The BRUTAL Reality Of Buying Old Bikes | Things You Need To Know Before Pulling The Trigger

Welcome to our video discussing the difficulties and joys of buying and riding old motorcycles! In todays episode, we review our old motorcycle purchases of the past and rate them, and detailing the risks involved when buying them so you know full well what exactly you'll be getting yourself into.
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End Credits:
Rip & Tear - Mick Gordon (DOOM 2016 Soundtrack)
Rip & Tear - The Anchor (Cover)
Thanks for watching.

[@lordraiden5398]

In 2014 I bought a 1989 FZR1000. It was the bike I wanted back then but couldn't afford. It only had 4,002 miles on it. Had only been registered for two years and still had the stock tires on it. New brake, and radiator hoses. A new set of tires and carbs cleaned. I proceeded to realized why I definitely should not have had this bike at age 22. It is fast. They say never meet your heroes. I am glad I did.

[@GigachadAKM]

Monster of a bike. 145 hp with insane torque down low with the Exup functioning.

[@TheBucksBiker-lh2nm]

Great Video... For me the best thing about owning a 90s superbike is I get to scratch that mid-life crises itch! Finally get to own that bike I couldn't afford back in the day!! They are also great fun and easy to work on when, as you mentioned, you can find the parts.

[@anonimous2451]

ROFLMFAO, I got the 90's King of the Road the ZX11 and its top speed I have reached recently and it was a lil scary fast, BUT, I am NOT afraid of it. 177 mph is rather fast however I wanna break the 200 mph just to do it. This ol bloke rambles on somuch I couldn't take it anymore.

[@Jules750..]

My vfr 750f is 37 years old this year and still going strong loving your channel

[@Derolo808]

What does that have to do with the fact that it’s hard to find parts for old bikes?

[@Jules750..]

@Derolo808 I don't find it hard to find parts to keep the vfr on road and what is with the negative attitude!!!!

[@Derolo808]

So what does the fact that you found parts for your old motorcycle has to do with the fact that it can be hard to find parts for old motorcycles?

[@muttznutts7465]

37 yr old? So its a 86 87? Is it the 16 inch front wheel? I had one of those about 25 years ago, really regret selling it. Nice ones are fetching good money now and i've heard 16" rubber is hard to find but i'd still have one. But with 17" bikes being so much cheaper i guess that'll be whats in my future.

[@Jules750..]

@muttznutts7465 mine is a 1987 in pearlescent white with the 16 inch front wheel

[@rafaellastracom6411]

The best machines are from 1997 to 2007. Modern technology with excellent reliability and materials without the overwhelming tech gizmos and emission controls of modern bikes, which in my opinion are off the beaten path. Stay on the safe side and buy a Honda and you will rarely go wrong.

[@TE_53349]

my 1st year zzr has had 15 previous owners, worth nothing and ive put around 2000 into it. 34 years old and still absolutely bulletproof

[@adamlanglois563]

To think that that bike gave smiles and thrills to fifteen people is rad.

[@TheSteveSteele]

I recently bought a 2003 Suzuki SV1000s. A bike I’ve wanted for a long time. Got it for under $3K. It was well taken care of. The previous owner knew how to work on bikes. I’m fortunate to have a good friend who’s a mechanic and he has his own shop. I can pull up any time and work on my bike. I’m bleeding the rear break line this week. Also, the SV community, both 650 and 1000 is huge. There are several very active large forums, and a still active Facebook support group. Parts are widely available. Yoshimura still makes mufflers for this 20 year old bike! As long as I perform my own maintenance, this bike will last me many years, and for a cost that’s a 1/10th of a low mid range car, and 1/3rd the cost of a new Japanese bike. Couldn’t be happier. Love V-twins too. The advice about looking on forums for the bike you want before buying is great advice. It’s probably best to buy a used bike that was popular for several years (or is still made), isn’t older than 20 years, isn’t a bike that everyone is after, (like the SV, a popular bike in its community), and a bike that was treated well. Buying a clean 2006 GXSR or Ninja for a very good price will be tough.

[@andrewlasagna6478]

I got the sv1000n from 2003 great bike if slightly leaky. Speedo is a little optimistic as well

[@V4zz33]

Just test the Ninja in person, if it's a 600 in case you're 6 foot and over, it might be physically too small for you. I had a colleague who had this issue and was planning to go to the big bro. Good luck and have fun!;))

[@why3610]

Older bikes are perfectly capable and trustworthy if cared for, owners are the faulty item not the machinery. There are still plenty of bike breakers in the UK, please can we be factually correct and not confuse people. Traditionally bikers are self sufficient and I'm wondering if this is why the younger generations struggle.

[@muttznutts7465]

we live in a disposable society rather than the mend and make do culture i and probably you grew up in. With so many company's designing things to be unrepairable (looking at you Apple) its no wonder the young'uns get confused when you hand them screwdriver.

[@nickwebb7130]

Yep...+1 from me! Younger generations struggle because of modern finance culture. With newer machines, technology can get in the way of being self sufficient. If the ECU / engine management system is monitoring tyre pressures, ABS, service history and mileage, and all those other sensors....the Tec required to monitor and service machines at home gets prohibitive. On top of that, a high number of folks choose PCP, so the contract dictates dealer servicing.

