Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: Andy M on November 10, 2017, 01:25:28 PM
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I have a silly idea. In the garage I have a perfectly usable light Watsonian chair. It isn't on a bike due to time constraints. With the MOT rule changes though I could get a 70's bike and when its ready just do the insurance and go. However, I don't know a thing about bikes before the 90's. I know I want 12V electrics, 4 stroke and as few carbs as possible.
I have no love of BMW, but parts availability and power at low revs suggests that's the way to go.
So, what else was on side car duty in 1977?
Cheers
Andy
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Guzzi T3 or similar (even a Convert which would make an interesting outfit)? Possibly a pre-oil-in-frame Triumph? Not a Commando though.
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XS650, though they are starting to command serious money now....
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goldwing or cx
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XS650, though they are starting to command serious money now....
That looks like one to follow. There is a nice one on the auction site but its a US import without a registration. A lot seem to have met the top-knot and lumberjack crowd and been ruined though. I guess that's why prices are rising.
I don't fancy another Guzzi, as unpredictable as BMW with worse parts availability. The CX could be worth a look. Goldwings seem to have odd frames which will slow a sidecar project and lots of carbs!
Thanks guys
Andy
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A Jawa! Don't even go there :(
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A new one as a solo maybe. 2 smokes from back in day: been there, done that, worn out the shoe leather :-X
;D
Andy
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Andy - as others have mentioned the CX possibly looks like the best option. The early ones (1978?) had a few well publicised issues but I suspect most of them were sorted by Honda. I think any alternator problems mean the engine has to come out though. Another option despite your reservations is an early BMW R65. Still plenty of both about.
Happy hunting
Tony
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CX starting to get pricier; however, website/club v helpful. Cx650 uses much less fuel snd is more long-legged...but seems in experience to be less bombproof. Tappets etc easy peasy, but it's engine out for camchain, stator, or "mech seal" that keeps water and oil apart. Some owners do all 3 jobs when the engine comes out - the "Triple Bypass" (and you should be asking about this when buying).
Suzuki GS seemed to attract sidecars back in the day; perhaps just necessity and poverty? May be affordable option, less hipster and more practical than XS650?
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this looks like a good deal if the story is correct ...
https://www.gumtree.com/p/honda-motorbikes/honda-cx500-low-miles.-3-owners/1275014408
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Needs welding to frame makes me nervous, pressed bits at bottom of frame tend to rot out and can't really be repaired so that's game over. No welding needed if caffing it? Wonder whatthatmeans?
39k may mean unmolested, or may be camchain time soon.
One thought: the later Euro types have auto camchain adjust, transistorised ign...and I of course think they look nicer!
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I agree, but if it's going to be a tug, then the looks are fine (I'd still change the seat , too big, seems to dominate the whole bike. and of course a 500 not as good at hauling a chair as the 650, but by all accounts a more robust unit.
also I'd Siamese the pipe to the right, the l/h pipe 'silencer' make the chair occupant deaf!
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Good info, thank you.
My only sidecar passenger is the dog and he never complains!
Andy
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Good info, thank you.
My only sidecar passenger is the dog and he never complains!
Andy
thats a bit ruff............ how about an XS750 ? or an XJ650
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Mmm. XJ650, UJM. Kwak GT 550 or 750. Bombproof, and real cheap ;)
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gs 850 shafty, torque, smooth, reliable easy to fix. gs650 shafty, also still cheap at the moment.
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The GS750 meets the age requirement and seems to be available in a non-chopped/cafe-racer/stuffed up condition. :)
Has a lot of carbs though, I detest the things. Maybe a single car carb conversion :-\ or maybe I just learn to live with them?
The CX has frame issues from a sidecar point of view, but still a possible. The subframe looks like something that could be done with flat bar and bolted through tube.
There also seems to be the illegal/triggers broom approach with Enfields. If you follow the Indian stamping system for frames and engines it seems they made about a million bikes in 1967 and sold the last one in 1993 ::) I guess once you have the historical plate no one will care until you crash it.
Prices may seem high if you are used to what they were a few years ago, but don't hugely worry me. I'm happy with the going rate on standard, maintained bikes. The mucked about ones I will avoid. The owners may think their artistic tendencies add value, but to me they need restoring.
Too much choice! Thanks for your help and suggestions.
Andy
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Just remembered. Simon Morgan runs a very reliable outfit on a 1990s Honda CB500. They are very reliable and cheap to buy, even in good nick. Plus, a twin, not a four ;)
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A Suzuki GS 650 or 850...shaft drive and unburstable motors !
Did have a Jawa Velorex...pretty good
Put Velorex onto a GS450 and that was pretty good then same chair onto a GS 650.
Then Blue Metro pulled out and destroyed it !
Jethro
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A blue METRO.... did people actually buy them🤣🤣🤣
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Oi!
Nothing wrong with metros, and the turbo was quite a nifty beast. People look at foreign cars with rose tinted glasses. The Datsun Cherry etc contemporary with the metro was hardly a great car. And as for the Renaults, Fiats etc........
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Oi!
Nothing wrong with metros, and the turbo was quite a nifty beast. People look at foreign cars with rose tinted glasses. The Datsun Cherry etc contemporary with the metro was hardly a great car. And as for the Renaults, Fiats etc........
Yep, In terms of VFM, my 4 year old Metro I bought back in the early 90's has to count as the best car I ever had. I bought it for 1800 pounds with 30k on the clock, ran it for 3 years and sold it for 800 with 120k on the clock. That 998cc 'A' series engine returned over 50mp for the entire period of my ownership, and apart from consumables, I never laid a spanner on it. The only downside was the bl@@dy stupid (and expensive) metric size tyres.....
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andy, the gs motors are unburstable and i wouldnt fret about the carbs. ive one in the shed that has done 274 thousand miles in the hands of a courier round the north of england, and its motor whilst smoking now, still runs. on inspection, its the valve stem oil seals that caused the smoke, not worn pistons or bores. the cv carbs need very little attention, perhaps a balance every couple of years. theyre nothing to worry about.
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Just to clarify things here gents.... I had my tongue firmly set in my cheek when I wrote that post😋😋... being a HUGE mini fan, the original shape ones and having owned about 10 of them, including two original mini vans. However I did once stray to the dark side and bought a metro turbo. Yes it was a nifty little thing without doubt but just somehow lacked the handling characteristics of the original minis. Kept it for a while then swapped it for..... yes another mini🤘
Wish I'd kept a couple of them, they're fetching ridiculous money nowadays. Especially the vans.
What with them and my jota, I'd probably be able to retire now... DOH🙁
Never mind still got the memories eh
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Yes, minis :)
My first car was a 1275 GT. I hadn't a clue and blew the engine up. It cost me that much to fix, I had to sell the car to pay the bill! Not a great start to my motoring career ;D
Lovely the metro chat, definitely suitable fodder for the Thumper site ;)