V7 is amazing!), at Triumph... They didn't seem willing to waste time with me. It's like they are doing you a favor selling you one of their bikes making me feel like I didn't deserve to own one.
Finnally went to Warr's Harley Davidson in Chelsea. I arrived 2 minutes after they closed and thought "Well, I'll just have a look through the window". They saw me, opened the door, took me inside, showed me the bikes and invited me to come back after I passed for a test ride. Today I'm the proud owner of a Sportster Iron 883. And yes. I may have paid more for it, but it was totally worth it. Premium service.
Also, on the topic of maintenance, I can do everything on my Harley with ease and without much hassle. Everything is accessible, there are plenty of original and after market parts for both customization and maintenance, and it's a pleasure to work on it.
Everyone hates this bike. The Harley haters hate it because it's a Harley. The Harley owners hate it because it's a Sportster and it's not a reeeeeaaaal Harley.
I love it. Guess you have to own one to really appreciate it. :)
Ricardo
Maxxis Tires are the bomb! Over here in British Columbia I first became aware of them about 20 years ago, looking for tires for a downhill mountain bike, and discovered the world of Maxxis - they make tires for everything that rolls... even quality street legal race tires that many of us use on our slalom/time attack race cars - at half the price of the big names.
Ulez: I have a 2005 KTM superduke which I would need ti pay the £12.50 daily charge, booked it in with stinkwheels/Allspeeds in Noak Hill in Noak Hill, Essex. Great service by Tony and after paying the £175 fee, it is now clear of paying the charge. Recommended to anybody who wants to keep riding their “noncompliant” motorcycle with the hassle and cost
Maxxis tyres are great. I have used them on a Suzuki Bandit 1250 (known as the tyre eater due to the amount of torque) and they were great. Toured europe on that bike and tyres.
You are truly a fine "broadcaster". Hope the Bonneville is back on the road soon.
This goes back to ur video on carbs vs injection, carb bikes back in the 70' & 80's were naked and much easier to access for servicing !
Buy an old bike as a reliable bike for everyday use? Yes, get the right one and you will have a ball. Both the bikes you featured would be great. My BMW K75 (from 1988) is not yet quite old enough for historic UK reg. In May and June this year I did an amazing trip (over 5,000 miles or 8,000 kms) from Spain, through France and England to Scotland and back again. I am just preparing for my next trip to northern Spain and the French side of the Pyrenees. (Probably 3 to 4 thousand kms). Service kit, with quality synthetic oil, 110€ including the special tool to remove the oil filter. Easy to service it at home. Seems like cheap servicing to me. (I have had the bike since 2008, done numerous trips including the desert and Atlas mountains in Morocco).
However, I have just fitted a new rear tyre (Conti RoadAttack 3) at €190. Great tyre, inspires lots of confidence, but sadly not cheap. I must admit, those Maxxis tyres sound like extremely good value.
My Sportster's carburetor is original and was cleaned up for the first time in 25 years. Now it's good for another 25 years.
I live just inside of the original ULEZ and have a 2006 Ducati Monster S4RS which I'm not eager to part with. When ULEZ hit I was advised to get emissions certificate from Ducati and submit it to ULEZ people for exemption. It took Ducati only a week to email me the certificate for my bike specifically and another week for ULEZ to go through it and issue an exemption for my bike. So even though my motorcycle is older than 2008, I don't pay ULEZ. And that's for a big hungry 998cc engine. I'm sure most bikes from the 2000s will pass the emissions test for ULEZ.
Hope it's useful information
Great VLOG as usual. I'm really enjoying the way you stimulate debate on biking without the usual macho rubbish so often associated with it. I have two comments on this weeks chat,
Firstly I had a really indifferent experience at Triumph Long Eaton when I went for a test ride last year. The bike was filthy and there was an engine warning light on on the dash from the start. I got the distinct impression they couldn't care less if I bought the bike or not.
Secondly I did test ride the BMW 1200C when it was new. I do hope you get a good ride on one before you are tempted to part with your 'hard earned' Cheers. Tom
Hi freddie.
For elio, i passed my test in 2021 and got the v7 850cc new. I also picked up a v7 750cc for my wife who was learning.
