Hey All,
I've been wanting to restore an older maybe classic or unique bike. I want something simple no fairings, smaller then 500cc engine 4 stroke probally going to be a cruiser. I like the look of the 65+ 150cc cruisers, just simple little bikes. Or maybe a late 70's Honda of some sort. Maybe a dual purpose? Just something kinda different. Any Ideas???
-ash
BTW this is a first attempt at a restore/fix up.

I get that bug too. But it usually makes me sick.  

I've get my infatuations in waves; old, new, old, new.  Usually when I get sick of fussing and fixing with an old bike, I'll get something new long enough to forget what a pain old bikes are just in time for one to catch my eye. Some never make it to metal and rubber, but some do.
I've had:
a Suzuki GS450 (first bike)
a pair of Honda CBR F2s  (first race bike and sport bike)
a CB550 (down old)
an SV650 (on a new swing)
a little Suzuki AC50
LOTS of GS500s
a KLR650 that was my first "customizing" job
and finally a newish YZF600R

The only real advice I can give you is to not expect this to be a way to get a bike on the cheap. If you want to do a good restoration or custom job, its going to cost you money and angst. And you will never get the $$$, blood and sweat you put into it unless you sell wobbly custom boat anchors to fools like Jesse James and the like have managed.

Hola,
Yeah, I don't expect to get a profit from this. I know the basics of fixing something up. Ideally something that isn't a beauty but needs carbs worked on maybe new tires, some gaskets. Not up to a complete engine tear down nd build up. But hey, its an adventure and I already have a running bike. Now I want a project. I'm kinda diggin those late 70's dual purposes.
-ash

Restore a Norton!!!

Get a Suzuki TS 250 or PE 175 for an easy restore.  2 Stroke, street legal, very simple.  If you want smaller go with a Kawasaki 90 MC1 ( they were still made until a few years ago under the name KE 100) , they have been made for years and are easy to fix up also.  

As far as 4 strokes go, not sure as I've only done major resto's on the above bikes.

mid 70's cb400f (the f is the crusial part). or its bigger brothers cb550f or cb750f . the f models were called "supersport" and introduced big hp to the masses in the states in terms of UJM bikes.

What you cant see in this picture is the beautiful 4-1 header...a work of art.

It's a shame you're not in the UK.  I have a 1987 Virago 400 that has lost engine power and needs a bit of TLC that I am trying to get rid of for a couple of hundred quid (abour $350/400).

take a look at my 1967 yamaha ycs1 180cc in the wall of fame.  I picked the bike up for 150 bucks and for a total of about 400 bucks had a unique looking bike that i rode for a couple years.  the most expensive thing i put in it were clutch plates that cost a little under a hundred bucks.  the bike is a ton of fun to ride and gets more attention than my gs ever has.  

don't bother looking in walnecks classic cycle trader, they are WAY overpriced on eveything they sell.  

some of my other favorite choices.
mid 70's yamaha rd350-rd400
the suzuki t500 is a great bike too, 500 cc two stroke, still raced alot so there are part available.

i also like the mid 60's honda dreams and scamblers, but they go for more than alot of other bikes.  

if anyone is interested you can check out //vjmc.org
i've been member there for a couple years.

I'd also like to get an old english bike like a bsa or royal enfield, but they're pricey.

jake

That Honda above is beautiful! Yes, the CB350 and 400 fours are covetous.

Triumphs are far less expensive to restore, less expensive overall, and far more reliable. I used to work at a Triumph "dealer", Raber's Parts Mart, he's still in business here in San Jose. If you do get a Trumpet, you'll most likely be getting your parts, directly or indirectly, from RPM.

Yamaha's RD's and the R5 are just trick, and you'll look soooo cool kickin' one of those over. Kick starting a bike gives you that bad boy look. Hmm, why don't they make hooligan bikes kick start? SRX600 anyone?

Look at an old BMW. My neighbor restored one, they're neat little bikes, fairly unique, and simple to work on. Plus, you don't have the electrical gremlins of the old Brit bikes.

