Old but reliable bikes

[Bob_Defly]

Are there any old but reliable bikes? Like something from 1940-1960 that doesn't leak oil everywhere, or need someone wearing overalls to keep running?

I'd love a classic bike, the older the better. But my mechanical knowledge isn't great, and I don't want to be covered in petrol all the time.

Any good recommendations? Or is this an oxymoron?

[Drezza]

Not that I know of... British bikes especially are known for leaking oil. Probably best getting a modern classic that all the hipsters have like the Triumph scrambler, or if on a budget the new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

[V8RX7]

As mentioned I'd look at the retro bikes which really were built for this reason.

Although if you're just running about locally and have a friendly garage nearby most old bikes aren't that bad

[cwis]

BMW.

An R27 or an R69 would fit the bill. Pretty, too!

[Bob_Defly]

I was thinking of the old BMW's actually, are they more reliable than anything British?

P.S. I don't want anything modern retro, I have enough modern bikes.

[cwis]

Bob_Defly said:

I was thinking of the old BMW's actually, are they more reliable than anything British?

P.S. I don't want anything modern retro, I have enough modern bikes.

I would say so, yes.

As a massive generalization Brit bikes of the 50's and 60's tend to be bored out pre war crank case designs at the limits of their capacity with OHV heads on them.

Witness Superblend bearings for example, used because ball bearings big enough for the loads wouldn't fit in the crankcase and roller bearings (smaller for the same load) couldn't be used because the crank journals (also too small) flexed too much.

BMWs had regular redesigns and were less compromised as a result. Laverda twins are a good shout too.

[crofty1984]

If you like the british style bike something like a Triumph Tiger might fit the bill if you buy a good one and are gentle with it. Single carb, convert to electronic ignition, it WILL need more regular maintenance than a modern bike, but all things can be improved. Better headlights, 12v conversions and such.
Would you consider needing to do valve clearances once a year as "unreliable" or old bike maintenance? You need to make sure you get a good one though, because old brit bikes in bad nick (trust me, I bought a project) can be a pain in the arse.
Maybe a BSA B50 (500 unit construction twin) or B31/33 (older 350/500 single) would fit the bill.

OR! Controversial - A 60's Kawasaki W1. It's a BSA A10 (650 pre-unit twin) but built properly. That's right, I said it.

Aircooled BMWs I'd consider to be reliable classics. If you're thinking along those lines - my brother has a Moto Guzzi 750 Ambassador. It was their first electric-start-only bike and they made bloody sure it was overengineered.

[catso]

crofty1984 said:

my brother has a Moto Guzzi 750 Ambassador. It was their first electric-start-only bike and they made bloody sure it was overengineered.

Old Guzzis are generally pretty solid; oil change, check the points and occasionally tappets and they run forever.

[Bob_Defly]

catso said:

crofty1984 said:

my brother has a Moto Guzzi 750 Ambassador. It was their first electric-start-only bike and they made bloody sure it was overengineered.

Old Guzzis are generally pretty solid; oil change, check the points and occasionally tappets and they run forever.

Interesting.

[Rubin215]

Yup, definitely something German from that period unless you like the idea of constant tinkering and oil on your garage floor.

Italian bikes are also a fairly decent choice, but if you fancy something completely leftfield see if you can pick up an old CZ.

[Mr Tidy]

crofty1984 said:

OR! Controversial - A 60's Kawasaki W1. It's a BSA A10 (650 pre-unit twin) but built properly. That's right, I said it.

Or maybe a Yamaha XS650.

[black-k1]

Bob_Defly said:

I was thinking of the old BMW's actually, are they more reliable than anything British?

P.S. I don't want anything modern retro, I have enough modern bikes.

An old BMW is where I'd be looking. Pre 1960 bikes will be harder to come by but all the air cooled boxers up to 1984 would be worth considering.

[stang65]

Bob_Defly said:

Are there any old but reliable bikes? Like something from 1940-1960 that doesn't leak oil everywhere, or need someone wearing overalls to keep running?

I'd love a classic bike, the older the better. But my mechanical knowledge isn't great, and I don't want to be covered in petrol all the time.

Any good recommendations? Or is this an oxymoron?

Does it have to be that old? There's a reason bikers back then switched to CB400s, CB750s, GS1000s, etc.etc. The Jap bikes were better built and are therefore easier to live with now. Does something slightly newer appeal at all? They also have better parts availability.

