First project bike suggestions

[RemaL]

I have been for some while thinking of looking for a bike that I can strip to it's basic parts and rebuild.
I would like something from the 70's and 80's. Simple bike. I would like to strip the engine down and learn to rebuild it myself, done my kit car from nothing and rebuilt the Zetec using carbs. But never a bike.

For anyone who has done this before any suggestions on what bike might be idea. Not a 2 stoke as i'm not a fan personally.

I would love something with a nice sounding thumping engine. If that's a thing. Thinking British or Jap maybe.

Any ideas as I don't really know where to start. Price really depends on if it's running or not. road worthy or not.

I don't want to look at anything to fancy or to tidy I won't want to strip down, but would be ideal to get a bike that there are plenty of mods and spares for

So suggestions then BB

[Krikkit]

Some kind of Japanese 80s off roader springs to mind.

[RemaL]

Good shout but would want it to be used on road.

I like the sound of a thumping retro classic bike. I will have to google pics first and see what take my fancy

[black-k1]

You'd struggle to beat a BMW air cooled twin. Easy to work on, good parts availability and useable when done.

[RemaL]

black-k1 said:

You'd struggle to beat a BMW air cooled twin. Easy to work on, good parts availability and useable when done.

Something I would have not thought about. So going to be looking

cheers Mate

[Andy XRV]

Something like this? Plenty of parts still around, easy to work on and a good return if it's done well

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1978-Yamaha-XT500-Unreg...

[Zakalwe]

What are you looking to do, a customisation job or restore to factory condition? A lot of good bikes from that era are in demand due to the customisation scene, 70/80s BMWs are particularly commonly used as donor bikes. If you want a thumping engine then twins are likely your best bet, BMW Boxers as mentioned, a Moto Guzzi V Twin might be a nice option, or a V4 like a Honda VFR. If you wanted a cruiser type then old Harley might be more your thing, or a 70s Goldwing maybe

Edited by Zakalwe on Friday 24th April 13:28

[Steve Bass]

RemaL said:

I have been for some while thinking of looking for a bike that I can strip to it's basic parts and rebuild.
I would like something from the 70's and 80's. Simple bike. I would like to strip the engine down and learn to rebuild it myself, done my kit car from nothing and rebuilt the Zetec using carbs. But never a bike.

For anyone who has done this before any suggestions on what bike might be idea. Not a 2 stoke as i'm not a fan personally.

I would love something with a nice sounding thumping engine. If that's a thing. Thinking British or Jap maybe.

Any ideas as I don't really know where to start. Price really depends on if it's running or not. road worthy or not.

I don't want to look at anything to fancy or to tidy I won't want to strip down, but would be ideal to get a bike that there are plenty of mods and spares for

So suggestions then BB

Matt,

What about starting with a classic Honda CB of some flavour?
550/750/900 etc. Lots of spares support through David Silver et al, lots of manuals and information from the web etc. Andl and not something so expensive you'll be in up to your neck should you get fed up and want out.. And lots of resale opportunity when you're done.....

[rodericb]

RemaL said:

I have been for some while thinking of looking for a bike that I can strip to it's basic parts and rebuild.
I would like something from the 70's and 80's. Simple bike. I would like to strip the engine down and learn to rebuild it myself, done my kit car from nothing and rebuilt the Zetec using carbs. But never a bike.

For anyone who has done this before any suggestions on what bike might be idea. Not a 2 stoke as i'm not a fan personally.

I would love something with a nice sounding thumping engine. If that's a thing. Thinking British or Jap maybe.

Any ideas as I don't really know where to start. Price really depends on if it's running or not. road worthy or not.

I don't want to look at anything to fancy or to tidy I won't want to strip down, but would be ideal to get a bike that there are plenty of mods and spares for

So suggestions then BB

Go for something late 90's/early 00's? TL1000R, R1, SP1 or something like that. Easy to find one for a project, you can still get (most) parts new, breakers will still have bits, you might find some NOS performance bits. I've another suggestion which is from left-field - a Ducati like a Paso or a 1989 900SS (the slabby model). Or even an early 90's 900SS - all sorts of bits and bobs and resources for those around the place!

