want to rebuild a classic bike, advice welcome?

[lewswitch]

I am looking for advice on locations to buy a classic bike that needs upgrading/restroing, I have some experience working with bikes throughout my younger and more recent days as welll as a mechanical aptitude and a job in engineering. I have a good size garage and workshop type tools and am ready to take the step to go buy something old and spend some (alot of) time and effort getting a good result from my labours.

I am looking for some advice on bikes to work on that I should keep an eye out for, engine size, make/model, general price for age (where condidtion is applicable I am aware that this needs considering), if there are any well known breakers, sellers, meets or shows etc. I am based in Cardiff and will travel anywhere.

[step2534]

Personally I would look in the classic bike magazines. I would buy a complete machine thats easy enough to work on BSA/ Triumph. I would go for a runner with a current MOT. ,even then you will spend Lots of hours maintaining and servicing.

This classic bike malarky is very time consuming (if you ride them) also very costly.
 Ive found the problem is with breakers and e bay you dont know what you are getting dont get me wrong you can do alright but its a risk.
 At least if you start with a complete bike and it runs you are more than halfway there. Thats my thoughts anyway.

[RichP]

It'll require time, committment and money and you're only going to be prepared to put those into it if you really want the end result. There are serial rebuilders who just need the engineering challenge but for most of us, it's a dream that needs research and planning.

What do you fancy working on and subsequently riding ?

If you're looking at British then it's really down to a single or a twin, unit or non-unit.  Do you like the style of the fifties, the sixties or the seventies (or older ?) Generally, the more recent then the less choice of models but greater availability of spare parts.

Smaller run of the mill bikes are often harder to find parts for and cost as much to restore. I'd suggest something with a few specialist dealers unless you want to spend your life at autojumbles (my idea of paradise but it doesn't appeal to everyone).

[Rex]

My advice would be to choose a bike carefully; too many seem to chuck time and money at a particular bike only to find that when it's done, they don't much like it.
A C15 takes a similar amount of time and money to an A10, but you may find a 250 slogger ain't really lighting your candles.
My other bits of advice are a) if you buy a bike in bits then as a rule of thumb price the value of the engine, forks, frame etc then add it all up and offer that as a max price, and b) if you're feeling cold, or pi**ed off, or hung-over and don't really want to be knocking old iron around, then don't, as you'll only rush or spoil something. It's supposed to be enjoyable, after all.

Basically old, big, sporty and complete is generally good and sought-after, but commuter, tiddler, obscure, or basic rolling chassis, isn't.

[yebbut]

Pardon me for being a killjoy, but if you have to ask that question, should you be doing it at all?

The world is full of tatty old bikes overvalued by their owners.

I suggest a trip to Netley March  in September might educate you.
There'll be tons of old tat for sale there for the optimistic and hopeful.

Good luck, you'll need it.


(Yebbut,  one time professional restorer of bikes. never again)

[Goldy]

lewswitch. I think yebbut is being a bit harsh but he is correct in that you can very easily end up with a load of junk.  I would suggest you start with the Old Bike Mart. This is a newspaper format and it is free although you can pay for postal delivery, I have had for over 25 years now it used to be a single sheet now it,s about 60 pages. As for bikes, stick with the main 3 Triumph, BSA, Norton and you will find plenty of spares (quality of some not very good), and advice. You have missed the VMCC Stanford Hall show in July but the Classic Bike Show at Stafford in April is a big one. All the best.

[Goldy]

Forgot there is also the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics show at Stafford in October.

[yebbut]

And I would also add, look twice at every ten pound note before you hand it over it will give you time to change your mind.

There are a lot of sharks out there waiting to bite the hand off someone new to this lark of old bikes.
I suggest you get around as many bike events as possible to see what takes your fancy, Join the appropriate owners club and get some advice there.

It goes with out saying stay away from the sort of exotica you see in glossy coffee table books, ohc Velo;  Norton Inters,  Gold Stars; comp bikes and so on; you'll likely not find one anyway.

[RichP]

The world is full of tatty old bikes overvalued by their owners.

Rather strangely, many of us are constantly amazed by the prices fetched and our valuations are rather lower than a lot of eBay bidders and buyers seem prepared to pay so I don't think that the problem always lies with sellers.

[wetdog]

"Norton Inter" went and had a look at one of these the other day , project plunger tele 500cc looks all there with lights ect came from Tony copper @ 1978 off the road since @ 1987 now in big lumps £12,000 is this to much ? i am tempted

[yebbut]

Rather strangely, many of us are constantly amazed by the prices fetched and our valuations are rather lower than a lot of eBay bidders and buyers seem prepared to pay so I don't think that the problem always lies with sellers.

Yes I should have written sellers instead of owner. Not the same thing at all.

Few can be more amazed at old bike prices than me, never having paid more than 250 quid for a  bike and that was a 1928  ex earls court show bike Sunbeam in oily rag condition.

I thought I was going some back then...........most of mine came out of sheds and cellers for a few pints or 40 fags.

Better to be  born lucky than rich I suppose.