Back in the day I would pick up cheap 250 and 400 SuperDreams as winter hacks for next to nothing and run them into the ground. Couldn't do that these days! People have realised how good and usable classic Japanese bikes are and the prices are just going to keep rising. Sadly, buying cheap Japanese bikes is a thing of the past!
Depends . Top condition bikes yes . But needing I bit of work there are remarkable bargains . My 1983 cm 450 Honda was £620. Dirty dusty,rusty , not running. £340 later sweet runner, great condition,and virtually 100% original. Oh and tax ,mot exempt,past mot.( not needed)
I still see some bargains of FB for 80s bikes in the UK, prices here in NZ have gone absolutely insane, for 80s 90s 250cc two strokes guys are asking really stupid money, in the 5 figure range.
Now you're speaking my language 😂 I'm a sucker for cheap Japanese bikes. The temperature today is 70 degrees F so i think im gonna go ride my CB350. Take care, brother
Great upload and some good left field choices there. My 78 GS550 is a nice ride and always makes me smile whenever I take it out. Ridden within their limits, they are a great package with more than enough performance for the real world
Honda cb 400 . A shockingly underrated bike . Why because it could comprehensively nocked an rd 400s lights out ( can’t wait for the feedback) Don’t believe me ? Read October 1979 issue of Motorcycle Mechanics. Snetterton long circuit, Cadwell twisty results.I’m with biker dood on this one.
The twin I expect you mean It was a bit heavy but worked well as a 400 Although everyone seems to like to slag of the 250 it sold like hot cakes in the late 70s
I have an early SRX600 It is remarkably mellow and pulls from 2k revs unlike the later 660 water-cooled which I thought might be better but wasn't - - The SRX was meant to be a Japanese Gold Star or Velo Thruxten but its altogether more flexible - I put a less restrictive Predator SS Exhaust on mine and KN and jetted the carbs from 118 to 130 to compensate - it pulls cleaner in the 5k+ range now - still nice low down and handles great
@@bikerdood1100 Very true - in my youth, I had a very mellow Triumph Terrier and decided to put a big valve head, carb, High compression piston, and Cub sports cam - sure it went 10-15mph faster but lost all the charm and flexibility - so not going down that path with the SRX - at 100mph its fast enough
I needed a replacement for my shaft-driven XJ650 after it was stolen in 1986. I was attracted to the SRX600 but got the Radian for its power advantage and also because four-bangers were the trend back then. Many times I wished i picked the SRX instead.
I was absolutely gobsmacked to see the first one on the list being the TX/XS500; I'm the original owner of a 1973 TX500, still have it, has 124,000 miles on it, far from trouble-free until I fixed some of the original shortcomings. ALL of the 73-75 models leaked oil at the junction of the horizontally-split head parts; fix is to drop on a '76 or later head, single piece, with deeper cooling fins (drops right on). Also mounted the factory oil cooler kit but personally fabricated the delivery line to run ALL the oil through it (factory setup only ran some through). Mine did suffer a head crack early on, not uncommon. Bike may be relatively inexpensive, but some parts can be VERY hard to find, particularly the cam chain joining link, which is an absolute must-have if you ever need to pull the head. Originally cost just a few dollars, now extremely rare and I have seen them get a very high price ($100 range) when they come up on eBay. It is the ONLY bike in the Yamaha lineup that used a dual-row cam chain, so you cannot source a replacement from a different Yamaha, nor do I personally know of another bike that used that same chain. The supplier I bought an entire NOS chain from has since gone out of business; before I found that, the last time I got a connecting link from eBay I was fortunate to see one being sold out of the UK that almost nobody bid on, I got it for around $35 when one sold in the US around the same time went for around $75 or more.
Oh I’m aware of the short comings, covered in an earlier video But this has left them unpopular They definitely are not sillymoney in the UK If you seen them for that much I’d shop elsewhere because they are not expensive at all here I even checked this morning
Actually the TX500 and TX750 were a disaster for Yamaha. Another major issue was the balancing chain stretching causing all sorts of grief. They looked nice but i would be very reluctant to purchase one. The GS550 and the GS750 would be the pick for me.@@bikerdood1100
Guess it depends on when you look, it can vary quite a bit. Another odd bit is ignition breaker points, left-hand set in particular can get pretty pricey but there are aftermarket sets you can find. The relay (blinker) for the turn signals is ridiculous, OEM item made by ND had a $40 price tag in the 1980's, when mine went bad I went to an auto parts supplier and found a universal three-prong part for $4 that worked just fine..
