Classic bike vs vintage bike

[Dodgyiti]

Aww... that's beautiful

[Grumph]

I wouldn't want a pre 70 Brit as a daily ride - but there are a few forgotten continentals which would do it happily.
650 Benelli comes to mind - and there are a few about.

[doc44]

Personally, I would go for an early XS650, XS1 or 2, or TX650. Lots of spares and motor upgrades available especially from the US and UK.

Like Motu, I owned one years ago and loved it, always on the lookout for another nice one at a good price.

I also like the old Honda CB450 black bombers and Kawaski W1`s but spares would be the problem there - if you could find one that is!

As an affordable and reliable daily ride I would go for a Japanese bike.

[willytheekid]

Has to be either a Guzzi or a Bmw, good availability of parts and easy to work on.

V7?....you already have one of the best....stop teasing everyone lol

Had a 74 Triumph Trident many years ago...great bike to ride but bloody hard to stop with conical brake hubs (remember those!...three goes..then no more brakes!), plus the bloody thing used to shake its self to peices! Just got sick of checking for loose bolts every week....if you didnt, things like the mud guards etc would fall off...even had the kick start fall off and hit my mate in the helmet as he was following lol. (a week later it was the baffle! lol)....and yes a SHIT load of lock tight was used to no availe (even tried the old school fix of punch marking the threads...didn't work)

Euro for the usable ride!

[Motu]

Personally, I would go for an early XS650, XS1 or 2, or TX650. Lots of spares and motor upgrades available especially from the US and UK.

You'll have to wait a couple of years for them - Dodgy is talking about what we can ride now.Kawasaki W1? - maybe A10 parts would fit.Wouldn't that be a laugh - modern parts to fit an old British bike being used to keep a superior Japanese copy on the road.

[Subike]

It would be good to find today, a vintage with the ability to meet our personal desires for a good ride,
with that much needed relyability etc....
But thats today,as we all see the value of these rides rise sharply,
Continuing to rise, then becoming outside the pocket all but serious collectors.
So is the answer to look at what will be falling into this registration class over the next ten years?
Those semi super bikes like my XS11's, which can be bought cheaply.
Parts are easy to get, so over the next few years , with the time and money spent on rebuilding whilst on reg hold, an enjoyable event in its own right.
This should give you a near perfect ride, the year it comes under vintage rego.
As opposed to paying today and inflated price for a bike that still needs to be restored.
The future is the better place to look for the needs of today

[Bren]

Oh Shit......I am now "Vintage"?

I would like to own a CB500four at some stage, you may laugh but with their two tone paint job and good IL4 donk I think they are for sure an appreciating classic, and very rideable too...
The 70s were a decade of change on the bike front and the Jappas were starting to come into their own...
Plus, they also are easily modified to a cafe style bike