I have successfully removed all trace of the data tool alarm. So now pretty much good to go, just need to make a luggage system. (Triumph Thunderbird 900)

I love old bikes, but my problem has been finding parts for them. I'm still riding a pre 2008 KLR650, and parts have been easy to find. But go back to a KLR600, and it gets much harder. I also have an '01 XT225, and parts are still available for it. But I also recently sold a '79 DT250. It needed a new top end, and had been setting for 2 years because I was unable to find parts for it. Depends on the bike. The first gen KLR650 and the XT225 were both made for a long time, and have good support as far as parts and accessories go. Less popular older bikes won't have that.

I also have a 2013 Royal Enfield B5 Bullet. It's mostly my nice weather bike. It has FI, and I plan to replace that with a carb. I don't care for bikes I can't work on.

I've heard people say something similar many times and it's got me wondering. The counter argument is that FI (or any other electronics) is so reliable that you'll never need to work on it.

The thing is I've heard it all before. Back at the dawn of time, when everyone was riding old school Triumphs and stuff like that, (and presumably fixing them at every street corner with cigarette papers and a big hammer) people were saying exactly the same thing about the CB750 Honda - "great bike but so complicated; how can anyone fix that at home". These days of course that era is now seen as the good old days where everything was simple and easy. The bikes haven't changed so it must be in our perception. CB750s looked complicated compared to a side valve Harley but now they look simple compared to an R1.

Of course you couldn't do much to a CB750 or similar with cigarette papers and a big hammer, you'd need dwell meters, vacuum gauges, dial gauges if it was a two stroke, that kind of stuff - and some knowledge of how these things work. Are we in the same position now with FI and ECUs, where we just need a bit more knowledge, a laptop instead of a hammer, software in place of feeler gauges and an understanding of what's supposed to be going on.

It's the understanding bit that's the stumbling block. Much of the electronics side of things is seen as a "black box" mystery - wires go in, wires come out and what happens in the middle, well something, probably, I hope. Yet it can't be that complicated - can it? Anyone here regularly messing around with ignition or fueling maps, trying to get a few more mpg out of their Enfield (or any other FI bike). Every FI vehicle I've ever owned (cars or bikes) has been far more reliable than stuff with points and carbs (5 or 6 of them in the garage, none of which run atm, but at least I know where to pour the petrol) so there is something to be said for it.

How old is an older bike? To me 10 plus year's is an older bike but not an old bike. An old bike must be round the 40 year old mark, or a few year's younger. I've got a Honda that's knocking on 23 year's old, cir 1991. Is that old or older?


For what I paid for it, and for what it can do, was well worth the money. As for traveling on an older bike. The question is. What kind of use are you going to give it? My CBR 1000f is just a road bike. If any one want just a road bike to travel on, you can't go far wrong with any thing that carry's the CB logo. A by word for reliability, well built, easy spare's, and most places can fix them, if something goes wrong. Why do I still use my old Honda? Tank range is about 200 mile's, can eat the miles up. Riding solo, it will carry all your kit with soft bag's and a top box. Starts first time every time. Let me down once, but that turned out to be a corroded connector in the wiring loom. An easy fix once I found it.


So it's really up to you. What are you going to do with it, and how much have you to spend?
Any way I wish you well in your search.
John933

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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.