Old Japanese Bikes Worth Buying

5 of the best older Japanese motorcycles suitable as a 2nd bike, a beginners bike or a work horse.

[@84gssteve]

GS500 and EX500 were my bread and butter when I was flipping bikes for extra cash. I turned so many over the years that I had enough spare parts to build/sell entire new bikes! Easy money and a cinch to sell. The VX800 I snagged was a damn good bike and was from an era when Suzuki took risks and made unique bikes that maybe nobody asked for......even if they were just parts bin specials, I miss the old VX800, GS1100G and GSF400's.

[@motorcyclecafe]

My mate currently has a VX800 in his collection, he absolutely loves it.

[@brakenoodle105]

The CX Plastic Maggot became the 'go to' bike for motorcycle couriers here in the UK, London had loads about.

[@uhtred7860]

Yep, I was one of them😆 mine was a CX650E.

[@jamesvandemark2086]

Had a GL500 Silverwing- a perfect road bike!

[@freeman10000]

The CX500 is one of the most pleasant bikes I have ever ridden.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I had a great CX500Deluxe for 10 years and 250,000 miles on it.I miss her 😢.

[@motorcyclecafe]

wow, that's a lot of miles but it doesn't surprise me really. Like any bike regular maintenance is the key.

[@uhtred7860]

Did a working holiday in the UK in the late 80s and early 90s, got a job as a despatch rider/motorcycle courier, during the heyday of the profession, there were 1000s of us tearing around London and other cities. The main bike used was the CX Honda. At first i rented a crappy CB250N🤮but soon bought my own CX, a 650E, thing never once let me down, despite getting thrashed its whole life (i bought it off another courier who bought it off the original owner..a courier😀) Other commonly used bikes were GT550/750 Kawasaki's and GPZ500 Kawasakis (they were cheap) VT500 Hondas were starting to replace the ageing CX500 fleet, but were never as good.

[@nonyabiz9487]

Ive got all Hs right now... All Hondas and Harleys. Ive got an 1980 CX 500 C and its an amazing bike but the most fun bike I have is my little CB 250 that used to be my flat track bike turned into a street bike.

[@davidrochow9382]

I'd like to add another one to the list. The Yamaha XJ 900 Diversion. Well known for getting over 400,000 klms out of an engine. A very under-priced and underrated bike.

[@motorcyclecafe]

One of my mates had one of those, I could add many bikes to the list really.

[@davidbrayshaw3529]

Any of the "XJ's" were excellent motorcycles. Arguably, they beat BMW at their own game. The 650 and 750 were almost unbeatable around town and, despite the shaft drive, rode better than the competition from Honda and Kawasaki, back in the day.

[@uhtred7860]

I wouldn't mind a nice comfy first gen XJ900, the 853cc version. I'm almost positive we got a naked version as an option, with a big round headlight instead of the handlebar mounted bikini fairing. Anyone from NZ/Australia remember a naked one?

[@MrBenHaynes]

An Uncle had one as a rider training bike. I took it for a blat up Mt. Tamborine from Brisbane. It was so bland, I almost fell asleep riding it!

[@richardhall6034]

Hi from the UK 👋 🇬🇧 the good old cx 500 the dispatch rider's choice then the vt 500

[@davegoldspink5354]

Great list thanks for sharing. As someone who has not only been around bikes a very long time I’ll always be a fan of Japanese bikes and your list is a great one. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@motorcyclecafe]

Thanks buddy!

[@carlarthur4442]

Great video thanks 😊

[@motorcyclecafe]

glad you liked it buddy!

[@paulsmyth497]

Nice one mate. I have an immaculate 1982 CX500. My Best Man had one in 1979, and we went all over on it, so I knew what I had to do when a guddun popped up 👍

[@motorcyclecafe]

'82 model. probably the best one to have I reckon. She's a keeper buddy!

[@paulsmyth497]

For sure mate. I'll never sell - that is guaranteed@@motorcyclecafe

[@tindog999]

I have a 96 Suzuki RF 900. It's done 48.000 Miles and has never let me down.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Most of those old Suzukis are pretty bullet proof. I remember that bike very well.

[@panoskos5507]

The incredible Honda VFR750...

