by "jminer" (jminer)
Published 04/11/2017 at 12:15
by "jminer" (jminer)
Published 04/11/2017 at 12:15
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STARS: 8
So I have a hobby of resurrecting old (pre 80 mostly) japanese bikes. It is work I enjoy, and even though these bikes are generally quite reliable for their age things still break on them. As work permits I do one or two a year, and have several others follow me home. Some I keep, some I part out to fund others and some I sell outright after giving it a once over.
My favorite bike is a 71 Honda CB500, a nice bike that is a blast to ride and has proven quite reliable for being 46 years old and having 33k miles on it (I put 10k of those on it). It tends to break down a couple times a year though. It could be as simple as a condenser fails, or as complicated as a serious oil leak I spend months chasing. Each time something breaks I have to order parts then find the time to fix it and it’s usually down for a month when this happens.
I have been wanting take longer rides and a trip or two on a bike, but I don’t like to take my old machines more than a few hundred miles from home. That’s about all the further I would be willing to call my wife and ask her very nicely to hook up the trailer and come get me...
So my wife (who is amazing) has quite wonderfully tolerated never being able to park in our two car garage, and storage sheds littered with old japanese steel and aluminum has been trying to convince me for a few years now to buy a new bike. I’ve been able to hold off for a the last couple years but I couldn’t anymore.
I got a promotion earlier this year which came with a quite nice pay bump and another week of vacation and my wife would not be assuaged. I had to buy a new bike this year, or she was going to do it for me.
So for a long story short, I’m keeping most of my old bikes but clearing some space. Any Missouri/Illinois Oppos want a project bike? I’ve got a few that I would part with. I also signed the paperwork on a new 2015 CB500x last night!
It still has to be prepped and setup but I’ll be picking it up Saturday. I plan on putting a lot of miles on this guy, it comes with an unlimited mile 1 year warranty... :)
Two Wheels Good!
"avalonian" (avalonain19)
04/11/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 0
I have been wanting to get into biking. How project are we talking? Whats the cost?
"jminer" (jminer)
04/11/2017 at 12:32, STARS: 1
Oh I’ve got everything from a bike that doesn’t need much more than carbs gone through (80 CM400a) to a 3 cylinder 2 stroke with a seized engine (75 GT380). Project bikes with a title usually sell for $500-1k around here depending on the condition and desirability of the bike.
If you’re wanting to get started riding and not wrenching I’d honestly recommend you buy new or lightly used though. I’ve seen new CB300f for $3k recently and that’s hard to beat.
"BobintheMtns" (bobinthemtns)
04/11/2017 at 12:34, STARS: 0
Congrats!
And we need to see some pics of your rebuilt bikes...!
"jminer" (jminer)
04/11/2017 at 12:35, STARS: 0
Yeah, I’m really bad about that... I’ll snap a few with my phone while I’m working something if I remember. I keep meaning to document one of them from beginning to end. It’s just hard when you work on it for a few hours then again a few weeks later do the same.
"camarov6rs" (mren2011)
04/11/2017 at 13:09, STARS: 0
Awesome all around choice!! Better motor for sporty use than the 700 too.
"jminer" (jminer)
04/11/2017 at 13:13, STARS: 0
Yep, that’s the idea. That 6k red line on the nc700x would have driven me insane. I like a light bike that I can throw around with a neutral riding position.
"XJDano" (xjdano)
04/11/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 0
Awesome. I may need some help locating parts for my silverwing. It has a slow coolant leak. And likely needs a tune up of sorts.
"camarov6rs" (mren2011)
04/11/2017 at 13:55, STARS: 0
The 700 is aimed squarely at casual riding types with an emphasis on fuel mileage. When we got our first one my boss and I thought they chugged along like a diesel lol
"jminer" (jminer)
04/11/2017 at 14:27, STARS: 1
They are nice bikes, it didn’t fit me as well as the 500 though. I’m 6' 2" 200# and have plenty of room on that 500x, but I didn’t like the slope of the seat on the 700. I didn’t want a bike that I immediately had to spend a few hundred bucks on a seat to make me want to ride it.
"jminer" (jminer)
04/11/2017 at 14:29, STARS: 0
You talking the GL650 right? Some of those parts are unobtanium, that bike is a bored out CX500 which itself wasn’t made for very long. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a GL650. A lot of the chassis parts were shared with the CM/CB400 line though which should help with some availability, but good luck. I don’t have anything right now but would suggest eBay. That’s where I buy and sell 95% of my bike parts.
"XJDano" (xjdano)
04/11/2017 at 15:58, STARS: 0
It’s a gl500.
"jminer" (jminer)
04/11/2017 at 17:52, STARS: 0
That’s a little better then. It’s just a cx500 in dress then. Any part you’re after mechanically should be identical to a cx500. Body parts will be unique though.