Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
Cheapskates united
Loved August’s cheap-bike issue, and as the happy rider of a 1980 Yamaha 850 Triple, I totally identify with the CBMMA (Cheap Bastard Motorcycle Mechanics Association) ethic.
In 2003, in order to pay my divorce lawyer’s retainer, I was forced to sell my Suzuki Intruder 1400. Taking pity, my brother gave me his XS850, which had been sitting, essentially uncovered, in his driveway for the previous four years. I overhauled the 850 over the course of spring ’04, spending about $450, and was riding again by June. This past winter, I tossed the stock XS850 front end for that from a Kawi ZL900 (complete, tires to triple-clamps), a $100 boneyard score.
All in all, for about $600 total, I’ve got me a sweet veteran hybrid mongrel.
I absolutely agree with CW s suggestion to consult the Internet regarding any used bike purchase. I had great luck finding a Yamaha Triples-based enthusiast community that was instrumental in getting the bike back on the road, supplying everything from advice to a set of straight exhaust valves for $5. Cheap bikes rule!
le! Robb MiIIett Milford, Massachusetts
really liked the bargain-bike articles. “Grand Tour” and “Cheap Seats” made me miss my favorite TV show. Keep them coming.
Don Estes Modesto, California
I love junkyard bikes! Your stories re minded me of my high school/college days, when most of us only had a grand to throw at used motorcycles while we lusted after new bikes on the pages of Cycle World. Thanks for the memories.
Tony Meroth Cheyenne, Wyoming
I really enjoyed "Cheap Seats." At a time when car sales are weak, gas prices are high and the average new bike is more than $10 grand, it's nice to look for a bargain. I would love to see an ex panded follow-up to the story and more bang-for-the buck bikes.
Chuck Leskie Detroit, Michigan
I was thrilled to learn that my $500 Honda CB400F was selected for the "Tyrannosaurus Wrecks" feature. But cheap guys like me don't get any re spect: The name is Dale, not Dave! At least I got the hundred bucks. That'll help pay for the 1967 Harley Sprint I'm pick{ng up tomorrow.
Dale Voskuil ChHton, Wisconsin
Hey, Darryl, as long as the check cleared.
I’m the owner of the GS550 Suzuki that you chose to have as part of your “Tyrannosaurus Wrecks” feature. I cannot thank you enough. It was a great honor to have one of my personal motorcycles as part of the CW library. I truly appreciate the “jewel” comment. It’s my pride that shows in that picture.
The Japanese really made some great air-cooled inline-Fours, and that’s been my inspiration-take these reliable, medium-displacement (and very cheap) bikes and let my imagination get the best of me. If I’m able to take a castoff motorcycle and free its soul, then I’m happy. It’s a great hobby. You can bet that I'm taking my $100 check and re-upping my CWsub scription. You guys rock!
David Davis Wichita, Kansas
Primer paint job, bare frame, rusting headpipes-I don't think I have ever seen a meaner-looking bike than Don Canet's borrowed `86 Gixxer 7/il in August's "Grand Tour." Please tell me it's for sale. I love the stripped-down, bare bones functional look of this machine. I have no doubt that if the U.K. rockers from the late `50s were here today, this is what they would be riding. Ijust can't get over this bike.
_i~iI~ Jenkrns Sylvania, Ohio
"Grand Tour" makes me want to look for a beater and ease my way through the winter blues:
Robert Schuster Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Enjoyed your "Grand Tour." It gives me something to look forward to. Just think, 30 years from now it might be possible to pick up a rusty old 0CC or Jesse James chopper for $1000. What a deal...
Norman Ballard Knoxville, Tennessee
Cheaper Seats
My `82 one-owner Honda XL500R fbi lowed me home last winter. It had no rust in the gas tank and the engine had lots of compression. Just $450 would have seen it safely on the road (purchase price, tires, parts), but my l'il red shoulder devil sug gested a Supertrapp exhaust, the disc-brake front end from a wrecked `86 XL and an afiermarket headlight. It mns great. This winter it'll get a Wiseco 10.5:1 pis ton, and then be frilly matured at $1000. It's one heck of a poor man's supermoto backroader.
