Topic: Why do you ride a classic bike?

[keithert]

I'm wondering what motivates you to ride a classic bike instead of something newer?  In my case it's because I like the seating position of a standard bike more than the styles that are common today.  Also my bike that's been partially restored cost about the same an unrestored 10 year old bike.

[333]

Exactly.  Don't like my feet out in front of me, and my back doesn't like to ride bent over.

[754]

Partly affordability..

Partly because its there.. and still ran

Partly cuz of all the memories that come with that bike.

And because I did a trip on one last year and realized that maybe I donr need more than that..& and it was still as much fun as it ever was..

[mlinder]

Character.

New bikes don't have it.

[edbikerii]

My 77 CB550K sure wasn't a classic when I bought it!  It was just a cheap beater that I wouldn't mind crashing too much.

I bought it because:
IT WAS CHEAP.
It is comfortable.
It is reliable (Honda).
It is "Fast Enough".  I've never felt obligated to race anyone on a sport-bike -- that would just be stupid.
Parts were cheap.
Parts were readily available at EVERY bike shop from coast-to-coast.
I can wear a full-face helmet without looking like a dork.
I am not required to wear any clothing or gear that is stamped "Genuine" or "TM" on it.
It is big enough to ride two-up for a few hundred miles comfortably.
It is small enough to be manageable at slow speeds, and while parking or pushing it around the workshop.
I could leave it parked on the street in Manhattan and nobody would mess with it.
It wasn't brand-new, so I didn't feel like crying every time I dropped it or scratched it.

Some things have changed over the years:
Parts are no longer cheap.
Parts are sometimes hard to find.
I'm not so sure I could leave it parked in Manhattan anymore without people stealing parts off of it.
It is in much better shape now than it was when I bought it those many years ago.
After all the work I've put into it over the years, I'm a little more worried about dropping it.
Nowadays, it (almost) sounds cool to tell people I own a "classic bike", even if deep down in my heart she's still just my trusty old beater.

[tom8Toe]

For me it’s the exposed silver engine, wiring and all the shiny bits. I guess I find the girls more attractive with less clothing. I started on the ’72 BSA 750 Rocket3.

[DammitDan]

Is there really any contest?  New bikes may have style, but old bikes have soul.

Why choose Justin Timberlake when you can have Bill Withers?   

[UnCrash]

Because I like classic bikes, cars, and rock and roll.
Because I can't afford a new bike.
Because I like to tinker and do my own maintenance.
Because it is cheap enough to spend a lot of occasional money on.
Because I can make it my own.

[S-Dog]

Is there really any contest?  New bikes may have style, but old bikes have soul.

Why choose Justin Timberlake when you can have Bill Withers?   

Uhhhhhhhh... Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I fell into ownership(was friends) and have fallen in love with the bike.  Greta history and they just dont break.(much)

[mrblasty]

I got mine for song, it's easy to fix, and you cant beat the styling. Until I got married all of my cars were at least 35 years old.

[DammitDan]

Is there really any contest?  New bikes may have style, but old bikes have soul.

Why choose Justin Timberlake when you can have Bill Withers?   

Uhhhhhhhh... Different strokes for different folks I guess.

How about this one then...

Why choose Kenny Chesney when you can have Johnny Cash? 

[eldar]

None of the new bikes have the looks. You can put them side by side and without a nameplate you would never know which was which. Ok so a slight exaggeration there but you all get the idea.

I also got mine for free. It was beat up and in pretty rough shape. The PO liked to get trashed and lay it over, did this at least twice. Luckily it had a large crash bar to save most everything and also the vetter fairing took some of it.

In my area, there are very few to be found also so that adds to uniqueness.

[tramp]

cheap,reliable and fun
and if it crashes,go buy another one

[Ichiban 4]

Number one: I ride "classic" bike because it's what I rode @ time they were made..and I simply like the look, riding position and accessibility to working-on compared to more modern bikes [although if someone offered me a late model Gold Wing or ST 1300 @ great price I probably wouldn't turn down].