[@cas333]

I tried a older VFR750, it drove well, but felt very heavy i turns. Today i have a 2005 CB900F Hornet, it fells great, fast, light and i like the naked look 😊 35000 miles, and going strong

[@kronoonline4766]

There is a breakers yard in the Forest of Dean in the UK, great guy and plenty of parts

[@cvenn63]

I relate very much to this video…..I’ve had motorcycles on the road since I turned 16. Many years now and many motorcycles, they have all been over 10years old when I purchased them, and I was always extremely excited about each one. My latest is a Zx12R 2004. Almost 20 years old, 5 years later, and this thing still amazes me every time I ride it. There have been some improvements over time, but they had it all pretty well figured out as of early 2000’s. First ride, 81 kz650 CSR. Toughest to work on, 85 Honda Sabre 700 V4.

[@TE_53349]

younger people arent interested in motorcycles because they get them and all of the thieves take the fuckers. ive had bikes locked away with 4 locks on each bike and thieves still took them. its getting to the point where i just cant justify buying a bike for it to be stolen as i cant keep it in the house

[@SuperWhiteBarry]

Bollocks. Own a 2000 Triumph Daytona 955i (last t595 model), absolutely love it! No problem finding spares it seems...

[@nickwebb7130]

T595? Just keep an eye on that clutch basket..!

[@SuperWhiteBarry]

@@nickwebb7130Please elaborate. The bike has only 34000 km. As in check/preventive maintenance?

[@nickwebb7130]

@@SuperWhiteBarry - I agree. Spares are widely available. If I were to call out any bike manufacturers that genuinely care about what their customers think and listen to their opinions, it would be Kawasaki and Triumph. This transfers to the owners and the communities they create. Your T595 is becoming a cult bike and the sound of that legendary triple engine is awesome. Like any machine, there are weaknesses in design that get clearer with owner use and time. The design of the gearbox clutch and the sprag (starter) clutch have been highlighted on earlier Hinckley Triumphs. They like to be fully charged on starting. My comment was a little thoughtless and spontaneous - I apologise for causing you concerns that may be unnecessary. The gearbox clutch can be upgraded with different bolts and a stronger assembly to resolve the factory problem. That will most likely help to reduce that clunky effect when changing gear as well. The owner forums online have strong presence and support. If you haven't already I would recommend subscribing to either UK or US sites that can offer more detail and genuine advice - Triumph Rat, Triumph forum. One Facebook page / website you could find really valuable is to join Clive Wood. He's a Triumph Guru and there's plenty of guidance around servicing triples and maintaining the sprag clutch. I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes.

[@userloku8608]

Ive got a 99 955i with 15k on it, great bike but make sure it was maintained before you get into one mine wasnt cared for at all and even had what i believe to be the oem brake pads from 1999, or what was left of them anyways

[@SuperWhiteBarry]

@@nickwebb7130 Thank you very much! I really appreciate it! Wasn't that addressed in the last year of the model being produced? It's oddly named 955i instead of t595. The bike was maintained well by the previous owner, I have a full service history and every service interval was done according to the book. He owned the bike from 2015, bought it from his former father in law, I'm the 3rd owner, bought the bike 6 weeks ago. The previous owner didn't use the bike much the last two years as he bought a newer Blade... so the first thing I did was an oil change. Planning on changing the spark plugs and cleaning the K&N filter. Doing the coolant next, cleaning the radiator with vinegar, replacing the horses with a set of AS3's and refurbishing the water pump. The previous owner changed the thermostat 1,5 years ago so that should be fine (will be checked just in case). Also going to do the brakes, new pads front + rear, cleaning the pistons and some fresh brake fluid. As he changed the front wheel-bearings I'm planning on doing the rear next. The chain adjuster works fine but will be checked as well just to be sure. I'm glad I can do most of the things myself, only the swingarm bearings will be done by the local Triumph dealership after I take the swingarm off as it's a real bitch to do yourself if you ask me... Also going to save up some cash for a SIGMA PERFORMANCE SLIPPER CLUTCH, they are a whopping €800, almost one third of what I gave for the bike, planning on changing it when this season ends. Did I forget anything?

[@Humblemrtumble]

Why do people assume , people only buy older bikes because they can’t afford new ones ? I could buy a £18,000 BMW s1000rr but do I want to ? NO Bland , boring , no character and god awfully unreliable older bikes are king and always will be regardless of peoples uneducated opinions BHP and TCS are not the best all and end all , real bikers know this I’m a motorcycle mechanic by trade and I see far more serious issues and ridiculously expensive repairs on post circa 2009 bikes than anything prior to this. With regards to your comments on parts availability for older bikes , they are available if you know where to look and use us mechanics instead of pedalling the new bikes to the dealer to be told you need a whole new engine to repair. I also find issue with your incorrect assumption that there are no breakers yards , There are hundreds if not thousands of car breakers and at least 30 motorcycle breakers You clearly don’t understand actually how much money is in used parts The industry is worth billions in the UK alone I’d suggest if your not clued up on facts to not create videos waffling on about things you have no idea about You have a lot to learn and your channel will not grow when people see your talking about things you have zero idea about Head down , get some mechanical knowledge under your belt , have a license for more than 20 minutes and you may actually be able to create a video with some facts and relevant info instead of waffling about things you don’t understand Everything stated in here was absolute rubbish and completely untrue

