Running a classic bike

[A500leroy]

Whats the easiest and most affordable route, classic British, or Classic Japanese? (70s/80s/90s), Mostly concerned about getting hold of parts and using E10 fuel.

[KTMsm]

Depends what you like really

The easy option has to be a Royal Enfield which is effectively a new classic bike

[Rubin215]

Depends upon your commitment to getting your hands dirty.

Old British bikes have a reputation for being leaky and unreliable, it only takes a bit of dedication and knowledge to change this.

Old Jap bikes have a reputation for being oil tight and reliable, it only takes a bit of carelessness and neglect to change this...

Ultimately, buy whatever most floats your boat; in this day and age all the information is on the internet, very few spares are completely unavailable and there are clubs and forums full of people willing to lend a hand.

Generally, the safest route is to buy someone else's restored and running bike, not someone else's 'almost finished' project.

[bgunn]

As said, what sort of bike are you looking for?

E10 isn't a massive issue - just buy super as it'll remain E5. Even then, you'll be able to replace O rings in Japanese carbs with Viton equivalents.

[SAS Tom]

Old Suzuki’s are easy to live with. They’re classic department carries loads of parts in stock now for old bikes so you can get all sorts of stuff next day.

My 89 GSXR has been as easy to live with as a modern bike.

[carinaman]

You did a thread on the new 350 Royal Enfield last year. There's a couple of reviews:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vjYCbyvSG0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9BnJO6tSa8

It's low enough for you? Would the lightweight suit you? Does it look retro enough? I suppose if you squint it looks a bit like a Suzuki GN250J from the 80s?

Do you want to fettle, or would a new old looking bike be better for you?

Get one on a PCP and if you decide you want to try another bike after getting some more experience and mileage hand it back at the end of the term?

It seems only slightly more juicy than your Supercub.

Edited by carinaman on Thursday 15th July 03:36

[Rubin215]

SAS Tom said:

My 89 GSXR has been as easy to live with as a modern bike.

An 89 GSXR IS a modern bike!

No points to set, no tickling the carb to start, disc brakes all round...

[KTMsm]

Rubin215 said:

An 89 GSXR IS a modern bike!

You know you're old when you consider a 32yr old bike as modern

(I do too)

[stang65]

A500leroy said:

Whats the easiest and most affordable route, classic British, or Classic Japanese? (70s/80s/90s), Mostly concerned about getting hold of parts and using E10 fuel.

The newer it is the easier it will be. The more mainstream the model the easier it will be. Generally the same applies to affordability too, as more common bikes generally have better parts supply and the less people competing for parts the cheaper they'll be.

I think you'd do better by narrowing down what you're looking for. For example, the two bikes on my classic policy at the moment are a 1957 AJS M18S and a 1998 Suzuki TL1000R. You'd struggle to find two bikes more different.

What size, style and use are you going for? Some of the early "retros" like Zephyr 550s can be had for sensible money still, and are as reliable as a new bike. A W650 looks very like a classic British bike (it is a copy after all) but with Japanese reliability and build quality - although they're not particularly cheap.

[Tbirdpete]

Is there a reason you've excluded German or Italian? Recenty bought a 1977 BMW R75 - copes surprisingly well in today's traffic, reliable, so easy to service/work on and spares situation is excellent - https://www.motobins.co.uk/ and https://www.motorworks.co.uk

[A500leroy]

lots to think about, thanks lads!

[nunpuncher]

Tbirdpete said:

Is there a reason you've excluded German or Italian? Recenty bought a 1977 BMW R75 - copes surprisingly well in today's traffic, reliable, so easy to service/work on and spares situation is excellent - https://www.motobins.co.uk/ and https://www.motorworks.co.uk

Second this. I've got an R80 RT that I've ruined by turning into a cafe racer. The electrics can be a bit iffy but the rest is pretty basic, reliable and spares are readily available and pretty cheap.

My old man runs classic British and Italian bikes. The bikes are temperamental, parts are expensive and it seems to me that you require an almost rain man like knowledge of all the weird experimental engineering that was going on back then along with a good network of old duffers who have parts hidden in their sheds.

Early 80s Japanese stuff is also very easy to keep running, easy to find parts or alternatives that fit and generally decent to ride.

if you really want a classic then a modern bike dressed up as an old bike doesn't cut it.

[ThreadKiller]

I quite fancy an older but "sensible" classic bike (to complement the DT175 I haven't got yet). I keep coming back to BMW R90S, preferably in Daytona orange.

[carinaman]

Have you checked out a Meteor yet OP?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNjjfaLxLs0

I could only endure 6 minutes of the accent at the end of a long day. It looks less bad to my eyes with the yellow tank and a matt black paint.

If you trade in the Super Cub for a Meteor make sure you get a good price.

[Jake899]

I will Third the case for a BMW. I bought a 1978 R100RS last April that had already been poorly Cafed (i.e. the fairing had been taken off) and finished the job properly by going pod filters, lowered forks, lithium battery etc, etc. Runs like a spinning top, sounds like the devil, easy and prompt spares access, and gets love everywhere it goes.

[A500leroy]

carinaman said:

Have you checked out a Meteor yet OP?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNjjfaLxLs0

I could only endure 6 minutes of the accent at the end of a long day. It looks less bad to my eyes with the yellow tank and a matt black paint.

If you trade in the Super Cub for a Meteor make sure you get a good price.

The cub has gone, was offered a good price by a local dealer for outright sale as they had no stock of anything. Im in-between bikes now, first time in 7 years ive not had at least one ready to go.