Restoration advice

[Crooksey]

I was hoping to win the battle allowing me to restore a classic car, but space in our garage is an issue, so a comprise was made on a bike.

However I dont know the first thing about classic (or modern) bikes, I was just after advice on what bikes I could get hold of fairly cheaply, and be able to fully restore in my garage. Driveability dosent concern me as this is a mechanical hobby as opposed to a riding one

Sorry if this question is not appropriate. but would be grateful for all responses.

[L.A.B.]

OK well, first, no restoration is likely to be 'cheap' and it does tend to depend on how much of the work you intend to do yourself, and how much you intend to get done by others?

Also your expectations of what the end result will be? From a tidy runner with maybe a few incorrect parts and basic paintwork, to a fully concours showpiece, correct in every detail?

I take it you intend to restore a British bike?

If you were to buy an obscure or rare model in boxes then you could spend years tracking down the bits you need, some of which may be unavailable.

There's still a reasonable supply of spare parts for many 60's and '70s BSA, Triumph, or Norton models, and many spares for the more common models like the Triumph twins and Norton Commando are still being manufactured, so finding the majority of spares isn't normally a problem.

If you intended to restore an older Japanese bike then many spares are getting hard to find and various parts can be expensive, and many parts are just about unavailable.      

[Crooksey]

I hope todo all of the work myself.

I would prefer to get a bike with parts easily available, classic status isnt really an issue, I presumed that a modern bike would require specialist tools to work on, hence why opting for a classic bike.

Execptions are just to sell it on, not show condition, also never looking to ride it, just restore it!

[L.A.B.]

I hope todo all of the work myself.

Even chrome plating or machining?

I would prefer to get a bike with parts easily available, classic status isnt really an issue,

Then a late-ish BSA, Triumph or Norton single or twin cylinder bike could be the best option? But it will also depend on what you can find at a price you would be willing to pay? Even rough or incomplete non-runners seem to be advertised for over (sometimes well over) £1000 these days.  


 

I presumed that a modern bike would require specialist tools to work on, hence why opting for a classic bike.

You are likely to find that even working on older bikes may require the use of some special tools, although they aren't always particularly expensive, and you could make some yourself easily enough if you wanted to?

Execptions are just to sell it on, not show condition, also never looking to ride it, just restore it!

If your intention is to do this as a hobby for your own amusement then the actual cost won't be so important possibly? However, if you intend to do this to sell the bike for a profit, or just break even, then you are likely to end up out of pocket.  

[Crooksey]

Tools wise I probably have nearly all tools you would find within a car workshop, but not many bike tools.

Chrome plating and machining would probably have to be sent away for.

If i was to pick up a modern non runner, and fix that up, would I require a lot of specialist tools, or just need a decent selection? Like I said the tools I have, allow me to fully strip down and re-assemble a car and components.

[L.A.B.]

If i was to pick up a modern non runner, and fix that up, would I require a lot of specialist tools, or just need a decent selection? Like I said the tools I have, allow me to fully strip down and re-assemble a car and components.

Specialist car tools are unlikely to be of much use, although you may be able to adapt the odd item?

The special tools you may need generally aren't particularly expensive items (unless you are thinking about restoring a BMW perhaps?) but you are likely need at least some special tools.
But you must appreciate that until you have more idea what type of bike you intend to restore it does make giving advice about this sort of thing rather difficult, and going into detail over the pros and cons of all the different types could be worthy of an article?
 
Working on Japanese bikes is normally fairly straightforward, and they can usually stripped and rebuilt with a fairly standard set of (metric) tools (and an impact driver etc.?), unfortunately many Japanese bikes are less 'owner repairable' than a British machine would be, for instance many Japanese bikes have overhead cams whose bearings probably run directly in the alloy of the cylinder head, making any cam bearing repair work a specialist job.
 Likewise many Japanese bikes have built-up ball bearing crankshafts, and again they are likely to need specialist attention if any repair work is required, unless you have your own 10-ton press?
Various *genuine* Japanese parts like exhaust systems for instance, can be quite expensive.