Stephen F'alley Bangor, Maine
Great article on cheap bikes. I thought I was the only one out there! I've been rid ing for 35 years; never paid more than $1500 for any bike. My crown jewel right now is an `89 Honda Pacific Coast with 14,000 miles on it that was cherry before someone took the front end off in a mishap.
Fixed it myself, total of $1495, includ ing a new Rifle windshield. What a bike! I have a motto on my toolbox that reads, "I've been doing so much with so little for so long that now I can do almost any thing with nothing at all." Words to live
Ron WiIIetts North Port, Florida
Two years ago, after a divorce, I decided to purchase another bike. With a daugh ter in college and other obligations, a new bike was out of the question. I went online, bid on and won a 1980 Yamaha XS1100 Special. For $800, I got a low maintenance, smooth-running, powerful, shaft-drive rocket. I have ridden up Pikes Peak and all over Utah, Arizona and Colorado from my home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I'm so glad that I didn't wait until I could afford a new bike. I took a chance on a classic and I couldn't be happier.
Terry Gustin Tulsa, Oklahoma
As a rider of "old rice" myse1f~, I im mensely enjoyed your "Grand Tour." A version of my own ride, a 1978 Yamaha XS650, was one of the bikes featured in the "Tyrannosaurus Wrecks" follow-up. What you and your readers might be interested to know is that unlike many of the other bikes featured, not only is the Yamaha 650 the perfect platform for stock restoration, rat-bike, café-racer, chopper, bobber, street-tracker, fullbore racer, etc., but the XS also enjoys tre mendous aftermarket support and has a dedicated group of owner/riders who regularly bend over backwards to help one another. Couple that with an inventory of used parts from a production run of many years, the visceral satisfaction that can only come from riding a classic, parallel-Twin, and you've got a cheap bike with lots of good points in its favor.
Lee Callicutt Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
In regard to the XS650 "Tyrannosaurus Wrecks" entry in the August issue: Please let photo model Becky the YMCA Life guard know that I am helplessly drown ing and will urgently require her mouth to-mouth resuscitation by the time she reads this.
Malt Matlock Tassalara. CaIiforn~a
Thousand-dollar bikes? What a great idea! However, I was somewhat sur prised by the amount of mechanical failures you guys experienced on the "Grand Tour." Either you didn't make good use of the $1000, or you have no mechanical know-how. My ride last summer, an `81 Yamaha Maxim 550, started out as a $250 yard-sale special, but with some time and effort I rode it 5000 miles without any mechanical problems. This summer, I am on an `82 Kawasaki GPz55O that only cost $700 to get on the road-Canadian funds at that! I haven't had any prob lems. What's your excuse?
Nathan Mutch Napanee, Ontario, Canada
We, too, were distracted by Becky the Lifeguard?
Just thought I’d drop you folks a line to let you know the August issue was the best on record. “Tyrannosaurus Wrecks” gets the gold, followed closely by “Grand Tour.” “Cheap Seats” takes the bronze. You’ve gotta have heaps of guys telling you about their econo-finds, but you’ll have to bear with two more.
A few years ago I was drooling over the Euro bikes at a dealer in Southern California on my lunch hour (suit & tie) when a guy in a pickup truck pulls up. He must have thought I worked there. He offers to sell me a Matchless for $225. I follow him over to his house and there was an Ascot half-miler, a 650. It became mine.
Not that long ago, I happened to be at the BMW dealer when a real ugly 1955 R50/2 came in on trade. Dusty and oily, with homemade wooden side bags and trunk. The dealer really didn’t want to mess with it, so I got it for $300. Cleaned up, it’s the sweetest bike I’ve ever owned. I don’t think I’ve spent more than $1000 on it, including the new tranny bearing. I lost the wooden luggage, though.
Keep up the good work, and keep the articles on older bikes coming. I’m kinda bored with new stuff. If I can’t
do the repairs myself, I just can't get excited about owning it.
