Project bike recommendations...

[toymachine]

Hey all..

As of late i've been itching to get into the guts of my bike and tinker around etc... (its currently in shop... snapped a bolt... :dodge: ) anyway this has lead me to decide I want a project bike, as it's not the best idea with my only mode of transport. No timeframe to finish, just alot of learning and tinkering, hopefully with something cool at the end.

I've been wondering what sort of bike to do, i'd like a sports road bike but more specific then that i'm not sure..

Ideally it'd be semi plentiful parts wise (which puts out a cbr250,zxr250 etc i suppose as these are snapped up enough)... I was also thinking RGV250, which could be a bit of fun.. but once again parts i'm not sure.

Seeing as this isn't going to be my road bike for a while I don't really have any need for it to be a 250, but 600 bits seem rather expensive, so I was thinking 400s...

So i'm looking for some opinions on bikes that might fit the bill (i'd like something really quite sporty) so I can start hunting for a frame/rolling chassis/wreck and start getting my hands dirty.

Help appreciated..

[xwhatsit]

I'll sell you mine for the low, low price of $4000 :D. That includes the half-filled ice-cream container of old engine oil!

[toymachine]

I'll pass thanks :P

[jeremysprite]

Toymachine, talk to gamgee, I'm sure he would recommend doing up an NC30 (VFR400). They sell for around 4-5k nowadays in mint condition, so it could be an investment even. There's currently a bad condition one on TradeMe, check the details of
this post (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=857602&postcount=38).

[Bonez]

Hey all..

As of late i've been itching to get into the guts of my bike and tinker around etc... (its currently in shop... snapped a bolt... :dodge: ) anyway this has lead me to decide I want a project bike, as it's not the best idea with my only mode of transport. No timeframe to finish, just alot of learning and tinkering, hopefully with something cool at the end.

I've been wondering what sort of bike to do, i'd like a sports road bike but more specific then that i'm not sure..

Ideally it'd be semi plentiful parts wise (which puts out a cbr250,zxr250 etc i suppose as these are snapped up enough)... I was also thinking RGV250, which could be a bit of fun.. but once again parts i'm not sure.

Seeing as this isn't going to be my road bike for a while I don't really have any need for it to be a 250, but 600 bits seem rather expensive, so I was thinking 400s...

So i'm looking for some opinions on bikes that might fit the bill (i'd like something really quite sporty) so I can start hunting for a frame/rolling chassis/wreck and start getting my hands dirty.

Help appreciated..Why not do a cafe racer project bike? Plenty of bikes available for under a grand and you can bling any which way and bugger all plastic top contend with too.

[FilthyLuka]

Why not do a cafe racer project bike? Plenty of bikes available for under a grand and you can bling any which way and bugger all plastic top contend with too.

kawasaki w650 cafe racer anybody?

[vamr]

Does anyone know how expensive it is, these days, to maintain a r65/80/100 in terms of maintenance/parts replacement?

[Bonez]

kawasaki w650 cafe racer anybody?Certainly cheaper twins around. CB350/360s, xs400/650s, kz400/440s, GS400/425/450 twins, gsx400/450 and more. Hell even early CX400/500s (shameless plug and all that).

[HenryDorsetCase]

kawasaki w650 cafe racer anybody?

if only they werent so stupidly expensive. You'd be better off buying an actual Triumph. Bits would be cheaper too.

[Bonez]

if only they werent so stupidly expensive. You'd be better off buying an actual Triumph. Bits would be cheaper too.And the new Triumphs twins are cheap? Have you bothered to price Hinkley spares? Oh and if you check top speed performance the W650 is on par at a lower cost. No cam chain the bother with either. Next door neighbours mate had an old trumpy 650-3 pistons seized in as many months. A freind owned two w650s bought the second one after doing 50,000kms on the first one in a couple of years.

[HenryDorsetCase]

And the new Triumphs twins are cheap?
are they? I was thinking of Meriden triumphs. You remember, the real deal.



Have you bothered to price Hinkley spares?
of course not, I only post suggestions on the interweb for others to follow.



Oh and if you check top speed performance the W650 is on par at a lower cost. No cam chain the bother with either.



and yet................