I'm riding a later XS500C I bought last year and made a homemade electronic ignition for. I have now done 4500 miles since last year and the only thing that failed on me was a cheap Chinese ignition coil that cooked it's self. Also just found some new original silencers but finding the screw on glands for them is a nightmare as there are two sizes!
@@SoddingaboutSi electronic ignition is good improvement on electrical systems of this period Contrary to popular belief Japanese ignition and charging systems were the best
This brought back some memories, I bought a GS550E in 1980 in the same colour scheme as the one featured. Brilliant bike, loved it. I got a bit carried away after watching Mad Max by fitting a Dunstall fairing, drop bars and rearsets, Marzocchi shocks and a Piper 4-1. A few thousand miles of fun later it was nicked from the car park at Yeovil college. Gutted.
Back 40 plus years ago I had a GS550B which was a gem of a little bike. Did a lot of touring round Australia with it now all these years on I’m still looking for another one that hasn’t been bastardised. Looking back I should have kept my bikes and not married the first wife.
Heh, heh, heh...... I had a Suzuki GT550M and managed to dump my girlfriend of the back when I skidded on a muddy corner..........Still married 46 years later.😂
Another good and rational selection of great Japanese bikes. Of the group selected for your video, I’d take both the Suzuki GS550E and that lovely little Yamaha SRX….but the 600 version. In fact, I own a ‘91 electric start SRX 600, mono shock, Brembo brake master cylinder…..a thing of beauty and real low maintenance character. It’s crazy they’re so cheap!
Affordable classic" means it was a P.O.S when it came out, and still is....... Go later GENERATIONS, get a better bike and an "appreciating classic" ........ Not just an "old bike"....... Example HONDA VFR 750's RC 24, or RC 36 Or Suzuki "slingshot" GSXR 750 ( J model, for example ) .....
@@Marc_Remillard Ive just bought a mint 86 VFR750, in white, only 36,000 km, it will still need a bit of work as its been sitting in a guys office for 10 years, good addition to my small collection of 80s bikes.
Worst ?. sometimes is because there are a lot of them still running Low survival rate high prices That’s why some I sellable turkeys of the past now cost a fortune today RE5 !! Don’t confuse cheap with rubbish 🙄
When I wanted a cheap 2nd bike to keep my 78 T140V away from the winter salt, I bought my GS550 (a bit of a mongrel with a 1977 engine in a 1980 LT chassis) as a fairly tidy, newly MOTed runner 2 years ago for a reasonable price. Once I'd sorted out a few things inflicted on it by previous "mechanics", it now runs beautifully and I use it for my everyday transport all year round. It was good value for money and it's very enjoyable to ride. The only downside is that, being the L model (American cruiser style), it has a stupid little fuel tank which, as I discovered early on, runs out after about 90 miles, with no reserve (it has an inaccurate fuel gauge instead: 1/4 = I think I'll just splutter to a halt now). Fortunately I was able to lean it over and transfer some of the fuel from the inaccessible right side of the tank to get me to a garage, and now I make sure I don't go more than 80 miles between stops. It's a fun local bike, though, with free road tax and exempt from MOT and ULEZ charges. Surprisingly, I haven't seen another one in real life since I bought it, even at classic show bike parks.
I don’t know if the Yamaha YX600 Radian was sold in the UK(?), but I bought one in 1986, and it was a great bike! I put 12,000 miles on it in the first year, and had great fun on it. I kept that one, and bought another one in 1988 that was a new leftover from 87’. I fitted a stage 1 carb kit, and 4-1 pipes Kerker pipes on it, and it really screamed! Both good all arounders, wish I still had them!