[@muttznutts7465]

Ditto ^

[@Rafael-fo9sp]

Spoken like a true mechanic lol. It's completely different to people who don't have any mechanical skill or knowledge and have to visit one every time their 30 year old bike has some kind of problem

[@Humblemrtumble]

@@Rafael-fo9sp point proven , if people didn’t buy these brand new bikes and actually read a book and engaged in how to repair things and maintain them they would be able to take care of basic / intermediate maintenance themselves The amount of people who don’t even know how to change oil , fork oil service , spark plugs , bleed brakes is mind boggling

[@TommyTucker0]

Great video, nice to see you riding round Cheltenham !!!

[@Ducatista749s]

I bought a Ducati 749s and had to dump another $3k in maintenance, but it’s done now and I love it. Almost 20k miles on the clock (8k mine). I’m usd / miles (fork seals $800ish, desmo service/belts $700ish, oil, spark plugs, tires). Also keep in mind our Ducati dealer won’t touch anything more than 6 years old.

[@JohnBrown-vn2qw]

my first bike was a 98 cbr 600f3. my second bike was a 2007 honda cbr 600rr. got to tell you man it was a world of difference. not even a close comparison

[@carlsitler9071]

I just bought a mint 2006 1200 Sportster and I'm loving it.

[@virtuosomuso]

You replaced the clutch for £50 ? I have an old 1996 mk1 bandit 1200 ,and it cost me £200 for a Barnett clutch ,that's with me fitting it ,I really wouldn't like to rely on a clutch that cost £50 tbh

[@Cullz.182]

Plenty of parts available. Instead of having a breakers yard they just break the bikes down and list the parts on ebay. I've found all the bits I've needed on ebay over the last decade for several 90s bikes. How ever some parts are silly money other parts may be cheap but need a good overhaul. But as a whole spares for 90s bikes are readily available.

[@Free_Ranger_CT110]

As others in the comments have said, here in Australia, bikes are expensive & used bikes crazy expensive. I went from a Gixxer 1100 to a Honda CT110 & love it.

[@hachi-rokuperformancegroup3987]

Yes junkyards are still a thing in the US. I'm in az and we have 10 bike only yards within 3 hours from my location and several dozen for cars and the majority of the are the pick and pull style so it's fun hunting parts and finding awesome things

[@ninjanel1964]

I have had a ZX9R like the one you have from new in 1999 it has been truly amazing and I can fix it !

[@matusg914]

I own zx6r from the same generation and have the same blinker setup (leds in the rear, old bulbs in front), i bought led blinker flasher and just replaced it under rear seat. It even had the same connector.

[@MotoMadness66]

Older Japanese bikes are fantastic. When cared for they just keep running and running. It is an unfortunate reality when it comes to any serious repairs, you'll need to work with a pro shop and have fab work done. I would recommend looking into the RCM scene in Japan. You can source excellent parts and new fab parts. The RCM ( real complete machine ) scene is all about restoring 70s to 90s super bikes of old. Though all this said, older vehicles of 2 to 4 wheels does become a pay to play. Couldn't agree more on seriously vetting your prospects.

[@andrewdavies3438]

I have a VFR 750 and no problems with spares My GTS 1000 is another mater! However there are great communities that help each other out in finding bits and pieces.

[@tumbleweed6612]

Kle 500 from 92. It runs like cream. The engine is top notch and the specs are like a praised modern bike.

[@racefeen22p]

This comment has nothing to do with the well put together video, just a self-reflection for all to see. I'm American, I'm so conditioned so many different accents online that I didn't even realize this man wasn't American. Not until he said he was from the UK lol

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

There is a big difference between purchasing an old(er) bike to flock it with a profit or to buy it for your own pleasure. I.e. to recommisoned it and ride it. The first is not an option to me, I buy older bikes to bring them up to spec and ride them. Example: VFR 750 4th gen '96. Bought it for 1600 EUR. It was supposed to be OK. Of course it was not... Front brakes were shot and it leaked oil from a valve cover. About 600 EUR further the VFR was 100%... All fluids changes, oil leak solved (new gasket), front brake overhauled. The 600 EUR were parts only, I did the work myself. Since then I covered about 2000 miles with it (I do have other bikes) and it is absolutely fine. So for 2200 EUR and quite a bit of work (yet that is fun) I got myself a very nice bike. Official Honda parts are expensive yet easy to order. And there are (in my country at least) specialized motorbike breaker yards. They have the older bikes dismantled properly and all parts can be ordered over the Internet, no problem and there is money in it! There is even a company in my country (The Netherlands) that specializes in NOS for mainly Japanese bikes. I go a new mirror for my ST1100 from them. Not cheap, but available. I also use a little machine job that can do the jobs like milling and welding that I cannot do myself. They restored the exhaust of my '96 XJ900S beautifully. Excellent work, but again not cheap. So... old bikes are fine, yet if you want them to be perfect be prepared to spend money!