Next door neighbours mate had an old trumpy 650-3 pistons seized in as many months. A freind owned two w650s bought the second one after doing 50,000kms on the first one in a couple of years.

well, good for him. its still just a secondhand rip off of Edward Turners 1933 design though.

and I stand by my opinion. W650's are woefully overpriced. If they were 3 grand they would be good buying. at 7 and up they are a joke.

[Bonez]

well, good for him. its still just a secondhand rip off of Edward Turners 1933 design though.

Hmm Eds design had shaft driven over head cam parrallel twin engines, well I never. You do learn something new every day......................
Now the 5T Speed Twin was produced about 1937 wasn't it?
Val Page designed the 1933 model 6/1- 25bhp, four-speed 650 vertical twin. Ed was at Arial in 1933.

[Ixion]

Does anyone know how expensive it is, these days, to maintain a r65/80/100 in terms of maintenance/parts replacement?

You also need to budget for the special pants, with the extra large back wallet pocket. The good thing is you can get just about anything for a BMW right back to the /2 models and even prewar

[xwhatsit]

Is it not cheap? I've been thinking that I want one once I'm allowed one... I suppose though that even if the parts cost loads, they seem to be pretty reliable bikes. You see quite a lot with >100Kkms on them which doesn't seem to bother them in the slightest, or worry the owners.

[Bonez]

Is it not cheap? I've been thinking that I want one once I'm allowed one... I suppose though that even if the parts cost loads, they seem to be pretty reliable bikes. You see quite a lot with >100Kkms on them which doesn't seem to bother them in the slightest, or worry the owners.You can get a good r80 for around 4 grand. Certainly better value than Meridian twins :dodge:
Oh and any bike can do 100,000kms if the owner is willing to keep it long enough. I have 3 jappers with that amount of ks up.:yes:

[Ixion]

Hmm Eds design had shaft driven over head cam parrallel twin engines, well I never. You do learn something new every day......................
Now the 5T Speed Twin was produced about 1937 wasn't it?
Val Page designed the 1933 model 6/1- 25bhp, four-speed 650 vertical twin. Ed was at Arial in 1933.

Eet ees true. Turner came to Triumph when the car and bike divisions split up. He was from Ariel where he designed the Squariel.

Page's 650 was a more advanced design - helical drive primary (oh, the irony) and so that the traditional Briddish direct drive gearbox could be used, the motor ran backwards.

But they put it in a hugely heavy frame for lugging sidecars, so performance was pitiful.

The speed twin was nothing special technically, but the factory claimed 90mph. Which was a lie, but close enogh that buyers were impressed . And bought.

[Bonez]

The speed twin was nothing special technically, but the factory claimed 90mph. Which was a lie, but close enogh that buyers were impressed . And bought.Of interesting note, Mr Turner made it known that 650cc was the hightest practical capacity for a parrallel twin. With 750s twins only being produced after his death to try and stem the jap invation.

[Ixion]

Well, as far as his design was concerned, I agree with him. The 750 was not as nice as the 650. But the designers at Renfield might have disagreed. And whilst the Norton Atlas was not as nice an engine as the 600, it was no worse than the 650 , IMHO

[Clivoris]

Hey all..

As of late i've been itching to get into the guts of my bike and tinker around etc... (its currently in shop... snapped a bolt... :dodge: ) anyway this has lead me to decide I want a project bike, as it's not the best idea with my only mode of transport. No timeframe to finish, just alot of learning and tinkering, hopefully with something cool at the end.

I've been wondering what sort of bike to do, i'd like a sports road bike but more specific then that i'm not sure..

Ideally it'd be semi plentiful parts wise (which puts out a cbr250,zxr250 etc i suppose as these are snapped up enough)... I was also thinking RGV250, which could be a bit of fun.. but once again parts i'm not sure.

Seeing as this isn't going to be my road bike for a while I don't really have any need for it to be a 250, but 600 bits seem rather expensive, so I was thinking 400s...

So i'm looking for some opinions on bikes that might fit the bill (i'd like something really quite sporty) so I can start hunting for a frame/rolling chassis/wreck and start getting my hands dirty.

Help appreciated..

I've always been keen on something like a Yamaha SR500 or SRX650. Don't know whether they can be picked up cheep tho. Might just be a matter of keeping an eye on Turners or tardme until something stimulating comes up.