Solid engine, none interference combustion design meant it was safe if the valves floated. Nice riding position, gas tank was a little on the small side. With proper maintenance, I was able to get over 100000 miles on my FZ600. I should have chosen the Radian for comfort though, the FZ was a rack 😂
Enjoyed this video👍👍Bikes I remember from my youth 😊👍 Still would really like to see the kawasaki Zx-10 tomcat tree, which includes the gpz900r and gpz100rx plus you could include the zzr1100, 12 and 14 in the video, but i really would love to see the tomcat especially.
Another good and serious video of yours. Thanks ! The GS 550 is a really good bike, at an affordable price. If I may correct you a tiny bit: The GS 550 had 51 HP...not 49. BUT Suzuki, for some markets made one with a smaller bore /500cc engine..but.otherwise totally same bike as the 550. THIS 500cc version had 49 HP
Used to pass by one in the showroom window when I was sixteen, it looked beautiful and fast. A few years on I got the chance to ride the Hans Muth Katana GS550, aside from the super lean carbs it was a dog, I was a little disappointed. I always recommend test riding before you buy. Power aside they were still a very beautiful looking bike.
Ahh but the CX is too popular here they command high prices so wouldn’t get on this list Had a CX for a few years Excellent bike apart from the bloody cam chain
Cam chain problem was sorted with the Honda CX500B and Eurosport which were fantastic courier bikes. Shaft drive, plenty of second hand spares, service in your lunch hour and normally got around 120,000 miles before breaking for more spares. Usually had to replace the drive shaft and the wheel spline towards the end.
Good stuff. In truth, most people don't use the extra poke of the bigger bikes. Both the Z400 and GS550 are plenty rapid enough (without a pillion) for UK highways. And wringing a little more out of a smaller motor is much more rewarding than just lolloping along on a 750 that hasn't yet broken sweat. As to the SRX... That was a nice piece of work. All the Japanese manufacturers made excellent bigger singles on that era, but Yamaha and Honda were clever enough to put them in a road frame.
Was that the 400 twin ,or the 400j 4 cylinder. I had the 400,j in a lowrider frame that screamed like an formula 1. No power but was like it was on rails.
Rode a GS550E like the one you show there from '80'-'83. Loved that bike. Rode it ALL over California. Went to the second US Festival on it and a bunch of Dead Shows and RennFaires. There was also an "L" model that had more of a chopper design with a bi-level seat and a sissy bar. Not my cup of tea. Later I had an '86 GS650E which was also very fine.
@@karlrichardson-hf7yl Well as a member of the Vintage motorcycle club I did It can refer to any machine built in the classic era Rather than the vintage or veteran eras Often Americans in particular will refer the bikes from the 60s for example as vintage but this is iPod course completely wrong Thanks for bringing up the subject
well let me know your source of cheap decent GS550s 2500 will get you a decent one 3k plus a good one that puts it up against some very good contempoarary bikes Z400 reliable ? its a leaker and find one without crank problems pressed up tat Yamaha ? pile of junk when new (sr500 a good one)The Honda 250 twin way over priced currently and a poor bike when compared to the cheaper legendary CB250RS single still a good economic buy @@bikerdood1100
It’s this term ‘classic’ again..& the definition, thereof… Do classics only have spoked wheels, air cooled etc..? Many 1990’s Japanese bikes are now 30 years plus old.. and are on a different performance planet compared to 70s/early 80s bikes.. I see bikes particularly going in desirability waves, as people age, die, the interest in 50s/60s bikes becomes less and less. Then the 80s & 1990’s generation age, want bikes of their youth.. so interest increases. Etc etc etc.. Only the very special/rare bikes will stay highly valued in collections in the end.. Brough Superior, RC30, bikes of that ilk
I go with the VMCC classifications Thus avoiding the predictable bike snobbery which all too often seems to come up, performance is largely unimportant for me Most commonly from armchair experts though really As for special bikes They also are largely unimportant You never see em at meet’s because they are in the grubby hands of collectors Does a higher price make it a better biker Largely No As a lover of classic bikes a Brough is by and large irrelevant But if some sucker wants to pay a fortune for a Brough rather than a much cheaper Scott that’s his look out 😂 Desirability and Classic status are not the same thing
The XS500 and XS750 are cheap because they weren’t very good and they were not nearly as good as the XS650. ….and I still like the longer theme better.
