Yer basic bike - does such a thing exist?

[Winston001]

There will be plenty here who remember the AJS and BSA 350 and 500 singles. One big pot, carb, magneto, points, side-valve = simple. Even the Triumph and Norton twins were capable of being fixed and tuned on the side of the road without much in the way of tools.

Not that I owned any of these bikes but had mates who did in the early 70s because it was all they could afford.

Today I have a water-cooled fuel-injected beast which has 8 valves driven by belts and shims. I love it.

But......sometimes I feel as though motorcycling has lost its way. The no-8 wire mechanic has no chance with modern machines. So my question - is there a basic bike out there today which is simple and easy to maintain/repair? The only candidate I can think of is the Royal Enfield.

[Pedrostt500]

I agree that some bikes the technology has gone beyond the ability of the average mechanicaly minded person to fix, but also in general the reliability of most modern bikes way out strips the capabilities of the old timers.
the old BSAs and the likes would require a major pre ride check before riding from Wellington to Auckland, where most modern bikes you might check chain tension tyre presures, and oil levels, and not think twice about needing to check these things again for the whole trip.

[Headbanger]

They made a BSA that could make it from Wellington to Auckland?

[pritch]

They made a BSA that could make it from Wellington to Auckland?

I had a report here somewhere where a dealer rode a 350 AJS from Wellington to Auckland - uphill! He got over 100mpg from memory.

[matchless]

Mate,Auckland to Wellington on a Beeza,ive done it,plus many other rides.Got to remember as well, a bulk of the roads then ,were loose metal.

[Forest]

There are still quite a few simple road bikes with air-cooled singles e.g. Suzuki GN250, Yamaha SX-4 & SX225 etc

Then there are all the simple dual-purpose bikes like the Yamaha TTR250 & AG200, Suzuki DR200, Honda XR250 etc

[CookMySock]

GT650R is watercooled, but otherwise its pretty simple, carbyed, CDI. If you don't want a faired bike rip the fairings off it, sell them, and fighter it and it still looks not too shabby. By the time you sold all the fancy bits off of it you will likely have change out of $4k for a 2005+ model bike with under 20,000kms on it and it does 60+mpg.

Steve

[BANZAI]

It's strange but Yamaha doesn't bring SR400 into this country. It's one of the simplest and best selling motorcycle in Japan, only few bits are changed since the first one came out.

[quallman1234]

GS500. Still being made, and the faired version doesn't look too shabby.

Say no more.

[Big Dave]

What you call basic - others call gutless.

[pete376403]

KLR650. Its basic AND gutless.
20 year old design. The sort of bike you could ride around the world on, or even Auckland to Wellington

[MyGSXF:Me]

There will be plenty here who remember the AJS and BSA 350 and 500 singles. One big pot, carb, magneto, points, side-valve = simple. Even the Triumph and Norton twins were capable of being fixed and tuned on the side of the road without much in the way of tools.

Whadda ya reckon bout these babies then..

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...71&postcount=1

The only candidate I can think of is the Royal Enfield.

Saw these in Opotiki in April this year, they were doing a big tour...

NOTE: the 1st & 3rd pic is a DIESEL bike!! & yes, I saw him fill it up!

[xwhatsit]

I dunno, DR650, it's a bit specialised though.

I feel you though -- that's so much of what appeals to me about motorcycling. Probably why I stick with my old piece of crap, it fulfills most of your brief. I like these shiny toys but I love the simplicity and directness of that wind-in-your-face, single cylinder, road connected to your hands thing. In fact I keep getting rid of stuff in the way; like batteries, rev counters, mirrors etc.

[The Lone Rider]

I'm a fan of old choppers.

Literally an engine in a frame with two wheels and like three eletrical wires, plus brake line for front wheel and throttle cables. That's it.

Basic.

[Brian d marge]

Tis the NZ RE owners group ...and yes I is one .....and have eerr 1 or two of em

Stephen

Whadda ya reckon bout these babies then..

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...71&postcount=1



Saw these in Opotiki in April this year, they were doing a big tour...

NOTE: the 1st & 3rd pic is a DIESEL bike!! & yes, I saw him fill it up!