Other thing that kinda galls me about "modern bikes" is the prices.  How in the world one can justify paying $20 to $30K for a production bike..when we only paid half that years ago (adjusted for inflation)..escapes me..even if you have the bucks!  That's a reason the "nouveau riche" Harley, et al. riders seem sort of phony to me..i.e. just because they can plop down the big bucks..they then assume that they're "real" bikers..LOL!

Another thing I realize in following Forums, etc. on SOHC4 site..is that somehow those with used "classic" bikes seem actually more into the bikes themselves (what makes them run, handle, etc.).  That to me..has always been the hallmark of true biker (to know, learn about, love the machines themselves).  I really prefer the naked look..with all the engine, pipes and stuff out there to admire.

Am I being perhaps a bit too nostalgic?  Possibly..but then why are we into classic bikes anyway..if not to enjoy and admire.

Domo..Ichi

[purf_man]

I have both.....but love the looks of a classic bike.  I wish they still made the 750 nighthawk.  would be a kick ass bike with EFI from the factory, modern alloy spoked wheels, big honking brakes, modern clocks (I would be happy with classic lokoing ones with a small LCD status bar on the tach for things like air temp, clock or whatever)  and some modern suspension

have you seen the ducati classic line of bikes?  they are pretty sexy but pricey and all are liter motors...

[fuzzybutt]

biggest reason, it's all i can afford. BUT i like being able to work on a bike without having to use a large, expensive computer IE bmw's gt1, cheaper to buy parts for AND nobody around here has another bike like mine.

[jbailey]

When I was a kid back in the sixties, a friend of my Brother had a Triumph Bonneville.   I have always loved the style of those old British bikes, but not the "maintenance" that goes along with them.  I grew up and got my motorcycle license and bought a few (mostly Suzuki) bikes in the late seventies and early eighties.  My Son was born in 1985 and I sold my last bike and lived happily ever after.  Then when my son was about 18 he decided to get a motorcycle.  I drove the car around following him on his bike and decided I would see if I could find a used bike because following him in the car was no fun.  I looked all over for a "normal" motorcycle like I used to own since the new ones were all either crotch rockets or cruisers, neither of which intereseted me or looked comfortable at my now middle age!  After looking at twenty or so mostly pieces of junk, I found a 1975 550K for sale a few houses down the road from me.  It was older than what I was looking for, but only had 9,000 miles on it, ran great and the price was right at $600.  It had the old brit look, but the reliability of a Honda.  That was five years ago, and I still love the old "classic".  I have since then bought a 2005 Kawasaki Concours which is a great bike and much more comfortable.  I have done a couple of 2,000 to 3,000 mile per week rides on it.  But truth be told, the old Honda is still more "fun" to ride.  I will probably keep it until I am no longer able to ride.  Plus when I ride the Honda, nobody asks "Is that a BMW?", but I have had many comments about my cool old bike.

[Raul CB750K1]

It is a great conversation piece. When you tell your coworkers that you ride a bike older than you -I'm 36- you suddenly feel like they look at you from below, having suddenly risen above the average people that can't tell an allen from a torx bolt.

I got nothing against modern bikes. I would love to have a CBR600RR or a FireBlade, but having a 60% chances of it being stolen I rather stick to something cheaper and not as coveted. I don't think "classic" bikes have character or style, they are just obsolete pieces of engineering. If you are lucky enough to have something like a 70's Honda you have a bike that was ahead of his time so you have something pretty reliable by modern standars. I don't see that many 30's or 40's bikes being ridden not even in a daily basis, but just ridden to rallies. They are suppoused to have the "character" and "looks" of 70's bikes, but they couldn't compete with modern bikes. 70's bikes can compete with modern bikes and that's the only reason why they are still around.


Probably the main reason I like these old bikes is that only those who can mantain them can have them. No matter how much you like them, if you need to farm out every maintenance task on your bike you will end up buying a modern bike with less maintenance, not just for saving money but for reducing the days off because the bike is on the shop. The only ones who can ride a "classic" bike with absolute peace of mind are those who fix them, can set the ignition timing with the eyes closed, and can tell what's wrong just by listening to the engine sounds. Those who have a classic bike but doesn't know how it works will always ride uneasy, fearing something "horrible" will happen and will get stranded on the side of the road.


