Question for those that haven't been riding since birth.

[pknopp]

Just for the record, I scoured the local craigslist in my area, and couldn't find any 70's UJM's in the $500 - $1500 price range w/ the exception of a '74 or '75 Hondamatic. Did see several mid 80's bikes in the 450-550cc range though. And yeah, I guess the mid-90's bikes are a bit more.

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/mcy/2943393208.html

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

Impressive, to say the least. That kind of mileage is stout on a cruiser (or it means you have no job and just tour all the time), much less on a little buzz bomb like a 360 twin.

I won't lie, 2 years of that did me in.

[Cubster]

Guys I really appreciate the input...good to hear different perspectives and experiences. Still looking and have been hanging around one of my riding buddies more. Found this...thought for price and condition it would be manageable.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/mcy/2937146298.html

[nhbubba]

For $1200, I would think you should be able to do better.

[Paul@VWvortex]

Guys I really appreciate the input...good to hear different perspectives and experiences. Still looking and have been hanging around one of my riding buddies more. Found this...thought for price and condition it would be manageable.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/mcy/2937146298.html

For $1200, I would think you should be able to do better.

The funny thing about those FT500 Ascots is that they have a nice cult following as it is rare to find a street-based single cylinder motorcycle like that. It is probably worth the money as a decent bike to start on and then resell when you are finished with it.

Basically that motor is a vintage-correct XR500 motor complete with the compression release and is actually fun to ride.

[pknopp]

Guys I really appreciate the input...good to hear different perspectives and experiences. Still looking and have been hanging around one of my riding buddies more. Found this...thought for price and condition it would be manageable.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/mcy/2937146298.html

It's pretty cool as it's different. You don't see many of them. This is something you will likely never have to consider and I'll say that I've never rode or started one of these but......

I'm sure it's electric start but big singles take a bit of a knack to kick start. It's not like you can't get the hang of it. I'm sure these are less finicky than the old big singles.

The compression release allows you to place the piston at TDC so you can begin your kick there. As I said though, you'll likely never kick start it though. I've kinda grown fond of the early 80's bikes.

[Paul@VWvortex]

Now if you could find a GB500 for say, less than $2500 then you would have a prize.



I remember working in a Honda dealership in the late 80's/early 90's in kollege and we couldn't give those away... nor could we give away Pacific Coasts, VFR750's and RC30s.

[pknopp]

I don't think I've ever seen a GB500 in person. I've looked on eBay randomly and not seen one.

[nhbubba]

I'm not much for eclectic, odd, and 'cult' bikes really. I prefer more mainstream stuff. CB's, etc. To each their own I suppose. But a 500cc single street bike? Pass.

I remember working in a Honda dealership in the late 80's/early 90's in kollege and we couldn't give those away... nor could we give away Pacific Coasts, VFR750's and RC30s.

The PC I understand.
But the VFR?! That's shocking.
Maybe the price tag?

My dad had a Magna V45 for a while. I really liked that bike.

[Mk1Racer]

Guys I really appreciate the input...good to hear different perspectives and experiences. Still looking and have been hanging around one of my riding buddies more. Found this...thought for price and condition it would be manageable.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/mcy/2937146298.html

I always liked the Ascots. Not bad for a first bike. Show up w/ $1000 and see what happens.

I do agree w/ the seller though, the days of a rideable $500 street bike are as long gone as the days of $500 road-worthy Rabbit GTI's.

[SlowMotion]

As an owner of a modern bike and part owner of a 80 CB650 I advise you to start on a modern bike.
Older bike will break more often than you think and you'll spend more time fixing than riding.
As I'm getting older (late 30's) I've been itching for a motard and a sport tourer like the tiger 800.
Don't think about it too much and just do it!

Sent from my PC36100 using Xparent Green Tapatalk 2

[Paul@VWvortex]

I'm not much for eclectic, odd, and 'cult' bikes really. I prefer more mainstream stuff. CB's, etc. To each their own I suppose. But a 500cc single street bike? Pass.
The PC I understand.
But the VFR?! That's shocking.
Maybe the price tag?

My dad had a Magna V45 for a while. I really liked that bike.

Any V4 bike from that era (Magna, Interceptor and Sabre) are really fantastic to ride and other than a few niggling valve train issues they are pretty reliable and easy to work on. We also had a bevvy of 1986 VT1100 Shadows new in-crates that we couldn't sell for $2995 brand new with warranties... twas some dark days in the motorcycle industry. That's one of the reason you don't see many Japanese bikes from that era anymore; their numbers were not like previous years.

[pknopp]

Any V4 bike from that era (Magna, Interceptor and Sabre) are really fantastic to ride and other than a few niggling valve train issues they are pretty reliable and easy to work on. We also had a bevvy of 1986 VT1100 Shadows new in-crates that we couldn't sell for $2995 brand new with warranties... twas some dark days in the motorcycle industry. That's one of the reason you don't see many Japanese bikes from that era anymore; their numbers were not like previous years.

Not to hijack but I find this interesting. What was the reason for this?

In 1986 I was riding a 1976 CB200 that I bought for $300 so I have no idea what the new bike market was like at the time.

Were cruisers out of favor? Japanese bikes in general? Bikes in general?

[nhbubba]

I think the whole motorcycle market was down at that time. My personal recollection is that my father bought a leftover '89 HD bagger (FLHS) for a song in Jan of '90. The story was the dealer was making extra coin on the side buying up leftovers still in crates from his competitors over the winter. He'd load them up on truck and go sell them off every spring in Daytona. My father was in the market for a Dana and they sold him the FL straight from the crate for the list on a new Dana because they had a glut of them taking up space.

Not 4-5 years later the closest you could get to buying a new HD was to get yourself on a waiting list.

Everything is cyclical.

[blue70beetle]

As I'm getting older (late 30's) I've been itching for a motard and a sport tourer like the tiger 800.

I'm in the same situation and have been for at least a couple years...unfortunately, funding hasn't kept up with interest / desire, so I'm still on an XR with dirt wheels / tires for my in-town commute to work...while I get there today and walk past bikes that include a WR250X, an MV F4, and an F800GS, along with a bunch of other standard issue stuff.