Motorcycle ADD - Now I want a vintage looking bike

Having rid myself of any vehicle built prior to 1987, I still want something that gives me the feeling of 'old' but not necessarily with all the heartache such things entail. Plus, my garage bays are maxed out with full size vehicles. So, I have begun window shopping 'vintage' style bikes.

I think the 'ultimate' in good looking bikes was/is the Triumph Bonneville:

Unfortunately, they come (even used) with a notably non-GRM price tag. Upside is they hold their value really well, have a big engine that can do any speed you'd desire and have been pretty much modernized with regards to electron delivery. I just can't seem to find many (any?) in my feeble few-thousand-dollar price range. Kawasaki made a wonderful copy of these called the W650 but only sold them here for a couple of years. They are so highly regarded the prices are nearly the same as the Triumphs!

Suzuki makes the TU250X which gets good reviews for a smaller engine bike.

Taiwan (don't call it China) gives us the Sym Wolf, if you want something that pretends to be a 1960s Japanese bike instead of a 1960s British bike: But these small displacement bikes, while fun, may not be suitable for the more rural places I live/ride. The Sym would get tiresome quickly, I'm sure. The Suzuki may be more capable than it's displacement suggests. However, the one I can't seem to shake a burning desire for is what is the motorcycle equivalent of a Morgan Plus 4: The Bullet (above) and the Classic (below) just look right, offer a real vintage riding experience (so I'm told) and are capable up to about 60 mph before you start wishing you'd bought something else.

Best of all, they are fairly inexpensive to buy new, so used ones can be found for between $2000-$3000. The quality certainly isn't the same as a lot of the others, but it's not terrible. Things occasionally fall off from vibration, but I owned a KLR once so I'm used to that. I'm also quite smitten with the sound they make.

I'm trolling Craigslist and Ebay now trying to find one to at least ride. I fear this won't end well for my bank account. Best of all, it should fit through the doorway of my rec room patio, so I can enjoy looking at it even when it's broken.

So you have to ask yourself. Is the new RE going to be as reliable as a $3,000 mid 1970s Triumph that has been fitted with electronic ignition? At least the Triumph will not have a 60mph limitation and will be easier to get parts for.

Newer Royal Enfields have a lot of improvements, including fuel injection. Their Continental GT is a very good looking bike, I'd like to try one out sometime.

The TU250 seems like a nice bike but they seem expensive for the size, although I looked to see what used ones go for.
Motorcycle Classics magazine had a favorable review of the Wolf a couple years ago: http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-japanese-motorcycles/sym-wolf-classic-150-zmbz13jazbea.aspx#axzz3EcIfsszv Top speed is only 65mph, but it sounds like it will run fine at 55 or so which means you could use it on the highway.

You mentioned the W650 - I have one myself, they're good bikes but they seem to be really sensitive to modern gasoline, the carbs will get clogged up in no time flat. My brother has one as well and his suffers from the same issue. Kawasaki has an updated version called the W800, but unfortunately they don't sell them in the US.

What about modern used Triumph?

Don't forget the Ural.

Or Harley Sporsters.

Urals are stupid expensive for what they are (up here in Canada anyway) $14,000 for a Russian 750.

No thanks.

Have a look at the Moto Guzzi V7 as well.

Urals are interesting but expensive, plus the parts supply is always in question depending on what country they are invading in any given week. I have NO interest in Sportsters; they do nothing for me visually and I don't wish to be a member of that hardly exclusive club.

I wouldn't want an actual vintage Triumph as they have plenty of issues and most of the ones in my price range aren't particularly desirable. I like the new FI Bonne's but as I said they don't depreciate enough.

Guzzi V7's seem to be as expensive as the Triumphs.

Yamaha came out with this SR400 with a list price of around $6000. More than I'm willing to spend but an interesting addition to the style.

ETA: I sat on a RE Continental GT. I don't care for the cafe ergonomics on any bike, and the Continental was no exception, but it was probably one of the better bikes of it's kind I've sat on. I vastly preferred the ergos of the Classic. The Conti is pretty though.

If you're patient, you can also find one of the older SR500s, but they come with all the fun of a 20-30 year old bike that may or may not have been looked after well.