[@petersteen4014]

I bought a 2008 GS500F -in the same livery as depicted here - in Cambodia, with 126 miles on the clock. It was a Spanish-manufactured model made for the American market! I loved it and I racked up 8000 miles on it before selling it to a mate. It never let me down and I agree with everything you say about it - including the dreaded shims, which I had done by two amazing Brit's. They also recommended a Hagon progressive springs update for the forks, and that item transformed it utterly. BTW, everything you recommend, I've ridden or owned!

[@motorcyclecafe]

thanks for taking the time to give me some feedback buddy

[@uhtred7860]

Kawasaki actually used to say "Half a GPZ1000RX engine" in their ad's for the GPZ500, when they came out in 87.🤣

[@oldieman730]

CX500 Honda.. I knew guys who loaded them up and travelled, guys who cafe racer'd them, guys riding them as daily's, and some of us were lucky enough to own the Turbo version. I removed the turbo's ugly decals and repainted mine black with gold pinstripes coz I hated the stock graphics. Best multi-purpose bike I ever owned.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Yes buddy, i dont doubt the turbo ones were great bikes.

[@WOLFIE-96B-UK]

Had 3 plastic maggots and a vx800 over the years. Excellent bikes! Also worth a mention is the Yamaha XJ900F. 🇬🇧

[@motorcyclecafe]

Those Yamaha XJ motors are pretty much bullet proof. A very good bike indeed.

[@paulcooper5610]

Had a couple of cx500's back in the late 70's early 80's and as they never let me down I still have one today. Cheap to run and maintain and still goes well enough for modern traffic. Really comfortable to ride all day long and as a 45yr old bike it's also very cheap to buy. I've also owed a Suzuki 800 volusia which was the cruiser version of the VX800, again totally reliable and I actually sold it for more than I paid for it having owned it for a few years and a few thousand miles, not many bikes you can say that about. I guess I just seem to love shaft drive v twins as my other current bike along with my cx500 is a Moto Guzzi Bellagio. I guess the conclusion from my experience and your video would be that somewhere between 50 and 75 bhp is sufficient to have a wonderful motorcycle, no need to be looking at 100+ bhp machines and if you don't follow the market trend towards overpriced 2 strokes then there are some fantastic bargain motorcycles to be found.

[@anarchopx5379]

I loved the CX’s having owned a 500 and a 650. Being a courier in London there were a lot of them about mainly because of the easy maintenance. I was having a cup of tea in between jobs and got talking to another courier and he happened to say he never washes his bike, he just paints over it. Everything with hammerite. Something that was soon adopted by yours truly. The 650 was a slightly more refined ride, it didn’t seem to tire me out as much as the 500. Guys who I knew though swore by their 500s regularly boasting that they done over 400k miles with out any major surgery. Mine was declared deceased after a particularly nasty accident which got me the money for the 650. I also had a GPZ750turbo, I had done my research and all the press had said the other manufactures attempts were rubbish and the Kawasaki was the less rubbish one. That’s why I didn’t get the CX turbo. I wish in retrospect I’d of bought something else but the Kawasaki did make me chuckle a lot. One monstrosity that I would steer well clear of is the Honda VT, especially the 500. I’d willing have my early GS750 in a Spondon frame, which reminds me Harris did a frame for the turboed. There’s a whole story attached to that. Keep it upright!

[@motorcyclecafe]

A very interesting read buddy. I've never ridden the 650 myself but I suspected it may have been a tad better. Cheers.

[@adamnichol6761]

Cool vid. There's a lot to like about the XT, and not much on the contemporary market that fills the same brief. I was given a GS500 as a loan bike once when my GSX600F was in the shop (tyre if I remember rightly). The twin engine was a bit of a change - despite my prior bike having been a GPX250R - but I found the seat like a rock; perhaps it was just the slightly more upright riding position though, as so many folks did big miles on them (but maybe not in long stints??) 'Customised' CX500s with brown leather seats are now a hipster go-to in the UK

[@motorcyclecafe]

Thanks! Yes the CX's are a real favourite in the custom bike world. I think it's mainly due to the cool looking engine. There's nothing special about the GS 500's but they are a solid reliable bike.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

The GS 500 has one thing against it. It’s rather cheap made and the paint on the frame is an issue the owner needs to be observant at. They rust easily. But a bullet proof engine and very good value for your money.

