[CTlasley]

One of the best dreams I’ve had in a long time I had the other night. I took my (imaginary) motorcycle out for a ride on a fall day. The next day I saw a moto guzzi griso parked outside a bar during lunch. I’m now obsessed. I was late for work this morning and now I’ve just spent 3 more hours on the internet (skipping dinner and a much needed shower) pouring over as much information to find the perfect bike for me…HELP!

I’d ride it 70+ miles a day, mainly on roads with speed limits no more than 50, but involve fairly steep climbs.
I’m 6’1″ 160lbs
I have issues with my back that are worsened by bending forward/down at the waist for long periods of time.
I’m broke.

Help me fulfill my dream!

[JackTrade]

I’m assuming you’re looking at a “standard” style bike.

As everyone here will tell you, best way to proceed is to 1) take the MSF course…not only to learn how to ride, but also to get some seat time, and 2) stop by a dealer and sit on different types of bikes to see what feels good.

But just based on your criteria, I’d say a good first bike for you would be an older Suzuki GS500. They’re non-faired (so they don’t have the sportbike look of the current model), quite beginner-friendly, have a neutral riding position, and have decent power for everyday use. They’re pretty common, and pretty reasonably priced.

[ranette]

I also lust for a Griso. Have you seen the 8V SE? Oh my!!!!
http://www.stayontheblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/GRISO-8V-SE-1.jpg

Unfortunately they’re not being imported to the US.

[CTlasley]

I’ve looked around some more, and it seems that the bikes that fit my budget, use, and style are the old, 70’s honda CB’s. They have many different sized engines to choose from, are hailed for their never die (with some attention to maintenance) mechanics, and have a general asking price of under 2k. The only problem is that they’re thirty to forty years old…

Theres a few near me in great cosmetic condition:

A 1972 125 with very low mileage for any bike (1700). http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/1842201443.html

And a ’72 350 with 19k miles. http://greenville.craigslist.org/mcy/1846728141.html

I think the CB125 would be a little to underpowered for what I was hoping to use it for (reviews give it a 65 mph top speed) but the price is pretty unbeatable. But the main thing I’m focused on is the condition of the engine, not the cosmetics; I want a solid bike that I wouldn’t cry over getting banged up so I’m not sure if almost 20k miles is too much for an engine that’s 30+ years old, even if it looks nice. It looks beautiful, but its also overpriced in my opinion.

There’s a few other dirt cheap bikes that cosmetically look like junk in my area but I know nothing of motorcycle maintenance to see if they’d run well. If anyone around here knows a bit about buying/owning older bikes, I’d appreciate some tips on what to look for.

[TrialsRider]

The 350F is a great bike for the distances you are planning to travel, the 125 not so much so. That 350F looks to be in remarkable condition, ( I had one just like it ) if it was mine the luggage rack would have to go and the pull back handlebars would get changed out for something closer to stock. Few things to look for if you go to check that one out, other than it starting and sounding reasonable.
Those tires look almost original and the rubber might be hard and slippery ( inexpensive to replace ) With good tires it’s easy to drag metal parts in the corners.
The primary drive chain has a tendency to stretch, the symptom is that there will be a ‘lurch’ when going from acceleration to deceleration. ( expensive to replace )
Great fun motorcycle to ride if you enjoy the sound of an engine that will pull 13,000 rpm …far better than listening to a radio !

[Jeff in Kentucky]

It is usually worth it to hire an older mechanic that has years of working on these old Hondas to look at it and test ride it- it may save you a lot of money and time in the long run. Looks can be deceiving, and too few miles may mean the carbs are dirty inside and the oil seals are dried out and cracked.

The average motorcycle gets rode about 3,000 miles a year (some a lot more), and an old 350cc air-cooled bike with a good modern oil could last 80 to 100,000 miles before an engine rebuild, with some luck and proper maintenance. The 125cc engine will probably wear out faster, especially with interstate riding so it is at full throttle all the time.

[JackTrade]

Esp. if you’re not an accomplished mechanic. As a new rider (I’m assuming you are, but correct me if I’m wrong), your main goal is to get as much riding experience as possible. That’s going to be harder if your bike is always in the shop or you’re worried about it breaking down.

[Author]

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