0. Ryan Faust Bkersfield, California
Um-American activities
Sorry to hear that your “Grand Tour” Chinese bike died. My luck has been better. I purchased a United Motors bike (www.umamerica.com) last August and have been riding the hell out of it since (about 1500 miles). It’s a 200cc dualsport also, but I think you must have gotten a lemon. Don’t get me wrong, it’s no KTM, but it’s not that bad, either. I noticed a big rear sprocket in your photos. If you were doing 50-55 mph with that, the engine must have been screaming. swapped mine for a smaller sprocket and now it cruises well at 50-60.
I, too, had to replace the speedo cable, and there was a stress fracture in the tank, but overall I can’t complain. It cost $2195, with a threeyear warranty.
Ray Fitch Edgewater Park, New Jersey
For Pete's sake
I notice that Peter Egan didn't partici pate in the "Grand Tour." Maybe he was too busy sorting out extra parts for his collection of brand-new Ducatis, BMWs and so on. It's great to know that there are other "normal" people around who love their bikes but didn't have to mort gage their homes to buy them. Thanks for the great "Cheap Seats" section; may be you should consider a regular monthly page. Think about it.
Ron Failing Laport, Colorado
As a member of the Detroit branch of Slimey Cruds Motorcycle Gang, I would like to respond to comments about fel low Crud Peter Egan's "conspicuous ac quisition" of motorcycles. He is a sick lad, with an affliction that I also share. In 46 years of riding, I have owned 55 bikes, and as long as they keep build ing such cool stuff I will continue to finagle and finance my way into owning as many as I can.
In the last 10 years, I’ve bought nine bikes, seven of them new. The actual cost, not including gas, tires, etc., comes to $78 per month. Almost anyone can afford this and taste the amazing variety of fruit on the motorcycling buffet. Dig in!
Greg Locke
Westland, Michigan
I laughed like an SOB when reading the letters in the July issue slamming Peter Egan about his acquisition disorder. Come on! Pete knows where he's at. His columns are all about his passion for bikes. Who cares how many bikes he buys/sells or whether they have ABS or not? He entertains us with his musings and writes about where most of us wish we were. That's why he ison the CWstaff and we're not!
Glenn McVickar M~~n~h Wic~rnn~in
Cheap chopper revival
Mr. Edwards, I just read your "Requiem for a Cheap Bike" column. I would like to offer Kansas City Pete the springer front end (including triple-trees and rim! wheel) he needs to get his Honda chop per back on the road. I am also a police officer and would be glad to help.
wiitiam Maynara Clifton Park, New York
Cool pick for the top "Ty rannosaurus Wreck," that guy with the wrecked Hon. -da chopper, now serving in Iraq. The boys overseas need all of the help we can give them.
Edward Waterstraat Lima, New York
"Requiem for a Cheap Bike," really hit home with me, especially the part about Pete's chopper getting him through life's tougher moments.
In 1980,1 found a `69 Norton Comman do with apehangers, sissybar and blown engine in a barn. After the usual negoti ations and $350, she was mine. I rebuilt it in the living room of the mobile home over the winter. When spring came, I rode it as much as I could. Spending money on it wasn't a problem; I didn't have any! This bike has been with me ever since. I've seen many changes including the tragic loss of my first wife, many moves and a wonderful new wife and family. Last year while I was recovering from a round of chemotherapy and radiation, I thought about all the things I should have been doing but hadn't taken the time to do. One of them was riding the Norton. It had been waiting for 15 years.
I m doing very well now And with a little work and cleaning, so is the Commando. My 9year-old daughter loves to ride it with me. She won't let me go anywhere with out her. I've had many bikes over the years; lately, I was asked why I had kept this one over all the others. Last weekend my daughter and I rode it in a local par ade. We even got our picture in the news paper. Now I know whyl kept it so long.
Randy Schottn~r Lima, Ohio
Works for Bill Shatner
Ijust read. . ."Grand Tour". . .and was won dering. . .how many times a story. . .really needs the use.. .of ellipses. . .for effect... Apparently, at least 11. . .by my count... but what do I. . .know?
Joe Placht Fenton, Missouri
No idea...what...you're...talking about...
