[danieljla]

Hey all,

Total beginner here. I really like the sort of Honda cafe racer style bikes, CB450 type bikes. In particular I really like the CL450 Scrambler. My great grandpa used to do desert rallies -- I think the early scramblers were the first ones to cross Baja. I'm into repairs, vintage and restoration in general, but still wondering how hard it would be to maintain these bikes these days with parts available.

Also I'm thinking about whether I might find something inexpensive and cool to learn on while I figure out what I really want. I would eventually like something I can tour a bit with. I've heard mixed things about whether the CB450s could fit the bill.

What are your thoughts? Any suggestions for an inexpensive starter bike? Any other bikes that blend this style bike with touring capability? Thanks!

 

[bweighmaster]

You might want to check out Royal Enfield ... Cheap , lots of opportunity to wrench on .....

 

[Tinsnips]

The CB450s are fantastic bikes. They have also become pricey in stock form due to their popularity for cafe racer conversions. The CL is even more rare. In the Honda camp, the Shadow is a great beginner bike and comes in varying size engines. The style bike you are looking for is referred to as a "standard" style - typically tank and seat on the same level with bars just above the forks. The Shadow is a cruiser style bike with the seat a little lower than the tank and sometimes higher bars.

This is the new equivalent of the CB line:

CB500F > Naked Bikes and Sporty Looks

Every ride is anything but ordinary on the Honda CB500F Naked Motorcycle

motorcycle.honda.ca

As mentioned above, Royal Enfield is a standard. Norton also makes the Thruxton but they are typically a little mnore expensive and a larger displacement. I would say it would be a great second bike.

 

[danieljla]

You might want to check out Royal Enfield ... Cheap , lots of opportunity to wrench on .....

Any recommendations for models/years? Looking on Ebay when I search Royal Enfield even with 'vintage' I am getting all new bikes... the ones I've seen still seem to be about $5000

 

[bweighmaster]

What's your budget ? If your looking for a bargin bike , Go with Honda Shadow ....

 

[danieljla]

The CB450s are fantastic bikes. They have also become pricey in stock form due to their popularity for cafe racer conversions. The CL is even more rare. In the Honda camp, the Shadow is a great beginner bike and comes in varying size engines. The style bike you are looking for is referred to as a "standard" style - typically tank and seat on the same level with bars just above the forks. The Shadow is a cruiser style bike with the seat a little lower than the tank and sometimes higher bars.

This is the new equivalent of the CB line:

CB500F > Naked Bikes and Sporty Looks

Every ride is anything but ordinary on the Honda CB500F Naked Motorcycle

motorcycle.honda.ca

As mentioned above, Royal Enfield is a standard. Norton also makes the Thruxton but they are typically a little mnore expensive and a larger displacement. I would say it would be a great second bike.

Actually really liking the Shadow.

What's your budget ? If your looking for a bargin bike , Go with Honda Shadow ....

I would say max $5-6,000 but was hoping to do less initially as I'm just learning to ride. I guess I'm still not familiar with what's considered cheap in this style of bikes, hehe

 

[danieljla]

Actually really liking some models of the Shadow...

 

[bweighmaster]

I own 2.... 05 - 07 .. both for less than 5K . 05 has 55,000 mi. 07 with 20,000.

 

[Calculon]

Do you want an adventure bike or a cruiser? At some point your going to have to pick. Do you have your license yet? If not, I'd focus on that before getting too serious about buying a motorcycle. The class is a lot less expensive than a bike and you won't have to sell the bike at a loss because you decided riding is not your cup of tea, which is not uncommon after completing the riders course.

There's some merit to the idea that your objective when getting a motorcycle should be to become a better rider, not find your forever bike that's probably hard to find anyways. Swerving, negotiating curve, panic stops, etc will save rear on the road. I say a used dual sport 250/300cc that you can drop and no one will tell you it's worth half what you paid for it cause it's probably already been dropped many times, is a good first bike. You can take it off road to learn, which is much more forgiving than concrete or asphalt. You can likely tour on it if you're not expecting to go freeway speeds. Then when you're ready you can sell it, probably for close what you paid for it, and get the bike you want.

If you're willing to spend $6k, you can likely get a modern smaller bike that's few years old, but has FI and a shot at ABS, which is good for newbs. Something like a CB500x would be a light off road good mile eater. As bikes age parts can be at times harder to find and more expensive if you do. Sometimes there's Chinese parts too, so a lot will depend on the model too. If you see a nice looking older bike like you want there's a good chance it been sitting for an extended period at some point, which is not good for the bike, so that may add to the cost of the bike. I would say if you want an older bike that can do light off road and tour, the BMW F or G650GS might be worth a look. They're FI and gives you a shot at ABS. Looks they start at about $5k on CycleTrader. Good luck my friend and welcome.

 

[bweighmaster]

Might be best to just find a TTR 125 used , learn that , then move on .....

 

[Traveller11]

Hey all,

Total beginner here. I really like the sort of Honda cafe racer style bikes, CB450 type bikes. In particular I really like the CL450 Scrambler. My great grandpa used to do desert rallies -- I think the early scramblers were the first ones to cross Baja. I'm into repairs, vintage and restoration in general, but still wondering how hard it would be to maintain these bikes these days with parts available.