Z400 good but the z550 was better gs550 good but slow handling easy fix electricals fit superdream reg/ rec .. superdream great comfy bike looked after it never missed a beat in all weather's for four year's
I used to own a 1990 model. I bought it while I owned a FJ1200 because I rode one and was so impressed with how smooth it was and comfortable compared to the FJ. I owned that cbr for about 3 tears and did about 50 thousand miles on it without the slightest hint of a problem. I took it to Scotland twice, fully loaded with camping gear and 2 up and it really did itself proud. For a 6ft 18 stone bloke the CBR1000F is a sensible bike.
Io sono stato il felice proprietario di una Honda Cb 400 n del 1985 e di una 350 four modificata con albero a cammes Yoshimura ,marmitta marving 4 in 1 e canne pistoni 400 SS.un cacciabombardiere😅.La 400 cbn mi è rimasta nel cuore.Leggera ,elegante,instancabile,economica.una gran moto per me. Vorrei non averla mai venduta😢
All the 4 stroke twins were benign copies of European designs. The Japanese classics were all 2 strokes of any arrangement and the 4 stroke 4 cylinder machines. Every thing else were entry econo models
Naaa Small four cylinder bikes don’t really work Take the cb400f it’s more revy and a fair bit less powerful than the cheaper twin that replaced it and two strokes never had the mass appeal, because of uncertain reliability, even less certain handling in some cases and awful fuel economy. People often crave after the big strokers today but they didn’t sell all that well really especially after the fuel crisis of the early 70s, more a bike teens lusted after that mature riders actually purchased
I never liked those long couch seats. A style I'm glad went the way of the dodo bird. I do love my 1980's CM450 and my CMX250 straight inline air cooled twins. Never had the top end overheat at a traffic stop, but what happens is it does? Something about valves burning?
Great bikes as usual. I had a 1983 Suzuki GS550ES with the 16" front wheel. I got that bike up to 125mph. Scared the crap out of me. 4 into 1 pipe. I miss that bike
Boring selection of the middle weight bikes that were over shadowed by slightly better bikes. Surprised the cx500 and cx550 didn't make the list but nothing really inspired. Gutless bottom end and flat top end. Sure some of them screamed, but gave little in return. Honda cub is up with all of them
Not nearly as dull as this rather pedestrian comment I think Already gave the CX a video all to itself so can’t fit into every single video They ain’t that affordable either now are they Nor is a new cam chain tension Speaking from experience
Well apart from the cam shaft journals or lack there of They can get rattle tastic in later life Good bikes but small and cramped over a long journey The Superdream was always intended to be a 400 which wasn’t slow at all Faster than the 400/4 in reality having 6 extra ponies
@@timhicks2154 true but it was the cam bushing it ran on soft metal, directly on the soft metal, the RS motor was more like a 125 engine in this respect, dito it’s lack of a proper oil filter
Had a 250 super dream then a 400. The 400 was a revelation imo. Went very well and handled well amongst mates 500cc+. Seeing these old bikes against all hype of these RE350s etc makes me wish I could go back in time. I couldn’t afford anything then but cast offs. My favourite 2 bikes of all my time a yamaha dt175 and cb750-4
I travelled to the UK from NZ in 87 for a working holiday and got a job as a motorcycle courier in London from 87 to 89, the company i worked for had CB250 superdreams as company bikes, I don't think ive ever ridden a more insipid, vapid bike than the superdream, truly horrible bikes. The company swapped to XBR500s while i was there and they made awesome courier bikes, narrow, short and punchy with good fuel consumption.
@@bikerdood1100 Some weren’t too bad, Honda’s VT250 was a peppy little bike, Kawasaki’s BR250 (80s one) was another, the CB250RS was a hoot, and far far superior to the sluggish superdream.
