Ideal Beater Bike

[the Ferret]

My brother had a 75. That black with the gold and silver? stripes was sharp.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Stichill: So, the XS650?

- - -

I mean, look at that gorgeous vertical twin. Smoooooth as an earthquake.

[the Ferret]

Stichill: So, the XS650?

- - -

I mean, look at that gorgeous vertical twin. Smoooooth as an earthquake.

yep, good description

[flynrider]

Stichill: So, the XS650?

- - -

I mean, look at that gorgeous vertical twin. Smoooooth as an earthquake.

yep, good description

yep, good description
My hands start to get numb just thinking about riding one.

[the Ferret]

You know now that Flyn posted it reminded me of the 750 Nighthawk.

Simple, no epa stuff, yet no points. Easy to get to battery and air cleaner. Single front disc easy to bleed. Find one in in good running condition and it would make a great beater bike.

[LongRanger_imp]

Here ya go. 1999 Kawasaki Concours, 70k miles, includes bags, looks a little beat but runs good, $1500. Betcha he'd take $1000 for it. Great value for a reliable do-it-all bike that you could ride anywhere and put away wet.

https://denver.craigslist.org/mcy/6871719170.html

[GoldOxide_imp]

Beaten ... do you think ankles ever got burned?

[Stichill_imp]

Sorry I've been busy with family obligations today, just now checking back int.

Fun suggestions, crew! Honestly I would feel bad about beating the old UJM-type bikes. They've been beaten enough and now need someone to start preserving them.

LR that '99 Concours is an amazing value when you really think about it. Wow. Probably would have a hard time getting more bike for less money than that!



One unusual candidate I thought of today, not quite dirt cheap but pretty low-priced, is the Honda CTX700N (N = naked version) with the standard transmission (non-DCT). Used examples with low miles can be found from private sellers in the low USD $3k range. I'm not entirely sure you could get ABS on the non-DCT version in the US; might have been only available on the DCT variant. This would be a bike that I would not feel bad about taking out on dirty roads and bringing back filthy because I don't think it looks good even when clean.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Sorry I've been busy with family obligations today, just now checking back int.

Fun suggestions, crew! Honestly I would feel bad about beating the old UJM-type bikes. They've been beaten enough and now need someone to start preserving them.

LR that '99 Concours is an amazing value when you really think about it. Wow. Probably would have a hard time getting more bike for less money than that!



One unusual candidate I thought of today, not quite dirt cheap but pretty low-priced, is the Honda CTX700N (N = naked version) with the standard transmission (non-DCT). Used examples with low miles can be found from private sellers in the low USD $3k range. I'm not entirely sure you could get ABS on the non-DCT version in the US; might have been only available on the DCT variant. This would be a bike that I would not feel bad about taking out on dirty roads and bringing back filthy because I don't think it looks good even when clean.

(+1) on looks no matter what the application.

In addition:
[ul] [li]Likely will start in sub-zero conditions, unlike many of the 20th century suggestions.[/li] [li]Likely decent on fuel economy.[/li] [li]Low enough that anyone [in the family] can ride it.[/li] [li]Highly unlikely it would be stolen or vandalized.
[/li][/ul]

[Django]

This Kawa looks like a good beater: