A fun bike that may be a future classic. OR already is...
Discussion
A while ago, I had a nice quick bike....an FJR but it was older and really needed the 6th gear that newer models have...sold that. Bought a new thunderbird. Too soft an wallowy, so bought a 1974 CB550. Bit of nostalgia and all that .....hated it. Bugger. So thought, back to touring maybe, throw the Missus on the back and take off for weekends, see family 200 miles away etc. Pop over to France for a weekend etc.....but she decided , no. So that went...it was a Trophy...feckin HUGE thing. So then well if its going to be just me, a scratcher/adventurer....a Tiger....(I am triumph man. Cars and Bikes). Then well I might want to go and see MY family for a weekend...if its nice of course...so bought a lovely K1300 GT EE...only bought it at the end of the summer so havent really had a chance to explore yet.....BUT its now winter approaching and I'm thinking of something else....something silly...a CB400/4 maybe....a Kwacker screamer...a 500. A Suzuki GT750....(no I'm not that mad, just joking). have thought about an early 1970's CB750 but....maybe not.
Have you thought about something just to be silly on. £5000 burning a hole in your pocket for something fun, daft. Keep a year or two then sell on for hopefully no loss.....
Have you thought about something just to be silly on. £5000 burning a hole in your pocket for something fun, daft. Keep a year or two then sell on for hopefully no loss.....
I did this 11 years ago. Had a little money and wanted to try a classic British bike - I have an uncle that restores them so had ridden a few but not lived with one. Anyway, he decided to sell a recently restored 1959 AJS M18S (a 500 single, it's the Morris Minor of bikes is the easiest way to describe it) . I had enjoyed a couple of rides on it so I bought it with a view to getting a more upmarket classic if I liked it, intending to go for the normal BSA/Triumph twins at that point. The AJS is still in the garage and all thoughts of upgrades have gone, I think it's great even now! Sometimes you just find the right bike by chance.
50's is a bit too old for me. IMHO nobody is buying old bikes or cars...1980's car prices have shot ...not all of them, but a lot have as they are all razor blades now...some deservedly....like my heap o s
te Marina and mk 2 Cortina....and Herald and.....I could go on.....and I think its the same with bikes.
Some say that sports tourers prices are plummeting as no-one wants them, I bought a lovely exceptional K1300 GT EE for £3k,.....cheap as chips...BUT
now Its a 1970's/80's something different....
te Marina and mk 2 Cortina....and Herald and.....I could go on.....and I think its the same with bikes.Some say that sports tourers prices are plummeting as no-one wants them, I bought a lovely exceptional K1300 GT EE for £3k,.....cheap as chips...BUT
now Its a 1970's/80's something different....
Old bikes look nice but I'm not sure I'd want to go further back than the late 70s / early 80s, myself.
I bought a CX500 custom as a bit of a laugh in the Spring, but grew to quite like it.
So I've put a new front tyre & new bars on it and replaced the frayed clutch cable. I had (sort of) sworn I wouldn't go back to carbs, but they seem more reliable than on old cars.
I wouldn't go much further back though, a kick start is a NO from me, and I'm not keen on spoked wheels. The CX500 was the first mass produced bike with alloy wheels, I think.
VED of £0 and cheap classic insurance is a big plus.
I bought a CX500 custom as a bit of a laugh in the Spring, but grew to quite like it.
So I've put a new front tyre & new bars on it and replaced the frayed clutch cable. I had (sort of) sworn I wouldn't go back to carbs, but they seem more reliable than on old cars.I wouldn't go much further back though, a kick start is a NO from me, and I'm not keen on spoked wheels. The CX500 was the first mass produced bike with alloy wheels, I think.
VED of £0 and cheap classic insurance is a big plus.Interesting choices and I see some are getting newer.....
Re the CX500. I knew a guy that bought one late 70's, white ish with some stripey colour on it. It was summer leave and upon return he told us all about his trip to spain and back with just a rucksack on his back .....always wanted one after that
Re the CX500. I knew a guy that bought one late 70's, white ish with some stripey colour on it. It was summer leave and upon return he told us all about his trip to spain and back with just a rucksack on his back .....always wanted one after that
Bikes are fun WHEN they work.
I've been there before with older stuff and have seen the "fun" friends go through - it drives you insane.
Get something with a selection of modern tyre sizes, 12v electronic ignition etc.
Points are the work of the devil and 6v lights are downright dangerous.
Ironically, some of the most fun ive ever had on a bike was a CZ175 (when it worked). It was SO BAD it was enormously good fun to ride.
Also, the second most unreliable bike to my old CZ was a BMW K1300GT- it also needed more welding than the CZ!
I've been there before with older stuff and have seen the "fun" friends go through - it drives you insane.
Get something with a selection of modern tyre sizes, 12v electronic ignition etc.
Points are the work of the devil and 6v lights are downright dangerous.
Ironically, some of the most fun ive ever had on a bike was a CZ175 (when it worked). It was SO BAD it was enormously good fun to ride.
Also, the second most unreliable bike to my old CZ was a BMW K1300GT- it also needed more welding than the CZ!
DSMSMR said:
Interesting choices and I see some are getting newer.....
Re the CX500. I knew a guy that bought one late 70's, white ish with some stripey colour on it. It was summer leave and upon return he told us all about his trip to spain and back with just a rucksack on his back .....always wanted one after that
When I met the most significant other in my past life the landlord had a red CX500. They thought it looked cool.Re the CX500. I knew a guy that bought one late 70's, white ish with some stripey colour on it. It was summer leave and upon return he told us all about his trip to spain and back with just a rucksack on his back .....always wanted one after that
A couple of years later I went pillion on their sister's boyfriend's GPZ1000. He didn't hold back, leaned over nailing it out of corner with gravel on the inside kerb of the open country lanes. That chap was living the life, three motorcycles, own business, tall, good looking girlfriend.....
Is the SV650 like a latter day CX500 but without the shaft drive and fewer potential problems? Like the Toyota Corolla or MX-5 of motorcycles?
A Barry Sheene tribute Gladius? Everyday is a school day....I didn't know Gladius was a roman sword.
Honda Super Cubs? Are expensive, are old ones likely to depreciate?
One classic, vintage Super Cub for £3K and £2K for proper bike like a litre Aprilia or ZX-9R?
Is a £2K ZX-9R likely to depreciate?
Minty CBR600? How much would they lose? Minty NC30?
XJR1300 with the Ohlins shocks? How much would one of those lose?
Not that I was admiring the good looks of an XJR1300 in the work car park this week or anything.
One classic, vintage Super Cub for £3K and £2K for proper bike like a litre Aprilia or ZX-9R?
Is a £2K ZX-9R likely to depreciate?
Minty CBR600? How much would they lose? Minty NC30?
XJR1300 with the Ohlins shocks? How much would one of those lose?
Not that I was admiring the good looks of an XJR1300 in the work car park this week or anything.
Edited by carinaman on Saturday 13th December 11:02
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