Well the VT is very rare theses days, owned one for some years. Peppy but you had to work it hard. The RS was good but the top end could go leaving them very rattly and didn’t sell nearly as well as the dream so less far common
The SRX600 was and is Yamaha's most beautiful bike in my opinion. Was only sold in the USA in 1986 and was brought back in 400cc form in 2020. Unfortunately never had electric start. Hondas more classic looking GB500 was much easier to live with.
...had the xs 400, excellent maneuverability, thaught me to turn...had the gs750, slow to accelerate and heavy but bulletproof...beautiful xrs yami, yami!
It was a shame that the TX/XS500 had issues with valve seats cracking, I would set the valve clearance .002" loose in hopes of keeping the valves/seats cooler. I can't say if it was of any value. A hot engine lead down test would show that the seats were cracked. Few owners would repair them due to the cost and at the time the Japanese were selling bikes at fire sale prices because of over production and market contraction. The TX750 had many more issues and lasted only 2 years.
Well was quite cutting edge for its time so perhaps not a surprise that they hit problems A lot of early 4 valve heads failed Suzuki fours had their valves sink into the head and Guzzis four valve engines had the same problems
the cb400n was very underated, engine and chassis was well matched, the chassis was too much for the 250 motor, hence it was always known as a slug, nicknamed the superslug.
A rather underwhelming list IMHO. There are far greater bikes from this era than ANY of these models. Even the single cam Honda 750 which is an icon of the era.
I know about the GS750 was a help with Suzuki getting them out of the financial hole created buy the RE 5 but you can often forget about the GS550 it also was a big help also and a popular bike in Australia when they came out
Oddly enough saw a Sears based Gilera at a show over the summer. I included it in a couple of videos. It’s odd of course because they were never sold under that name in the Uk
A bike is a bike don’t go with the it’s a beginner bike BS It assumes everyone wants the biggest two wheeled over compensation machine possible which simply isn’t so Some want something that goes well but doesn’t burn as much fuel as a dodge Viper
My problem is finding some of the great 80s or 90s bikes for sale. Seems most that are grabbed are cause they know a guy with one in garage for yrs they do not list tem for sale. Finding an older decent bike is like finding gold in my bath tub
All i see is 2000 and up and they want as much now for 20 yr old 20k bike as it was new and is beat to hell. Market is nuts. I looked at a 2003 zx6 20k miles beat up pretty bad cracked busted plastic needed tires chain sprockets etc wanted retail when it was new LOL these fools are crazy.@@bikerdood1100
I used to be an irrational Eurocentric Motorcycle fanatic...out of trial and error understood that dependability, quality and easiness of service were not paramount for certain brands. Japanese Motorcycles quietly, perform greatly, without much hype or airs assumed .
Yawn They can also leave you pushing them from time to time too We have owned a roughly equal number of Japanese and European bikes over the years and the rate of issues especially on older machines is pretty much the same I would say Although I have actually been left with a dead bike on more occasions from Japanese bikes if I was being brutally honest And that’s over 35 Years without a break and all year round ridding Another thing I’ve noticed in recent years is a drop in build quality in certain makes too Honda & BMW are quite noticeable I guess in a weak big bike market costs have to be cut As for hype Try spending time listening to Japanese bike fans
@bikerdood1100 Good practical observation from your experience, so there's also a Japanese hype correct. As consumers we are looking for the best bang for our bucks 😀 Cheers 🍻
@@vistazo9 oh they can go bang alright 😂 Not biggest Best Unless you feel the need to overcompensate of course 😂😂 If you only ever own Japanese bikes or those from one manufacturer how could you possibly have a valid opinion or develop as a rider ?
"Affordable classic" means it was a P.O.S when it came out, and still is....... Go later model....... say 23-43 years old........( 1980-2000 ) get a better bike and an "appreciating classic" ........ Not just an "old bike"....... Example HONDA VFR 750's RC 24, or RC 36 even a NC30 400 Or Suzuki "slingshot" GSXR 750 (Or GSX , OR GS ) ..... OR Any of the GPZ's...... A Kawasaki ZZR 1100 and the Honda Blackbird CB1100XX are both 30 years old...... Both will get to 186 mph ! ( 300k's ) Both are cheap ! ! Both also came out as a 1200cc......