Owning a classic bike is usually not money-wise. And that's maybe the biggest appeal in my opinion. You can enjoy any modern bike if you have the money. You can buy a FireBlade anytime, and ride the hell out of it. You can buy a sandcast if you have the dough, but to enjoy it you need to know how to mantain it, and that can't be bought, you have to put time to learn and practice it.

They say that the beauty of a marathon -I plan to try it in late April- is that you can't buy it. You can finish it only if you have worked your way to it by training. And that's pretty much what happens with these bikes: you can only enjoy them if you have worked your way by learning how it works and how to fix it. In these days we tend to farm out every single task that seems boring, from bringing the shopping home to mowing the lawn and, obviously, to service the bikes. There are some things you have to do by yourself if you want to be sure they are well done.

[pddpimp]

Because I like the looks.
You don't find basic styling anymore.
Hell, it's hard to find chrome on a new Japanese sport bike these days.
The price is a bonus.
Plus, nothing feels more rewarding than riding a bike you built instead of bought.
I just like old stuff.
My house is a 1945 model.
I drive a 1971 Dodge Dart everyday.
I don't really own anything new.
All in all, old bikes are just plain cool. 

[LoopsAndLogic]

Because I'm 19 and I don't want the bike payments.
 The price of a new bike is ridicules considering I would only be driving to work (occasionally) and on the weekends (mostly).

I don't need the mechanics that do the prep work, taking my bike to redline just before I take her home.
 And seeing that just about everyone that I know thinks I look funny driving 2 CB400F's and being 6' tall, 150lbs, makes me
feel happy

I could keep going on and on, but I will end with this......I love classic bikes and I hope to own even older bikes when I'm 25

Cheers!

-LL

P.S. And because I made a deal with my father to never own a Sportbike or one that is racy just so that I could have my
motorcycle license when I turned 15 and a half

[Soos]

The initial cost, The fact I can FIX nearly EVERYTHING on the bike.

Even after sinking a pile-o-money at them, to get a runner that is reliable you might have to spend 2000 total.
And thats if you replace a lot of stuff, and paid for a runner to begin with.
If you're lucky, under 1000.


And with the SOHC4 forums what I cannot figure out people are not only able, but willing to freely help you fix your problems.

l8r

[jsaab2748]

Because if you're willing to spend what it takes and you have the desire, you can restore one to almost new condition and have spent about the same amount as you would've on a new 80 c.c. scooter. This is providing of course that you do most of it yourself. I use that comparison to justify all the money I've spent on both my bikes and haven't been sorry. I'd also use that comparison to justify a selling price if I ever wanted to sell them. Besides, what else looks, sounds,
and drives like one? Pretty unique, and they look GOOD too.

[cb650]

Because I like classic bikes, cars, and rock and roll.
Because I can't afford a new bike.
Because I like to tinker and do my own maintenance.
Because it is cheap enough to spend a lot of occasional money on.
Because I can make it my own.

All of those plus I bought my first one from my dad who bought it new the year before.   



                   Terry

[mickey]

I really enjoy riding my K0 on weekends but, I prefer classic bikes for a few reasons:

If a fuse burns, it's just one, if the battery dies , I can use the kick start, if my clutch cable breaks, I can still  kick start, give a little push, put in second gear and go home.
If you still have the original tools under the seat, you can fix any simple mechanical problem or even fix a flat tire.
My other bike is a ST1300, so I carry a tow phone's number.
Need I say more?

peace, grease and polish

Mickey

 

[DarkRider]

Soul...character...and the simple fact that its much more affordable and far easier to make something such as a CB into YOUR bike...not some poser wanna be with a cookie cutter bike (aka most harley owners). I have no issues with modern sport bikes and even have a couple early sport machines (my Interceptors) but time and time again i know once i get my 550 all back together im gonna enjoy riding it just because along the way i evolved it into what i feel would be the ideal classic for myself and no one else.