The 750cc is less bhp but its lighter too. The 850cc v7 is more grunty but not night and day with it being heavier.
I traded the v7 for an r9 scrambler to do my advanced riding test and with a set of pier city bar risers on was very comfortable with the perfect amount of bhp for my experince. Id say the different head stock and more upright position of the scrambler would suit rather than the r9t or pure.
I ve since in may moved on to the bike from my childhood posters and dreams...the suzuki Katana 2023 model in blue and gold. Its the k5 engine with tons of torque, lots of top end and a surprisingly sit up riding position. Its still a retro just an 80s retro, which takes me back to staring at the 1981 poster on my wall.
Congrats on the 100 k subs
Freddie, thanks a lot for mentioning my doubt about de BMW r Nine t Pure and of course... Many congrats for your 100K!!!💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
Paul, many thanks for your answer, I was thinking about the r9 Scrambler too! I want to grab a Pure and Scrambler and notice how I feel sitting on both bikes (I'm only 169cm).
When I take my decision I'll you all my feelings.
Thanks a lot.
On the issue of dealers: I had every intention of buying a new pre registered Honda CFR300 Rally from the main dealer in Bunage, Manchester. The salesman totally blanked me whilst he chatted to a colleague for a good 10 minutes. There were no other customers in the shop. I walked away, never to return. I've now ordered a Triumph 400 Scrambler instead.
BMW's and CX500 are super easy to do everything to sevice. Valve adjustment and oil and filter changes are so simple. GP levels of HP required GP levels of maintenance. I have had my Sportster for 25 years and 400,000 miles on the original engine. Belt drive and hydraulic valve adjustment means all you have to do is change the fluids and filter . I have had my Sportster for 25 years now. My daily driver as l don't have a car 🚗.
I have had my Sportster for 25 years and 400,000 miles on the original engine and l have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years now. Both reliable and dependable transportation. Economical as well. Fun to ride and lots of smiles per mile 😂.
75 bmw r60. 17k on it . Had it a year now. No issues at all. Need to get one that's been well looked after. Mine previous owner did all carb bits, wheel bearings etc. Only done about 3000 on it but it's a lovely starting and riding bike.
I had a similarly disappointing experience with Pure Triumph Woburn. My advice would be to take the trip down from Woburn to Watford (triumph North London) - the sales Exec, Ahsan, is brilliant and they’re very accommodating for test rides. Don’t discount an entire brand based on one shoddy dealership.
Agreed. I’ve been using that Triumph branch for a number of years now and have no complaints, extremely happy with their service so far………and they have a great free coffee machine
I owned a V7 and made a testdrive on a Bellagio and was amazed this strange bike has a wonderfull smooth engine with the looks of a cruiser+supermotard rims and steering bars. Very comfortable seating too! I went for a Griso wich has a wide tank which is more comfortable as the V7 at highway speeds and I love it with the exeption if I had to chose again today the fond memory of the Bellagio would come into mind.
A Vitpillen might be an option too.
The good thing about buying an old bike is you can turn it into Triggers sweeping brush if you know what I mean.
17 new heads and 14 new handles?! If you know what I mean....😂
I have a 1978 Honda CB750F2. It is my go-to bike for nipping into town for a coffee. All day riding comfort and starts on the button, first time every time.
I believe the the C1200 BMW bikes suffered with corrosion when ridden in the elements but I’d still love one I feel they have aged very well 👌🏼
That old Honda, Freddie, is an old dispatcher’s favourite. So that’s all you need to know. An old shaft drive plodder, that will go on forever.
Freddie, the final drive on the V7 is via shaft, not belt. With respect to buying 40+ old bikes, I have several old bikes and I constantly have problems with the carburetors jets gumming up due to the ethanol in our gas In California. You also need to find a shop that will work on old bikes. The interesting thing is that I can easily find just about any parts for my old Z-1, Z1-R, and H-1, other than a few cosmetic components. Not so for a lot of newer bikes. Engine parts for KZ and Z-1 models are also plentiful and the motors and clutches are very robust. Just have to ride them more! Very much enjoy your channel.