[@motorcyclecafe]

I agree! It is a pretty cheaply made bike but still basically solid.

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

My uncle had the CX 650, I took it for a test drive, just a quick 20 mile loop and I have to say it was pretty good for city-suburb travel. I just couldn’t get past the side to side vibration shake.

[@motorcyclecafe]

I love the way v twins shake myself. Its like riding a living animal. But everyone is different.

[@uhtred7860]

I just sold my old CX650E, they shouldn't shake at all at idle, as, unlike the Guzzis, Honda reduced the torque reaction (side to side shake) to almost nothing by counter rotating the transmission to the frontal clutch and then putting the drive back to the gearbox.

[@rickconstant6106]

I'm in the south of England, and when I wanted a cheap, second bike for all year round use the CX was on the short list, but in the end a 1980 GS550 came up and, although it has more cylinders than I would have liked, the simplicity of air-cooling and basic slide carbs tipped the scale. Over here, it's an advantage to have a bike over 40 years old, because you don't pay for annual road tax or MOT tests (saving me over £250 on my 2 bikes). The size and seating position also restrict my choice a bit - I'm 6' 3" (1.90m) with joints which aren't as flexible as they used to be, so compact sports bikes are out of the question.

[@RT22-pb2pp]

the ex500 ninja twin 500 was great basic bullet proof bike that can be had cheap in good low mileage condition. No road burner but swift enough light thin agile in traffic and looks pretty cool to boot. Seen one that guy took tail off newer ninja and made onto the 500 cleaned up tail nice was solo seat. he also found wrecked 2 into one header can crushed got head pipe put ion brushed alum super trapp tip, you can tune with removable plates bit back in late 80s early 90s had on my 85 600, I hate twin sounds but with just a few plates you can tune sound a touch louder than stock but no noise making crap like most, sounded okay for twin. He lightened it by removed a bunch of useless junk only kept what he needed to be legal i rode it was nice lighter than stock so a bit faster.

[@MrBenHaynes]

I liked the KLE500 as a more versatile version of the GPZ5

[@TRyanLearnBikes]

Always impressed with your content and equaly impressed with your editing .There are so many small details you add that put your content to the next level . All of your videos are excellent .

[@motorcyclecafe]

Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to give me such great feedback. Makes putting up with the haters (and there are plenty of them) a bit easier. You made my day!

[@jeremyharris5102]

Totally agree!! So much interesting information. Love the accent and the turn of phrase that can only come from down under 😊. Ps, I don't understand people who watch a video, that they don't like, right to the end and then go to the trouble of leaving a hateful comment. Sad people

[@motorcyclecafe]

@@jeremyharris5102 thank you buddy. I truly appreciate your comment. I even had one bloke tell me my accent was "disgusting" its pretty hard to deal with at first but it becomes like water off a ducks back eventually. Ride safe!

[@jeremyharris5102]

I think you have to be quite brave to bare your soul on the internet, available to all and sundry. There is always that tiny little minority that just want to spoil someone 's day. Keep it up, you are one of my favourite channels 👍😀

[@TRyanLearnBikes]

@@motorcyclecafe Yes ,its an interesting mix of personalities out there . The ability to shed the negative is defininitly an asset .

[@timhicks2154]

I still have a Moto Guzzi V50 3. Now with a 750 Targa engine installed. Some similarities for sure to the CX500. Pushrod-operated valves. Shaft drive. However, it’s lower revving, with more torque and less weight. And a fair bit smaller.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Guzzi's are one of my personal favourites. I've owned 3 different models, all fantastic machines.

[@timhicks2154]

@@motorcyclecafe - I’ve got 4 at the moment. Monza, Cali3, 1979 LeMans 2 and a 1982 Spada.

[@rover100bunson]

having loved my gs400, gone through s9me larger bikes, im back to an RE gt650 middleweights are the best bikez

[@motorcyclecafe]

Yes a good bike is not just about horsepower.

