How many of us ride?

Post by **Suede** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:49 am

Just wanted to know how many of us here ride motorcycles?

Im debating getting an oldschool big jap cruiser, as akin the the ones the ToeCutters gang rode. Been into newer stuff of late, but as i wanna get back on the highway two-wheeled style, a big 25-30 year old cruiser can be had for under a grand.

Post by **doode** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:04 pm

i own a 75,Z900.& a 87 ZL1000 eliminator,,

both ol sKoOl...........the Zeds are bulletproof!..........the Elim will shred ya undies off in second gear!.........loll.........

as in the Jap Cruisers the Vulcans are the best deal!

Post by **Bozz** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:02 pm

As most of you know, I have a 77 Z900A5 Kwaka and a 1960 BMW R60.

I have owned several bikes over the years and was a wrench at a shop for about 4 years way back in undergrad (15+ years ago)

since the bikes I was wrenching on in that shop years ago are probably the ones you are looking at now, here are some observations:

Truely bulletproof - Kawasaki Z1, KZ 1000, KZ 650, Honda CB 750 SOHC or DOHC, CB 550 fours, CB 400 fours, Yamaha XS 750, XS 1100, 550 Maxims...

When it comes to jap cruisers, Doode's Eliminator suggestion is a good one. Avoid the early Virago's as they had some poor design in their starter clutches. Also, the early Suzi intruders had some issues. by the time you get to around 1990, most of the flaws had been seen to in both of those lines. The Honda Shadows in the early to mid 80's had some charging system problems.

My suggestion is that as long as you know how to do your own routine maintainance, older bikes are MUCH better bang for buck than new.

Post by **madmaxxx** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:02 pm

edited

Post by **bike** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:33 pm

riding bikes since 20years

current Honda 900 (1981), combo is BMW 900 with sidecar

don`t confuse cruiser sh*t like INtruders or Viragos wih the real thing. Nothing beats a big jap 4 bruiser, can ride serious distances all day and fix them with basic toolkit and knowledge. Big kick factor too

Post by **kwaka kid** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:34 am

I ride 6 bikes. 72 H2, 77 KZ1000, 78KZ1000, 78 RD 400 DAYTONA,

82 GPZ, 93 KATANA 600.

Post by **jbartosh** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:44 am

I repair and customize bikes based on 70's & 80's Honda's. One of the most reliable and affordable bikes from that era would be the CX 500/650 traverse twins. They are an excellent all around machine for the price you can get them for today.

Post by **AdrianUK** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:25 am

I'll second that jbartosh,I've built customs and trikes based on CX's for 20 odd years.It was once asked in a bike mag "what sounds better than a Harley?" the reply was "a CX with slash cuts"!

Post by **nightrider541** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:38 am

i got my motorcycle course booked for next month to get my Learners

Post by **Suede** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:33 am

i got my 2001 honda shadow vt70 witha '81 kz650 front end on it(shes a mutt, but a beautifull mutt). Got my trail 90 and my aermachi, come saturday, very prolly an '80 suzuki gs750.

rode bikes all my life. Cars scare me, but bikes, theyre chill as can be, natural extensions.You ridea bike, you just steer a car.