[@bccapone837]

Did you change the front calipers on your zx9r to 4 pots by any chance, and if so did you keep the stock 5/8 - 15.80mm master cylinder with ok results

[@snakeman9902]

In my opinion, I love the older bikes, however, for British and European riders, something to consider, in 2025, the EU emissions are rising from EU4 to 5+..So going through Ulez areas may prove expensive, our beloved zzr1400 will be affected by this, which is why they're no longer sold in the UK..

[@nicholasthegreat4899]

07:00 - There are quite a bit of brake yards are me, not sure where you live but in the North East there are at least 5 that are very decent size for cars and at least one in Stanley for motorbikes.

[@dave0992]

being the ripe old age of 45, I really wanted a late 90s sports bike so ended up getting a 1999 yamaha thundercat 600 in absolutely great condition with only 10,000 miles on the clock! extremely happy with my purchase but then I dont mind rolling my sleeves up and having a go at fixing/maintenance etc...

[@ChadrikThunderCaulk]

I lucked out, 800$ for a bandit 600 in the States. Got 15k miles out of the motor thrashing it for 6 months 😂 bought an 1100 motor to throw in for 900$ and its still going strong. Old bikes are great if you have mechanical skill

[@rickee2652]

Im confused about there not being bike breakers in the uk anymore. On ebay most of the spares i see for my bike (97 cbr600) are from the uk. But to be fair if youve blown a major part you might be better off reaching out direct to japan. Ive never had an issue finding things like gaskets though. Worstcase, you can always purchase gasket sheets and find someone with a laser cutter. Fyi, the manufacturers dont scrap the moulds and tooling for the old bikes, they farm out to smaller workshops and collect back orders. It costs a ton for an individual order but they can be talked to. Joining a model specific forum gives you group buy power in those circumstances. Its a wierd thing that these models are used right through their transition from new, to old, to classic unlike cars which survive to become classics usually had a period of abandonment, which kept them safe.

[@alexstewart2247]

The zx9r c model used to beat the same era r1 in top speed runs 👍 never getting rid of mine they don't make bikes like these older ones anymore anymore im taking this bike to my grave with me 😅

[@_XRMissie]

I've considered a lot of this stuff on my quest for my dream bike: a 1997 Mk1 Suzuki B12. It's a popular enough bike to where parts still exist, it's as "real" as a bike can get with no TC, ABS, carb'd, etc, but they're getting quite rare now. You'd be lucky to find one for sale that isn't close to 100,000km... But that's not the point. Old bikes like this like you said, if you take care of them then they'll keep proving they're more than capable but *properly* taking care of it is a financial investment, same as any other vehicle. At the end of the day, it comes down to the rider and not only their resourcefulness in finding parts, but their ability to compromise and accept that there's less part availability now compared to when it was new.

[@razvandumitru2252]

It's not hard to order parts for a bike from the early 2000s. Any decent shop can go by part number and you have to wait for the fabrication and delivery. Most stores don't bother, they say rude stuff like "it's too old", when they don't even search. You just have to wait and it's not cheap and the store does not want to stay with parts on order and then the buyer changes his mind and does not want them anymore. It's more a matter of how people think, not the parts themselves.

[@kujouk]

There's a lot of great bikes out there for the price you quote. I sold my 2009 sprint which had 63k on the clock a few years ago for £1800, I did a couple of euro tours when the mileage was in the 50k and 60k. I only sold as another bike came along. it's still tested and on the road, current miles are just below 70k. Some might think that 70k is a lot, but that 1050 engine is pulling a bike, it's designed to rev to excess 10k but rarely does, many cars have an engine of that size or even smaller and those cars are still getting sold with double those miles. I've had a few old bikes, bought an X7 a few years ago, ended up selling it due to the scary MPG i was getting. I had a GPZ900R, good bike, I don't think it can match my Street triple 765 RS on handling, it might have been a bit faster but I know which I'd prefer.

[@realtime123]

this is absolute nonsense it took me 30 seconds to find a zx9r cylinder head for £75 how much for the new green kawasaki ?

[@sparkthego]

A lot of second hand parts online, plus aftermarket. You can also buy brand new I've had no issues with new OEM parts on my 2006 zx6r. Also you wouldn't 3d print, if you have the design you can get it CNC machined offshore (in China) for not that expensive.