[@carlosgooglemaps94]

Very interesting and informative video, I own a CX500 btw

[@motorcyclecafe]

Thanks buddy

[@BanjoLuke1]

Maggot was a despatch legend that I confess I didn't quite get. The GPz500 was a marvel. Snobbery made people go for bigger cubes, but the 500 twin was very swift, ridden solo. If people rode to rode, not just to be seen, the GPz500 would have sold much better.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Yes the GPZ was enough bike in reality for any solo rider.

[@ericromeiro6688]

My 1983 Yamaha XJ Seca 650 Turbo silver with 4,000 miles is still running 👍

[@georgejameson9317]

The 650 Seca was a very nice all around bike even with the shaft drive.

[@my50bike]

Hi this looks amazing - I am off to Japan in April and would like to go see this store. Where is it located?

[@motorcyclecafe]

Not a store buddy just a KZbin Channel.

[@darryljames9395]

Have to but in and say the turbo (had 2 and 3 others) is just as reliable as the any other CX, only one I ever had a issue with was a EC cam chain.

[@JonathanBays]

Really loved my old CX500EC Sports. Had way better brakes, the updated auto cam chain tensioner and was loads less fuss Maintenace than any other bike I had. Lovely torquey and revy engine with great sound. Big tank and good for touring one up went out to Dubbo and back o bourke very comfortably on it. on Sadly got rid of it because it was too slow but hey what do you know at 25?

[@motorcyclecafe]

We've all sold bikes we regretted I reckon. The CX might not have been outstanding at anything but it was solid at every thing.

[@uhtred7860]

I sold my CX650E because it needed an engine rebuild, it had gone around the clock TWICE! and although it was still running and rideable, it would smoke on startup and you could hear piston slap from the worn bores. The trouble is engine parts, they are just not available from any of the specialist suppliers (Honda stopped supplying them years ago) I contacted a few of the big names in Honda parts and they all said the same thing, "You can't get bearings, or pistons anymore for this model" Ebay might have come to the rescue, but with other bikes on the go, the CX got sold to someone who could use it for parts, as the rest of it was all original, in very good condition.

[@JonathanBays]

@@uhtred7860 There is always one final straw for old cars and bikes that makes you move on.

[@MrBenHaynes]

I owned a Moto Guzzi Breva 750 akin to a modern FI version of the CX Honda. Great relaxed tourer with a low maintenance shaft drive and mellifluous soundtrack.

[@alistairshaw3206]

The only one I have is a 1989 GS500. It is my winter hack and runaround. My favourite bikes are the Yamaha FZR600 and FZR600R, they handle well and are economical too. The 98 to 03 Fazer 600 has basically the same engine.

[@motorcyclecafe]

I have actually owned 3 different bikes with the same engine the XTX has in it. And one of them was Italian. Do you do your own valve adjustment on the GS?

[@alistairshaw3206]

@motorcyclecafe Yes, I do my own valve clearance adjustment on the GS500 and all my other bikes, even my FZR600 and YZF750R. The 20v Yamahas are a bit more difficult to do the clearances, especially the FZR1000 Genesis. They require special shims only available from Yamaha. My GS500 has had another engine due to the cam chain tensioner spring breaking, causing the valves hitting the pistons. It is now fitted with a manual cam chain tensioner as it's a known problem. I've owned it for 18 years.

[@uhtred7860]

@@alistairshaw3206 I'm restoring an 87 FZR1000 (about half way through) and found a shim kit for these bikes in the U.S on Ebay. My 85 FZ750 uses the same shims as well, Yamaha doesn't have the full selection of shims available anymore (or so my local shop told me) But what i can't find at all, is a headlight cowl/fairing. theres a few glass fibre repo ones, but they won't do for this restoration.

[@robignatov]

Did you get the Yamahas XJ’s in Australia ? The 550, 650, 750, 900 and 1100 would run forever.

[@cliffburtt9540]

I had a VX800 for a few years and it's true, it was great for going to the shops or long, long trips. It just could have easily been so much better- the steel frame way too heavy, ditto the wheels; single front disk only just adequate, springing & damping too soft, too much rake on the forks, and ground clearance with those low slung mufflers very ordinary. Even after jacking up the rear with spacers I still had to cut flats into the mufflers to stop the grinding. Of all the bikes I've had, it's the one I fettled the most. Ended up selling it to a guy who preferred it to his Guzzi.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Interesting and obviously different opinion to myself. Either way its still a solid bike with a nice engine. I would prefer the Guzzi myself what ever model it was.

