Parts for older bikes

I notice there are often a few GSX850G and GSX1100G bikes for sale in
good nick and for a reasonable price. usually under 4 grand. It's also
possible to pick up a beemer for this money, say an R80RT or R100RT.

All of these bikes are capable of big miles, but all could be showing
signs of age. Is it a problem repairing things such as damaged or broken
drive shafts, gearboxes, and electrical components on bikes like these
from the early and mid 80s? What are the weak points, and what should be
avoided? Thanks. Paul.

 

25-year-old roadbikes with $4,000 pricetags are what should be avoided.

If you want something big and cushy to tour on and have $4,000 to spend,
your options include,

1993-1994 Kawasaki ZZ-R1100
1994-1995 Kawasaki ZX-9R
1993-1995 Suzuki RF900R
1995-1996 Suzuki Bandit 1200
1994-1995 Honda VFR750
1990-1994 Honda CBR1000F

Ignore what Bikepoint ads say. That's what bikes like that are worth and
that's what they sell for.

If you absolutely must have shaft-drive, look at the Yamaha XJ900
Diversion from about the mid 90's on. Few of them about, so finding one
in the $4,000 bracket might be difficult, but what does pop up won't be
much more expensive, either.

 

I think you are underestimating what a straight Diverson 900 is worth
IK... I got $5500 trade in for mine, and they were going for about $7000
private sale.

The shop currently has $8000 on it.


G-S

 

Now you're telling porkies GS!

You're a bike hoarder through and through or you like shagged rear
tyres....I can't remember.

justAL

 

Nup, $5500 trade in Al

G-S

 

And will have for many a day to come.

 

This may well be possible, but as I said... $4000 is very much on the
low side for a clean and tidy one.

If I could find one for that $ I'd buy one for a sidecar hack...


G-S

 

But I can only ride bikes with an upright posture. Currently ride a 2003
Bonnie.
None of the other bikes mentioned have what I call a comfy riding
position. The worst bike I ever owned was a GTR1000, which was a near
new 2000 model. They are the most uncomfortabe bike I ever rode.
I would only buy an older bike in really good nick. These do seem to
attract a premium. The bikes I mentioned were all good reliable plodders
in their day, with long legs. So the question is still about potential
for write off type expenses due to mechanical breakdown. eg. If a
driveshaft shits itself in a GSX1100, can it be fixed or replaced at a
reasonable cost? I imagine it would be do-able in the case of an R
series beemer. I just wonde about the cost of keeping the older jap
bikes on the road. Paul.

 

But you had one!

 

FWIW the GSX range had 4 valves per cylinder and never a shaft drive.
The GS range were all 2 valves per cylinder and some were chain drive
and some were shaft.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan

 

1991-94 GSX1100G shaft drive.

http://www.suzukicycles.org/GSX-series/GSX1100G.shtml

Boxer

 

They're 25 year old bikes, you aren't going to get parts easily,
however it's not impossible. The R series will be much easier due to
the relatively slow change rate of BMW's and wider support for
aftermarket. I seem to recall Moike commenting it was quicker and more
effective to order parts for his from overseas via the internet than to
try and buy locally. Google ausmoto for moike and BMW parts. GS and
GSX's sold well at the time so second hand parts aren't impossible, new
are available I believe.

I agree with IK though, why would you pay that much for a 25 year old
bike (ie a premium because it's one of the better examples) when you
can get something 10 or 15 years newer with far better parts
availability new and second hand, considerably better brakes and
handling, and 17" rims so far better tyre options ? Strange criteria in
my opinion, but whatever makes you happy.

JL
(and you can't possibly be serious about riding positions on all those
bikes, surely ? You do know they're all different)

 

1993-1994 Kawasaki ZZ-R1100
1994-1995 Kawasaki ZX-9R
1993-1995 Suzuki RF900R
1995-1996 Suzuki Bandit 1200
1994-1995 Honda VFR750
1990-1994 Honda CBR1000F

The only one out of these that is vaguely an upright posture, is the
Bandit. A friend bought one recently and had to put risers on to save
her back and wrists. I'm nearly 50 and have been riding since I was 16.
I have arthritis, which makes it hard on my back, hands and wrists when
I have to lean forward on a bike. I like upright bikes, as in CB750,
XS650, Bonnie, Sportster, R80RT. (the R80RS is too much of a lean
forward bike for me and uncomfortable). Maybe I'm caught in a time warp,
but a good bike is a good bike, whenever it was made. My 2003 Bonnie is
very comfortable but I'm still buggered after an 800 km day, 450 being
my preferred max. So any of the bikes I asked about or mentioned are
viable mounts for me.

 

JODIE!!!!


Johno

beer mate?

New bike?

 

Never seen that BMW R80RS?

Boxer

 

arbloodyonehundred RS then. pedant.

 

Orright, fairynuff.

Stuff like Hornet, VX800 and etc not to mention all the cross over semi
chook chaser stuff would fit this criteria (and risers aren't dear) but
anyways, buy the old dungers if that's what your heart's set on. I'll
shut up now.

JL

 

Setting aside my puzzlement at how anyone can consider a Bandit a
"lean-forward" bike for a moment, if putting risers on worked for your
mate... even if she, like, took out a patent on the idea, you're mates;
she'll probably let you copy her if you ask nicely.

Well, consider for a moment that the old mastodons you're thinking about
are going to be bigger and heavier than the Bonneville, with heavier
steering, sloppier suspension, brakes which require more of a squeeze
(surely that can't be a good idea for someone with an arthritic right
wrist)... sure, you can fix some of that with new shocks, reworked
forks, braided lines and whatnot, but you're looking at the fat end of
$1000 for that work on top of paying, like you say, $4000 for the bike
to begin with, and you're still left with a much heavier bike which is
likely to be harder work to ride than what you already have.

There's a reason the current reinterpretations of the early-80's
Japanese big-bore, like the ZRX1200R, XJR1300, CB1300 and GSX1400 are
called "musclebikes".

From the sound of it, you need something small, light and easy to
manage first and foremost, with a relaxed motor. Then you can go about
fitting risers to bring the bars closer. What about things like the
Zephyr 750 or its successor, the ZR-7? Neither of those bikes sold even
remotely well, so finding one is going to be a mission, but because
nobody seems to like them, they tend to be quite exceptionally cheap.

 

Well, **** my old boots.

Never seen one of those - they weren't imported into NZ and I've never
seen one in Australia.

Apologies to the OP, but I wonder if he was referring to that model?

I have seen the unfaired version, but TBH I thought they were a chain
drive. Not many about and they weren't a popular bike.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan

 

They were very hard to sell as they were bloody heavy at a time when many
Jap bikes were loosing lots of weight.

Make a good outfit tug.

Boxer