[@psycotria]

Long.... I'm so glad that where I live, there are no insurance or inspection requirements. In the 40+ years I've been riding, I have ridden more miles on my Kawasakis than I have driven my cars expressly for this reason. I was grandfathered in when a "MTRCL also" was invented way back when. A student license and being 16 yo was the only qualification to ride, with passenger, any bike, before then. I passed! I bought an '84 GPz1100 garage queen with 8000 miles on it in 1991 for $1800. It burned a quart of oil every 300 miles within short order. I had it over-bored to wider rings and the valves lapped by the dealership for ≈$1000. I prepped and painted the stock pipes with high temp black (1500F on the header and 1000F on the mufflers) during this time, as I couldn't find a local company that would re-black chrome them. I cured the paint by riding. It worked wonderfully. When it was time to check the valve clearances, I took it to another shop that was recommended to me. Must have been a Harley shop, as they dropped it onto the right side, breaking a turn signal. Much worse, they didn't release the cam chain tensioner, breaking it and stretching a section of the chain. Of course, I was charged for the job and wasn't told of the issues. A third shop which I hired to install a Wiseco 1135cc forged set told me when they found them, along with valve damage. Another $1500, which was no problem, as the new pistons really pepped-up that girl! I kept the stock pipes and the DFI. The bike was a real sleeper. It easily passed red-lined in top gear, hitting an indicated 158 mph; an honest 150. I rode that GPz1100 almost daily for 11 years, until I added a 1/16th turn to the manual tensioner in 2005 and broke the cam chain while commuting to work a day later. I was doing 120 at the time and miraculously, no damage. The engine just stopped making power. Only after I rolled to a stop did anything bind up, when I gently tapped the starter to confirm my hypothesis; broken chain. My next ride was a 2001 Concours 1000 with 26,000 miles, which I acquired for $1800 in 2013. It was stock, except for progressive fork springs, a "7th Gear" ratio change, throttlemeister, Rifle wind screen and bar risers. It had been down with some plastic damage. I rode the wheels off it! The cam chain eventually skipped a tooth, again without damage! I rode 40 miles at 80 mph with retarded valve events. The speedo cable broke around 80,000 miles, but the bike was well over 100,000 when this happened in 2018. It did a GPS 142 mph/ 140 indicated without the lower plastic up to the end. The only issue the bike had was a rare over-rich #1 carb. The Concours needs full service, fork seals and tubes, a crush washer on an oil pipe, a carb rebuild, tires and a battery. The GPz should get a full overhaul. I still have them. All it would take is a workspace and work. I've got extra extra EBAY Parts, the only way to keep these running. Check there before making a purchase. Inquire with breakers, as they may have unlisted parts. All that said, my next bike will fare much better, as I am going upscale; low miles, high quality. Likely a Kawasaki. It's all I've ever owned. The ZX14R fits me like a glove! The 2024 40th Anniversary model looks amazing! A BMW K1300S would also suit me fine.

[@JessicaSimonson1976]

I rode in a thunderstorm yesterday with 45 mph winds....going head on I was doing 60mph....when that wind was a cross wind 44 mph just to maintain stability.

[@johnhartley3022]

The biggest risk in buying old bikes, or old cars for that matter, are the unobtanium parts and finding someone to fix them if you cant. Most stealerships refuse to touch old bikes because they don’t have experience with them, maybe don’t have the specialty tools.

[@lunarlaughter8153]

I bought a 2004 cbr600 with the intention of being a fixer upper. And many even with just basic maintenances she's running so much better. Funny what just changing the fluids can do

[@jonasbaine3538]

Had 04 fz6, vfr750 and zzr1200. All cheap high value high performance bikes now. The first gen fz1 was another great bike. Fuel injection and 150hp. Biggest problem is dealership refusing to work on old bikes especially vfr.

[@iandouglas451]

nice scenery in this video - can i ask where most riding was taken please?

[@mihavuk]

A lot of true in that video. 👍👌 My experiences are that there is still A LOT of original parts available - japanese - for 20+ years old bikes. But they are EXPENSIVE. Not much people would buy 500-1000€ part for bike which is worth 1500-2000€ bike. And those parts are laying around in warehouses, taking place, making costs for vendors... Within 10 years they might scrap them. Why? This is also true for cars. There have been few actions (I remember Yamaha and Renault) which reduced prices for original parts for some bikes / wehicles which are more than 15 years old. I was buying those parts, OEM quality for reasonable price, of course, not worth spending hours looking for cheaper alternatives. I believe there should be more of that. But it probably won't because they want you to buy new bike.

[@stephenrobbins9901]

A look online found breakers yards in uk,where did you look?

[@decnet100]

Basically you need to learn where to look - probably the reason you can't buy parts off a junkyard bike is because they've all been bought up and put for sale on used parts broker sites. Which means you won't get them for a tenner, but certainly they are available inexpensive, after going through someone's hands to check them, without any hassle. Making a cylinder head from scratch? Haha no way. You can still buy entire running engines for like €500-600. I just checked on my usual getting-spot for the three 90s bikes I owned: Yes, you can, even though in regards to touring bikes you will only get offered well-run in examples at that price. Then of course there are other suppliers one should keep in mind, for example never ask your dealership for carb parts, but go to the manufacturers who made them, such as the very competent Mikuni europe-rep in Germany. Basically, knowledge and contacts is key to keeping any older vehicle on the road.

[@Rimonds]

I have 2011 cb600f, made 9k km on it and it feels great.

[@mkultrakill1385]

Passed in December, bought a Fazer 1000 Gen 1. Best choice ever. Insurance £200.