Vintage motorcycles have better parts support and availability. When maintained properly they are reliable and dependable transportation. I replaced the camshafts in my 1965 Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto because they wore out after 50 years. Did it at my friend's Triumph shop with basic tools. The old Soviet Union built URAL came with a tool kit that had all the tools to rebuild the bike with. Old vintage motorcycles will outlast any modern motorcycle simply because they are easy to maintain and not dependant on dealer services. Now there's another good reason to enjoy the pleasures of owning and riding a vintage motorcycles 😂😂
Freddie, not sure about spares availability for the CX, but BMW boxers are eminently usable as every day bikes. Easy to maintain, reliable and spares are plentiful and reasonably priced.
I couldn't fault the local Triumph dealership, always friendly, always helpful.Until I showed up on my 73 plate Moto Guzzi V85TT. Not a word was exchanged and I got my free Drink, sat outside and left. It was all OK before when I showed interest in Sport Tiger. That was a great all rounder and the best real world horse power. But the service cost was more than my sports van, so Guzzi is the one and haven't looked back.
Hi Freddie, the Triumph Thunderbird 1600 and 1700 twins seem not too complicated and a beautiful machine. Royal Enfield are at a good price and maybe the BSA 650 gold star seems basic otherwise Yamaha bolt seem basic with no plastic fairings or even a Suzuki 650 v twin that isn't covered in fairings etc like the v Strom which is a proven machine at a good price and very reliable.
Hi. Freddie.. I'm fortunate to own four classic japanese bikes over 40 years old. Two suzuki triples and two kawasaki fours. All are used regularly and before i retired two years ago, i used my 1982 kawasaki z400j daily for the commute to work. I now enjoy free tax and no mot on them all and do my own maintainance. I also must say that I've owned these bikes for a long time.. one of them since 2001 and i didn't pay above 500 pounds for any of them!. These bikes are eminently useable as everyday transport.( why shouldn't they be?)... what a loophole for ulez!... in closing, I'll mention that my other bike is an RE classic 350 that i bought last year, and like youi absolutely love it!...al the best freddie... Andy
“The plastic maggot” haven’t seen one of them in years. They did a 650 version which I was lucky enough to borrow for my work ride around 1985. Nothing wrong with them but they are top heavy. Small price to pay though if it saves you £12.50 a day.
Regarding servicing motorcycles I'm always surprised that so many owners depend on dealers to service their machines, armed with a factory service manual possibly downloaded, a decent set of tools and with the help of RUclips and a generous amount of time I think it's quite possible for most to accomplish considering most servicing is just oil and filters changed for most low mileage riders, also chain and sprocket replacements are nothing to be afraid of, read and learn.
If mileage becomes quite high then O.K. get it to a trusted mechanic but one would have saved £££s towards that one big service unless by now you feel confident to do it yourself.
I've never taken any vehicle that I've owned to a garage for repair, thankfully I've been able to do all the work myself.
My 2005 Triumph T100 was down to pay ULEZ. I checked my V5 and Conformity certificate, and my NOX level was lower than TFL ULEZ level. I emailed TFL with a copy, and TFL confirmed my Nox level was within their standard and confirmed I now didn't need to pay ULEZ. So worth checking your V5 or Conformity certificate
I used to service my trusty Honda CBR 600F, the only pain being the removal of the fairing (I left the carbs to the experts though!), but my 848 Streetfighter went to the dealer. It needed a major service every other year, including new belts regardless of mileage. Even the minor service was more expensive than a major service on my car! The Ducati dealership in Alton where I purchased my bike was fantastic, but 2 military postings and 2 other Ducati dealers later, I realised just how lucky I was with the one in Alton. The other 2 didn't care, and their customer service was poor in comparison. On a lighter note, the only thing that went wrong with my beloved Streetfighter over 8 years of ownership, was the front left indicator falling off whilst riding through Bath. Sometimes finding neutral was a bit of a faff, but overall it was an awesome bike and a joy to ride and admire!
The moment you asked which ULEZ busting bike I said out loud, CX500. Was in fact my last bike before my current one. Irony of ironies, when I had mine (1979) every despatch rider in London had one, so yes, the absolutely perfect commuter bike. That price is of course way more than they cost back then but are reliable and a doddle to work on especially tappet adjustments.
Agree.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge Freddie….I learn something every week.
