| Author | Message | ||
     Pkforbes87 |
If a guy were in the market for a cheap (absolute max of $4k, preferably $2k or less) motorcycle to be used purely for eating up miles of interstate, what would be some good options? I'm obviously looking at Goldwings and I know someone with an '83 Yamaha XVZ who seems to love it. Anything else I should look for? I'd be open to geezer-glide style bikes as well, I'm just not familiar with what is out there and obtainable for what I'm willing to spend. I'm 100% ok with a bike in this category being the ugliest thing I've ever laid eyes on. I already have an '09 XT which is great for long distances as long as there are some curves between points A and B. | ||
| Hughlysses |
+1 on an older Goldwing. I can't really think of anything in the same league in your price range. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Any specific pros and cons to different generations of the Goldwing? From what I've seen, I won't be looking any newer than late 80s. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I bet you could get one of those old Honda Pacific Coast 800 pretty cheaply. If you could find one. And that's just about as ugly as anything! Actually not as rare as I thought. I just did a quick search in CL and this cheapy popped up: http://providence.craigslist.org/mcy/4024803052.ht ml | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Gross. That thing somehow manages to be bland and hideous at the same time. Thanks for the suggestion.. there are actually quite a few of those in my area. | ||
| Jaimec |
Be careful regarding the GL1200 Wings. They had a known issue with their stator... | ||
| Gschuette |
That Pacific Coast is cult cool. That's what you need. | ||
| Fb1 |
Vermin on ADV rides a PC800, affectionately known as The Cack:
If you have a lot of time to kill, want to laugh 'til your cheeks hurt and you need a diaper (and think a PC800 is cult cool), read this thread: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26 5019 WARNING: I'm serious about the diaper... | ||
| Hughlysses |
I totally forgot about the PC800. At least it IS a V-twin.  There's a fairly pristine example near me for sale for $2500:  http://charleston.craigslist.org/mcy/4020389773.ht ml | ||
| Aesquire |
Pacific Coast.  When the only complaint is you might be embarrassed to be seen on it, you may have the finest bike ever. ( I feel that embarrassed thing with $50k Choppers like the Big Dog. "You spent WHAT???!!!" ) Seriously, an 800 pound 'Wing is, by design, a fine x-way cruiser. It's also so heavy it NEEDS the electric reverse gear. I get better mileage in my VW, and don't get as wet when it rains. ( although the Goldwing may be more comfortable ) The Pac Coast is the better, lighter cult toy. Fb1, ( snort, snerk, choke..... giggle ) | ||
| Chauly |
I may be partial, but take a look at an ST1100 of whatever year you can afford. I bought a 91 new in 91,and just sold it last fall for $2000 with 130k miles. I turned around and bought a 93 with 30k miles for $3000. It carries a lot, gets good mileage, and is very reliable. Some Badwebbers have ridden with me and can attest to its capabilities. If you have any questions, ask away... Prices range from $2000 for a 1990-95, to $6000 for a 1996-2002. Each series is identical except for colors and farkles. | ||
| Buellhusker |
Find a BMW K1200LT or K1200GT they started production of those models in 1999. They have a 4 cyl 110 to 138 HP depending on year & if LT or GT. The LT is a 5 speed with reverse and the GT is a 6 speed no reverse. They handle great and the LT gets 45 to 50 MPG. Currently they are cheep in the used market. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
In that price range you'd find a bunch of used Kawasaki Concours. I would stick with the '94 - '06 models. They are damn near bulletproof. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
ST 1100 was one of the favourite bikes for the coppers until the FJR came out. They're a damn good all-rounder. Those Pacific Coast thingies look as comfortable as your favourite recliner, just avoid riding past storefronts & other large reflective surfaces so you don't see yourself on it & you'll be fine, at least until you have to get the bodywork off when the a/c packs up. | ||
| Slaughter |
My brother rode a CX500 for years. Almost a cult following now. With an overhaul, they can be killer reliable.,, but if you DO break down in East Sore Throat Wyoming, you might have a wait for parts - though MOST are still NOS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CX_series | ||
| 86129squids |