[@muttznutts7465]

hi, i enjoyed the video but i think your way off the mark regards fixing a head. Any gasket is easy to make, its just a case of choosing the right material (paper, copper, cork etc) and cutting holes in it till it fits. Obviously buying a set is normally better just for convenience unless you have (for example) had your head skimmed and want a thicker than stock one to keep compression at stock values. Things ain't automatically better if they come in a bag with honda or suzuki wrote on it. The stuff inside was made by a man in a factory with a jig and can also be made by a man in a shed with a pair of scissors and a steady hand. Most damaged heads can be fixed. If warped they can be skimmed, if its a valve seat problem then they can be machined and new seats fitted. This was common after lead was removed from petrol and the soft metal in the heads was replaced with harder stuff. However just getting another one is all most all ways cheaper and quicker so i guess thats why the guy was asking. Unless the bike in question is something super rare its common to find another of the same model/year (or close) to use as a spares bike. Although that may sound expensive it would probably cost less for a non runner than a NoS head and you get the bonus of getting one of every other part as future spares, or just part out what you don't need and make some money back. The advice i would give to anyone running something older or rare is find a forum or facebook group for the type of bike you have and be active. The knowledge and spares that are out there, quite often just for the asking or covering the P&P and a drink is unreal. Bikers look after there own and if your considered part of the group (be active) then you'll probably be ok.

[@charleshunt3806]

Well, I got involved in motorcycles in the beginning of October of last year and I bought a used 2020 Honda Supercross that had 9 miles on it and I’ve been driving that like 95% of the time insurance wasn’t bad and it only cost me $3300. The gear was a little bit. I didn’t cheap out on that at all but so far so good gas mileage has been very nice, so yeah definitely it didn’t make itself back yet. In the amount I spent but working on it.

[@holidaygerry]

First bike was an 86 honda nighthawk 450. Parts were falling off it on the ride home. Best bike ever

[@blind9376]

There is breakers in the EU , I literally bought an entire Km/h 1995 Yamaha instrument cluster ( with correct mileage ) to replace , I got an entire gearbox using a Japan purchasing service for a TRx850 ( and these bikes were always pretty scarce ) I got barrels, pistons, piston rings and an entire cylinder head populated with valves cams, I used a service called buyee that allowed me to bid on yahoo auctions items in japan and found a person breaking a later model bike with low kms. All the part were off the same bike. the service get the items delivered to a freight forwarding warehouse and you select the delivery service and packaging you want and voila you have the items delivered eventually.

[@drcharlestennant8658]

I’ve got a 1982 Kawasaki GPZ1100 with fuel injection - great bike

[@filipepaiv4]

GPZ900s are still a big thing in Japan, they were even made until 2003 there with a lot of aftermaket stuff still being produced by some shops, maybe thats why you were able to see a few still zooming around. The only problem would be the wait for the parts to be shipped from japan to where you live.

[@marcox4358]

I'm considering an 89 GPZ400R, is it a good buy for 500 dollars?

[@nickwebb7130]

OK...about that random starting problem you have with the ZX-9R.... Most Z series Kawasakis from around 2000 on have a clutch switch. It disables the starter motor when the machine is in gear. After time - mainly through wear and tear / lack of maintenance, the switch in the lever gets sticky. Inspect the switch in the lever and give it a good clean. The earth may be coloured yellow/black, but that's best guess. The horn switch also relies on the same earth connection. Is that also a bit random? Could be a clue. With most Z series Kawasakis, you should be starting the bike with the clutch lever out - in neutral. Also - the sidestand should be down. In any other situations, such as if you stall it at a junction and you stay in gear - pull the clutch lever to disable the switch and activate starter. Sidestand should be up! I've been casually listening to your meanderings across a couple of videos, whilst foraging for parts for my bikes. Your monologue in this video is based on a number of assumptions that you would benefit from revisiting after more research. I have four bikes - two Z series Kawasakis and 2 Brits - ranging in age up to 55 years old.....250cc to 1200cc They rarely get touched by a garage technician, other than replacing tyres and an MOT. I want to suggest that you plan some Wednesdays over the next few months taking some rideouts to Bikers Nites (dotcom). And please take your long suffering wife....she's a true gem in your world that we don't see enough of. The 2024 list of meets has just been released. They're usually lovely evenings and well attended in the Gloucestershire area. I occasionally go myself...it's a fab day out for me across the Cotswolds. While you're there, approach some of the folks who own older bikes and become informed as to how they go about maintaining their machines and sourcing parts. Get involved in face to face discussions and ask them the same questions you're trying to answer yourself in this vlog, with limited success. You may be pleasantly surprised as to how different your reality could become. I'm confident that most of those folks would relish the idea of talking about their bikes, as well as being recorded on video. It would offer you some true insight into the difficulties and joys of buying and riding older motorcycles.

[@OliveGarden420]

I’m 23 and just now looking at getting my first bike. Im broke but I’m really set on finding a cheap little rebel 250 or maybe a vstar 250.

[@steveclark..]

A proper made in Japan from the late 80's upwards, I can't fault them. I have an RD350LC for the 3rd time in my motorcycling history, parts are not really a problem either.