Some of the older bikes had a good reputation of reliability. Although prices seem to be going up for them they still aren't that expensive. Plus they are easy to work on and have no issues with parts availability. The Honda 750-four (actually any Honda xxx-four), Yamaha XS650 are just a couple that come to mind. Finding one in good shape and not chopped might be a trick though.

My 1951 Matchless has been pretty good.

The Matchless / AJS twins are the about the most reliable of the British parallel twins, they actually have a center bearing.

My grandfather had a Matchless. It's still in the family, owned by my cousin. They have the bass-ackwards British controls though.

Not a big deal to get used to that.

I switch bikes every few days, I've occasionally stomped the rear brake, looking for another gear but that's about it.

Shawn

What about an early 90's Honda Nighthawk? Sure they look like they are out of the 80s instead of the 60s, but they are bulletproof, quick, versatile, and I like the Japanese Standard look. Not flashy, not a hunched-over cafe or sportbike.....just a good solid motorcycle that will keep you happy for years.

IMO you're either going to have to save up for a Triumph or settle for an uglier more modern looking bike. I wouldn't think the smaller bikes would have enough engine for anything more than around the town type trips. If the local dealer hadn't went out of business I would have been on a Thruxton instead of a Sportster. The royal Enfields appeal to me but there have been enough horror stories about reliability to scare me away.

Or if your fab skills are up to it, take a modernish bike, like the one in Joe Gearin's picture and make it look classic. Tanks, seats and fenders can all be modified and fabbed to get the look you desire.

I just got the latest issue of Cycle World in the mail today, and they have an short test article on the Yamaha SR400 that was quite favorable.

If you like the Universal Japanese Motorcycle look, Honda sells a CB1100 these days that looks very much like their bikes from the 1970s.

Well if a standard will work, but you have a $3000 budget....

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/mcy/4686929154.html

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/mcy/4632055576.html

Cleans up nice....

Looks too much like a sport bike.

I had a thing for Honda Nighthawks a few years ago but four carbs make me cringe and all that engine tends to make things between your legs quite warm. One owner told me it wasn't particularly comfortable for long rides.

New bikes are purty but I don't buy anything that has an engine new. I also can't see spending that much for a bike when I rarely spend that much on cars.

Everybody on this board but me seems to like Gold Wings. You should be able to find one of those cheap, but they're not really "retro" looking...

What about an old Z1? XS Eleven? GS1000? Or are you looking for a "sixties" look?

stroker wrote: Everybody on this board but me seems to like Gold Wings. You should be able to find one of those cheap, but they're not really "retro" looking...

I says pardon?

Fastest thing in Japan until the KZ1000 came along.

You guys continue to confuse 'old' and 'old-looking'. I don't want an old bike. If it was made before the year 2000 I'm likely not interested. I have no patience for gummed up multi-carbs, limited parts availability and non-existent resale value.

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/mcy/4688415441.html

I was getting ready to post this on here anyway.... GRM price is $2500.

These came from the factory exactly like this... in 2013. Moto Guzzi Griso 8V SE. I have no idea what it costs but... it's a motorcycle pornstar.

You're going to have to make a compromise somewhere. There are bikes like you want but you don't want to pay for them. You're simply not going to get one for a couple grand, unless you get lucky and find a hell of a deal.

I see your choices as;

1. Pay for a modern bike with vintage looks

2. Buy a vintage bike and deal with all that entails

3. Buy a modern bike and deal with the modern looks

4. Buy a Sportster

How far out of your price range is $5k? http://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2009-Triumph-Bonneville-SE---PHANTOM-BLACK-113104760

What about taking the money you're thinking of spending on another bike and spending it on your V-strom to make it more perfect for you? Seat, bars, things like that? I've never seen any retro styling done to a Strom, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

There is also a scooter. Many Vespa styled ones out there in the 150-250cc range that make dandy run-to-the-store toys that are pretty darn capable of going for pleasant rides. At least that's what I've been told many times, no personal scooter experience on these nicer and larger ones.

Nick_Comstock wrote: 1. Pay for a modern bike with vintage looks 2. Buy a vintage bike and deal with all that entails 3. Buy a modern bike and deal with the modern looks 4. Buy a Sportster

5 -Buy a scuffed up CB1000 and make a cafe racer out of it.