Cheap cars but why not bikes?

[UltraWomble]

^{Slowly rebuilding the Wasp, but its not going to be a hack - after something smallish (sub 350 cc really) and cheap (sub £500 quid really)}

Found the square root of fuck all, bikes it seems, are immune to the falling price of scrap.

[Jerzy Woking]

I spend loads of time tutting at the price of wrecks of bikes not only asked for, but what they fetch on eBay.

 

I do get the odd bargain now and again, but then I tend to hang onto them.

 

The day of the ratty bike for £100 are consigned to the history books now, but I'll keep my ears and eyes open for you.

[hairnet]

lots of 250 scoots on ebay but bikes no - people learn on small then go big so the smaller stuff people ask lots for and dont get it

 

250cc and under 500 - itll be knackered or not running

 

125 ftw if hack or commuter

[PiperCub]

Have tried again this year to find a small-ish (125-500cc) stand-by winter hack and for the second year, I've failed. As Jerzy says, the days of £100 or so bikes that are of any use are gone.

 

The main reason I reckon is that no-one much buys small bikes any more with the exception of scooters most of which have a short and painful life. Everyone I've known do their bike licence in the last 15 years or more has not bothered getting a learner bike but has gone to a training school and hired one for a course/test, then gone and bought what they wanted - usually 500cc+. 

 

We might not like to admit it but we need folk to buy new stuff as that's what we'll buy in ten years time! It's a classic case of supply and demand that keeps prices strong. Plus there's not much to scrap in a bike, alot of mixed steel, alloys etc.

 

I have seen a couple of 500's round my way (a GS & a GPZ) for about 500 quid but they weren't anything to get excited about. All you can do is scan ebay and mongtree every day and try to be first in with a handful of cash to wave under the sellers nose (usually works for me!). 

[purplebargeken]

It's been this way for years. I do on occasion scout ebay and have a theoretical budget of 500 quid. It'll never amount to me getting anything as that would be a very, very bad thing. 

 

I still look but tend to find fuck all. I reckon PiperCub has it about right.

 

No local bike person who has their ear to the ground? No local bike haunts? Word of mouth may help.

[pilninggas]

As above it's gumtree really for the best stuff. I saw a GS500e one owner on there last week, local to bristol, with 6k and 12 months test for £500.

 

I've turned a profit on a few bikes in the last couple of years too. Bought an FZR1000 for £300 (guy had wonga kicking his door and needed cash fast, why he told me i'll never know) and sold it on for £850 (wanted to keep it, but space issues). Got an 2001 XV535 for £1100, used it for 6 months, dropped it and still sold it on for more.

 

I was offered an SV1000S a couple of weeks ago with 10months test for £1500, but they have low residuals, so I did pass on it. I've also looked at some complete tat. There is nothing more annoying than going through the thorough conversation on the phone, hauling the trailer out of the garden driving to look at a bike and discovering it is complete wank (yes, the car game is just as bad). I know this happens with cars too, but with bikes it seems worse - "it runs great mate" and then you get there to find they've turned the idle right up and it hangs like mad when you blip the throttle.

 

£500 gets very little unless you are on the ball and snooping the 'tree.

£1500 is a mixed bag with some bloody optimists.

£2500 will buy some really nice, newish, low miles DL650s, Versys, XJ6s, FZ6s, GSX650Fs etc; all of which are EFI and are a lot less prone to 'lectrickle issues.

[purplebargeken]

Just checked on ebay. Christ, there really is feck all. 

 

Autotrader? Loot?

[michael1703]

Bike sales have been in decline for 20 plus years, a small bike was cheap to own/run but cars are cheaper and often more economical and the licensing and restrictions on bikes is confusing with bhp restrictions etc

 

Less bikes on the road in general means less starter/cheap bikes

 

The manufacturers are concentrating on middle aged bikers with a bit of coin which is why h2rs,road going rc213v and desmosedici etc exist

[Jerzy Woking]

I keep my ear to the ground and look on Faceache,Gumtree, Preloved, etc as well as any number of bike forums.

 

I got a GS500, tested but filthy for £200 then was offered a second from someone i knew through a forum for £50. Sold them both (for very little profit I might add) to a friend whose son wanted to do his test.

 

My best bargain was a CBR600 for £400, with full history from new, not been dropped or abused but need a new end can as the one on it was rusted through (not seen one do that before), the rear shock had lost most of its damping and the paint was lifting on the rear wheel. Replacement stock end can was a tenner, a mate rebuilt the shock for the price of a drink and Hammerite sorted the rear wheel. I've done 20,000 miles on it, and only thing to break on it was the fuel pump last week.

 

Lots of scooters for sale in London that appear cheap-then you spot the mileage. 40,000 on a 125cc is very common, and these are just tools used by the rider for commuting, and who has no interest in it other than that.

[PiperCub]

That's certainly the case with scooters, they are bought by people who have no interest in bikes so receive not more attention/love than necessary to keep the wheels rolling and on the road. Most of the ones I've seen are truly shagged out despite their relatively young age. 

[UltraWomble]

 

 

£500 gets very little unless you are on the ball and snooping the 'tree.

£1500 is a mixed bag with some bloody optimists.

£2500 will buy some really nice, newish, low miles DL650s, Versys, XJ6s, FZ6s, GSX650Fs etc; all of which are EFI and are a lot less prone to 'lectrickle issues.

£2500 is "new bike" territory for me.

Only wanting something smallish because of storage ( has to fit in the shed to avoid being the subject of unwanted attention from night time toads) and when I drop it (not if) I need to be able to pick it up without killing myself/developing a hernia. Anything over 500cc and I'll struggle. Last big bike I had was an ER-5 but even these seem few and far between these days for reasonable coin.

