A bit of advice on old jap bikes please

**Paul in NZ** · 1st November 2006, 13:22

A bit of help here folks…..

I’m sure you all realize that I have a liking for ‘thunder bikes’. Ie crankly old shit heaps that make all the right noises and break your heart and wallet…

Now I’m hoping the Triumph is pretty well ‘sorted’ (sigh) and I know whats needed to be done to the Moto Guzzi this winter and after that??

Well – the Triumph and the Moto Guzzi have become – ‘classics’ and are unfortunately increasing in value when in a relatively std form. I’m not worried about the Triumph much but you don’t see many as it left the factory roundfin LeMans’s much anymore so I don’t really want to customize a very nice old bike.

And that’s it – I’d like a little bike to chop up, café racerise, flat tracker on generally just piss about with for a lark. That means an older Japanese bike I’m thinking. But not too old because they are getting expensive as well so… Not knowing much about Jap bikes I turn to KB…

I THINK I want either a 250 (so Vicki can ride it eventually) or a light (ish) weight twin with a normal frame (alloy frames limit gas tank choice). I reckon 4's are out because everything cost more and exhausts / carbs are a pain in the arse but I'm open minded about it.

It has to be CHEAP and hopefully a rego on hold….. It needs to have the potential to be reliable and hopefully simple. I reckon all the stuff like handling and brakes can be improved upon by swapping stuww from other bikes and cosmetics? Ha!

It needs to be an utterly mad project – like a Goldwing Café racer or maybe a fully dressed GN250? A flat track GN…. Hhhmmmmmmm…… Mad Max a TDM850? I want to lean at least 1 new skill

Did I mention CHEAP???

How about the old 400 / 450 / 440 jap twins? Are they reliable??

Anyway – any suggestions please…

**ManDownUnder** · 1st November 2006, 13:26

Look for and RD 250 or 350.

Simple enough bikes,,, go like stink and I'd expect them to be cheap now...

edit - took a quick looksee... not too easy to find though - not in the usual places anyway (tardeme and ebay)

**Ixion** · 1st November 2006, 13:32

Um. Why a twin? What about the "classic" route, making a TT cafe racer from one of the Jap sporting singles. SRX250 (lovely bike)/400/600. Suzuki NZ250, Honda GB250/400/500. Kawasaki did a very good one too, but I can't remember the model number.

Still available cheaply, parts are not too bad, they can be made to look really pretty, in a retro "Isle of Man" way, while still being quite unusual and distinctive, you don't need fairings for it to work unless you want, and with the right pipes they make LOVELY noises. And the smaller ones are light and very confidence giving for inexperienced riders (Vicky, not you).

And they can be decently fast , too, and usually have jolly good handling if they're fettled right.

EDIT: unless you want a two smoker of course, as MDU suggests. You DID say you wanted to learn new skills. And that way you could learn new words too. But by and large I think people are either two smokers or not.

**Paul in NZ** · 1st November 2006, 13:32

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

Look for and RD 250 or 350.

Simple enough bikes,,, go like stink and I'd expect them to be cheap now...

I expect you would be wrong - RD's are very desireable because they go like stink and handle well - they are all classic race bikes OR super restored and highly sought after.

I'm looking for slightly less sought after yet still worthy bikes.

ie - maybe a good bike that was UGLY or handled poorly etc that i can shag about with and make even uglier OR handle worse....

**Paul in NZ** · 1st November 2006, 13:36

Originally Posted by Ixion

Um. Why a twin? What about the "classic" route, making a TT cafe racer from one of the Jap sporting singles. SRX250 (lovely bike)/400/600. Suzuki NZ250, Honda GB250/400/500. Kawasaki did a very good one too, but I can't remember the model number.

Still available cheaply, parts are not too bad, they can be made to look really pretty, in a retro "Isle of Man" way, while still being quite unusual and distinctive, you don't need fairings for it to work unless you want, and with the right pipes they make LOVELY noises. And the smaller ones are light and very confidence giving for inexperienced riders (Vicky, not you).

And they can be decently fast , too, and usually have jolly good handling if they're fettled right.

Mainly because the nicer singles are already expensive and 'classic'. A GB sells for more than they cost new! SRX's have a cult following and SR500 Yams? Sheesh! The rest are usually trail bikes and they go for a fortune compared to what they actually are... beat up piles of crap.

I would consider a TS250 / 400 though but again - people are already restoring these things and a sound one costs a bomb.