[@sparkthego]

I made a video similar to this before. From experience you need around $2000 (AUD) to get it up to scratch and that's doing all the work myself.

[@CRFSMedia]

I have a 1996 zx6r it has definitely been problematic 😅 but manage to keep her going just about

[@AlbesADV]

Today salvage yard is eBay, lots of old parts there 😀👍

[@Freedomone153]

In Australia 🇦🇺. Bike are expensive brand new but 2nd hand ones are almost the same price. Most mechanics won't touch a bike over 10 years old now.

[@lothegreat1788]

The part about the parts is so true. Or you’ll run into aftermarket companies charge an arm and a leg because they know you have no choice, I’ve ran into that with my old Buell

[@apacolypso7029]

Just bought a yamaha fjr 1300 ae problem. Rode it home in 38 degree weather. As soon as it warmed up. Problems came up. Abs, Overheating, Gear positioning sensor or clutch plates are wore down. I love riding so much, but this is my 3rd bike and everyone of them I have had to fix and had someone lie to me. I will not buy another used bike again. This will be my last one

[@chrishart8548]

I've bought 3 brand new bikes in my time. I've Had many used bikes to they have all been horror stories. Every one. It's amazing how much someone can mess up a bike in just 1 year even.

[@peterturnham5134]

I've been riding since the 1970s. Only twice did I buy Bikes NEW. There are so many bikes bought, rode on Sundays, then sold half price. I do nearly all my own maintenance. Where I draw the line is valve adjusting a V4 Honda, Fully faired complicated motor. I let my Honda garage do that. Getting spare parts? No problem, get on the internet and know when to look. I have Bikes that date back to 1963 I have allways found any gasget I looked for. As a student I worked in an engineering factory, and an engineer showed me how to make a paper or cardbourd gasket. If I'm impatient I make it myself. Only one gasket I would not make myself, the Head gasget. Never use the silicon glue pseudo gasgets, because too many Bozos squeeze on too much glue, it blocks oilways has no tolerance. I only use silicon for a Norton Dominator chaincase, where the above reservations do not apply.. If you break a cylinder head on a Japanese Bike, you have done something wrong. Scrap the bike, you will make more on the chassis parts than what you paid for the bike. People crach bikkes they need chassis parts. Now advice, if you will ride regularily most weeks you can buy a Carburated older bike, if moire occasionel pay more, get an injected bike. I am biased, I have ridden V4 hondas most of the time since 1984. The engineering and search for perfection is impressive. Kawasaki, Ducati and Suzuki I have owned and had a blast of riding with... Current garage VFR800 around 2000, Yamaha RD350LC around 1980, Norton 750 café racer 1964, Norton 650SS 1963 completely Concours.

[@bakeot]

I'm still riding my 99 katana 600 and it still as strong as ever

[@TheKittyClink]

i bought a 1500 US Vstar 1100 its a 2001, runs well but it needs some TLC and im tryna to go thru and check everything. in my case the guy had ot get rid of it becuz of his wife or something. he seemed actually pretty melecholy to see it go, which reminded me of when i moved i had to sell my jet ski which i loved so much, and it actually almost made me tear to watch her go. im a combat vet and i used the ski as a therapy tool, but im really excited to start my motocycle journey only 29k miles, the guy was a mechnic and the engines seems healthly but hopefully its gonna be okay

[@VerrillTheWolf]

I got a 1997 Suzuki GSX-R600 Srad i been trying to restore, got it for $250 90% done all it needs it wiring work or a new harness

[@I_CommitDrivingOffences]

I paid £1100 for my non runner E2 ZX9R, spent another 600-700 doing it up. So much bike for the money, it would've cost me even less if I hadn't have low sided on black ice and had to replace a load of parts.

[@martinfarrell5778]

I'm working on a 1994 Honda, no problem finding parts here in Canada...lots of aftermarket stuff....

[@maaxyco-420]

I'm rebuilding a 1980 Honda cm400t. I'm wanting to keep that antique fuel tank look, but I haven't been able to find a decent replacement, and this one was pretty bad; so I've cut it open to redo the whole thing.

[@maaxyco-420]

Still can't find a fuel tank door that will fit it, so I may need to weld one up.

[@m0tard666]

Also have the Zx9-R 1999 C2 and still rocks

[@melv889]

I also had one for from 2009 to 2019. It's really a beast of a bike, reliable, power enough and it is quite comfortable for a sports bike. Sold it when my daughter was born for safety. 3 years later I needed a motorbike again. Now riding a 2007 Gsxr1000 which also is a great bike but far less comfy 😅

[@kolewrld5446]

Got a 01 R6 that I love but after 2 months the engine kicked the bucket and now I have no compression😢... but I do love it though. Btw I live in Belize a central American country.

[@melderosa656]

The cheap way to make your indicators flash together is remove the warning light in the dash. This will give you the right resistance

[@muttznutts7465]

Unless i'm badly mistaken that would be a mot fail. I'm not 100% certain that a dash light is needed, but i think it is on that year of bike. However if there is a warning light on the dash then it has to work. That i am sure of.