[@jayceebee]

I have a 35 year old GPZ500s. Done about 70k miles and still going strong all year round daily riding.

[@uhtred7860]

I have a hankering to restore an original 87 model as my next project, I remember when they were new, and always kinda liked them. Finding one that's not neglected and beyond repair will be the hardest part, I haven't seen one here for years and years.

[@jayceebee]

@@uhtred7860 if you're UK based I have a gen 1 for you 😉

[@awuma]

@@uhtred7860 The EX500/GPZ500S/Ninja 500R underwent substantial improvement in 1994, and was produced up to 2009. There were raced a lot in the eastern US.

[@motorcyclecafe]

thanks for the feedback backing up this bike mate!

[@uhtred7860]

@@awuma I would like an early one because i rode one for a bit as a motorcycle courier in London, until i bought a CX650E Honda, and i like the look of the early ones more than the later ones. They were raced a lot here in NZ as well in super twins.😀

[@joelaichner3025]

I had a 1982 CB 900 Custom , High / Low transmission , nice bike , speed wobble in the corners at high speed though , my Uncle had a 1980 model , almost identical , but his High Range , was my Low Range transmission , his was Quicker ,

[@laurie886]

I have a xj 600 a very reliable and comfortable bike

[@motorcyclecafe]

Yes just like even bike in the XJ range. They are all pretty good, solid bikes.

[@josephdipko2547]

Now i want to go n buy another GS 500F...miss mine, first bike and rode it 70 miles round trip to work almost every day...😢

[@motorcyclecafe]

You know after making this doco I want to get another one too, lol. A great everyday bike!

[@johnlambert3273]

In the US, the 83-85 Honda 550, 650, 750 are candidates. How about shaft drive, electronic ign, 16 hydraulic valves, and clutch, mags with tubeless tires, air adjustable forks, fully adjustable rear shocks, electric start, Nowadays cheap and run great.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Yes you are right of course... i couldnt include every single bike. Very good points though!

[@a.b.2849]

I had a GL 500, same engine, in the early 80's, the motorcycle definitely had handling quirks. Go in a tight ride hand curve and back off the throttle and the bike falls over into the turn. Torque? It was a slow accelerating motorcycle . Normal revolutions driving 60 mph was higher than most motorcycles of that size. While the tubeless tires was definitely a big plus at the time, the spokes are riveted to the rim and over time have a tendency to loosen up. The fuel mileage was lower than other motorcycles of that size displacement being about mid 40's. Older motorcycle have a tendency to lose the cam chain tension turning the cam chain into an engine case slicer. It was a comfortable motorcycle to ride, and valve adjustments were very easy. Most people romanticize seeing it as a little water cooled Moto Guzzi.

[@motorcyclecafe]

You are pretty spot on with everything you said except for the tight turn thing, backing off the throttle on any bike during a tight corner will have that effect.

[@a.b.2849]

@@motorcyclecafe No! Left hand turn no effect. I have had other motorcycles no effect. It is the conservation of angular momentum. I have talked to other owners of the CX/GL and mentioned the effect and they all mention the same problem. Look at new reviews of the motorcycle I seen the same handling quirk mentioned.

[@motorcyclecafe]

@@a.b.2849 ok I'm not gunna argue about it. I dont make a habit of backing off the throttle half way round a corner it makes any bike unstable. Cheers.

[@awuma]

The 650 has higher ratios, so about 1000 rpm less at 70 mph. Despite its revs, I could pass semis on the US Interstates at 80 mph on my GL500I.

[@joelaichner3025]

The 500 & 550 liquid cooled bike ran forever

[@MrSebfrench76]

Sir, your accent is a blessing for a frog like me. You are pushing my comprehensive skills to their limits😉

[@motorcyclecafe]

Thank you buddy, the haters dont like my accent

[@fowyb]

@@motorcyclecafe Mate! We Aussies are the only ones without friggin accents...😉😂🇦🇺

[@martinobrien4164]

The Suzuki "shims on buckets" valve adjustment is really easy. You just need a valve lifting tool and a selection of shims. Always serviced myself and I am no mechanical genius.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Yes some can do it themselves but most cant.

