Which bike...
 

Hi Folks,

I'm trying to find a cheap bike that I can repair to produce a practical tourer. Which bikes could you advise me to choose from that are easy to work on, have reasonably priced spares, reliable when finished and can steer itself! Any ideas and comments welcome, I'm just starting out on bike maintenance and would like something to compliment my Enfield efi single cylinder on longer trips :)

Mike

Hi Mike,

Quite a few threads on this topic in search to get you started. It is a common question we all seek the answer to. Unfortunately everyone's needs are different. Are you planning trips outside the UK? What sort of trade offs are important to you? Can you pack minimally and ride a smaller bike? Or do you require lots of luggage carrying capacity? Is it just for you or do you need a bike for 2?

In the end many people in the UK searching for an economic mid sized overland bike gravitate towards a handful of bikes known for reliability and durability. I prefer smaller bikes that get better fuel economy. Others from the UK will be along shortly to recommend a Yamaha XT600, Honda Transalp or other promising bike.

Personally, I would ride the Enfield and use the extra money for travel and learn maintenance and repairs the hard way. Alas, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Best luck in your search.

Kindest regards,
John Downs

Honda C-90...
good reply is here..you will love it...Currently done by Ed...
and 2 others on the way to magadan from UK...
for details pls. get in touch with him.

Hitler finds out about my trip *comedy* *Explicit*

Wish you all the best..

Thanks guys, some good thoughts. How about odler BMWs or similar?

Mike

Twin shock airhead BMWs can be trusty steeds, easy to fix, reasonably priced spares and not too expensive to buy, £800 should get you something quite reasonable, forget G/S they are totally overpriced. The problem is that they are quite thirsty, I ride steadily and get up to 50 MPG but many people only get 40. A reasonable choice if you are planning to go two up and share the cost but for one person expensive to run.

Evolution engined Harley-Davidson tourers (Road King, Electra-Glide, etc.) You can find well loved, little used ones comparatively cheaply. Spares are not ridiculous if you use non franchise suppliers and they are easy to work on.

I think the original poster needs to define "cheap" a little more clearly, whilst I agree with Tourider that the big Harley is a capable and practical tourer even second hand they are many times the price I had in mind.
If a Harley does take your fancy what about a Sportster? fit a screen, a big tank and you have a practical bike with easy maintainance and loads of character.

That's a good range for me to look at, many thanks

Mike

Stick with the Enfield, thats what I am trying to use!

As you might have guessed I used to have an old airhead ( 1985 R80rt) it has more mph than my Enfield Electra but I find I do just as many Miles per day as I used to on The bmw, possibly more, as on my first two week trip I gained two days on my planned itinerary.

Actually, I have 2 airhead BM's, 100/7 and R80gs Kalahari, both give the wrong side of 40mpg, I am about to embark on a trip on the Enfield and hopefully report some good findings, I did 1450miles from door-door on my recent Isle of Man trip and enjoyed every single mile on the Island, but hated every M-way mile.
You just need to plan a bit on the Enfield, if you are pushed for time you can't just 'turn the wick' up to make up time on the road.