[@nihonkokusai]

I have a new bike but, its old tech. Its a Yamaha MT-03 2017 and has 2007 tech so. It runs fine a lot miles done over 10k annual and no problems. every 3k oil change

[@dmitrijr7065]

You can totally print a cylinderhead even today in aluminium, i've worked on a prototype bike which had a printed head, works just fine. But i don't know if it will last, although the manufacturer swore that aluminium cast is worse in regards of mechanical stress because of casting defects. An as far as know, the printed head was really expensive.

[@larrylong4407]

Right on Iworked on Harleys. Got 1how I ride at 70 years old HD BABY ❤❤ let s ride

[@radiocrash]

It’s probably the insurance that puts the young guys off. That and the fact that in most cities you can’t insure a new bike unless you have a garage.

[@LINKchris87]

I'm about to get a 01 ZX9R. Have read some people complaini g about 9s having a tendence to shimmy/tank slapper. Is it true? Would not like to shimmy at high speeds.

[@rickywoods3101]

Get a good steering stabilizer

[@flavioks5438]

Bullshit the ZX9R is a very stable bike at high speeds I owned 4! Still have my 03 Don’t even have a stabiliser

[@peytonhibdon7659]

TST Industries makes a flasher that solves the led and halogen compatibility issue.

[@danielsale3805]

You shouldn't have to much trouble finding parts for a zx9r. There is still a few around. I would say to pick a bike that sold lots of units ie a suzuki bandit for example as many were sold and there is no shortage of parts. Also there are many aftermarket parts if you ever struggled to find oem parts. However your better getting oem if possible.

[@OM-wq8wp]

You have your hair loose on a sportsbike? Do they not get tangled?

[@HL3AlcAida]

Were can i get that rubber duck?

[@olegvaleev3733]

Please dont sell your zx9r, its soo good Bought abandoned cbr600f4 with 30000km for 1000€ 3 weeks ago, serviced carbuerators, changed oil, brake fluid, new tires Planing next service to do valve adjustment and front fork I am so happy with a bike right now, and planing to keep it❤

[@muttznutts7465]

I think he should sell it before he kills it. I don't know what he has planned regards his comments towards the end of the video but i guess its some sad youtubber grab for clicks that'll just be cringeworthy and a waste of a good bike.

[@IThinkItsMe]

I bought a 22 year old bike and got 23 years of problems. If I had my time again I'd have bought a new bike but smaller engine.

[@lolyouwontfindme6070]

I’m looking at an older sport bike, anywhere from 2000-2010 Honda CBR 600, or Kawasaki ZX6R as my 3rd motorcycle, my 1st is a 2019 R3, and my 2nd is a 1972 Honda CB100N

[@snakeman9902]

Generally, most of the second bikes I've owned have been great... The best over motorbike was the blackbird.. The 2 worse was rhe TRX and the Thunderace, I had nothing but.problems with both of them, even though they were popular.

[@clemsmith84]

own a 2003 Aprilia rsv and a 2008 fz1n, been great all rounders. also own 2 Aprilia rs 125 2 stokes. i am a oldy for sure 🤣

[@dolebandit9942]

I can tell by your voice you are young, But older people can remember buying a car was a fairly big deal, But It`s the massive abundance of cheap cars that have the near similar mpg as motorcycles that made it a personal choice than a economic one, Yes you can buy a old FireBlade and such, But you can fit four car tyres to one rear tyre on the motorcycle, You can tax a car for £ 20 - 30 A year, Superbikes are £ 100 and so on

[@paulodea1696]

I bought a 2003 Yamaha fz6 Fazer with 42k on the clock.I bought for 1950 euro ,put 600 euro into it and rides sweet as a nut 6 months on

[@chrisdadigger1018]

I been temped a few times to buy an old cb1 400. But it’s an old bike with 4 carbs and needs old school gas with no ethanol. That gas is hard to find.

[@ThatFifeBiker]

Slap an led indicator relay on it that’s adjustable or swap out the indicators back to halogen etc not hard job

[@max9739]

Yeah im 20, bought a 03 cbr600rr, rode it for 19 days and then my engine started knocking while i was riding, ended up blowing my piston through the block, got a new motor and shes finally running since i blew it up in november so well see how the new motor does 😂

[@Peroxide-Mark]

The fact you've said breakers yards don't exist in the UK fucking baffles me lad because I know of several near me

[@jon8796]

What helmet is that?

[@franklinwilkerson2061]

I enjoyed the video but wish we could have heard the bike in the background at least a little bit.

[@233kosta]

Other than the amount of work you'll end up having to do to it, there's the no traction control & ABS part, which means you MUST be on your game 100% of the time.

[@MrB1967]

Should be on your game 100% of the time on your bike no matter what it is!

[@233kosta]

@@MrB1967 Agreed. But people hear "rider modes", "traction control" and "cornering ABS", and they think they can stop paying attention.

[@florisnr11]

There are plenty online junk jards you can find everything you want. Buying a old bike is only for people that can fix them there self. Becose a motor mecanic now is very very expensive.