Cheep Bike Challenge <$1500

[DustyPockets]

My collection of 80's era Hondas.

First up 1980 Honda Twinstar. Kind of an impulse buy. But it was so nice I just could not pass it up, not quite showroom but close enough, 1300 Miles.
$1000.00

1983 Honda CM 250. More or less a barn find. On CL as non running, cleaned the carb (twice), runs just fine now. Best $300.00 I have ever spent, I run the piss out of the 250.

1985 Vt 700. First machine I bought. Grown fond of the old girl. I talked him down $25.00 To $1475.00!

[Sean Smith]

98 Savage. Bought $700.00. Put another $800.00 in with new body work and stater.

[Sean Smith]

[johnny_killmore]

$1000. Chain/sprockets $200, fuel pump $100, injector cleaning $80. Misc fluids and fuel line bits and fittings $100.
Just slides me in under $1500 if you don't count paying tribute to the Man for a new reg. sticker.



Have had it on the road just under 2 weeks now, and a few hundred miles under the belt. Fuel gauge doesn't work but this is a solid reliable bike compared to what I've had for the previous 3-4 years.
Maiden voyage to the sushi spot:


I'm not big fan of Hinkley Triumphs, but I'm a fan of functional mirrors, cold starting with no ritual, and a windscreen and mushy seat for the approaching winter (not to mention no oil spraying on my pant leg or shoe).
-Johnny

[Egodriver71]

Originally Posted by Sean Smith

LOVED my little Radian!!! I got mine for $900 back in `05.

Still wish I had it for my daughter, but it would have sat with the purchase of the Connie.

[mikesova]

Originally Posted by johnny_killmore

$1000. Chain/sprockets $200, fuel pump $100, injector cleaning $80. Misc fluids and fuel line bits and fittings $100.
Just slides me in under $1500 if you don't count paying tribute to the Man for a new reg. sticker.



Have had it on the road just under 2 weeks now, and a few hundred miles under the belt. Fuel gauge doesn't work but this is a solid reliable bike compared to what I've had for the previous 3-4 years.
Maiden voyage to the sushi spot:


I'm not big fan of Hinkley Triumphs, but I'm a fan of functional mirrors, cold starting with no ritual, and a windscreen and mushy seat for the approaching winter (not to mention no oil spraying on my pant leg or shoe).
-Johnny

I think you did pretty good!

[SloMo228]

I've never paid $1500 for a bike! I'm not even sure that any of mine ended up costing that much even after the rebuild... I love my cheapies.

My "first" bike was a free '86 Radian that I found on the curb on garbage day (!) Knocked on the door, asked the guy if he was really throwing away a motorcycle. He said yes, I pushed it home two blocks on two flat tires. I was 14 at the time and had little to no idea of how to fix a motorcycle, and when my mom found it in the shed, she made me get rid of it.

My first actual bike was a $400 '79 CX500, which I sadly no longer have. I tried to turn it into a cafe racer but, being 17 at the time, didn't really have the skillset I do now, and it just ended up being an ugly lump. Reliable as hell, though.

Next was a $400 '78 GL1000. This one was actually two bikes I bought as a lot - one with a bent frame but running motor, and one with a usable frame but seized motor. I spent about a year and a half doing a frame up restoration/reassembly on this one. By far my favorite bike out of all I've ridden. No, it doesn't go as fast or turn as hard as a modern bike, but something about it "feels right." I still have it, recently rode it for a 3-day tour of the Upper Peninsula:



I also recently acquired a "free" '93 GL1500. It's a basketcase, which is why "free" is in quotation marks. It's mostly there, but damn the plastics for these things are expensive. It'll probably end up costing me about a grand to get it on the road:



And finally, I bought an '83 CX650 last weekend for $500. I just started a build thread on this site.



I do have the tank and body panels, but the bike actually looks better without them!

[NortwestRider]

That green GL ROCKS.!!
I have been toying with finding a standard GL and doing something like you did.


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[SloMo228]

Originally Posted by NortwestRider

That green GL ROCKS.!!
I have been toying with finding a standard GL and doing something like you did.


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Thanks! I've had this bike almost as long as I've been riding, and I'll probably have it until I can't get parts for it anymore, or I'm too old to ride, whichever comes first. It's one of those projects that is never quite done.

This winter I'll be tearing it down to have the frame and a few other parts blasted and powdercoated, and I'll be trying my hand at building a manifold for a supercharger. Then somewhere down the road, fuel injection, and the list goes on and on...

[stretch160]

I brought home 2 1971 CB350s for $750 this week.

[SloMo228]

Originally Posted by stretch160

I brought home 2 1971 CB350s for $750 this week.

Nice! There has been a glut of CB350s and CB360s in my area recently for some reason. I've always liked the 350, and some of the bikes that have been popping up on Craigslist are really tempting.

[radianrider]

Originally Posted by Egodriver71

LOVED my little Radian!!! I got mine for $900 back in `05.

Still wish I had it for my daughter, but it would have sat with the purchase of the Connie.

Had an '86 that I got for a $1000.00 back in 2000. Ran great and was a pretty quick bike.

[Yokomo]

I'm glad those cb's weren't around here. Idon't have the room for them. Do they run?

[bmwhacker]

Originally Posted by SloMo228

Nice! There has been a glut of CB350s and CB360s in my area recently for some reason. I've always liked the 350, and some of the bikes that have been popping up on Craigslist are really tempting.

I looked at a 1971 CB 350 last night. 5000 miles but had been repainted. Guy asking $900.00. If the paint was original I'd be tempted.
He has 3 1974 CL200 twins also...$700.00 for all three. One is good and the other 2 are parts bikes. no titles though. I hate screwing with the "bonded title" hassle. Usually cost around $150.00 for a title when it's all done.
The CL 200's were a "one year" bike I believe. Maybe worth the $700.00?

[WhatThaFrig]

Originally Posted by NortwestRider

That green GL ROCKS.!!
I have been toying with finding a standard GL and doing something like you did.


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Do it, you won't regret it. I have an 82 Standard and love it.