I remember when the BMW R1200C was released. I was also drooling over it at the time. I wouldn't blame you if you decided that was your next bike. I don't know if you noticed, but when you're not carrying a pillion, the pillion seat can fold upwards to make a back rest for the rider. I also loved the CX500. I think the transverse v-twin configuration looks great. So much so, I picked up my new Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello last week. You really should try and get one to review.
The T120 as an upgrade from a V7
In the USA a lot of people do a belt drive conversion so that might help with what the chap is looking for, plenty of kits available online
My local Honda dealership shut down. I rang the local yamaha dealership to enquire about servicing. They asked me the age of my bike as they won't book in anything over 10 years old. I guess they may work on one but want to see the biked condition first. I am told this is simply because older bikes tend to cause the technical problems with seized fixings and corrosion. Wouldn't get this at a car workshop.
Hi Freddie. Great and informative video. Another issue to investigate is bike insurers who either do not insure bikes unless they are stored in a garage.. I am fortunate to rent a garage, as I don't have a drive or access to my garden. I have raised this with insurers who never give a substantive answer. This is not a issue with car insurance.. This practice seems unfair to say the least.. Plus new housing estates seem not to have driveways due to high cost, and therefore will have a knock on effect on bike ownership.
Cheers
Phil
Hello Freddie, I have only recently found you on RUclips and have enjoyed your content.
I do wonder about your disdain for older carburettor bikes. Speaking as someone who has never owned a bike without a carb!
I still own my first bike a Honda CB125S 1972. It still runs perfectly upon its original carb.
It still has points too! All running on 6volts!
I do have a modern bike for my running around. It’s a Honda NC25.
If your not sure what that is, it’s a 1988 400cc Bros cafe racer. Has this modern electronic ignition but I am pleased to report, twin carbs!
Come on get on board!
Cheers Kevin.
The CX500 was the standard despatch bike in the 1980's - brilliant around town and comfortable on the motorway. Easy to work on and then they pulled the model. Loved the CX's I had... An unsung hero of the day was the CB250RS (single) which seems to have disappeared off the radar with no trace - you could get 80 out of them with a bit of a tailwind.
Moto Guzzis of the 1980's were fab, yes a Mk1 Le Mans is heading into silly money but there are V1000 Spadas out there - like a BMW on viagra
As for high mechanic bills - I am reminded of the garage rate card
Hourly rate £100
If you watch £200
If you help £300
Ducati Desmo heads are a nightmare to work on. The covers to get at the shims on my Hyper are a nightmare of their own... then 4 valves per cylinder on a twin = 8 valves on a Desmo = 16 shims (I pity the V4 owners) - no wonder it is called Desmo Tax
CX500 - great bike and very usable as a daily. Quick story which may well be an urban myth for the UK. Production ceased in 1983 and the CX500 was no more. Some time around 1985, two years later, a shipping crate (or two) was found at one of the distribution centres. Apparently, these containers had been forgotten. Someone then, at the distribution centre, realised that these containers were unaccounted from the inventory. The containers were opened where each were full of CX500's. These CX500's were then sold in the UK, some two years after the CX500 had ceased production. This collection of CX500's were distributed (assuming to Honda dealerships) and were sold to the public. So.....if this is true.....there are CX500's with registration plates stating the year of 1985/1986, 2 or 3 years after then end of production. Interesting story. Maybe one of your viewers to confirm this myth either way. Great video as per usual.
Perfectly feasible story, although I can't say whether or not it's true. As an example, I have a 1985 GPz1100 A3 that wasn't registered until 1988. This is presumably because the GPz900r was released in 1984 and they just couldn't sell the 1100 in any numbers after that.
Old bikes can be a brilliant option to commute to work and get around the ULEZ nonsense ... if you pick the right bike. I used to commute into Edinburgh city centre on an old Honda XR600R and it was perfect - light, nimble, powerful, can be heard by other road users and simple to work on. The old stuff does need more maintenance but if you've picked something simple and Japanese it's mainly just more frequent oil changes, checking nuts and bolts are still tight and rust prevention.
Regarding you talk about reduced service costs. Royal Enfield bikes are made in a way that you can service them yourself, they are the most accessible bikes made today.