Also I'm thinking about whether I might find something inexpensive and cool to learn on while I figure out what I really want. I would eventually like something I can tour a bit with. I've heard mixed things about whether the CB450s could fit the bill.

What are your thoughts? Any suggestions for an inexpensive starter bike? Any other bikes that blend this style bike with touring capability? Thanks!

I don't know what area you are in but either of these may fit your plan and they are brand new and in your price range. Having a older bike to tinker on and build is fun but having one you can ride every day is better.

But going slightly used will save you the unboxing fees so I would find a almost new bike if it were me since you can ride out at the price marked plus tax.

All Inventory

Shop Quaker City Motor Sport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Dealers for BMW, Ducati, Triumph & Royal Enfield, with Motorcycles & Scooters for sale. Get Service, Parts & Financing, too. Visit our motorcycle store today!

quakercitymotorsport.com

 

[WormGear]

The CB450 has drums. You can arc the pads & learn the tricks to make them work pretty well but it's an art that takes mechanical skill & time.
The other art you'll have to learn is not locking them up.

Disks & ABS solve these problems like the ones on the bike in the picture.
Good brakes are pretty important for any rider and probably even more so for a new one.

Here's a new (2022) one for $4800

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2022-Royal+Enfield-CONTINENTAL+GT+ROCKER+RED-5021801795

 

[Doc Samson]

Welcome to the forum! I'm going to agree with the great Calculon...

There's some merit to the idea that your objective when getting a motorcycle should be to become a better rider, not find your forever bike that's probably hard to find anyways. Swerving, negotiating curve, panic stops, etc will save rear on the road. I say a used dual sport 250/300cc

I've been riding for a lot less time than most here (5 years or so) and started on a Ninja 300 before moving to a CBR F4i a year later. I love sport bikes but picked up a little CRF230 super moto a couple of summers ago and found myself wishing I'd started on it! Had a blast despite it's limited range/power.

 

[bweighmaster]

Refering to my Shadows , 1 bike was $ 1800. Other was $ 2500.

 

[Traveller11]

The CB450 has drums. You can arc the pads & learn the tricks to make them work pretty well but it's an art that takes mechanical skill & time.
The other art you'll have to learn is not locking them up.

Disks & ABS solve these problems like the ones on the bike in the picture.
Good brakes are pretty important for any rider and probably even more so for a new one.
View attachment 79016

Here's a new (2022) one for $4800

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2022-Royal+Enfield-CONTINENTAL+GT+ROCKER+RED-5021801795

The REs are really great bikes and I love they they are cornering the lower priced market. They are rebuilding the brand and customer base at the same time. Having new bikes on the showroom floor for under $6K is a great way to bring in new riders that are unsure of what they really want. Plus they seem to hold value pretty well.

 

[danieljla]

G650GS

Thanks Calculon. I think ideally I want something I can ride in the city (not too too heavy) and also take trips on. Dirt roads would be a plus but I'm probably more geared towards asphalt. Not sure if that settles anything. I'm living in Los Angeles (city) and San Diego (countryside) at the moment. I like to be mobile and it would be great to have a bike to pick up and take short trips with. Longer trips through the Southwest or up the coast would be fun. I'm kind of a sucker for certain styles, don't much like the look of the BMWs, my brother had one. Keen on the Yamaha and Honda 'standard'/cafe racer styles, and I'm liking some of the Royal Enfields. But I suppose these aren't intended for touring necessarily... I thought there might be some sort of hybrid I could use to tour a bit/put some smaller bags on, but maybe I will just have to narrow it down more. Thanks for the suggestions, might very well start with a dual sport to learn

 

[danieljla]

By the way, no license yet --

 

[danieljla]

I don't know what area you are in but either of these may fit your plan and they are brand new and in your price range. Having a older bike to tinker on and build is fun but having one you can ride every day is better.
View attachment 79013
View attachment 79014

But going slightly used will save you the unboxing fees so I would find a almost new bike if it were me since you can ride out at the price marked plus tax.
View attachment 79015

All Inventory

Shop Quaker City Motor Sport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Dealers for BMW, Ducati, Triumph & Royal Enfield, with Motorcycles & Scooters for sale. Get Service, Parts & Financing, too. Visit our motorcycle store today!

quakercitymotorsport.com

That Royal Enfield looks awesome

 

[danieljla]

The CB450 has drums. You can arc the pads & learn the tricks to make them work pretty well but it's an art that takes mechanical skill & time.
The other art you'll have to learn is not locking them up.

Disks & ABS solve these problems like the ones on the bike in the picture.
Good brakes are pretty important for any rider and probably even more so for a new one.
View attachment 79016

Here's a new (2022) one for $4800

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2022-Royal+Enfield-CONTINENTAL+GT+ROCKER+RED-5021801795

Looks awesome.

 

[Traveller11]

That Royal Enfield looks awesome

The REs are great bikes with a long history. They are also pretty bullet proof when it comes to quality. It is the type of bike that you could learn on then keep it in the garage next to your new bike later on. Plus they really don't break the bank and if you can find a 1 or 2 year old used one they are a great deal. I recently saw a brand new 2020 still on the showroom floor but for that you will still have to pay the unboxing fees.