Ideal Beater Bike

[The A-man]

Ok Stichill, the previous suggestions are really good ones for a "disposable beater", but here's a slightly different idea - I'll call it a "collectible beater". How about finding a beat up (or barn find) 1st gen SOHC CB 750 (or alternatively a Z1-900) that is at least structurally sound and rideable. At the core all you really need is a solid, straight frame, and a good motor - mileage really doesn't matter - either motor is bullet-proof. Ride it for as long as it suits your purpose, but at the end, you now have a solid platform that either you or a potential buyer could do a full restoration on. From what I've seen, I think you could find either a beat CB or Z1 for $2000 or under, and when it's done serving you as a rider, I think it will still be worth what you paid for it. It's really just an investment that you can cash in anytime you want to get your money back. If you decide early on that you want to someday restore it, you can make it a hobby to pick up parts - tank, gauges, seat, exhaust, etc as you see "deals" on e-bay or wherever. In my opinion, those 1st gen "superbikes" will always hold value, and while you ride it, you'll have a conversation piece when you're out on the road.

[Capo]

I take meticulous physical and mechanical care of my bikes, not for the next guy, but for me....I just dig the effort and results. As for a beater, I owned a CX500 for a while, but I found it to be such an uninspiring bike, that I wouldn’t even ride it. I picked up a nice ‘99 Suzuki DR350 SE this winter, and it fits the bill perfectly.


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[GoldOxide_imp]

Ah ya, I forgot the Honda CX500. There is a beater candidate.

It will run forever, but as Capo points out, one will have to live with its behaviour - which is probably acceptable to some.

I am unsure if there is more maintenance than one cares for - something else to consider.

[GoldOxide_imp]

They were a great value when new, and an even better value now that they're 20-30 years old: Kawasaki ZG1000 Concours. Great weather protection, shaft drive, locking bags, 7.5 gallon tank, 16 years in production so parts are readily available, reliable liquid-cooled 1000cc engine, plenty of performance if not a bit porky (600 lbs.) and buzzy above 80 mph. And no ABS. I see them for sale around here all the time with paltry miles (30,000 - 40,000) for less than $2000.

+1 concours. i have one. it is my rain bike. I have less than 2 k in it total.


i got it from my friend Tom (in background). this was near maggie valley in '17, thats his daughter to the right, he was on that 78 GL.

my 99 'beater' is to the left. so easy to maintain and parts are beyond cheap as there are a ton of them out there.

Great endorsements. Something to consider for long range and freeway duties.

[Nortoon_imp]

After a 25 year hiatus from motorcycling, I bought a CB500XA for my 68th birthday. I rode it for 3 years and put a happy 33,000 kilometers on it before trading it in on my CB1100 EX.

It is a reliable all round motorcycle that can go anywhere. I put a tall windscreen on mine to keep the bugs and rain off. It was light and nimble, got great gas mileage, a was surprizing quick for a small motorcycle.


Years ago people here used beater cars in the winter to save their good cars from the slush and road salt. However when the government made environmental tests every 3 years law, the beaters all disappeared because they often failed the test and were expensive to repair.

Fortunately today's cars are less prone to rust. My Impala is a mess during the winter. During the real cold weather I avoid the car wash because the doors may freeze shut. During the snowy weather the roads are nothing but slush. A freshly washed car would be a mess by the time you got home. During the mild weather the snow melts create puddles of salty water. Again a freshly washed car would be a mess by the time you got home.

[the Ferret]

I can appreciate an immaculately clean bike, but it is difficult to keep them that way when you ride over 300 days/25,000 miles a year in the Midwest. According to the US climate report we get 132 days of rainfall a year, and average 19" of snow. We've had 4 or 5 days of rain this week. I've ridden on every one of them. The winter months of Nov -March with snow/ice/slush/salt I missed only 11 days of riding in those 4 months. It would be impossible to keep a bike immaculate if you ride nearly everyday. Of course you can just stay home and stare out the window and keep your bike clean, but what fun is that? Most of what keeps me from riding these days is medical related, not weather related.

I'm the ideal candidate for a beater bike, but I just beat the ones I have

[rboe]

Some thoughts: Any cheap good runner on craigslist could be a candidate - but how to whittle them down?

Go the tupperware route (PC800) so the grime stays on the outside for the most part. Easy to clean when the urge overcomes you.

Small dual sport (250-350cc) in case you hit sand and fall down. Very light so easy to pick up and to repair - and cheap to run!

Scooters kinda fit all three catagories but maybe not cheap to fix if you drop it. Small wheels might be too squirrelly in sand (I really don't have any time on one so this is a WAG on my part - you have been warned! ).

I'd lean towards something with EFI so it would be easier to keep running than a carbed bike but it would not be a deal killer. Not sure what your commuting requirements are but at first blush I'd steer clear of larger machines suggested since they will drink more. When it comes to commuting I think thrifty would be a premium but we all have different ideas there. Shoot, the new 125 Honda Cub would be very nice!

[GoldOxide_imp]

Yamaha XS650? I still think the XJ650 (Maxim) is a better beater.

[the Ferret]

Hey I've had 3 of those (73 TX identical to the one in the pic, a 79 XS and an 81 XS Special) and other than vibration, points and carbs, they do make a pretty good beater.

[Lord Popgun]

My first bike was the ‘75 model. Black.