Wow... I once had a first-year PC800, the only year they came in a 2 tone pearl white, and IMHO these were the dang best looking bikes of the entire production run. They were called "Tupperware bikes" due to all the plastic, but they were in many ways ahead of their time. The clamshell storage was geeky/cool, they are super quiet with enough power, and I ran Deal's Gap plenty enough to know that they handled surprisingly well too. If I could find another one for good $$$, I'd buy it in a heartbeat! They've become hard to find, and tend to appreciate in value, becoming a cult bike for sure. I just sold a '79 GL1000 that I bought from Vern's brother- pro's, it had a good condition Windjammer and all the bags, ran strong after a good $400 tuneup, had decent aftermarket pipes. Con's, it handled like it had a hinge in the middle, was HEAVY, and I just never "fell in love" with it. I'd look for an older Beemer, the K series and the early oilheads are pretty nice, but they'll be at the higher range of the $$$. If you can find a K75, they're cultish and pretty kewl. The Kawasaki Concours (aka "Connie") has been produced for YEARS, has a strong owners network, should be easy to score one for cheep. The early Yamaha Ventures, to me, were very cool for several reasons, not the least of which is the motor is essentially a mildly tuned version of the V-Max!! If money were no object, I've dreamed of getting one of these and making a Vmax style sleeper out of it... Also- keep your eyes peeled for decommissioned KZ1000P's- nothing like rolling through traffic masquerading as po-po! These can usually be had for decent $$$. ST1100's are nice too. | ||
| 86129squids |
Forgot about the CX500/650. Can be had for cheep, usually with good touring stuff. I'd heard that they were used for the postal service in some parts of the country. The GL1000 was introduced in 1975, intended to compete with the Z1R900! Somewhere around '82, '83, they took the coachwork in-house, beginning the "Hondaline" stuff- I'd always liked the Vetter/Hannigan/et cetera aftermarket stuff. In '88 they went to the first version of the 1500 flat-six... to me they just got to be a 2-wheeled car by then, no appeal. Good luck, and keep trolling CL- post up when you score something! | ||
| Slaughter |
I have a fantasy CX cafe project. Seen some. They can look cool. | ||
| Malott442 |
My R1100RT is a really cheap bike on the market. Also, the R1150RS. THere is a nice example on ADVRIDER for 2500 right now. My 1100RT has 125k miles, will still go 125mph, and gets 45-50mpg. It handles very well, and eats miles superbly. I've done 1700 miles in 36 hours.  | ||
| Rich |
I gave $4600 for this-  60K miles and still delivering the goods. | ||
| Crusty |
Buy a used Moto Guzzi California. They can be had for short money. They handle well and are as reliable as an anvil. They also have some personality.They're enjoyable to ride. They feel like a motorcycle and not a humming appliance. | ||
| Malott442 |
Those busas are surprisingly comfortable. | ||
| Aesquire |
Don't forget the Honda Sabre. The 750's had more than adequate power, and the V65's, more.. Turbine smooth, and decent suspension for the day. I've had 2 buddies with them, and both had to replace the early LCD dash, and afaik, the replacements work fine unless the bike is parked in the sun for months. The ones with the Hondaline fairing are a bit rarer, but IMHO the Sabre lacks the "ugly" bike rep the Pac Coast has. ( Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ugly goes bone deep. ) After market fairing/shields are easy to mount & find. the V65 Magna's are darn near everywhere if you prefer the cruiser ergos. The only real bad thing I recall on the V series ( they have their own cult websites, as do most good and many bad bikes ) is the bottom ends are fragile when new. IIRC Cycle World blew up 2 of the 500 interceptors in a row and Honda went to hand selected lower end bearings to get by. By now, If the bottom end is intact, it's not a problem. They seemed to only grenade when new. Very Darwinian. | ||
| Reepicheep |
An old bandit might be worth checking into for as well. And I bet you could find high milage but good shape Honda ST1100's in the $2k range. And of course the old Kawasaki Concourse bikes. | ||
| Hootowl |
I liked the PC800 right from the get go. Honda were trying to shake up their motorcycle group, and "think outside the box" (a popular phrase in the 90s) so they had their automotive team do the body work. Everyone else was having their motorcycle guys design their motorcycles, which was pretty naive in Honda's opinion. I think it works. The trunk is big enough to put a helmet in (by design) and it's comfortable enough to go all day. | ||
| Jaimec |
Why not hunt down an old airhead R100RT? Easy to work on, reliable as a hammer, light weight... I still miss mine. | ||
| 86129squids |
 Jaimec is right- I'd not mentioned them since around my neck of the woods they're pretty scarce, and hard to get for good $$$ but most any old Airhead Beemer will do well. My current ride is a '77 R75/7, ended up with it when a dude wanted to trade for my '79 GL1000. We traded for machines and paper, no boot. At that point in time I had no more than $1700 in that GL. Deals like that don't come along too often! It's always fun to "armchair quarterback" when someone is looking for a new ride! Thanks for the fun thread. | ||
| 86129squids |
OK, I bit for Vermin's PC800 thread- good stuff so far! "There is nothing can stop time in its tracks like having a loaded bike at home on your last day of work."  | ||
| 86129squids |
OK, can't help it, but I'm a very fast reader, and this guy is a HECK of a writer, with a rare humerous bone: " Just think approx. 200 years ago Lewis and Clark went under this very bridge headed toward North Dakota. Historical footnote, the act of shivering was perfected during this phase. Until the Lewis and Clark expedition shivering was only used as a primal response to kissing old moley aunts." | ||
| Reepicheep |
OK, Jamie wins. Great idea. |
