80's Honda as beginner bike?

[reconsmr]

I have a friend, newby, he rode about a bit on a EX500 and proclaimed he needed a 750-1000cc as the lil Ninja was too small and slow. We went for a ride with him on the back and he realized he still had alot to learn. That ride inspired me to get a 500 for myself, it reminded me of my old RD400 from high school. I ran it for a year as a commuter and 2 up tourer, covering all the states in the Northeast with a passenger in 07, no problems. When I went to sell I couldn't move it and dropped the price to 2500 bucks. Finally traded it in at that price. Point is, they are out there, mine was a 06, and they are cheap, durable and can be used for anything any streetbike can do. Great learners bike, enough power without too much. Learn to ride well and give others fits on the street, its friggin light and tossable.

My buddy went on to a SM610, one of the most rideable big singles and within 2k miles developed throttle lock and single bike crashed on a straight road like an IDIOT! Good thing we talked him outta a ZX1000! The Ninja is a great putter, all the 80s performance in a new package. Unless you are handy I'd avoid the older iron, rubber hoses and seals are now hard and brittle. Most have been stored with little regard for the machines, a low mile 90s or 80s bike can be more $ to keep running than a new bike payment! A DR350 sits in my garage, another friend, 1800 miles and it needs a new carb, beyond rebuilding, the upper half of the gears that sat out of the 8 year old oil are rusty and the cylinder had a coating. I know it'll break a ring within a few miles but he wants to try it, waste of $! Spend wisely, look for low mile, late model, lowball the seller, used bike sales are in the shatter.

[RedRocket]

Originally Posted by EvilGenius

Here's what I'm looking at at the moment.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/mcy/598516261.html

I checked for some CX's but didn't find any which is a shame because they're so cool.

STOP. That's no bargain to begin with. Take your time, you'll find better deals than that. Mid-sized fours will give you so much more performance without any real penalty.

[Grainbelt]

Originally Posted by reconsmr

The Ninja (500) is a great putter, all the 80s performance in a new package. Unless you are handy I'd avoid the older iron, rubber hoses and seals are now hard and brittle. Most have been stored with little regard for the machines, a low mile 90s or 80s bike can be more $ to keep running than a new bike payment! ... Spend wisely, look for low mile, late model, lowball the seller, used bike sales are in the shatter.

There is wisdom here. It is about safety, and riding vs. wrenching.

Do you really want to rebuild and sync the 4 carbs on an 80's 4cyl? Do fuel petcock vacuum problems excite you? Have you never met a rusted tank you didn't want to kreem? Do you know how to replace, lubricate, and properly adjust throttle, brake, and clutch cables?

[EvilGenius]

Ok, ok. So ya'll have scared me away from the 80's a little more. I think the 500 is nice, but I'd like to avoid the all the plastic if possible. I'm reasonably mechanically inclined. I've built a few 4cyl honda motors with a friend for his track car, so I'd like to think I know how a motor works. Obviously bikes are a different animal, so I'm trying to stay away from the "GREAT PROJECT BIKE!!!!!1" types however I wouldn't mind having to clean a carb or something similar.

Are there any other standard style (or whatever) bikes that ya'll can suggest other than the usual gs500,sv650,ex500 etc. I've looked through those the last 4-6 months and there's not many that I've seen come in under $3k-$3500. I know I can low-ball the seller, but I'd hate to rely on it.

Is there anything I should absolutely stay away from?

Also, is it usual for bikes posted for sale to hover for a while or do they sell quick? Occasionally I come across something interesting only to find out it was posted a month or more ago. My experience with used cars is that if it's been up for more than a week or two there's a high chance it's already gone.

[30Bones]

Took 3 months and dropping the price 600 bucks to move mine. Don't hesitate to make a reasonable offer, it might be taken.

[Grainbelt]

Originally Posted by EvilGenius

Are there any other standard style (or whatever) bikes that ya'll can suggest other than the usual gs500,sv650,ex500 etc. I've looked through those the last 4-6 months and there's not many that I've seen come in under $3k-$3500. I know I can low-ball the seller, but I'd hate to rely on it..

Other standards with a 1/2 fairing or windscreen include the Yamaha Seca II and Suzuki Bandit 600. The late 80's Yamaha Radian shares parts with the Seca II and if in good shape, would be ok.

If you're still thinking cruiserish, the Kawasaki Vulcan 500 shares the motor with the EX500, and is a very capable bike.

Google any of the above for pics. There aren't a ton of lower-displacement bikes out there, and the ones that are sell fast. When I bought my GS500, I had cash ready and pounced on the first one that came available in my price range.

Originally Posted by EvilGenius

Is there anything I should absolutely stay away from?

Not really. If you see on that you think it is a bit rough, or aren't sure, post here. Someone will have experience with it.

[CobaltFire]

I'm a bit far away, but a coworker has a Honda Silverwing (CX500) for sale atm, said he will take $1000. I haven't seen the bike, but he bought it from the original owner to resell it, so it's only really had 1 owner. Looks nice, I almost bought it, but they are HEAVY compared to my EX250. Good luck!