Cheers

**Jazzed** · 1st November 2006, 13:39

hmmmm tough call - lots of choices.....

my number 1 pick would be an old CB450 twin.

lots of links on http://groups.msn.com/HondaCB450DOHC/links.msnw

they can be made to look like cool cafe racers and the engine looks purrty

http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2005/11/...72165-full.jpg

J.

**Paul in NZ** · 1st November 2006, 13:41

Originally Posted by Jazzed

hmmmm tough call - lots of choices.....

my number 1 pick would be an old CB450 twin.

lots of links on http://groups.msn.com/HondaCB450DOHC/links.msnw

they can be made to look like cool cafe racers and the engine looks purrty

http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2005/11/...72165-full.jpg

J.

again - the CB350 / 450's are getting rare because they made pretty handy classic racers.... I'm thinking early to mid 80's bikes must be at a low point value wise. Sadly I had my eyes shut then....

**Crasherfromwayback** · 1st November 2006, 13:43

Originally Posted by Ixion

Um. Why a twin? What about the "classic" route, making a TT cafe racer from one of the Jap sporting singles. SRX250 (lovely bike)/400/600. Suzuki NZ250, Honda GB250/400/500. Kawasaki did a very good one too, but I can't remember the model number.

Perhaps you're referring to the Kawasaki BR250....grouse lil bikes, I've had two of them. I reckon later model GS500 Suzukis and Kawasaki GPZ500's are a goer too.....bloody good small twins....and bullet proof.
The Suzuki NZ 250 was a hand grenade....stay away from them....not that there are many left....they're mostly all dead now....

**Blackbird** · 1st November 2006, 13:57

What about a Suzuki X7 Paul? A mate of mine has several laying in a shed with boxes full of spares. Doubt if he'll ever do anything with them. One of them is the X7 my son learned to ride on and I used to steal it when he was at varsity. Nothing like a ring-a-ding for behaving badly on.

Geoff

**Paul in NZ** · 1st November 2006, 14:04

Originally Posted by Blackbird

What about a Suzuki X7 Paul? A mate of mine has several laying in a shed with boxes full of spares. Doubt if he'll ever do anything with them. One of them is the X7 my son learned to ride on and I used to steal it when he was at varsity. Nothing like a ring-a-ding for behaving badly on.

Geoff

An X7? Yes sir - I had a mate that needed a GT185 fixing up (which I did) - what a little marvel...... I suppose an X7 is a better version of that PLUS Vicki could ride it. I'd be very interested in that kind of thing Geoff.

**Paul in NZ** · 1st November 2006, 14:06

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Perhaps you're referring to the Kawasaki BR250....grouse lil bikes, I've had two of them. I reckon later model GS500 Suzukis and Kawasaki GPZ500's are a goer too.....bloody good small twins....and bullet proof.....

Yup - GS400 / 500's would be great but they can be quite expensive. I want a cheapie to play with. BR250 you say.... hmmmm

**Blackbird** · 1st November 2006, 14:14

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

An X7? Yes sir - I had a mate that needed a GT185 fixing up (which I did) - what a little marvel...... I suppose an X7 is a better version of that PLUS Vicki could ride it. I'd be very interested in that kind of thing Geoff.

I will contact my mate before building up hope too far. However, here's a photo of our old X7 - looks gorgeous and they are so much fun to ride.

**terbang** · 1st November 2006, 14:28

I've got a 1982 GSX400. Its a simple little twin cylinder thing that just keeps on going. Mine was actually imported from Europe hence the SZ designation though they sold scores of them here and being a reliable little thing they are still around. Its my work bike, its kinda pretty in its own way though it could do with a bit more wick (It really couldn't pull a sailor off yer sister).. Picked it up for a grand off tardme and I can't kill it. Look at my profile picky and its there, in silver, lurking behind my daughters trailey.

**Motu** · 1st November 2006, 14:31

I'm sorta thinking along the same lines - I want a streettracker that I can fit a stand up working passenger chair on.I needs to be a min 650 twin.....looks like it's back to the old XS650 again.Although I've been offered a GS650 inline 4,doesn't fill the streettracker roll,but would pull a light chair.

The FT500 is an orphan no one wants,get one before they wake up to a near streettracker XR/GB 500 going for peanuts.Those K400/440 pussbuckets are around for plucking,I wonder how they would go with a severe diet? Same with those over engineered Yamaha 400cc V twins,halve the weight and they might even move out of their own way.CB250/400 Dream/Hawk is another bike only fit for a bonfire that actually go better than you think (well the 400 anyway) Rogson pointed me in the direction of the GR650,one of Merv's recent threads had one his brother rides.....I reckon they look very interesting - and I know you'll like this,cause rogson used it to hook me....they have a variable mass flywheel,choice eh?