what bike would you buy with three grand?

johnny gaijin

johnny gaijin

Been Around the Block
i love my '75 honda 360 but about 50% of the time i love it as it sits in my parking spot in pieces. it would be nice to have a bike that's reliable. that i wouldn't be paranoid to drive out of town for fear of needing to call a friend with a truck for a ride home.
is there a bike out there that i could buy for 3K or so that i could count on? something with some classic cafe styling would be nice.

obviously i'm talking used bikes, i'm aware i'd have trouble getting a reliable scooter for three grand brand new.
 
I'm not sure about your side of the world but here you can pick up one of those Japanese imports like a mid 90s CB400 for just about $3000 US. Dead reliable bikes but more of a modern day street bike than a classic cafe.


Also remember that as soon as you've got another scoot you'll be wanting to take it apart to do something with it in a few weeks ;)
 
If you can deal with the styling, you might want to consider a sport tourer like an older Suzuki Bandit 1200. Reliable, easy to work on, fast and can be made to look pretty trick. You may also be able to score a BMW airhead in that price range and that is more conducive to cafe styling.
 
3k? A 67 bonnie project bike! Seriously tho for reliability, a suzuki sv650 would top my list.
 
SV650, Bandit 600, 90s era CBR or GSXR 600, EVO head 883 Sportster, Kawasaki KLR, 90s Triumph Speed Triple (though keeping that running can get costly), 90s Honda Hawk 400, etc...

Just depends on whats avainlable really.
 
Been there, done that!

Currently its my XR600R which I think cost me around 3k onroad. My CBR250RR was a steal at 1k onroad and I was able to do an Aprilia RS125 for 3k onroad - its the bike in my sig and was great fun. All onroads including 12 months rego and third party insurance, naturally.

The one I'm working on (ie not running currently) is a 1984 GSX-1100EF, the grandfather of todays Hayabusa and father of the aircooled line of Bandits. Fast, torquey, comfortable and offers great weather protection... I couldn't imagine a better way to spend 3k if you're after go-power and practicality. Brilliant platform for engine work too, you'll find many of them in the pro-drag circuit.

For cafeing purposed I'd probably wind up with a big single or twin, something along the lines of a Honda GB500, Suzuki GS450 or Yamaha XT500. Possibly the best would be to combine a big single enduro engine (like the XR600R) with a nice frame. I've seen it done with an RGV frame and XT engine... deifnitely looked good and would've been a hoot to ride.

Cheers - boingk
 
Late nineties or early thousand VFR
SV650
FZ6
Bandit

Might have to wait until the weather turns for the right deal, but for that amount of money you shouldn't have to settle.
 
I would put aside $500 for traveling/lodging/food expenses to Barber. Then cruse the whole place with the cash burning a hole in my pocket, until I spotted something that I just couldn't live without for one more day. Then I would ride it over to Kanticoy's and let all the brethren drool all over it.


HMmmmm.........that sounds like a good plan ; )
 
I would get 2-3 bikes for the 3000. I bought my 81 CM400T for $600, had to put 150 into it for reliability(motor) and ride it well over 500 miles in a day for days on end, and I bought my GL1000 for $1000 and put 0$ and some elbow grease to get it back to reliable and rode it 1200 miles one way to the WV GTG last year. So that leaves me 1250 to find a nice bobber project ;D I am kidding, some. I would back up the bandit, it is on my bike to own list, I would also suggest a DL650 V-Strom, its ugly but it is an SV650 motor in a long travel suspension touring bike that can even do some dirt with the right tires. I would find a bike for 2000ish and then take the 1000 and upgrade/repair it to make it 100% reliable again. I would not hesitate to ride my 79 GL1000 across Canada, all I would do before I left would be to change the timing belts and all the fluids. oh and after the 2400 mile trip it now needs tires. It is one hell of a well built bike, and it can be fixed with a basic tool kit baring a major engine failure, which it won't have if properly maintained. It was overbuilt when designed because no one had ever built a bike like it and honda over engineered everything. The engine operatesat about 60% of its potential so it is way under stressed. Anyway. Long story short there are a lot of bikes to get for 3000 if you do your homework and take your time to find the right deal.
 
In a year or two I'd say a Kawasaki Versys, it's up there with the Bandit in the "Bang for the Buck" department. It's a little too new in the US to be able to get one as low as 3K, but easily 4.5K, so in a year or two... 8)
 
Any mid 90s sportbike, CBR900, ZX7, GSXR750 and especially the YZF750. Also from the 90s, Ducati Monster, Kawasaki Zephyr and if you can find one, CB1000.
 
I bought this for 3000, but it's South African Rand. Makes it about $400. Bike's got 13815 km on the clock and sounds as if it's never seen the red line.

2011-06-16_10-38-23_776.jpg
 
WS650 if you can find one.


Benefits to buying HD is that in 5 years when you grow tired of it you can sell it for the same thing you paid.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DTT Light or Dark

  • DTT Light
    • www.jadusmotorcycleparts.com
    www.lostapostle.ca/
    www.sparckmoto.com

    Spread the Love

    Back
    Top Bottom