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Other bike fever

  • Thread starter Thread starter loud et
  • Start date Start date
L

loud et

Guest
I can't shake this feeling that I want to take on an "other" bike project.
Currently looking at an 87 Kaw Concours (ex condition, 1500$, a rider, not a true project) and an 82 Honda cx500 Turbo.(2000 miles, $700 , but no title on the cx, good shape but needs gone over) I always vowed to never buy a Honda cx because it has the ugliest engine ever built but its covered by that beautiful fairing and side panels.
Ugh.....bike lunacy.
Maybe I should just pay the mortgage. You know what I'm sayin!
 
Yup...

I'm always in constant turmoil... One day I'll want something to cruise on the next something to move fast on... Something will of course need to be modified to my liking... then the proverbial "squirrel" crosses my path and I'm on to another bike... The Concours has stuck, I love that bike. I also love the GS650 but I'm thinking of how I can improve on it (forks and engine and tires...) Which then makes me wonder should I get a different GS? Likely won't the 650 is a perfect size and with a bit more squeezing more then enough power for it's size and stature.

As for the third? I have no idea... Part of me is telling me to let go and forget it... 2 is enough... The other part of me is like 5 is ok. I hear where your coming from.

I'm currently on the prowl for a sport/ sporty bike. Something I cam romp on and not have to worry about low-sliding it into a ditch... Went down the cruiser road. Not my favorite path. But you get to know what you like and what you hate after you put some solid saddle time on different bikes. I do that through flipping, swapping, selling and buying "projects". It's my hobby, I can afford to do it so I say your fine and go for it! it's when it becomes a money pit that you have to look at your situation and say NO.

I'm also half tempted to bring a brand new bike into the fold, especially after all the demo rides I just did. Test rode that FZ-09 and that engine is stellar, by far one of the best all rounded Mills I've ever gotten a chance to run on. I would likely walk down the XSR route. However the FZ-09 felt better underneath me and it's cheap bikes now can be found in the $6K-$7K range... I would love a go at a GSX-S1000. I hear that for $10K is one of the best bangs for your buck on the market right now... Walk away from the FZ-09. But an FZ-10... Need to try that out too.
 
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There are all the usual factors to consider: Finances, insurance, bike's condition, need (you really need it??), mechanical ability, parts availability, how complete your tool set is, family responsibilities, etcetera, but there's one factor that governs them all:

Garage space.


.

Of course, if you could find one that looked like this, there wouldn't be a question.

I never thought the engine was ugly; once they switched away from the bright Comstar wheels, it went downhill cosmetically. That, and the fact that its trouble-prone stator was also its ignition system and required pulling the engine to replace, kind of steered me away.



79CX500.jpg
 
I think Comstar mags are ugly. The cylinders had that odd angle, the gas tank was horrid.......plus I'm not not a big lover of a ton of plastic faring, although both the Goldwing and Pacific Coast were OK.
 
Well not like anyone really cares but the Concours seller continues to not respond (I wasn't feeling firm on that bike anyways and the compulsion has passed).
The 500 Turbo is in worse shape than the pictures showed and come to find out the title situation is no good too.
Keep sniffing around and something will pop up someday.
 
Maybe you should think about the kind of bike you want.
Looks like you're looking for a big (not giant) road bike, from the quirky mid 80s.
If that's the case I'd just say I think the mid 80s Honda Sabre is a way cool quirky techy look road bike.
Prices for nice examples are below $2000.
Honda%20VF1100S%2083.jpg
 
Agree with Bill, I have restored half a hundred V65 Magnas over the past 10 years, and a handful of big Sabres, they are pretty much the best "bang for the buck" 80's muscle bike you can buy. Nice examples in the 1000-2000 dollar range all day long, if you are patient, you can get them for next to nothing. I just paid a grand for this one about 3 weeks ago, 38K miles, runs like a Swiss watch. 6 speed, shaft drive, liquid cooled, digital readouts for temperature and gear position, really smooth and powerful bikes, will cruise all day long at 4K rpm at 80 mph.

 
Ah, those V65s are so damned cool-but then, the CX500 (and the 650) Turbos are pure classic. I worked for a guy who had one and a CBx, and now I work with a fellow who is restoring his CX500 Turbo. Just damned cool.

I think the perforated Comstars are awesome looking.
 
83GS1100E_Tornado said:
I've been seeing A LOT of cheaper Concours's for sale lately, I think they are great bikes for the money!

http://lexington.craigslist.org/mcy/5653538212.html
Click to expand...

I saw a ZG 1000 very similar to that near me recently. A few hundred more I think but they are sharp!.
That's awesome you are in the Sabre. They are high on my list of "wanted". Big , bold and strong. My favorite combination is the red black and silver one followed by the blue and black one. I think some have round headlights and some have rectangle, either way they are great looking bikes.
 
GS1150Pilot said:
Ah, those V65s are so damned cool-but then, the CX500 (and the 650) Turbos are pure classic. I worked for a guy who had one and a CBx, and now I work with a fellow who is restoring his CX500 Turbo. Just damned cool.

I think the perforated Comstars are awesome looking.
Click to expand...

I don't mind the Comstar mags, especially the gold ones on the Turbo models. The rims on the one I'm looking ato are shot, as in bike was sitting in 6" of mud and dirt for 15 years. The rims are powder.
If the bike was 2-300 I would take a gamble and buy it and turn it into a custom build or part it out.
 
"need (you really need it??)"

I can't believe you think this should come into consideration.
 
Sucks about the 500 Turbo. I owned a GPz 750 Turbo for a few years, and while it was definitely superior in performance, it was not as unique or "cool" as the Honda. A CX650 Turbo is a bike I would truly love to have. Crazy electrical complexity for the time, though ...
 
GS1150Pilot said:
Sucks about the 500 Turbo. I owned a GPz 750 Turbo for a few years, and while it was definitely superior in performance, it was not as unique or "cool" as the Honda. A CX650 Turbo is a bike I would truly love to have. Crazy electrical complexity for the time, though ...
Click to expand...

Tell me about it, the CX500 had a "tip-over sensor" that basically kills the juice on the bike in case of a tip-over so that it doesn't keep running, for whatever reason. I bought one with an electrical issue, and after about 3 months of trying all the "usual" things, I figured out it was that stupid sensor, and finding a replacement took another few months. Not as powerful as the GPZ turbo, that's for sure, but still fun bikes to ride and very cool!
 
Yeah, the way boost came on on the CX500 is kind of a wild thing. My 750 was built up big time by the end (810 cc, turbo modified, ZX-10 suspension and brakes), but stock for stock, the 500 feels more ... fun.

The 750 Turbo stock is one of the less amazing handling bikes I've ridden.
 
83GS1100E_Tornado said:
Nice examples in the 1000-2000 dollar range all day long, if you are patient, you can get them for next to nothing.
Click to expand...

I agree... There are 5 V65's in my neck of the woods for sale. All Cheaply proced...
https://vermont.craigslist.org/search/mcy?query=V65 They are kinda weird looking though... Not sure If I could stomach owning one... A V-Max though? More likely.

I think there are an underrated machine... I had a V45 Saber, pretty quick bike.
 
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The V65 is badass looking. A little short in the swingarm, a little long in the front rake, but akin to Arnie as Terminator.
 
Great bikes, IMO. I have ridden both, and greatly prefer the aesthetics, handling, and riding position of the Sabre.
 
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