Just did some checking in Mo. for bikes on CL. There is alot. And cheap.
start with cheap jap or holdout for brit or harley
i dont really know if this will get a response or not. or if it will be a good response. i might just get told to go to hell. my basic question is this, im planning on building my first bike. i hate to give it a label but it will basically be a bobber. rigid frame solo seat. springer forks. nothin extra just pretty much bare bones. now ive seen some good looking jap bikes that were basically the style i want to build. im more into the triumphs and sportsters. the problem is like everyone else im short on cash. and a guy can get a honda for less than half the price of a trump. i guess im just second guessing myself on justifying buying a jap bike just to have one a lot sooner. im pretty new to all this but im assuming i can get some parts cheaper and easier for hondas. and i think the aftermarket is pretty strong for them. things like the rigid back frame. and bars and stuff like that. any opinions and advice welcome... even if you just tell me to go to hell haha
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thanks ill have to look it up.
If you've been riding dirt with Japanese bikes for a while, I'm going to guess you've got a lot of metric tools and import parts that might be of use when chopping a Japanese bike. Not that you can't get a bunch of SAE taps/dies/sockets etc at Harbor Freight cheap, if you've already got the tools and possibly parts to chop a Japanese bike, why not start there?
If you get a Japanese bike, you'll need 2 things:
1. An electrical degree
2. A specialized degree in carburetor rebuilding
Get a pile of money ready and tell everyone you know(and people you don't) that you're looking for a bike. Sooner or later the bike you want at the price you like will show up, especially when it get closer to Xmas.
1. An electrical degree
2. A specialized degree in carburetor rebuilding
Get a pile of money ready and tell everyone you know(and people you don't) that you're looking for a bike. Sooner or later the bike you want at the price you like will show up, especially when it get closer to Xmas.
Some of the older KZ, LTD, Z1R Kaws bring more money than 70's vintage superglides! Seems HD is the more economical route these days!
First off, this is primarily a Harley/Euro forum, so you're not going to get too many people telling you to get a Jap bike. Think of the audience here.
Now, I own a late model Sporty that I hardtailed and I just picked up an older Yamaha XS400 for $350 bucks, so I can see things from both sides. My Sporty is EFI, so I specifically wanted an older bike so I could learn about carbs and such. I yanked the Mikunis off, cleaned them up, replaced the slide gaskets, got new plugs/boots, verified the timing, etc and got her running. I basically spent ~100 in addition to the price of the bike. Granted, there are a few things I need to fix, but she runs and I've been riding her around a lot...for under $500 bucks...and this is from a guy who had never held a carburetor.
My advice...get a cheap Jap bike, ride around, get the rust off, save up while you're actually on the road riding, sell the Jap bike (can probably get all your money back, maybe even get more) buy a Harley. It might take you a month longer, but in the mean time you're riding. I'll be the first to admit that the sound of my Sporty gives me goodbumps, but that little XS is lots of fun to toss around.
Oh, when you are searching, try using Crazedlist.org. It's basically a Craigslist compiler and allows you to search multiple areas at once. Used it a lot when I was looking for the Yammy.
Now, I own a late model Sporty that I hardtailed and I just picked up an older Yamaha XS400 for $350 bucks, so I can see things from both sides. My Sporty is EFI, so I specifically wanted an older bike so I could learn about carbs and such. I yanked the Mikunis off, cleaned them up, replaced the slide gaskets, got new plugs/boots, verified the timing, etc and got her running. I basically spent ~100 in addition to the price of the bike. Granted, there are a few things I need to fix, but she runs and I've been riding her around a lot...for under $500 bucks...and this is from a guy who had never held a carburetor.
My advice...get a cheap Jap bike, ride around, get the rust off, save up while you're actually on the road riding, sell the Jap bike (can probably get all your money back, maybe even get more) buy a Harley. It might take you a month longer, but in the mean time you're riding. I'll be the first to admit that the sound of my Sporty gives me goodbumps, but that little XS is lots of fun to toss around.
Oh, when you are searching, try using Crazedlist.org. It's basically a Craigslist compiler and allows you to search multiple areas at once. Used it a lot when I was looking for the Yammy.
...you say you want a stylish badass bobber...well, you can obtain badass with HD, Brit or jap...but you cannot obtain such style with those jap bikes.
-If you want reliability with brits and somewhat cheap, go with late Triumphs 750cc, like 79 ones
-If you want reliability with brits and somewhat cheap, go with late Triumphs 750cc, like 79 ones
Do what YOU really want. If it takes longer then it takes longer. You're the one that has to live with it.
-Chris
-Chris
The electrical system on a jap bike is no diff than anything else and def not problematic.If you get a Japanese bike, you'll need 2 things:
1. An electrical degree
2. A specialized degree in carburetor rebuilding
Get a pile of money ready and tell everyone you know(and people you don't) that you're looking for a bike. Sooner or later the bike you want at the price you like will show up, especially when it get closer to Xmas.
Carbs are carbs. If you can rebuild one you can rebuild them all. It isn't rocket science. Tuning four carbs on the other hand isn't very fun but still not very difficult.
