Classic 2nd Bike?

[Grip Fast]

Coming up to retirement and don't want to give all my merge pittance to the state/kids. So I'm seriously thinking about getting an old British bike, just to fettle and ride on warm summer evenings (if we ever get one of them again).

I like the look of, and could afford (just) a BSA A10. Most others I fancy are way too rich for me. But am I seeing them with rose tinted hindsight/nostalgia? An old friend of mine has an Ariel Leader that he loves and regularly picks it to ride over his other, modern bike. I had a Leader in my yoof, but never bonded with it.

Another friend had a BSA C15 from new and it ended up in bits in a couple of tea chests. Years later he lovingly restored it back to concourse condition, rode it once, declared it horrible to ride and mothballed it.

Does anyone here have an old classic, what is it and how do you get on with it?

I could get something like a Triumph Daytona 955 for two grand and maybe have more fun, and still fettle it.

[Twinspark]

If you want the style and sound of an old British bike, but are put off by the maintenance demands - and the fact that they generally ride like a sack of spanners...

Surely the answer is a modern retro bike? - a Kawasaki W650 or Triumph Bonnie, maybe?

Not sure what the Ducati Sport Classics are going for these days - but the 1000 Sport and GT are nice bikes, too.

Or perhaps, sticking with the BMW theme - a naked airhead would suit?

[Grip Fast]

It's the maintenance demands that I enjoy. I enjoy servicing and spannering almost as much as riding. But I'd need to enjoy riding it too, otherwise no point really.

And that's the reason for my question; to see if others mix modern and classic and get fun from both.

I've done a lot of reading up on classic bikes, but the dyed-in-the-wool enthusiasts' view may be a little biased.

[slparry]

What about a Yamaha XS650? Cracking bike, usable classic

[Bikerhoss]

T100 for me please

or one of the new generation Thruxtons

Just need the pennies
Whatever you plump for GripFast, I'm sure you'll enjoy it

[Herb]

Couple of modern classics that could also be a useful investment. Better return than an ISA.

My mate paid £1400 for a T309 speed triple about 4 years ago, and would easily get back £2k now and all he has done is clean it.

In my opinion you need to look at what people in thir 40s and 50s wanted when they were young as an investment as well as riding opportunity,

I would be looking at a T309.
Daytona speed 3 if you can find one.
Urban tiger fireblade
98 r1
Ducati 900ss. (Cheap, but sure to go crazy)

[Twinspark]

I'd amend that to the 750SS... as it's the better bike. The 900SS isn't as 'sweet' as the 750 version and has an awful clutch in comparison.

Unless, of course, you're talking about a 900SS SL, but I think the boat may have already sailed on that one.

[nab 301]

Does anyone here have an old classic, what is it and how do you get on with it?

.

Not a real one but in the early noughties I bought a '98 Indian enfield bullet 350 as a non runner..... I kept it for about 7 years and did lots of fettling , and a fair bit of mileage too , my pet hate was the front drum brake , later ones have a disc . On one occasion after i'd spent a lot of time on my 11 s I wheeled out the enfield and headed off down the road only to return immediately , convinced that the frame was broken .
On a good day on the right roads it was great though, and there is an infinite amount of modifying/ improving you can do even to the fuel injected ones.

I can't say I really miss it though , but that wouldn't stop me from buying another. They just need a different mindset when setting off ..

Edit , I've always fancied one of these Falcones , but the prices seem to be heading north recently
http://www.milweb.net/webverts/64901/

[Herb]

I'd amend that to the 750SS... as it's the better bike. The 900SS isn't as 'sweet' as the 750 version and has an awful clutch in comparison.

Unless, of course, you're talking about a 900SS SL, but I think the boat may have already sailed on that one.

I certainly wish I had kept my 750ss (95 rather than the earlier bevel).

It was a stunner.

[Gromit]

MZ.

[Herb]

MZ.

Your impending retirement has affected your mind. Go and have a lie down.

[Gromit]

MZ.

Your impending retirement has affected your mind. Go and have a lie down.

But....

They're...

Cheap
Air-cooled
German
Fun
Smelly (but good smelly)
Well engineered
Reliable
Simple
Handle well
And are the perfect bike for someone with a deep-rooted sense of irony (and no self-esteem nor ego). I love 'em.

[Herb]

MZ.

Your impending retirement has affected your mind. Go and have a lie down.

But....

They're...

Cheap
Air-cooled
German
Fun
Smelly (but good smelly)
Well engineered
Reliable
Simple
Handle well
And are the perfect bike for someone with a deep-rooted sense of irony (and no self-esteem nor ego). I love 'em.

I'm not convinced.

[el-nicko]

.

.....(and no self-esteem nor ego).

Yeah, that's a hard call for anyone who's not as self-effacing and modest as myself.

[Twinspark]

I reckon it has to be the classic which ultimately spawned the R1100S and R1200S.



I'd love one of those.