Do love a bit of I’ll informed nonsense Could also so mean sold well and are plentiful Blackbird is a pointless bike for those over compensating for something 😂
@bikerdood1100 THAT ALSO DESCRIBES EVERY SUPERBIKE EVER BUILT........ "COMPENSATING"....... but the Blackbird IS AN APPRECIATING CLASSIC..... 32 YEARS OLD....... 192mph more comfortable than any modern bike that goes that fast and it is still a coast to coast tourer....... I'm riding a VFR 750 RC36 ( road version of Joey Dunlops' last " Isle of Man" bike) Paid $2500...... this year. with a Ducati ST2 ( paid $2900 8 years ago worth $7000 now) in the shed with a '06 Triumph Bonnie........( $ 5500 ) ( last model built in England ). You can find better "classic" bikes Cheaper, or at least "appreciating classics" CHEAP....... and NOT go to "trash" older bikes....... None of them actually handle or have suspension that's "worth a shit"..... frames are diabolical, and only half of them could maintain traffic speeds....
@bikerdood1100 I agree...... the first thing I said was... " Affordable classic means P.O.S when it came out and still is " Buy your "suicide machine"...... H2 OR MACK 3.....CB750 with its pressed tin frame...... all the Yamaha 2 strokes with the "light switch" power bands........or something completely underpowered...... AND spend thousands on shocks, brakes, rims ( can't buy good 18" tyres anymore) Ps I'm 58 and have been riding motorbikes since I was 6 ( riding a Z1a 900 at 16 and it's still in the shed )
Kawasaki GPz 750 Unitrak-competant,reliable UJM with distinctive styling,and cheap,as they don't seem to be as popular as their immediate coffin-tanked predecessors.
Well I thing something based around 80s bikes would be a good follow up as it’s a period with some good machines that are still not attractive to the sad collectors Yet
@@bikerdood1100 I do wonder how many more years these sad collectors have, won't the demand for 80's bikes come to an end period? I'm in my 50's, grew up with these bikes so love them, old British bikes were before my time, I have no desire for one even if they are cheap. I don't see many youngsters on bikes now, can't imagine that they are going to be buying an 80's bike after us. If you are aware of this Great Reset agenda that's being pushed, any type of vehicle ownership will be gone by 2030, along with all our freedoms and choices anyhow. Assuming that the masses don't wake up and help in the fight against this evil plan.
@@steveclark.. well it’s a very good question However I’m of similar age and very much enjoy riding older bikes As does my 20year old son I’m very proud to say For me the lack of interest shown by younger people is very much the fault of modern parents who wrap their kids in cotton wool Young people are not risk averse as some think but the mothers very much are
@@bikerdood1100 Great to hear that a 20 year old is into bikes. Is he aware of this Great Reset plan? Will he and his friends fight against it or just roll over and sign up to a CBDC for example?
When i was young i was dreaming about 90s superbikes like ZZR 1100 / CBR 1000 F / GSXR 1100 ... , but now i am 40 years and all i dream about is these classic simple motorcycles because they have low seats and light wheight and simple design .
Don’t need as much as you think And of coarse all bikes need some maintenance And on old bikes you can do it yourself, I’d sooner spend my money on riding that paying through the nose at a dealer
@@bikerdood1100 , Why is it one or the other? Modern classics have been around for around 14 years or so. Ease of getting parts. No having to deal with points, carbs, unobtainable air filters, wiring issues.
@Dave-sw2dm it isn’t I have a number of bikes Wiring issues only occurs with age really Replacing the wiring is a doddle and getting parts for most Brit bikes, especially Triumph, Norton and BSA is no problem at all, easier than some new bikes to be honest With the magneto apron my BSA I can leave it for weeks and it always but always starts. The state of the battery of course makes absolutely no difference Bloody brilliant thing There’s a reason they use em on light aircraft 🛩
@@bikerdood1100 Agreed. I can buy virtually everything for my 1978 T140V off the shelf, brand new, if needed. Sometimes a bit trickier for my GS550 (and a lot more expensive if it's genuine Suzuki), but that's what ebay is for. Fortunately, both are very reliable and mostly just need service parts.