[EvilGenius]

Here's a Seca II for pretty cheap.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/mcy/588880841.html

Are these rare at all? This is the first I've ever heard of them. Anything special about them?

[reconsmr]

You can walk out the door with a 07 leftover EX250 for 3k or pop the extra 500 for a 08. Either will do what you ask, are extremely user friendly and resale is about as good as it gets, buy for 3 grand, sell at any time later for about 2100-2200. I've ridden the 250 two up, I'm 200, she was not a small girl, (the bike owner) and we ran pretty hard in some very challenging mountain roads, right on the edge of what I would do on my KTM 950 SM on the street.

I know you can wrench but the truth is used bikes are not bargains if they need work, (and about all of them do). Add tires, chain & sprockets, oil & filters and wheel bearings, how much damage the bumbeling previous owner did, stripped screws or lack of oil changes, and you are better off buying a cheap new bike. Believe me, I've been where you are, been in the street on a cold night with no help 50-500 miles from home and broken down when the friggin rain starts. Not a fun way to start motorcycling. I love it or would have quit back then with my soaked frozen fingers pulling that broken throttle cable and riding with one hand on the bars. Good times!

[Grainbelt]

Originally Posted by EvilGenius

Here's a Seca II for pretty cheap.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/mcy/588880841.html

Are these rare at all? This is the first I've ever heard of them. Anything special about them?

Definitely not rare. 600cc Inline 4, air cooled, maybe 40hp. Tame but capable bikes. There was a thread in the last few weeks, someone bought one. edit: linky here

I don't know about any specific maintenance issues. Like anything of that vintage, check the fork seals, condition of chain and sprockets, ask if the carb jetting and exhaust are stock, check for oil in wierd places that would indicate leaks or cracks. Check tire wear. If any of the above are obviously in need of replacement, make your offer accordingly.

[sdswingr]

early 80's Honda CM400, or a Rebel from the same era work well.
I started on a 1981 Cm200T, then had a 1980 CM400...Both bought for less than a grand, and sold for the same price I paid...Shit, I rode the 400 all the way from Portland, to Salt Lake City...with all my crap on it...

[yooperbikemike]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

Definitely not rare. 600cc Inline 4, air cooled, maybe 40hp. Tame but capable bikes. There was a thread in the last few weeks, someone bought one. edit: linky here

The Seca II was rated by the factory at 60 hp and usually dynoed in the low 50's with torque in the high 40's. Much to my chagrin I find myself agreeing with GB (god help me) on the newer is better thing. Fewer potential issues and better parts availability.

[kbasa]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

For $2500, I would much rather have a mid nineties GS500 or EX500 than an 80's cruiser.

There are a lot of of other options as well - Yamaha Seca II, Bandit 600. All docile mid-nineties standards with decent brakes, good leverage and cornering clearance.

Great advice and exactly what I tell new riders. Not much beats a standard bike. The 600s are even big enough to start doing some touring.

[wreckhog]

If you are buying used, my rule of the thumb is do a search on Ebay. If you see under 100 parts being auctioned, you are looking at buying factory new parts for just about anything that goes bad. New parts into an 80's Jap bike is generally not fiscally responsible. Part of the reason I don't have a Seca II, even though they are cheap as heck (ie a used bike sells for a little more than a new gas tank costs). Compare Seca II to Ninja 250 and you will see what I mean.

In addition, unless you have mechanical skills and inclination, buy something that is represented as perfect, needs nothing, etc. Not to be too cynical, but if it is from the 80's, it won't be and it will anyway, but not to the degree that a non starter will, for example. Good luck.

[hpsVFR]

Originally Posted by EvilGenius

Ok, ok. So ya'll have scared me away from the 80's a little more. I think the 500 is nice, but I'd like to avoid the all the plastic if possible. I'm reasonably mechanically inclined. I've built a few 4cyl honda motors with a friend for his track car, so I'd like to think I know how a motor works. Obviously bikes are a different animal, so I'm trying to stay away from the "GREAT PROJECT BIKE!!!!!1" types however I wouldn't mind having to clean a carb or something similar.

Man, you say that now...

Particularly on 80's bikes, between the hardened carb boots and the zero-clearance placement of the airbox, pulling and cleaning a rack of carbs is a major pain. I've pulled a couple (not a whole lot, mind) and would pay $1-200 up front to not have to touch them (that is, to find a bike that runs, idles smoothly, and pulls cleanly under load). No questions. Sure, if it needed carb work (as my '94 VFR is likely to need this winter; but that's another issue) I'll do it myself, but it's fiddly and time-consuming. I'd rather ride the thing.

[snippage]

Originally Posted by EvilGenius

Also, is it usual for bikes posted for sale to hover for a while or do they sell quick? Occasionally I come across something interesting only to find out it was posted a month or more ago. My experience with used cars is that if it's been up for more than a week or two there's a high chance it's already gone.

It depends a lot on the time of year and the region. If you see something that looks like a good bet, it's not gonna hurt to send a polite e-mail (or phone call) asking if they've still got it.