[mikeyg]

Well said. I'm gonna have to look alot harder when I get to buy one. Even if I have to drive a ways to get it. It sounds like they're definitely out there. Like I said earlier I kinda had a kink in my plans. So hopefully this time next year. Would love for it to be sooner but who knows. I've decided I would really like To get an old iron head. Lol horrible reason but I just got done reading a build thread on an ironhead. To be completely honest I haven't studied up enough on the different years to know what's best. But from what I have read you ask ten people what motor is the best and your liable to get ten different answers. Haha. Will definitely have to find one that runs and shifts mechanically I'm clueless. But I work in a body shop so as far as cutting and welding and painting I have some experience not on motorcycles mind you. But I really enjoy fabricating so it'll be fun.

 

[Lowpunk]

I was actually in your exact same spot a few years ago. I really wanted a bike but i can't leave anything alone so i kinda wanted a "project" too. I just couldn't wait a year or more to get a HD or Brit so just started looking for a used jap bike and picked up a xs400 for $200. Needed a bunch of work but thats what i wanted and learned an amazing amount in the process not only about jap bikes but all bikes since i used just about everything on this thing. Sorry for the pics and i'll delete them if the admins would like. All this being said, this in on the street and i'm riding the shit out of it when i can but just picked up a few BSAs and am finally building the brit bike i always wanted but just could wait for, but am still riding this.

before-

 

[Bodyworx]

I agree with Shovithead. There are places to cut corners and places to NOT. If you are not a good negotiator, go see a bike make sure you want it and pass on it. Call a friend or family member that IS a good negotiator and have them go buy it if you have to. Dont bring a friend or uncle with you. I always get pissed when some guy makes a field trip to my house with all his douchebag buddies that have more opinions than common sense. Some people are just not good at the $$$ part.
Brit bikes have become trendy over the last ten years IMO and the prices have gone up BUT .... you can find good deals but you cant find them where EVERYONE else finds them. Ask around, put up ads etc. If you use eBay or Craigslist you will likely pay a premium because you have a lot of competition. Thats what online is about. Marketing to as many customers as possible. You can get a good deal online but you have to know how to haggle. Maybe you can trade something too. I've done it many times. I have _______ for partial trade for a running, titled motorcycle. Beat a path to what you want. If you like Brits or Harleys .... great but be honest about WHY you want what you want. If you just wanna RIDE and feel the wind it doesn't matter how cool you are or not. Get it?

 

[Big John 13]

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.

Here's you answer if you ask me...now for the humanity of it all will somebody please close this thread before we see pictures of Mitsubishi Tribute Bikes popping up

 

[panhead_pete]

If I can buy cheap bikes and get them shipped from places like PA and MN to Australia without leaving my desk it should be relatively easy for anyone to score a cheap bike when you are in the US.

 

[mikeyg]

Ive made up my mind!!! I'm saving up now. Plan is to find a 70's or early 80's ironhead sportster. Would love to be able to have it by this time next year hopefully sooner we'll see. Just depends on how fast I can get my money saved and what I can find to sell. I have seen a few out there for around 1500 so that will make it alot easier to get one sooner.

 

[Dr mac]

Buy a jap . And ride the wheels off of it . Save for a shovel or a triumph .

Better yet ride the Jap . And then buy a hinkley engine off of ebay.
Nice trouble free engines. Build the trumph engine into a nice bobber ( frames are easy to find ).
Then save for a shovel or a indian . You can never have to many bikes. Just get back on two wheels.

 

[flypa38]

No offense, but just above your post, the guy said he made up his mind.....SIX MONTHS AGO!

 

[taxman]

deleted

 

[Loffer]

But we don't want him to make that mistake of that decision he made. Ending up with a POS that will drain his wallet and leave him frustrated ( ironhead).Get a jap and ride it save for the bike you want.

 

[taxman]

whoops

right

shoulda read the thread

my bad

 

[ole redeye]

I have a sporty torn down I would part with for 1400, running last year. Was going to redo but got pulled other places.
1971 bored .05 over top was redone 2 seasons ago.
shifts good clutch good, will need a new kicker gear (50 bux)

 

[Charles]

No offense, but just above your post, the guy said he made up his mind.....SIX MONTHS AGO!

Curious if he ever bought a bike or is he still sitting around, missing out on riding while saving.

 

[AndrewC]

go with a harley they aren't as much money as people are lead to believe take your time look for a deal go to alot of swap meets remember its a buyers market right now not a sellers

I agree! you can pickup an old shovel donor bike anywhere between 4 to 6k, just spoke to FabKevin a couple of weeks ago and he let one go (or had a line on one) for $3200.00. I say HD but just my .02.