Drooooool!  Pablo, who's bike is this?  And where's the side covers that say 550F???

I had this exact bike in 84.  Mine was a 74 550f Super Sport.  What a fun bike.  

This looks clean.

Paul

Norton's have lots of parts available.  You can almost build a complete Norton with new parts.  Plus when you're done, it would be worth a few bucks.

If you're adventurous, look for a Hodaka! Really neat, quirky little bikes. I acquired a '70 Ace 100 from a guy who was going to throw it out!! Needs a bunch of work, but is going to be neat.

Check out http://www.strictlyhodaka.com for parts and ideas.

Quote from: PkaasoDrooooool!  Pablo, who's bike is this?  And where's the side covers that say 550F???

I had this exact bike in 84.  Mine was a 74 550f Super Sport.  What a fun bike.  

This looks clean.

Paul

A guy in San Jose was selling that bike and I was going to buy it for $1500 but that was months before I bought my GS and my wife wasn't in agreement about my getting a motorcycle back then (like she is any more now?). Guy was going to drive it down to me too since he was headed to SD around that same time. Those side covers I later found out are impossible to find in good shape and inexpensively.

its an awesome bike, IMO.

Heylo,
Thanks for all those suggestions, ya'll kick ass. I'm liking the CB350 nd bigger from the mid 70's. They seem pretty simple and in good quanity. The CB160 from the 60's seems just too damn expensive. It amazes me how some people think they have a classic when its just a 25 yr old rust bucket w/ a siezed engine.  But we kno how that goes, one man's junk is...
-ash
ps more suggestions woo ha ha ha *caugh* dual sport *caugh*

Quote from: ashman[...] one man's junk is...

...Srinath's treasure?   :mrgreen:

I was going to stay away from this but since I have been personally invited... I'll jump in...
There is hardly a thing as a rare/unique bike... 70's honda's, kawi's etc were all made in the millions... No wait its actually going somewhere. At the end of it you wont be able to sell it cos there are many around that are intact to begin with. So you put in all this $$$ into restoring it and its readily available on the used scene.
Thus I present to you some unique Jap bikes. Most of these were 1 year or max 2 year runs, sold in small numbers due to public perceptions or lack of interest due to the riding public focus being somewhere else and later have caught the eye of more than 1 moto mags and skyrocketed in popularity.
Kawi Zephyrs - 550, 750 and 1100 - Though the ZRX 1100 might have dimmed the appeal of the 1100 a bit the samller ones still command a status as rare and sought after. However they are all parts bin bikes and hence many other kawis of similar age can be used in place of their own parts.
Kawi eli 900/1000 and 600. The 600 was made 85-88 and 96-00. 900 was 85-86 and the 1000 was 87 only... Truly rare and truly parts bin.
Yamaha FJ600 - 84 only and held up remarkably well. My brother had one 95-00 and it looked and ran great. Again parts binner.
Yamaha Fazer 700 - 86 only I think or 87 also and parts binner too.
Honda Transalp - 650 hawk motor in a dual sport... what can go wrong... Of course its a parts bin bike... but that bin is probably picked clean by hawkers.
Suzuki madura 7 and 1200... Well no idea what parts these are made from but they made that V4 touring bike - goldwing copy that shares the motor.. .so good place to start.
There's prolly more but this is all that comes to mind right now.
Cool.
Srinath.

I really think a Norton Comando would be awesome. I have had the privalage of spending some good time with one, and they are gorgous bike. Absolutley stunning.
I agree with manyof the people here, that a early-mid 70's Honda 450 or something would be fun. They are actually rewarding bike to ride also. The Norton though, has such a good feel, like an old british car (bentley, Rolls or something).  

1972 BSA Lightning
7 year project, $9k+(Cdn).

A buddy of mine picked this up.  It came into my basement in boxes.
http://www.mts.net/~cfry/kirk/1972_bsa_lightning_650.htm

It was a lot of fun, and a lot of work.  We are both tired of it, but it is done.

Stan

Have a look at the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, vjmc.org.

J.