Bike choice - Is this realistic?

[FlySniper]

Originally Posted by sam handwich

Uhh...uh oh. A handshake isnt legally binding, right?

Did it get sold out from under you?


I hope not! Sounds like it might have been a good deal.

[sam handwich]

Doofus doesn't know where the title is. Says he's looking for it this weekend. We'll see.

[sam handwich]

Well, that bike is a no-go. BUT, I've upped my budget a bit and going to see a 1994 Magna with 7K miles, $2200 obo "ready to ride, needs nothing" on Saturday! From the pics, it looks like it's in perfect shape.

[jas67]

Originally Posted by ADK

A Suzuki or Kawasaki 500 twin 12-15 years old should be in your price range and reliable.

+1. I'd up the price target to $2,000-$2,500. In the long run, it'll cost you less than a $1,500 example, unless you get real lucky. In this price range you can get bikes from the mid-90's to early 2000's. This is the year range you should be shooting for to get a reliable bike in your price range. The older stuff can be reliable, but will be more work, and cost more. Even simple maintenance parts like air filters get hard to find, or expensive for the 70's bikes.

• Suzuki GS500 -- was sold in both naked (GS500E) and fully-faired form (GS500F).
• Kawasaki Ninja 500 -- looks like a sport bike, with ergos like a standard
• Suzuki Bandit 600 -- I'm seeing these with asking prices similar to the twin-cylinder 500's. It is a 600cc four, but not a high-strung sport-bike four, they're more like 70 HP with a 10,000 RPM redline and nice torque anywhere above 5,000 RPM.
• Suzuki SV650 -- you often see the older, carburated ones with $2,000-$2,500 asking price. They are light (370lbs) with a nice smooth 90 degree V-twin making 70 HP, so they're quick good, but not stupid fast if you are mature about it.
• Honda Nighthawk 550/650/750. The 550 and 650 were only made in the 80's, so to get something a little newer you'll need to to 750.

[jas67]

Originally Posted by sam handwich

Well, that bike is a no-go. BUT, I've upped my budget a bit and going to see a 1994 Magna with 7K miles, $2200 obo "ready to ride, needs nothing" on Saturday! From the pics, it looks like it's in perfect shape.

As others have said, the Honda V4's are sweet motors. They have a very unique exhaust note, nothing like any of the inline four cylinders. I have a '96 VFR750, which has a higher reving V4 than the magna, and which is very quick and fun. At least on the VFR it is a very versatile engine. The redline is over 11,000 RPM, but yet, it makes plenty of torque at anything over 4,500 RPM.

Please post pics and impressions of the Magna once you've gotten a chance to try it o ut.

[sam handwich]

Well, that was junk in person.

The guy with the '84 just wrote back that he will either find the title tonight or express order one, so maybe that will come back into play.

[Kt-88]

2200.. That's a whole lot less than I have in my r90/6.

[sam handwich]

I'm picking up the 84 magna tomorrow. Cant wait!

[sam handwich]

Soooo....turns out it's not an '84. It's an '86. I'm a dope.

[Kt-88]

Looks super clean!