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  1. Rat/Bobber/Chop 
    #1
    Aidbox
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    Just wondered if anyone could advise on a good starter project for someone with very limited electrical and mechanical skills, but a relatively practical person and a good learner.

    I want to find a bike that's not to complicated to chop/customise as a first project. Engine size not really an issue, just something that's relatively straightforward with a bit of research etc.

    Any ideas appreciated.
     
     

  2.  
    #2
    Chatterbox Jon_W's Avatar
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    I would recommend a 70's or early 80s bike with a steel frame an old fashioned engine.

    Old Yamaha and Suzuki singles and twins are good as a very simple engines. Check out what House has posted on this forum.
    "there's no aspect, no facet, no moment in life that can't be improved with pizza"

     
     

  3.  
    #3
    Aidbox
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jon_W View Post
    I would recommend a 70's or early 80s bike with a steel frame an old fashioned engine.

    Old Yamaha and Suzuki singles and twins are good as a very simple engines. Check out what House has posted on this forum.
    I have been looking at his stuff but he seems to have a lot of engineering skills.

    Everything 70's and 80's seems to be fetching top dollar. The safest thing for me is something that doesn't need a complete engine rebuild for a first project. I'll keep trawling gumtree and ebay
     
     

  4.  
    #4
    Diamond Member DC's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Aidbox View Post
    Just wondered if anyone could advise on a good starter project for someone with very limited electrical and mechanical skills, but a relatively practical person and a good learner.

    I want to find a bike that's not to complicated to chop/customise as a first project. Engine size not really an issue, just something that's relatively straightforward with a bit of research etc.

    Any ideas appreciated.
    Check out johnnycactus0 , he does a nice job on a Yamaha SR250 . Ive posted the links for his 1st and last videos for the build and he covered and filmed everything in between .

    First look at the bike .........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyw1KB9keYE

    Build complete............https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcccuuXyJkc
     
     

  5.  
    #5
    Aidbox
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    Quote Originally Posted by Daddy Cool View Post
    Check out johnnycactus0 , he does a nice job on a Yamaha SR250 . Ive posted the links for his 1st and last videos for the build and he covered and filmed everything in between .

    First look at the bike .........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyw1KB9keYE

    Build complete............https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcccuuXyJkc
    Brilliant, that's the sort of thing I wanted to do. Thanks for posting that.

    Just seen this on Gumtree and wondered if it might be any good.... https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-...irs/1161009895

    Or this.... http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...640880&alt=web
    Last edited by Aidbox; 30-03-16 at 12:38 PM.
     
     

  6.  
    #6
    Diamond Member DC's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Aidbox View Post
    Brilliant, that's the sort of thing I wanted to do. Thanks for posting that.

    Just seen this on Gumtree and wondered if it might be any good.... https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-...irs/1161009895


    Here's a nice example

    The guy in the Gumtree ad says he's not sure if the bike runs. If I was undertaking a first project like this , I would want a runner and wouldn't want the project complicated with engine " Foibles " maybe as a first project , a purely aesthetic strip down and conversion would be less overwhelming .
     
     

  7.  
    #7
    Aidbox
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    Quote Originally Posted by Daddy Cool View Post


    Here's a nice example

    The guy in the Gumtree ad says he's not sure if the bike runs. If I was undertaking a first project like this , I would want a runner and wouldn't want the project complicated with engine " Foibles " maybe as a first project , a purely aesthetic strip down and conversion would be less overwhelming .
    Yeah, I think an engine rebuild is a bit much for a first project. The CBX wasn't that cheap considering it's a potential non runner.

    The one thing I do have in my favour is that my sisters partner does rebuild 50's Harley's and the odd Norton up in Warwickshire, so he knows his stuff, although he says he knows nothing about modern or Japanese bikes
     
     

  8.  
    #8
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    do you know the history of CX500's?, best not go there due to their history.

    rebuilding Harleys!! https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-...000/1160502462
    the motor turned over when I had it rewired, but lost the interest and time.

    there was a running bandit 6 recently for £600 that wanted tlc, tidied up they would still get over £1000
     
     

  9.  
    #9
    Aidbox
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    Quote Originally Posted by wheelers View Post
    do you know the history of CX500's?, best not go there due to their history.

    rebuilding Harleys!! https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-...000/1160502462
    the motor turned over when I had it rewired, but lost the interest and time.

    there was a running bandit 6 recently for £600 that wanted tlc, tidied up they would still get over £1000
    He's more 50's Panhead's and Shovelhead's, and tends to import from the states.

    I don't want to taking on something too complex as I have limited time, very limited space and extremely limited knowledge or experience !

    What are the YX Yamaha's like? Not seen many of them.
    Last edited by Aidbox; 30-03-16 at 05:24 PM.
     
     

  10.  
    #10
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    YX's were only around for 4 years so chassis parts may be hard to find, the motor on the other hand is a de-tuned fz600, which could actually beat the fz up to 4th gear.
    the 'radian' was probably brought out to fill a gap in the market as a cheaper alternative to the race rep FZ , being cheaper to make with drum brake rear and no fairing. Ive not heard of any problems but was probably a 550 bored out so not that over big to make un reliable. the YX dropped out of favour when race reps became desirable also around the time when 400cc grey imports were coming in by the container full being a cheaper option for the race rep speed merchants.

    most of my formative youth spent in Sutton Benger , Seagry and living in Christian Malford. Bikes were a necessity.
    Last edited by wheelers; 30-03-16 at 06:37 PM.
     
     

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