Cheap Bike Challenge

[tamarillo]

I've been running two cheap commuters this year, a $350 Yamaha 200 scootah and more recently an $1100 1983 BMW 650...... I do about $250 kms a week, the Scootah costs about $15 and the BMW $20 in gas. In fact I don't ride the scootah as much now as the BMW is such a good all rounder.
These are basically ride and dump bikes but its a lot of fun.

pic of bmw? assume R65?

[tamarillo]

how about going, woffed, regod, with panniers, BMW R65 for nothing? Sold it too mate coming over for summer tour, his wife got poorly so cancelled trip. He claimed on travel insurnace and got whole $2500 back! Serious! he was stunned! Came out next year and did trip and now bike is in CHCH being used by other old pommmy biker mates for summer holidays.

beat that.

[Squiggles]

I did three years riding two $300 GN250s to and from Uni, 3 months in I destroyed one's motor, the second one ($300 again but in better condition and disc brakes!) lasted much longer. Plenty of labour put in by me to keep it running and a couple of tubes of sealant to prevent lost oil $$. Even a bit of welding here and there. Biggest expense apart from petrol & registration was insurance, though that was pittance compared to the TL1000.

Oh how I miss it, It was a perfect bike for downtown commuting. Scratched and knocked over several times and even put in a garden once.

[nodrog:Me]

How good is the seal behind your ring?

Finger tight!

[awa355]

I'll be looking for a cheapie soon as my inflatable dinghy sells on Sella. Going to look for a commuter 125-200 scooter or older bike. about the $1600 range.

[Voltaire]

pic of bmw? assume R65?

Yeah R65, I was biased against the smaller BMW's until I got this, great all rounder....not fast but I seem to have lost the urge for going fast on the road....




Anyone got any spare BMW bits, always interested.

[mossy1200]

When the bike costs $1,100 you don't bother servicing. Ride it 'til she blows I say. "Cheap bike challenge", no servicing is the cheapest way lol.

I'd just do oil and filter (with some budget warehouse oil haha).

I got a $1300 fzr250 ('89) as my first bike, had it a good 10 months or so Let the rego and WOF lapse and sold it for $1,000. Replacing a clutch cable was the only servicing the bike got. I reckon it about even what I paid for it to what I sold it for. So just the cost of the gas. Not bad really.

Just re use the oil from your good bike. Diesel engine oil works also if you want to go fancy on it.

[Brian d marge]

Yeah R65, I was biased against the smaller BMW's until I got this, great all rounder....not fast but I seem to have lost the urge for going fast on the road....




Anyone got any spare BMW bits, always interested.

I rode an r65 for awhile and I agree totally with you great all rounder
Stephen