I've never ridden the R1200C - but I tried the 4 headlight tourer version with the heavy fork mounted fairing. The most unstable machine I've ever experienced. Below 20 mph I couldn't predict where it where it would go to within 10 feet. Many reviewers toppled them I recall from the launch reports!
Freddie, when that BMW C was launched I saw it at the NEC Motorcycle Show in a cream/off white and I really liked it. I make a fan club of one member amongst my piers. I am afraid you would enjoy the bike but stand out for it being an oddity - although I agree with you - it is lovely, but not loved
As a lifelong motorcyclist, I’ve always ridden various bikes and I’ve never been able to pay for main dealer servicing, and I’ve always had either air, air, cooled, or BMW k s dirt cheap motorcycling went to BMW f700 never thinking about Cambos. I had the bike for about a year in a bit and I soon sold it. The biggest rip-off nowadays in motorcycling and in cars as well is the Cambos electronic system. They wanted to bring into tuv approval some years ago they didn’t manage to get that so they’ve basically done it. Electronically friends of mine who are involved in a motorcycle dealerships. The prices are having to pay to use the Cambos system on these motorbikes. Nothing short of horrendous. Just my thoughts haven’t ridden motorbikes for a lot of years Michael
The BMW R1200C is one of those amazing bikes that I could never understand why it was discontinued. Same goes for the Moto Guzzi 1400 California/Eldorado family. BMW has nothing like it now for someone who wants a compact cruiser. What do you think of the R18 though?
Thanks Freddy just passed my test today 3 rd time lucky was getting disheartened but I kept going because of your trip videos etc
Hi Freddie, I have a bmw 850c, owned for 2 years now. I really enjoy riding it,very reliable. I put yss suspension on it and it handles really well now. I could ride this around Australia no problems. Panniers are lockable and very useful .
Freddie, listening to this video, you talk about the motor guzzie as having a belt drive as you know it has a shaft drive. Another thing you can have your Bonneville converted to belt drive, it costs around £800.
I have heard about this, but would the Bonneville not lose some power ?
Hi Freddie, No, I don't think there would be any power loss with belt drive. I can't think that having a belt drive would affect the engine output. HP or Torque.
@@alanedwards350 it the engine output, but the drive loss, I have always understood that belt drive is somewhere between chain and shaft drive in efficiency?
Hi Freddie ,I have looked at several reviews on the belt drive system and none say that there is any power reduction. In fact, it is cleaner , and quieter and the belts last longer than a chain. I don't know why the factory doesn't fit them as standard.@@gryphongryph
Belt drive on my Sportster lasts for 100,000 miles or more. Much cheaper than a chain drive in cost per mile.
I'm lucky enough to be able to buy new bikes often, a regular customer to two examples... a large one in Essex, last purchase was odious, and the servicing even worse! Recently wanted to order another bike, this one from London... I'll never buy another thing from there as on the phone the salesman said aggressively "If you get off the phone now the deal is off, you're not coming back to me after phoning around getting a better deal!". Truly odious experiences. The latter I was buying for a family member so had to get off the phone to confirm what extras / colour he wanted... I'll never buy from them or get the many bikes I have serviced there again.
I've had 2 of them r1200c. Beautiful motorcycle .
Freddie powerful bikes are a risk with all the speed cameras nowadays. A simple, practical bike you can fix yourself is good and a moto guzzi V7 seem really good.
I have a Yamaha XS750 1978, just applied for historic vehicle tax class. On a Q plate for some reason but still hopethe change.
I live in twickenham going to be in ULEZ next Tuesdays. I have 2 historical motorbikes one is a cb250n super dream 1980 and a cb900 1982 to which I can drive anywhere in London but I think some 2 strokes motorbikes which are historical are not aloud to drive in ULEZ might need checking.
Freddie, I got my first bike last year, it is a 2007 Gsxr 600, my friend gave it to me as a gift because he wasn’t using it. I got obsessed last summer with bikes before my friend even gave me his. I was looking to start with a Svartpilen from Husqvarna, I thought that looked cool. I love the feeling the Gsxr gives me. I feel powerful and the fastest on the road (till someone with 1000cc passes me) but that kind of aggressive riding that gixxer promotes gets to stressful and tiring.
