What bike as project?

[Godzilla]

OK, Im thinking of buying a bike to do as a project, but cant decide what to look at.

Something a bit classic but not too much as price would be high.

Also cant decide of to do it as restoration or cafe racer one.

Decisions decisions. Any suggestions?

[Kwacky]

Budget?

How much work do you want to do?

British, European, Jap or American?

Any era in mind?

[Tricky]

convert something modern classic/retro into cafe racer/flat tracker. loads of 80's bike available for good money.

[Godzilla]

Budget?

How much work do you want to do?

British, European, Jap or American?

Any era in mind?

Not decided.

Dont mind doing a lot of work.

Not American.

Late 70s, mid 80s.

[duke63]

NC30 cos it will be worth riding when you have finished it.

[Kwacky]

Put a turbo on a C90

H
Or, here's one for you

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/aprilia-6-5-m ... 461f758674" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[StMarks]

If you are going to do a restoration, you'll end up with a bike that's going to feel 30 years out of date. As duke points out the pocket rockets are a rewarding option, but they're outside your age parameters and (I have one) even they will be fairly unrewarding compared to current bikes. A stinkwheel, something like a Yamaha RD may have it's own appeal though.

Far more rewarding to build your own creation IMHO. Also you would be free to improve an aspects you wanted, and be as creative as you like.

It's a "no brainer" in that respect, from my point of view anyway.

[Blade]

I would love to do something like this

http://kickstart.bikeexif.com/wp-conten ... acefit.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24 ... ckbike.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


or an 80's AMA superbike replica

https://www.z-power.co.uk/merchantmanag ... 1000s1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[duke63]

I would hate to do a load of work on something and then when its finished its still shite to ride.

80's bikes will have bouncy suspension and shonky brakes unless you update them.

A good outside choice is a Honda Bros. they can be picked up pretty cheaply but the engines will go on for ever and they have a SSSA.

[C00kiemonster]

i'd do a 80's naked bike and update the suspension and possibly the engine too. i fancy doing something similar to the new BMW cafe racer R nineT. Air cooled, nice exhaust and some nice USD forks

Maybe next year when i have more time (rofl)

[Stew]

You can do loads to older bikes to bring them some ways up to date, new tyres are a good example, if you want something easy go for a Honda 400/4 or maybe and earlier kwak like a GPX or something, some things to bear in mind though are things like fuel tanks that may no longer be available and so are at a premium on eBay for instance but depending on your skill levels you can a lot to make an older bike make sense these days, jst watch your budget cos I can absolutely 100% guarantee it will cost you more than you think it will, good luck mate
EDIT: Check this guy out from time to time, he has some nice bikes in there in various states http://www.pitstopmotorcycles.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; plus he's a genuinely decent bloke who will help you with advice etc plus he's not too far either of us

[Godzilla]

Cheers for all the suggestions.

I must admit I fancy doing a cafe racer off a boxer BMW.

Interesting stuff here:

http://www.waltsiegl.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jlawie]

CB750s can be picked up cheap, however, they've been done to death.

Old skool BMW gets my vote

[StMarks]

Cheers for all the suggestions.

I must admit I fancy doing a cafe racer off a boxer BMW.

Interesting stuff here:

http://www.waltsiegl.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fwiw I think that would be a very smart move.: BMW bikes have always been well engineered, but these days are better received & so would potentially presumably be the most financially viable. (Yes, I realise that's not what you're doing it for, but.....)

[duke63]

BMW Boxers are not cheap to buy mind even with silly high miles on them.

[Stew]

Bit leftfield maybe...... http://www.caferacerkits.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[C00kiemonster]

It was my idea. I take 10% of all profits.

[StMarks]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bsa-650-chopp ... 1e8b45aa95" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Godzilla]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bsa-650-chopp ... 1e8b45aa95

Jeeeez . Hate choppers sorry.

[StMarks]

Jeeeez . Hate choppers sorry.

LOL, don't be sorry for that mate. I was a little inspired by Cat3's ongoing thread on TDR ( if you know the one I mean.? )