[@keithmoore5224]

I agree the plastik maggot is a under rated bike the rest not for me just saying 76 years young life biker uk

[@motorcyclecafe]

You know I forgot they used to be nicknamed the maggot.

[@PAVANZYL]

I had a CX 500. 40 years later I'm still sorry I sold it!

[@georgejameson9317]

With a low count produced for only a few years, I’m sure parts became expensive after a while.

[@joelaichner3025]

The Honda Guzzi

[@martincvitkovich724]

The Comstar wheels may have had tubless tires but still required a inner tube. The rims are so cheap they would bend out of shape when levering a tire off the rim with tire irons.

[@Paul58069]

They don't need inner tubes

[@user-im3ct8dh9o]

How many miles , kilometres , years were comstar wheels designed to endure

[@motorcyclecafe]

I wouldn't have a clue but I never had an issue of any kind with mine.

[@tomaszsudo1617]

Honda NTV 650 REVERE 🥰😍.

[@tedthesailor172]

When it came to absolute riding, which includes endurance, reliability, ease of maintenance, comfort and overall safety, you only had to see what motorcycle couriers were using in London UK. It was the CX500. Nothing matched it. The early GT550 came close, as did the later Honda VT500, but the "Plastic Maggot" CX500 was the Capo de Tutti Capo...As to the Suzuki VX800. It was a nice enough rather quirky bike, but it ran the same clutch as the GN250 and mine gave a lot of slipping issues which caused me to get rid. Also, the long wheelbase was like turning a plank through water, and after 10 hours of chiselling traffic, you shoulders knew all about it...

[@motorcyclecafe]

It is so ironic that you mentioned the VX clutch. My mate has had his bike a couple years and I seen him just the other day and he mentioned the clutch is slipping sometimes. The bike does have quite a few klms on it though.

[@MrPage62]

Some of these bikes (or variants thereof) were never sold in North America. Especially the naked versions. The CX500 can be found (although it's rare), no naked version of the Ninja 500 nor GS500 was sold here, and the VX800 was (is) sold as a cruiser version. And the Yamaha 660? Never seen it before...

[@motorcyclecafe]

Never seen a XT660? They are a pretty popular bike, it's very strange how some bikes are only sold in certain countries or under a different model name. Like the Ex 500 & GPZ 500 its the same bike.

[@talltom1129]

You forgot about Kawasaki's Concours. Still gave a thumbs up

[@motorcyclecafe]

Thanks buddy. I can't include every bike otherwise I would have nothing left to make future videos

[@awuma]

That's a big heavy "sport" touring bike, like the Honda Pan-European ST1100 series or Yamaha FJR 1100/1300. Not in the "middlewight" class which can also be a beginner's bike.

[@volt8684]

Had a cx500 worst bike ever owned. Timing chain stretch, replacement was horrendous. So slow. Excess of 100mph? Barely reach it, perhaps mine was a nail? Much preferred my cb500T. I think bikes of this era are so good looking

[@robertjohnstone3706]

Had a CX500 for 10 years did HUGH kms with a full fairing sadly killed it while pissed .

[@motorcyclecafe]

Oh well ur still kicking thats the main thing

[@allanhughes7859]

110% agree Just bought a SilverWing Gl500 and about to sell my stupidly heavy overpriced pile of crap "Bema 1200gs" Forgot to say stupid running costs to boot .. the G.L. 500 does everything the 1200 will do unles you want to travel through the rain forest which no 1200 G.S. owner will do having spent around the 20 k mark buying the bike and to be honest the smaller 500 would have a bloody good go anyway.. So well said sir !!

[@motorcyclecafe]

Thanks buddy. Ive never seen a silver wing but I do know the engine is rock solid as long as its had regular oil changes etc...

[@awuma]

I found the GL500 a bit squirrelly on gravel roads.

[@rogernicholls2079]

The mighty fj1200 is always over looked.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Nope not overlooked my mate had one for quite a few years, just can't fit them all in... Stay Tuned...

