Project Bikes?

[superduty]

Hi All,
Maybe it's the lack of riding time, but lately I've been thinking of buying an inexpensive light bike to fool around with mechanically.

I'm not a mechanic at all, but I'll usually dive into bike projects more so than something like taking my truck apart. I notice there are a lot of 70's bikes on craigslist in my area lately and am thinking about getting one, and a manual or two to play around with. I think it might give me confidence to tackle other projects on my "good" bike, the Nomad. And if it's in pieces, I can walk away and still have something to ride until I want to mess with it again.

Sound like a good idea, or a money pit? Any bikes I should look for or stay away from? I kinda like the early 70's Hondas.

Thanks,
John

[taranis]

I dunno, but I have a '92 Honda VLX back in WA you're more than welcome to tackle! :) Hell, I'll even buy the beer!

I've been thinking of the same thing for said bike. It needs the entire fuel system tore down, the tank repaired or replaced an the entire thing repainted, oh and new pipes too. Probably a lot more.

I have neither the guts nor the finances to tackle it though. I'm afraid of the monster I could create.

[bobhamlin]

It depends on what you want to do. My goal is to restore one salvage bike per year. Find one around August/September, work on it through the winter, put it on the road in spring and sell my current ride.

That's how I ended up here. My current project bike is a '06 Nomad that I just finished getting painted. The bike took a 2 year cycle, though, because doing the eBay thing for used parts was slim pickings for this late model.

For me, the advantage of working on later models is that I can ask questions of current users, I can look at models that are currently running, and retail parts are readily available if the used parts don't work out.

If you do it, my biggest advice is: When you take a part off the bike, no matter how obvious it looks and how certain you are that you will remember where it goes, label it. Put name, year, model number, and direction arrows on it. If you keep going, you will start collecting parts that, after a year or two, begin to defy your memory.

My original plan was to keep working up toward a Polaris Victory. After my first Kaw Classic, that kind of changed. My test drives on the Nomad kind of tells me that I'm not going to wander too far from this wonderful bike.

I consider working on project bikes to be an application of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive : A Manual of Step-By-Step Procedures for the Complete Idiot" The first book got me brave enough to buy and fix a '68 650 Triumph. The second book walked me through putting a VW bus on the road. It is the best "How to" book ever written (The "for Dummies" series attempted to adopt the style.)

Good luck.

[Blue Rebel]

Actually, I've been thinking the same thing. I'm not a mechanic by any means, but do like to tinker and I wanted to try stripping a bike down and rebuilding it.

Have been looking on E-bay, but the bikes are a little more expensive than I want to pay. Thinking of going after a dirt bike.

[coacha]

I'm probably going to do this too. My son wants to start tinkering with bikes too. We are looking for a good starter bike for him. Anybody got any ideas that would be good for that type of project? My son is 6' 2", 280, so a small dirt bike wouldn't be good.

[cactusjack]

I think it would be fun. I'd like to get my hands on 1978 Kawasaki Z1000 and have a go at it.

Just what I need, more crap to do in the garage.

[rewindgy]

Sell them??? Once I got's my grubby little paws on them, they'r mine - all mine!!! On the go right now - 1976 GL1000 Honda Goldwing - 95% done, 1981 GS650E Suzuki - 98% done, 1966 YL-1 Twin Jet Yamaha - 45% done ( still collecting parts), 1967 U-7 Yamaha - 65% done ( couple of parts still ellude me), 1975 GL1000 Honda Goldwing - gonna sell it in the spring as a project bike ( been robbing the better parts off it for my 76)

[paul]

YL-1 twinjet was my first bike. fun little machine. Ever since that bike I've always had this weird idea about building a go-cart using a mc engine and tranny. Something in the 125 to 250 range. Maybe one of the old 2-stroke yamahs or suzukis. Had a semi-basket case Kawi 500 tripple once. Gave a few minutes of serious consideration to using it for the project. Time and money at the time were in too short supply. Today, I could pull it off.

[kenb]

Originally Posted by rewindgy

Sell them??? Once I got's my grubby little paws on them, they'r mine - all mine!!! On the go right now - 1976 GL1000 Honda Goldwing - 95% done, 1981 GS650E Suzuki - 98% done, 1966 YL-1 Twin Jet Yamaha - 45% done ( still collecting parts), 1967 U-7 Yamaha - 65% done ( couple of parts still ellude me), 1975 GL1000 Honda Goldwing - gonna sell it in the spring as a project bike ( been robbing the better parts off it for my 76)

I have yet to figure out the formula for determining how "done" a project is. Let alone the percentage. How would I figure I am 67% done? 38%? Does adding extra bling make it 105% done? Just funnin!

[Top Cat]

I'd like a bobber to ride around for the heck of it.
My idea of a project bike is to let somebody else build it and then I buy it from them. Instant gratification as they say

[bobhamlin]

Originally Posted by rewindgy

Sell them??? Once I got's my grubby little paws on them, they'r mine - all mine!!! On the go right now - 1976 GL1000 Honda Goldwing - 95% done, 1981 GS650E Suzuki - 98% done, 1966 YL-1 Twin Jet Yamaha - 45% done ( still collecting parts), 1967 U-7 Yamaha - 65% done ( couple of parts still ellude me), 1975 GL1000 Honda Goldwing - gonna sell it in the spring as a project bike ( been robbing the better parts off it for my 76)

Did you move all your furniture out on the back porch, or what? Part of the reason for selling them is to free up the space for the next one.

[rewindgy]

Nope, got 7 bikes / one tent trailer / one utility trailer / one car & the bike table in the garage. Work benches / cupboards & storage on the three sides. It's a big 2 car garage! The 2 long time projects are carefully tarped and stored outside against the garage.

[radco]

IMP sound like a good idea,, I would like to rebuild a
Honda 71 CB 350 ,my fist bike.. pretty basic motor, Carbs not alot of high tech stuff,, sounds like a good way to learn,,,and be out a few $$$$ not a ton.......Rich

My buddy and I are always on the look out for an old honda kawi or yamaha. I have done most of the work on my bikes, and they run great. I used to tear down car motors with my dad so I think an older bike maybe for one of my boys to start on would be fun. While I wouldn't consider myself completely mechanical, I have tools and I am capable of consuming large quantities of alcohol.

[Bdog]

I'm currently working on a project that is comming along nicely..its about 80% done. Its a 92 zx1100. Tons of hours put into it, along with costs. It is worth it..you betcha..keeps me out of trouble and when its finished..a big happy face along with pride. Looking forward to riding this bike on a part time basis this spring..Bdog