Cheap Thrills - Can you get started in motorcycling for $2,500 or less?

[Randy]

Originally Posted by amk

I’d rather do RTW trip on a bicycle than on 250cc. That is way more fan and much cheaper. Which happens to be true, there were times when my pedal bike annual mileage was greater than car’s. Anyway, there are many sports that sucks far less money, but far superior in adventure than any motorcycle would ever be. Think about mountaineering, ski mountaineering, etc.
If you are an adult, do not fool yourself, 250cc is for backyard off-road playing. To go and see places you need something more substantial, it still can be acquired within the budget, but some manufacturing is required rather than bolting on, if you get my drift.

Must disagree with you on two items highlighted in red above.

The first one of course is purely a subjective judgement call and depends on your idea of what defines "adventure"...

Case in point, http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=730691

If you can read this, as well as his sister thread over on bamarides, along with his other trip reports, and say that he didn't have an adventure, didn't go anywhere or see anything, or that he needed more that 250cc (actually in his case it's 225cc although he did spend a bit of cash upgrading the bike) I'll kiss your ass!

And while it could possibly be done cheaper in other ways, I think that in general you'll agree that he was very frugal.

And regardless, if you have an adventurous spirit I believe you will really enjoy the read, or reads...

Well documented and written IMO...


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[ThomasVolomitz]

Another great and fun thread.

[pookiebear]

Don't forget Chuck's CT70 rode from OK. to Sturgis on a ct70
http://www.dualsportridersoflouisian...ing-to-Sturgis (some NSFW stuff in there)

I loved my ct70 it was tagged. I bought it for $75 without and engine. Put a 125cc china motor in mine and it would do 55 all day. Would flat out leave my wifes yamaha zuma scooter.

[DowDuer]

Isn't there a $500 challenge thread floating around, and those five sons of russian immigrants who rode cross country on $500 bikes?

[Fictitious]

Originally Posted by amk

There are always those 18 teens, or quite adult by look who has not grown up, and therefore have not acquired any responsibility, i.e. family, property, children, regular full time job, so they are never in a hurry, they are like indians, do not have time in their life. How long would it take - some moons, how many - some many.

Errr... say again? Are you by any chance running this through a translator or something like that?

I gather that you are saying that young people can afford to go slow because they have fewer responsibilities? Well... I'm not exactly sure how fast you think is necessary to go anywhere, but the top speed of a ninja 250 is around 180 kph; far more then the speed limit pretty much everywhere here in Canada and more then adequate to ride any road worth riding in the US. Hell, in a number of places in the world a 250cc motorcycle is a downright beast.

[pjm204]

My buddies and I leave on a trip in a month rules are simple 1. Bike is older than you 2. bike is under $1000.

Aside from that, I bought my 2006 Vstrom 650 for $2400. Deals are out there... $2500 isn't even a challenge.

If you look at my signature line, the only bikes over $2500 were my VFR800, DL1000, 2008 DL650($2950), and FJR1300.

[Lesharoturbo]

My first bike was KZ400 that I paid $150 for. It needed a lot of work, but $400 later I had a nice beginners bike. I replaced the exhaust, rebuilt the carbs, tore down and inspected the engine, replaced gaskets, rings and bearings. I repainted the frame and the tins. It otok me about 6 months to finish, but it was worth it.

For $2500, I could have bought 5 bikes . Or that Pantah that was on display in the local shop....

[sjc56]

"My buddies and I leave on a trip in a month rules are simple 1. Bike is older than you 2. bike is under $1000."
Now that would be a challenge for me at 55.

[JerryH]

I have owned a lot of bikes, both new and used. I have paid over $10,000 for a couple. But for what you are describing, IMO the Yamaha XT225 simply cannot be beat. You can get a NICE one for under $1500, and you can put a 4 gal. Clarke tank, Cigar Mike centerstand, and a BryanSwens luggage rack on it. You can also get a kickstarter for it. It will cross the country (though not at warp speed) and I have yet to find a place where it will not go. With the 4 gal. tank, you can ride around off road all day. So far mine have been bulletproof (I own 2, a '94 set up for off road (but still street legal) and an '01 set up for street use, with Avon Distanza tires). With the centerstand, you don't have to worry about flats due to the tube type tires. You can even replace the cam chain without tearing the engine down.

Most pure streetbikes lack the suspension and ground clearance to be good off road, though I know of one guy who converted his Kawasaki Ninja 500 to an off road bike and seems to be doing well with it. Seems like the low mufflers might also be a problem.

As for the original question, you can most definitely get into motorcycling for less than $2500. You even have your choice of sportbike, cruiser, touring bike, or dual sport bike. I have an '85 Goldwing I would not hesitate to ride from coast to coast, that I have less than $2500 in, but I do have a LOT of work into it, like a few hundred hours, and it is definitely not an off road bike.

[sailah]

Originally Posted by pjm204

My buddies and I leave on a trip in a month rules are simple 1. Bike is older than you 2. bike is under $1000.

Aside from that, I bought my 2006 Vstrom 650 for $2400. Deals are out there... $2500 isn't even a challenge.

If you look at my signature line, the only bikes over $2500 were my VFR800, DL1000, 2008 DL650($2950), and FJR1300.

That sounds like a blast. I need a beater bike that has crap suspension, no brakes, no power, handles like crap, leaks oil and rusted to remind me of how good I have it now

[sjc56]

[IMG]
P1010979 by steven_j_cote, on Flickr[/IMG]I have a GS850 I would sell for $1800 all the bike you really need.

[2000RSV]

Ummm, no one's mentioned a KLR? You can pick up a nicely sorted out KLR for $1500 (easily) with plenty of money left for riding equipment, etc. Take you anywhere in the world, do 70+ on the highway, eat up gravel and trails, and not whine about needing a bath.

J

[pjm204]

Originally Posted by 2000RSV

Ummm, no one's mentioned a KLR? You can pick up a nicely sorted out KLR for $1500 (easily) with plenty of money left for riding equipment, etc. Take you anywhere in the world, do 70+ on the highway, eat up gravel and trails, and not whine about needing a bath.

J

Hmm, I rarely see KLR's for $1500 that are nicely sorted, but it does vary geographically. If I see a KLR for $1500 that is decent, I'll buy it.

[squish]

Really
2500 seems like it would be a luxury....

Here's my list.

Honda XR250L purchase price, =700.
Fix up $250

Total cost $950.
Gear
used jacket 150,
used pants 100,
work boots 50,
work gloves 20

MSF class
!00

Used soft bag
!00

Used plastic take off tank.
Free.

totally just under $2000


XR650L
Bike $1,200
Gear, (same as above)
Bags $600
New seat $100
SRC brace $25 used
Windscreen
skid plate $15 materials, free labor
5.8 gallon tank $300

$2240

[windburn]

A 1971 Honda Trail 90 has been my cheap thrill. At $350 and about the same in parts I have this little mountain goat.
The plan is to take it to the Rockies and ride. New points and condenser, battery, spark plug, rear tube and tires, valve adjustment, mirrors. At 4000 miles it runs very well.