Suzuki VX800 anyone?

[evo8]

I fancy a fresh set of wheels to keep my 1981 GS650GT company. I phoned my insurance company tonight and asked how much a 1981 VX800 would cost to insure, she said to add it to my existing policy it would be an additional £30 for the year (and I have only just renewed my policy - that would work out at 2 bikes for a total of £140 for the year fully comp).
I wanted something a little different, I fancied a V-Twin as I have never had one, wanted shaft drive, did not want a BMW or sports bike and I am not into cruisers so I thought this might fit the bill.



What are your thoughts?

I should be able to pick one up in good condition that has done about 30k for between £1000-£1200

[Jazoli]

My thoughts, yuck, insipid styling, nasty wheels, questionable style and zero redeeming features, I'd rather have a 600 Bandit and thats saying something.

But that's just me, an old moto guzzi would be a million times better, and fulfil your criteria.

Edit, I may have been a little harsh, it looks ok (ish)

Edited by Jazoli on Tuesday 10th June 21:13

[FarQue]

All the people that I met back in the day that owned them liked them. Today it's an old Suzuki that many uninformed types would instantly dismiss. If you find a good one, buy it, what could possibly go wrong? . Should make a good bedfellow for your GS.

[bass gt3]

evo8 said:

I wanted something a little different,



What are your thoughts?

Wearing a Fez, that's different.
Take the 30 quid insurance money, hand it to a random stranger and ask them to beat you about the head until you see sense

evo8 said:

I should be able to pick one up in good condition that has done about 30k for between £1000-£1200

You could pick up a dose of the clap for £30.
In this case, I'd take the STD

[Nigel Worc's]

As an owner of an old Moto Guzzi, I think that looks lovely, just because it looks different from the normal rice rockets.

I hope it is allowed to sound as nice as it looks.

[FarQue]

Styling akin to the GSX1100G.

[Hooli]

Looks like a v-twin blandit, makes a change from all the sports bikes you see everywhere.

[evo8]

Hooli said:

Looks like a v-twin blandit, makes a change from all the sports bikes you see everywhere.

My point exactly!! I like all sorts of bikes but I have a duff shoulder and wrist so the riding position on a sports bike is out and I do not fancy a custom/chop/cruiser, I have nothing against Bandits or Hornets etc but I wanted something different, I do fancy a Guzzi but could I get one for a grand? I also love the idea of a big V-Twin (I know its only an 800 and not that big) with its low end grunt and unique sound, I have also looked at the Yamaha BT1100 Bulldog, but I can not afford one.

What else is their that is a V-Twin and shaft driven for about a grand?

[Nigel Worc's]

You'd only get an absolute heap of a Guzzi for a grand, even the smallblock bikes (350,500,650,& some 750's) will fetch more than that if anyway half decent.

If you like that Suzuki, give it a go.

[Hooli]

evo8 said:

What else is their that is a V-Twin and shaft driven for about a grand?

Nowt I know of, but my knowledge is hardly all encompassing.

If you fancy it, get it & enjoy it. It's old enough your not going to loose money if you sell it again. I kinda like it, bit like an early attempt at a Buell in my mind.

[Rubin215]

FarQue said:

Styling akin to the GSX1100G.

Yup, that was the target market; the wives of G-men.

Very much seen as a girls bike which is a hit of a shame as they are actually a really nice, comfy, relaxed roadster.

Everything about them is fairly basic, they are easy to spanner and very little goes wrong.
Good exhausts are difficult to find second hand but that's fairly common for anything that age and it is easy enough to adapt pipes from some of the cruisers that use the same engine.

[NNK]

A member of staff (mechanic) has an immaculate one and keeps it at work parked next to my Bandit 1200.
The Bandit is one of the tattiest examples you will ever see but he chooses it every time if he knows I wont be using it that day.

[y2blade]

Rubin215 said:

FarQue said:

Styling akin to the GSX1100G.

Yup, that was the target market; the wives of G-men.

Very much seen as a girls bike which is a hit of a shame as they are actually a really nice, comfy, relaxed roadster.

Everything about them is fairly basic, they are easy to spanner and very little goes wrong.
Good exhausts are difficult to find second hand but that's fairly common for anything that age and it is easy enough to adapt pipes from some of the cruisers that use the same engine.

Is G-Man still about on here?

[evo8]

I went to look at it tonight, started first time, boy does it pull, the V-Twin has a fair bit of low end grunt (unlike my GS650GT). Bike was tidy but the exhaust is shot, the link pipe is rotten and the downpipes are pitted. A new Suzuki exhaust is about the same price as the bike , its not worth it. No one seems to make an after market exhaust for it as not many bikes were sold. So I do not think I will get it. Its a shame really as I liked it.

[Rubin215]

evo8 said:

I went to look at it tonight, started first time, boy does it pull, the V-Twin has a fair bit of low end grunt (unlike my GS650GT). Bike was tidy but the exhaust is shot, the link pipe is rotten and the downpipes are pitted. A new Suzuki exhaust is about the same price as the bike , its not worth it. No one seems to make an after market exhaust for it as not many bikes were sold. So I do not think I will get it. Its a shame really as I liked it.

Don't reject it just because of the exhaust; like I said, a lot of the Suzuki cruisers used the same engine and the exhausts are very similar.
Also keep an eye on ebay as when they do come up they are usually pretty cheap.

[waynedear]

10 year thread revival...
Noticed one for sale about 40 miles away, I have sent a message to buy it...

[carinaman]

More a snigger than a lol.

[waynedear]

Ah, so it smokes, might need a rebore.

[waynedear]

Someone else bought it, I was second in line, it was £500, now up for well over £1000.
Leaking oil, rattles, smokes...