Anyone recomend an easy to keep on the road Brit ?

[Dominic Thompson]

Hi there,

I have never owned a British motorbike before (only tatty jap bikes) and am considering buying a British bike.  Can anyone recomend one for around £2k that is easy to maintain and keep on the road, probably between 350 to 500cc

I'm not a mechanical genius but have done maintainance items in the past like cables, wheel bearings, tyres, exhausts, servicing, cleaned carbs etc

Many thanks

Dominic Thompson

[tempo54]

prsonally I WOUL RECOMMEND ANY BIKE POWERED BY VILLIERS
ASi I am a twostroke nut

[swe.]

hi ,Go for a unit triumph cheaper bits and easy to mend, also BSA M20 /M21 army models are virtually unbreakable,but a bit heavy on fuel , I abused one for years with a sidecar , and its supposed to be still up and running after a missionary type took it to Africa to use .

[Goldie]

I would personally go for a unit construction Triumph from the 60s.
Tons of spares for these models are readily available from various specialist dealers and auto jumbles etc around the country.

They are quite easy to maintain and strip down if nessessary, and fairly reliable, and also a good looker if it is bought up to a good standard.

At the end of the day it is your choice.

[Blue]

I'd lean towards either a BSA A7/A10 circa 1958-62 or a swinging-arm AJS/Matchless single circa 1950-60.

All of these bikes are mechanically sound, in a comparitively mild state of tune and need little care whilst parts are plentiful and, in most cases, being re-manufactured.   You'll get more power from the BSA twins but the old singles are good simple fun without needing to go fast - just make sure you've got a healthy right-leg!

[Searchguru]

Buy something you can afford, that you like the look of and that you can start and comfortably ride. Look through the Freead papers, mags and the spawn of Satan that is eBay and see what is about. Ask any biking friends you have and put ads in local papers. You never know, you might get an offer of something. Whatever you get will undoubtedly have an owners club that you can consult or ask on this site if you get problems. One of the reasons Jap bikes took over the world was that they generally needed less fettling than the average Brit bike. So be prepared to be tinkering with whatever you buy to keep it sweet.
You've already had half a dozen worthy models suggested and I'm sure you'll get more. For every recommendation there will be someone with the opposite opinion. There such a wide choice that it is impossible to get a definitive/correct answer. 32 years ago I had a 650 Bonnie that I pushed more than I rode and yet someone is bound to recommend one. I wish I still had it as I'm sure it was a good bike somewhere deep inside. Whatever you decide on good luck with your quest.

[Hunter]

I,d look for a 4 stroke single, Matchless/Ajs or an Enfield etc, a twin is twice the work of a single.