[crofty1984]

For about £4000 you can get a running road legal Oil In Frame Triumph T140 Tiger/Bonneville or BSA A50/A65. You may get lucky and find something running and rough for £3000
Useable with appropriate maintenance, simple, lots of parts and upgrades available (especially the Triumph), will hold its value.

Not as bulletproof/maintenance free as the equivalent Japanese bike I'll admit. What about a Kawasaki W650 or a Yamaha XS650 for the retro vibe with slightly less hassle at a lower price? Is a 90's ducati Monster a bit too modern?

[RemaL]

Zakalwe said:

What are you looking to do, a customisation job or restore to factory condition? A lot of good bikes from that era are in demand due to the customisation scene, 70/80s BMWs are particularly commonly used as donor bikes. If you want a thumping engine then twins are likely your best bet, BMW Boxers as mentioned, a Moto Guzzi V Twin might be a nice option, or a V4 like a Honda VFR. If you wanted a cruiser type then old Harley might be more your thing, or a 70s Goldwing maybe

Edited by Zakalwe on Friday 24th April 13:28

I want to do my thing, no perfect recreation, no cafe racer, just something to build and enjoy Why I said about a older bike that I can get access to plenty of parts or aftermarket parts

[RemaL]

Steve Bass said:

RemaL said:

I have been for some while thinking of looking for a bike that I can strip to it's basic parts and rebuild.
I would like something from the 70's and 80's. Simple bike. I would like to strip the engine down and learn to rebuild it myself, done my kit car from nothing and rebuilt the Zetec using carbs. But never a bike.

For anyone who has done this before any suggestions on what bike might be idea. Not a 2 stoke as i'm not a fan personally.

I would love something with a nice sounding thumping engine. If that's a thing. Thinking British or Jap maybe.

Any ideas as I don't really know where to start. Price really depends on if it's running or not. road worthy or not.

I don't want to look at anything to fancy or to tidy I won't want to strip down, but would be ideal to get a bike that there are plenty of mods and spares for

So suggestions then BB

Mate something to look into and again cheers bud

Matt,

What about starting with a classic Honda CB of some flavour?
550/750/900 etc. Lots of spares support through David Silver et al, lots of manuals and information from the web etc. Andl and not something so expensive you'll be in up to your neck should you get fed up and want out.. And lots of resale opportunity when you're done.....

[Olza23]

What about a HD Sportster? Air cooled, carb reasonable parts availability

[crofty1984]

Olza23 said:

What about a HD Sportster? Air cooled, carb reasonable parts availability

Ooh, not a bad shout!

[Cocknose]

black-k1 said:

You'd struggle to beat a BMW air cooled twin. Easy to work on, good parts availability and useable when done.

Something like this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1980-BMW-R65-650-UK-Reg...

[Stuart Fordyce]

The other thing about doing an old BMW is there's really good support from Motorworks, Motobins and James Sherwood. Motorworks in particular are great if you phone them up. I owned a more modern BMW but they stock parts for the old stuff.

For me though, I'd probably do a restomod on a Hoover tube ZXR750 if I had the facilities and didn't live in the ULEZ.

[Cocknose]

I've only ever had sports bikes, but what do you think that old BMW is worth? I might have a bid, but don't want to end up paying over the odds.

[black-k1]

Cocknose said:

I've only ever had sports bikes, but what do you think that old BMW is worth? I might have a bid, but don't want to end up paying over the odds.

It looks a little over priced to me. The R65 was always a bit lacking in power. I'd rather go for one of the larger engines. That said, the 650 is thought to be the "sweetest" of the air cooled boxers.

[Zakalwe]

R series are only really going to go up value now they’re getting more scarce, so popular for cafe racer mods. I don’t think I’d want to spend 2k on an R65 unless I was really in love with the idea of an air cooled boxer that id keep forever, and if I was I’d probably just stretch to the 4-5k that R100s seem to go for

[Cocknose]

Ok lads, good to know, cheers.

Sorry for derailing the thread OP!