I wanted something better, more classic, more tamed and with character, more comfortable, pretty much a modern classic.
The interest rates on bikes are over 8% here in Boston where I live and the dealers kill you with fees when you buy one.
I love the gixxer and I wouldn’t sell it but I feel I got stuck with it.
On another hand I went to the triumph dealer and wanted to try the Tiger 600 because I feel like here in US an ADV can be more fun and you can enjoy the roads better but I don’t know.
How do I find out what I like to ride, Do i need to buy an adv, a classic, a naked bike just to understand the type of riding I like?
Is there any other way in a biking community where people switch bikes for a day or something?
I’m new to biking but I enjoy it so I’m really hoping you see this,
Started watching you last year and I really enjoy all your videos, both Monica and you have great personalities and I want to see you succeed.
Best of luck!!!
Look up Peer to Peer motorcycle rental, I think it's a scheme where you can hire someone else's bike for a few days. That should give you some ideas.
The Honda CX 500 is perfectly feasible as an everyday bike . When first introduced it had cam chain issues ,which were sorted by a factory recall . Any CX ‘s in service today ,will have well been sorted . Honda also did a custom styled version & introduced a faired tourer called the Silverwing ,with ,if I remember correctly was equipped with a larger cc version of the same engine . 400cc versions of the CX were produced for the Japanese home market ,& the 400cc engine is has now been licensed for the Chinese ,who build them & fit them in some of their bikes . The old BMW ‘s are better built than the BMWs being flogged these days ,& less tech to go wrong . Again any of these bikes still running today ,will have been well sorted & have some sensible tasteful mods to keep them running sweet . I also know somebody who runs a 40 year plus Suzuki GP 125 two stroke ,in standard factory trim & uses it every day for commuting to work ,& other places ,& it never misses a beat . I once owned a 98 cc version of the same bike ,6 volts & points ignition ,rode it to work & toured all North Wales & rode it up the horseshoe pass ,Snowdonia ,round the great Orme the whole nine yards ,never missed a beat & seen 75 mph ( gen 68 - 70 mph ) on stretch of A55 expressway . A lot of bikes built 40 plus years ago are still viable everyday runners ,as long as they are maintained & serviced / ridden correctly . There will be more aftermarket parts & used parts available for the more popular models & conversions from points to electronic ignition. 👍
Belt drive? Shaft drive surely
And yet more bad PR for triumph.
Another enjoyable bike chat 👍🏻
Freddie, the old bikes with shaft drive, the shaft drive is a economical risk. If you get problem with the shaftdrive, you have to disasamble half of bike to be able to repair. The cheap bike will suddly be a expensive story. If you buy a old bike, it should be chaindriven,
As long as you can get spare parts for these old bikes,its the way to go for cheap transport .i pretty sure bmw are probably the best to own bacause they keep old stock part for even the really old models
Hi Freddy, I am not a Guzzi expert. But to the best of my knowledge, the Guzzi in question is shaft drive not belt drive.
E10 is gonna kill these old bikes and cars off,the stuff is a nightmare.
I have a Pan America which has hydraulic valves as do all HD bikes for years to cut down servicing costs. The normal service is around £325 at HD but if software is not needed can be done yourself for around £100!
This is good for a high performance bike like this as a major service on a Street triple with valve clearances checked and adjusted is around £1000 😮
Royal Enfield and Honda CB500 are super cheap to run.
My experience with Triumph has also been negative. I went in to look at the Trident 650 and get some advice, but I had trouble getting someone’s attention even though I was practically the only one in the dealers. My husband came in after me and as soon as he walked in was asked if he wanted any help. We left and I bought a Kawasaki who didn't seem to have issues selling bikes to woman.
Im in the Hospital right now, your Videos make my days ❤❤❤
I ride a R850R
Love it, makes a mockery of so called ‘modern classics’ especially a certain brand from India
"Replacing a Moto Guzzi V7 iii for a BMW RnineT" I would have taken a look at the Indian Scout range. Plenty of power and torque, belt drive, easy services and lot's of smiles. I would agree they are on the expensive side of the range, but not compared to the BMW. Polaris is a well reputated company, and makes great bikes.