[bimsb6]

catso said:

crofty1984 said:

my brother has a Moto Guzzi 750 Ambassador. It was their first electric-start-only bike and they made bloody sure it was overengineered.

Old Guzzis are generally pretty solid; oil change, check the points and occasionally tappets and they run forever.

Interesting seeing as even when they were new they were known to have dodgy electrics , and i like guzzi’s

[catso]

bimsb6 said:

catso said:

crofty1984 said:

my brother has a Moto Guzzi 750 Ambassador. It was their first electric-start-only bike and they made bloody sure it was overengineered.

Old Guzzis are generally pretty solid; oil change, check the points and occasionally tappets and they run forever.

Interesting seeing as even when they were new they were known to have dodgy electrics , and i like guzzi’s

Like a fine wine, they get better with age...

[GadgeS3C]

stang65 said:

Bob_Defly said:

Are there any old but reliable bikes? Like something from 1940-1960 that doesn't leak oil everywhere, or need someone wearing overalls to keep running?

I'd love a classic bike, the older the better. But my mechanical knowledge isn't great, and I don't want to be covered in petrol all the time.

Any good recommendations? Or is this an oxymoron?

Does it have to be that old? There's a reason bikers back then switched to CB400s, CB750s, GS1000s, etc.etc. The Jap bikes were better built and are therefore easier to live with now. Does something slightly newer appeal at all? They also have better parts availability.

Agree with all of the except last sentence. If you want fantastic parts availability then the Norton Commando has it more than any bike, old or new, I've had before.

Don't buy one if you want fettling free ownership though!

[srob]

Old bikes are only as reliable as whoever last rebuilt them. You won’t find any from that era that haven’t had some major surgery.

They absolutely can be reliable (let’s face it they’re unbelievably simple!) but they’ll need more maintenance than a new bike.

My dad had a Velocette Venom new in 1960 and jokes how they never worried about if the bike would start for work the next day back then!

He still uses his classic/vintage bikes daily now and isn’t in any recovery things, doesn’t have a car and trailer or a van. I can only remember having to rescue him once and that was when the coil packed up on his Bantam!

You do have to be dedicated to maintaining them though and ready to repair things that previous owners may have bodged!

[gareth_r]

bimsb6 said:

catso said:

crofty1984 said:

my brother has a Moto Guzzi 750 Ambassador. It was their first electric-start-only bike and they made bloody sure it was overengineered.

Old Guzzis are generally pretty solid; oil change, check the points and occasionally tappets and they run forever.

Interesting seeing as even when they were new they were known to have dodgy electrics , and i like guzzi’s

The only problem in 30,000+ miles with my Le Mans II was a failed UJ (one of a bad batch, as I recall) in the drive shaft. Easy job.

Oh, and I didn't tighten a coil clamp enough when I fitted electronic ignition and the coil rotated and shorted out one of the terminals. Diagnosed and fixed in minutes.

I was a lot more flexible 40 years ago, however. A LM is a small bike.

[hiccy18]

This is an interesting thread, 70's Bonnies & Tigers have been tempting me recently, the prices seem very reasonable i.e. fora similar price of an Enfield Interceptor I can get a decent looking classic that hopefully I can potter around on happily. R69s look waaay out of my budget, although really fancied an R100RS as a kid.

[bimsb6]

gareth_r said:

bimsb6 said:

catso said:

crofty1984 said:

my brother has a Moto Guzzi 750 Ambassador. It was their first electric-start-only bike and they made bloody sure it was overengineered.

Old Guzzis are generally pretty solid; oil change, check the points and occasionally tappets and they run forever.

Interesting seeing as even when they were new they were known to have dodgy electrics , and i like guzzi’s

The only problem in 30,000+ miles with my Le Mans II was a failed UJ (one of a bad batch, as I recall) in the drive shaft. Easy job.

Oh, and I didn't tighten a coil clamp enough when I fitted electronic ignition and the coil rotated and shorted out one of the terminals. Diagnosed and fixed in minutes.

I was a lot more flexible 40 years ago, however. A LM is a small bike.

I had a lm 1 it spat a carb off with a backfire before i even test rode it ! Still bought it though , apart from blowing tailight bulbs i had no issues with it , also had a le mans 1000 which used to go through bulbs aswell , rode that all the way to budapest and then on to venice one year . Which bikes summary of guzzi’s was “parts are cheap which is good as you will need lots”