Educate me

[johnr]

gs 850 shafty, torque, smooth, reliable easy to fix. gs650 shafty, also still cheap at the moment.

[Andy M]

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

[timbo]

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 

[002]

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

[Moto63]

A blue METRO.... did people actually buy them🤣🤣🤣

[iansoady]

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........

[CrazyFrog]

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.....

[johnr]

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.

[Moto63]

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

[timbo]

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 
Lovely the metro chat, definitely suitable fodder for the Thumper site