[@mattdonna9677]

Shout out for the first generation Yamaha V-MAX, an absolute pleasure to drive, no vibration, and a guarantee to make your adrenaline pump. I never took it over 145 m.p.h.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Where I live they sell for quite big $

[@mattdonna9677]

​@@motorcyclecafehere in the Midwest U.S.A. they can be bought for $2,800 to $7,000. Average is about $4,000.

[@SSV-i-c-e]

There’s a vmax for sale here that has 32k spent on the engine now supposedly putting out 200bhp

[@Backrun]

The plastic maggot is a marmite bike either love it or hate it overweight underpowered with terrible handling but somehow loveable

[@motorcyclecafe]

You pretty much summed the bike up perfectly mate. I should have used your description in the video!

[@zaphodbeeblebrox4574]

Seat Height comparison would have been good.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Yes, they are all pretty std apart from the XTX but even thats not as bad as some would think.

[@joelaichner3025]

Occasionally ride beyond your limits in Safer Places , or you don’t get better ! At All Round

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

All bikes should have dual discs for safety.

[@motorcyclecafe]

There would be nothing safe about having dual front discs on a light weight bike.

[@TheNobbynoonar]

Kawasaki GPX 750.

[@johncunningham4820]

I would buy a CX-650 in a heartbeat , if I FOUND one somewhere . For ALL the reasons spoken of . Terrific Bikes . You're still insisting on saying EYE-talian too , instead of the Short "I" Italian . Accent has nothing to do with that

[@motorcyclecafe]

Italian or eye-talian I'm not going to change the way I speak I am who I am.

[@johncunningham4820]

@@motorcyclecafe . Yeah , fine . Feel free to perpetuate your Cultural Insensitivity . 🙃😅

[@pbysome]

Fj1200.

[@motorcyclecafe]

yes that and the 1100 great machines.

[@patsmith378]

They are cheap because they are impossible to fix unless your a bike expert

[@queenslander954]

Yea mate these ain’t old bikes , what about the Z1’900’s , Honda 4’s & XS650 twins , Katana 1100’s.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Plenty of other videos on the channel on those bikes. These bikes are old to a young dude

[@freeman10000]

Mate! Your an Aussie, why use miles per hour? Australia and much of the world uses metric. I didn't know cringe culture was still a thing in this country? If you want to impress your British and American viewers and inform the rest of us use both km/h and mph.

[@motorcyclecafe]

Maybe you should keep watching until the end. I use both, the world is a big place

[@anonimous2451]

You micks's talk out both sides of your mouth's and I find it disturbing to watch you counter everything good/bad ............Geeeeezus. i always marvel at the fact the Brits seem enthralled with smaller CC bikes as if they are so good. They are dogs in the dog and pony show. My First ever bike was a 750 and I never loved something more. I did get a GT550 and liked it but, it was a a bit under sized for my liking, though to the triples it was faster than F'k. Having exceeded 150 numerous times, I find it shocking the Brits got no balls to do that. Or roads perhaps.

[@mikeholland1031]

They get road taxed to hell on bigger cc bikes and fuel is very expensive there.

[@piratepete4322]

What about a Hodaka Wombat?

[@motorcyclecafe]

I had to google that, I thought you were pulling my leg (joking) never heard of 'em but its one for the memory bank I reckon.

[@hodaka1000]

Yeah not wrong Found my Wombat rotting away in the jungle in far north Queensland in 1987 with less than 4000 miles on it The fella wanted $30 for it but I talked him down to a more realistic $25 According to a trusted authority the late Ray Ryan (Two Wheels, VMX) for many years it was believed to be the only road registered Hodaka in Australia It's now on its fifth speedometer and could be the world's most traveled or most flogged out Hodaka But after 18 years of road registration and unlike the story the neighbours told their kid about the dead cat I actually did send it away to live on a farm I ride it most school holidays on the young mates property and would still trust it to go anywhere That's a picture of it in my profile photo

[@hodaka1000]

​@@motorcyclecafe Google : "They Did What ? - Cape Crusaders - Australian Motorcycle News"

[@ahsnap9103]

I'm old enough to remember combat wombat's, super rat's and I forget what the 250 was called in USA. Japanese engine in American frame

[@hodaka1000]

@@ahsnap9103 A 250 motocross bike was called a Thunderdog The bikes including the frames were made in Japan They're supposed to be designed in the USA