 

Agree with the "shagged" scooter findings though, even things like Vespas seem to get abused - the one in the garage was used by its last owner as a daily commuter and was bollocksed, rust, sticking throttle, non working lamps, broken stand.

[Tamworthbay]

Zxr750s are the bargain of the century still, but we are still talking closer to a grand for a decent one. I know a guy who runs a place in brum that sometimes has decent bikes cheap if you are happy to do a bit of work.

[Eddie Honda]

Ring-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding.

 

It's time for an ETZ250, or have they got bloody dear as well?

[John F]

Eddie Honda, on 21 Dec 2015 - 10:59 AM, said:Eddie Honda, on 21 Dec 2015 - 10:59 AM, said:Eddie Honda, on 21 Dec 2015 - 10:59 AM, said:

Ring-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding.

 

It's time for an ETZ250, or have they got bloody dear as well?

 

They're quite pricey when they turn up, even in the old East Germany.

 

But re. the supposed lack of cheap bikechod, there's plenty of choice on ebay in the sub-£500 bracket – see selection below:

 

 

1995 Honda NTV 650 £450 with one hour to go:

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-NTV-650-V-Twin-/291640235377?hash=item43e71cd571:g:SNYAAOSwZ1lWcW4a

 

 

2009 CCM 125, £343 with 2 hours to go:

 

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125-cc-learner-field-bike-ccm-tl-125-based-on-honda-engine-/221965989289?hash=item33ae3435a9:g:EUEAAOSw7FRWatwb

 

 

1997 Yamaha XJ600N, 17,000 miles, £180 with 3 hrs to go (£200 b.i.n.!):

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-YAMAHA-XJ-600-N-BLACK-/172035262668?hash=item280e19c8cc:g:8oYAAOSwo3pWdsiz

 

 

1991 Suzuki GSX750F, £165 with 7 hours to go

 

[andy18s]

^^ Those Gsxf's are every bit as quick as the Gsxr of the same age,but a lot more comfy and with a decent fairing (missing above obs! )

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[John F]

^ Yep, they're quick... I had a GSX-F Teapot in 600cc flavour and that would easily put 130+ mph on the clock on my private replica of the M26.

[twosmoke300]

Would avoid the little ccm's - rebadged chinese shit 

[John F]

twosmoke300, on 21 Dec 2015 - 1:48 PM, said:

Would avoid the little ccm's - rebadged chinese shit 

 

Fair enough, I'm a bit out of touch with the bike world.

[Bren]

The issue with a cheap bike is they are not cheap if they break - finding secondhand parts for some of them is a 'mare - if you have to go to a dealer or specialist breaker you may as well splodoosh it in the local canal.

 

I spent more on repairs for a GSX550 than it cost me to buy. And I still only got £675 for it - those days are long gone.

[Jimmycrackcorn]

Can I interest you in half a Honda Melody Deluxe? 

[UltraWomble]

Can I interest you in half a Honda Melody Deluxe? 

Top or bottom half?

[Jimmycrackcorn]

Front or back 

It's one I have semi cut up that's going into a 50's ghost train car. There's a garage that did my punctures and on top of a container there's a load of old Honda Tomo's ect mopeds.

If your on the look out for anything particular just let me know I'm a member on a few biker type forums.

[Dave_Q]

In a few years there will be 250s and 300s at the cheaper end of the market as a result of the licence changes making 18 year olds ride them.

Not in great numbers though as kids get cars nowadays as already stated.

I think you can definitely get some good stuff sub 500 quid if you go for less popular like gsxf, ntv, zzr etc.

[John F]

My CBX750F was £500 with a full MOT, six years ago. I think you should still be able to get one for about the same now.

 

I gave away one and a half Yam XJ900Fs earlier this year, just wanted them out of the way...

[fordperv]

Front or back

It's one I have semi cut up that's going into a 50's ghost train car.

An easy way to put the willy's up someone?

[Bren]

My CBX750F was £500 with a full MOT, six years ago. I think you should still be able to get one for about the same now.

 

I gave away one and a half Yam XJ900Fs earlier this year, just wanted them out of the way...

CBX750 is a cracking piece of kit.

[Dave_Q]

Gumtree seems to be better than ebay, here's a few possibles.

 

Gilera Runner 200, WOOD written all over it.

 

 

GS500 been stood for a year, £375

 

 

RF600, these are proper VALUE.

 

 

I know only 1 of these fits your sub 350cc criteria, but there isn't really much between wanked out chinese 125s and 500+cc bikes in your price range.

[John F]

Bren, on 21 Dec 2015 - 9:45 PM, said:

CBX750 is a cracking piece of kit.

 

Yes, it's an absolute belter. Although the 16" front wheel takes a bit of getting used to tbh.

[UltraWomble]

I'd love a Tomos again, but wouldnt be practical.

Again only really after something small, light and able to fit in my shed round the rest of the cap in there. 750 may be nice / cheap but is really bigger than I need. Could live outside under a tarp I suppose.

[Eddie Honda]

They're quite pricey when they turn up, even in the old East Germany.

[oh] Bollocks. I've missed that boat then.

 

1995 Honda NTV 650

Oooo the lookshurry of having an optional centre stand on a Noel's Tele-Vision. Back in the day the robbers would have you for about 90 quid for one. The 600 Revere had one, but then the accountants started deleting the cast bars and the like.

 

There must be pockets of cheap 250s and 400s give all the grey imports I used to see round London village.