-Chris
If your starting a thread because you don't know which bike you want to buy, I'm going to imagine that you have limited experience with motorcycles. Sorry, but that's my assumption, which also leads me to try to tell the poster that some of the Japanese bikes have more wiring than the Space Shuttle and you WILL be rebuilding the carbs. That's a warning to the poster about what's coming. If you have experience with electrical and carbs then it's no big deal. If you don't have the experience, it's a HUGE deal. That's my point. I'm not gonna say, "Hey man, you can do everything so buy something cheap." Figure out what you want and know your limitations.The electrical system on a jap bike is no diff than anything else and def not problematic.
Carbs are carbs. If you can rebuild one you can rebuild them all. It isn't rocket science. Tuning four carbs on the other hand isn't very fun but still not very difficult.
-Chris
It really depends. If you buy an older Jap bike (70's), you'll be dealing with points and a basic harness. I'd imagine it would be about the same as an Ironhead. Same deal with the carbs. With any bike that's been sitting, it's best to clean up the carbs. Like I mentioned before, I had never held a carb, but I was able to read up and tear mine down, get them back together and get them on the bike. She runs great. Which is another argument for getting something cheap. It's a good chance to learn. If you screw something up, it's an inexpensive lesson.
Besides, didn't the guy say he grew up riding dirt bikes? I think he might know a thing or two.
Besides, didn't the guy say he grew up riding dirt bikes? I think he might know a thing or two.
Opened a can of worms here didn't you? 
Anyhow, ditto on Jonnybravo's comment...it's a kind of silly question to ask on this forum. Check out some of the Jap bike forums like XS650.com before you make a final decision. Personally, I don't really give a hoot what you ride, make model, displacement means nothing to me, all that really matters is that you ride/ wrench and enjoy it.
Anyhow, ditto on Jonnybravo's comment...it's a kind of silly question to ask on this forum. Check out some of the Jap bike forums like XS650.com before you make a final decision. Personally, I don't really give a hoot what you ride, make model, displacement means nothing to me, all that really matters is that you ride/ wrench and enjoy it.
Haha guess I had that coming on this site asking about Jap bikes. I think i kinda already knew the answer to my question just took a lot of others opinions and input to make me realize it. for the record I've decided to hold out save up and get a Harley. Would like to get an old iron head but i really dont care much what year. I do know i dont want efi ill stick with carbs. Had a bit of a set back yesterday so now its looking like hopefully this time next year. Really sucks to have to wait that long but some things are just out of my hands. Thanks everyone for your comments
After 20 years of riding and wrenching, I get this sort of question a lot. Based on my experience my answer is always: Get your dream bike and never look back.
Personally, I've owned and maintained Harley's for less $$$ than any other brand. Anything is attainable, just set a budget, save your nickles and it'll happen.
Personally, I've owned and maintained Harley's for less $$$ than any other brand. Anything is attainable, just set a budget, save your nickles and it'll happen.
it all comes down to personal preference, jap bikes are cheap initially but most chop parts have to be made from scratch. they make nice looking bikes but most of them still have that high pitched wine (no offense to anyone with a jap bike) that i don't like. british bikes have a nice sound an lots of torque but on the triumphs you have to be careful with the dreaded sludge trap and they don't have as big of a motor as the HD's but they are lighter. HD's are everywhere so you won't have a problem finding one or parts for it, it just comes down to finding the right one that fits your taste and your vision but you'll pay extra for the HD brand parts(but that's easy to avoid) so choose wisely and don't forget to start a build thread when you get it
And this is where I differ. For me, it boils down to being on a bike...period. I'd rather be actually riding while waiting a couple months more to get that dream bike, than watching everyone else riding while I'm sitting around for a year saving up for "cool".Haha guess I had that coming on this site asking about Jap bikes. I think i kinda already knew the answer to my question just took a lot of others opinions and input to make me realize it. for the record I've decided to hold out save up and get a Harley. Would like to get an old iron head but i really dont care much what year. I do know i dont want efi ill stick with carbs. Had a bit of a set back yesterday so now its looking like hopefully this time next year. Really sucks to have to wait that long but some things are just out of my hands. Thanks everyone for your comments
Right now there's a 77 XS400 for $400 in Springfield that supposedly runs. Good luck finding a Sporty that runs for that cheap. Offer $300, and get on the road.
It is hard to believe, that in todays market, that all the sportsters and brits you see, are that expensive. Now, I know, that we are in two different areas, but I pick up running sportsters all the time, for 1000 to 1500 dollars, and usually all they need is TLC. You may need to get one that is ugly as hell, but ugly is easily fixed. But the motor needs to run and the transmission needs to have 4 working gears. With this, half your work is done. Quick paint, comes in a rattle can, until you can afford to spend money on removing rusty parts and paint. If you get your money in hand, and find one for more than you have, make a "best offer". These days, people are willing to let you dicker some, to get the cash you DO have. The most important thing to remember, is get one WITH a TITLE. Or your problems could just be starting. Places to check vin's online, so that will keep you from picking up a stolen one. Which is not necessary, if you get a current title, in the sellers name. One last thing. Ten years from now, if you build a jap bike, it will never return your investment. Ten years from now, in most cases, you will be able to recover almost all, if not even more, than you invested. Remember to deduct a little for all the fun you have and the pride of riding a American made mc.
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