Are there any good "project" bikes?

[MikeA3]

Hi all,

So.. I'm looking to get into biking over the next few years and am currently toying with the idea of getting a "project bike" which would enable me to learn more about bikes in general and learn a bit of spannering whilst i'm doing it.

Ideally it would be sub £1000 to buy, simple to work on with relatively cheap parts, I'm not too bothered about performance as it'll be my first bike, so something that will be cheapish on insurance once i've done my test would also be a plus.

Thanks in advance

Mike

[speed_monkey]

MikeA3 said:

Hi all,

So.. I'm looking to get into biking over the next few years and am currently toying with the idea of getting a "project bike" which would enable me to learn more about bikes in general and learn a bit of spannering whilst i'm doing it.

Ideally it would be sub £1000 to buy, simple to work on with relatively cheap parts, I'm not too bothered about performance as it'll be my first bike, so something that will be cheapish on insurance once i've done my test would also be a plus.

Thanks in advance

Mike

When you say "project bike" what do you mean, do you mean restoration??? customisation??? etc etc

[MikeA3]

I suppose I'm looking to do a restoration really, get a slightly older bike that needs work & bring it back to it's former glory

[Steve_T]

I did two City and Guilds evening courses at Merton college. I'd look at that before you get stuck in to bike restoration as you'll know what you're about when looking for a project. I'd also look at the prices of bike parts before you get to keen on the idea of a major fixer upper, you might buy a £1k bike that becomes rather more expensive than that to get right!

Steve.

Edited by Steve_T on Tuesday 23 September 13:19

[StevRS]

Vote for the GPZ500S here - I picked mine up for £400 with 11500 on the clock and one carb rebuild and a service later it's running very sweetly indeed... My first bike, done about 1500 miles and loving it.

[bimsb6]

StevRS said:

Vote for the GPZ500S here - I picked mine up for £400 with 11500 on the clock and one carb rebuild and a service later it's running very sweetly indeed... My first bike, done about 1500 miles and loving it.

stay away from the mk1 model the magnets fall off the alternator hence rocking horse ste 2nd hand .

[MikeA3]

Steve_T said:

I did two City and Guilds evening courses at Merton college. I'd look at that before you get stuck in to bike restoration as you'll know what you're about when looking for a project. I'd also look at the prices of bike parts before you get to keen on the idea of a major fixer upper, you might buy a £1k bike that becomes rather more expensive than that to get right!

Steve.

Edited by Steve_T on Tuesday 23 September 13:19

Thanks Steve, evening classes was another idea my O/H had but my only concern is that I normally get back from work at about 7.30 - 8 and have to go to different parts of the country now and then for work so i'm not sure if I'd be able to keep up the classes

[davemac250]

Old brit bikes are a good starting point as they are relatively basic, spare parts are plentiful and there are loads of places to go for advice. I'd say, from having restored a couple your budget is going to be tough.

It would depend on whether you see this as a bike to use and restore whilst riding or buy, strip and get stuck into.

If you want to have it on the road, something like a RD400 isn't bad. I kept one running whilst gradually restoring it. Seemed that anything I had to tackle could be done in a weekend, whether that was engine work or cosmetics. You should be able to pick something up and get started with something of this vintage with your budget.

Good luck.

DM

[Steve_T]

MikeA3 said:

Steve_T said:

I did two City and Guilds evening courses at Merton college. I'd look at that before you get stuck in to bike restoration as you'll know what you're about when looking for a project. I'd also look at the prices of bike parts before you get to keen on the idea of a major fixer upper, you might buy a £1k bike that becomes rather more expensive than that to get right!

Steve.

Edited by Steve_T on Tuesday 23 September 13:19

Thanks Steve, evening classes was another idea my O/H had but my only concern is that I normally get back from work at about 7.30 - 8 and have to go to different parts of the country now and then for work so i'm not sure if I'd be able to keep up the classes

The course is 7pm-9pm as it was when I did it. http://www.merton.ac.uk/course.asp?co_id=EMCYOT101 The tutors were flexible on people not making some weeks when I did it - there is enough slack in the schedule to allow you to catch up.

[RizzoTheRat]

Worth looking for something that was reasonably popular and had a fairly long production run, ie there's plenty of parts in breakers.

[dern]

Do the french make any bikes? Their cars always make excellent 'projects'.

[StevRS]

Regardless of model, make sure there's a Haynes manual available for whatever you're about to buy - they're a godsend!!!

[RizzoTheRat]

dern said:

Do the french make any bikes? Their cars always make excellent 'projects'.

Only 'cos they call apart more often than japanese cars

[MikeA3]

Thanks for all the replies guys,

I forgot to add that I don't intend to ride the bike during this period, so it can be in bits for quite a while whilst I accumulate all the required clothing (and more importantly a bike licence too).

[pat_y]

I can recommend air cooled Kawasaki Z's, my first bikes were a '78 or '79 Z650B (with Points and condenser..) then a '80 Z750 (D model i think).
Easy peasy engine work, loads of go faster bits around if you look hard enough.
I think these are appreciating in value now so might struggle to find a cheap one.
1980 Z1000 D would be the best, eddie lawson seat, bikini fairing, bellypan and a 4-1 harris race zorst....Old school rocks.

[dern]

RizzoTheRat said:

dern said:

Do the french make any bikes? Their cars always make excellent 'projects'.

Only 'cos they call apart more often than japanese cars

Quite.

Actually I should sell the op my blade that's a pain in the arse project.

[RizzoTheRat]

MikeA3 said:

I forgot to add that I don't intend to ride the bike during this period, so it can be in bits for quite a while whilst I accumulate all the required clothing (and more importantly a bike licence too).

In that cse get yourself something that's old and small enough to be cheap to ensure and start building up some no claims bonus as well

[rhinochopig]

FS1E; RD250,350; VFR400 back to mint - future classic; Katana; CX500 Turbo.

If it's a first time, an old stroker is a good start as they are simple and have few electrics. Pick something you'll enjoy riding at the end of the project though - enthusiasm wanes quite quickly on a refurb project unless you really love the bike.

[Taita]

Old curvey SV?

[RizzoTheRat]

rhinochopig said:

FS1E

A local bike shop has a restored FS1E in the window that he wants £2995 for so if you can find a cheap knackered one it might pay for itself as a restoration project.