"jminer" (jminer)
01/12/2016 at 10:54 • Filed to: None
0
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"jminer" (jminer)
01/12/2016 at 10:54 • Filed to: None | 0
| 7 |
Good Morning Oppo,
I’ve got a stable full of cantankerous old Japanese metal, which at the moment don’t run.
I’m fighting with a vw carb conversion on my 79 gl1000, a leaky carb bowl on my 80 cm400a, and a cb500 that has gotten quite incontinent in regards to her engine oil.
Now I’m not planning on getting rid of any of these fine steeds anytime soon, but I haven’t had a motorcycle to ride since late October. These bikes all have a major problem (or two) plus several more little things (the newest is 35 years old after all).
My wife made a suggestion last week that I look at buying a new motorcycle. One I can just ride and not worry about wrenching on. I at first dismissed it as I am ridiculously cheap. The most I’ve ever spent on a motorcycle purchase was $400, usually less than $200...
But then I got to thinking, it would really be nice to have something that I didn’t need to spend several hours a month and maintain. The weather is unpredictable in St. Louis and warm days will appear on the dead of winter and beg to be ridden on (last week had 3 days in the 50s, but it snowed Saturday and today is 20). I’d love something I don’t have torn apart over winter for maintenance that I can jump on when weather allows.
I’ll wrap up my rambling with a question. I’m starting to really like the cb500x. It’s cheap(for a new bike), light, honda reliability, decent power and good economy. Anybody have one, or any insight into it?
Justin Hughes
> jminer
01/12/2016 at 11:06 |
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Similar thinking is what led me to buy a new BRZ instead of yet another cheap old clunker. Fortunately old motorcycles are much easier to keep around than cars.
FWIW, when I faced the same situation with my bikes, I picked up a Honda PC800. It’s older (1998, last year made), but aside from needing a carb cleaning two years ago (and a bunch of issues caused by the shop I no longer use), it’s been quite reliable. It needed nothing at all last year.
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jminer
> Justin Hughes
01/12/2016 at 11:15 |
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I’ve always liked those pc800 bikes. A 98 would be like space age new compared to my herd. I dont mind wrenching at all, and I love the character and look of the older machines. I also know if I spend some time and get them well sorted they’ll reward me by being (reasonably) reliable.
I’m tempted by the fact that I can pick up a new cb500x for a hair under $5k which a well sorted newer bike (95 and newer) would cost me atleast $3k anyway.
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Justin Hughes
> jminer
01/12/2016 at 11:19 |
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A hair under $5k? Honda’s web site lists 2015 models starting at $6,299, 2016s at $6,499. If you can get one for a hair under $5k, that’s a great deal.
And I’m in the same boat as you - my PC800 is space age compared to everything else I’ve owned, all from the early 1980s. I think I paid around $3,400 for it three years ago, an average price at the time. If you can buy new for a few dollars more, especially with fuel injection, decent lighting, and other modern conveniences, I say go for it.
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jminer
> Justin Hughes
01/12/2016 at 11:25 |
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That’s what I’m leaning towards. EFI, and no points are both large attractors for me.
I’m looking at leftover 2014 models, which have $700 Honda rebate, plus the fact that it’s January and 20 degrees outside right now and very few people within 100 miles of here is going to want to buy a motorcycle until April here.
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Justin Hughes
> jminer
01/12/2016 at 11:29 |
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There are leftover 2014 models??? Wow, this must be a REALLY slow seller. And you definitely have the time of year going for you.
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jminer
> Justin Hughes
01/12/2016 at 11:43 |
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I live in Harley country. Not much sells a lot unless it’s a cruiser here.
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Justin Hughes
> jminer
01/12/2016 at 11:45 |
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Ah, that explains it.