Many thanks for your comment, pk, I'll think about it... Indians are sooooo beautiful!!
@@gacelsayah9217 Yes they are, and I believe they have a wide spread representation in Spain. Go to one of the dealers and try one out....
On the subject of servicing. Royal Enfield are pretty unique regarding the ease of servicing their bikes. My Meteor cost around £150 for a full service-including checking the valves. I suppose the key for manufacturers' is, that they will design bikes which are high tech knowing that their customers will be a) able to afford the resulting higher servicing costs. and b) owners will be unable to perform basic servicing themselves.
I live in New England and the Honda CB300s on up last forever here. I’ve owned a couple in the past and I still see them around on their enth iterations each.
Plenty of aftermarket support here in the states.
I wonder if electric will bring service costs down.
My electric car, first service is just £90 and a big service is about £240 and that's at a main dealer!
Loved my twin tub (cx500)
I had my CX500 in the Air Force and after I served my country ltoured all over my country. I had the bike for 10 years and 250,000 miles. Trouble free until the cam chain ⛓️ broke and totally the engine.
Ohh Freddie, a bit late to reply to your fabulous podcasts 🙏 Such a diverse collection of content, owners & your choice of a potential addition to the trusty, but difficult to buy parts for Bonneville 😉😎 The BMW was certainly out there & different however, nowadays I can only picture you on a Royal Enfield! Imagine this… being shafted from a mechanic on your shaft drive BMW🤔😉 Just ask your Bonneville 🙏
Hi Freddie,
I owned and rode a CX500 for dispatch work back in the 80’s. Very comfortable and accessible all round for maintenance which it doesn’t need much of. I upgraded to a new BMW R80ST which needed lots of sorting however, the dealership lent me an R65 that U rode for a week which was actually better and way more economical for London than my 800cc flat-twin.
You’ll either have to be very lucky or know what you’re doing with bikes that are 40years old, and/or maybe older.
Research like a detective 🔎 and create a portfolio (parts prices) before parting with your hard earned cash, should you decide on a classic.
Thanks for a great program Freddie,
best greetings from Germany 🇩🇪
Sher
ps; did you manage to get a new head-gasket for your Bonny?
U = I
typing 💬 error (sorry)
Maxxis tyres arent so bad as an economy tyre, in other words id not push them to hard in either heat generation on a spirited ride, and go easy in wet Bridgestone's or Michelin's their not.
Ok for most normal mortals to use in most day to day circumstances though, and have had on previous bikes.
R850c and 1200c were sales flops here, even with the james bond film....very marmite bike.
Tbf, it was brave of bmw to release the R18 but, it doesn't seem to be a massive seller these days either.
Safe rides mate...🥂🏁
Great to see this pop up on a struggling tuesday Freddie 🤯
I hope nothing too serious, Nick! Sending all my best to you up north!🙂
I was thinking exactly the same about the new Moto Guzzi V7 with the larger 850 engine, but then I remembered about the V9. I remember Honda CX500 when they were new and they were proper work horses. For dealer experiences I am surprised at some of the attitudes, I found the same poor experience with my local Triumph and BMW dealers but the Suzuki and Honda dealers were great, bought a new Honda, but when I started the process of looking I thought I would have had Triumph or BMW so dealer attitude over the actual bikes influenced my purchasing decision.
Biking must be made simper Freddie, I submit the royal enfield motorcycle 😂
I would agree. But I submit the Harley-Davidson. Made simple from day one.
@@stevezahn8056 Indeed. Hydraulic tappets, air cleaner on one side, spark plugs on the other.
Agreed- on both the Harley and Enfield points!
Moto guzzi enters the chat. With the exception of the latest liquid cooled engine, which is still simple to work on, you can take apart the engine without taking off any body parts. Valve adjustments are just a few bolts to take off, and simple 2 valves with a pushrod. You can replace the spark plug easily as well. Not to mention the lack of chains
Pretty much everything is designed to be serviced at home with very little special tools.
On the Other Hand . How could Freddie do all this U Tube Stuff
Without Advanced Technology?
I remember People saying
Why do you need an Electric Start?
Regarding the bmw 1200 c , they were more popular in Europe, in the UK u couldn't give them atr the time