Vintage motorcycles all the rage now ?

[fastfredracing]

The bug has bitten me, and I want to ride again . I have my heart set on a dual sport. I had a 1986 xl 250 when I was a kid, and I would love to purchase that exact bike, but I am open to any dual sport from the big 3 , 250, 350, or 600. Will probably stay on the smaller side, as I am not planning on any long distance rides, and will probably ride off road as much as on road, if not more .
I have been shopping for a while, and what blows my mind is that people are asking more money for bikes from the 70's , than for more modern bikes .
While I think the older bikes are cool, I plan on riding , not tinkering , so I am looking for something a little more up to date , and a little more capable in the woods .
Just to give you a a quick example .
Yamaha Other | eBay
Granted, it would be very cool to ride an old two stroke on the road

[ckelly78z]

My son still rides his 1986 Honda XR200 almost every day. I had a matching 1989 XR200 until I bought my BILs low mileage 2003 Kawasaki KLR250 enduro......both sweet running bikes, and small enough to still be tossible.

If I were to do more trail/woods riding, I would change the stock enduro tires on my 250 to a much more aggressive knobby type tire.

[bri450sl]

I bought a new 1993 Honda XR650L years ago. Don't buy one and don't believe the hype. Too heavy for off road and too tall/light for highway driving.

[JavaBrewer]

Motion (Richard) called it years ago.

[Chocaholic]

KLR 650. Done.

[Don Ro]

I bought this '75 DT400 a while back from a widow in the AZ mountains.
572 Original miles, manuals, and dealer's brochure. Her hubby took off the signals & she couldn't find them.
Been offered $6k from a visitor/collector from Florida. I'm making it more OEM complete at the moment...turn signals, etc.
It's sitting in my Sun Room snoozing away.
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[Bill Douglas]

I've got back into motorbikes after 35 years without one. I do ride scooters when I'm in Rarotonga so that kind of gave me the confidence to get back into it.

I bought this 2004 Honder 400 and made it (sort of) road legal. Great to do the dual sport thing as it makes an excellent "going out for coffee" sort of machine.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by bri450sl

I bought a new 1993 Honda XR650L years ago. Don't buy one and don't believe the hype. Too heavy for off road and too tall/light for highway driving.

They're heavy and TALL!!!
I have a Suz. DRZ400 that I decided to lower 1" - front/back.
It's now a good ride. Only street.
I'm 5' 10".
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BTW, it's for sale...2010, mint with 560 miles...also sitting indoors.
Yes, I'm a bachelor.
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[Don Ro]

"I bought this 2004 Honder 400 and made it (sort of) road legal."
~~~~~~~~~~
I always wanted one of those.
No cush drive, did you know?

[Tobra]

You cleared this with your new boss?

[asphaltgambler]

To answer your question - yes especially the Japanese variety of first of's going up quickly, with nice 2-stroke stuff strongly in demand like the Yamaha above^^^^

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I've got back into motorbikes after 35 years without one. I do ride scooters when I'm in Rarotonga so that kind of gave me the confidence to get back into it.

I bought this 2004 Honder 400 and made it (sort of) road legal. Great to do the dual sport thing as it makes an excellent "going out for coffee" sort of machine.

Funny, I bought a couple 50 cc scooters this season for when we are vacation, and that is exactly what pulled me right back in . First time I rode around the block, I realized how much I really missed it . I spent my youth on two wheels in the woods . Quit riding at about 25 years old .

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by Tobra

You cleared this with your new boss?

She says no, but Im doing it anyways... How do you think this will work out for me ?

[Chocaholic]

What could possibly go wrong? Enjoy!

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

"I bought this 2004 Honder 400 and made it (sort of) road legal."
~~~~~~~~~~
I always wanted one of those.
No cush drive, did you know?

LOL, I had to google cush drive. I need to strip down, clean and setup the carb for my altitude which is a bit above sea level. As it can be an arse to start I know how to after spending lots of time on The XR400 Thread | Adventure Rider but I'm a bit nervous about pulling it apart. But I love the bike. The funny thing is after riding the XR400R it makes the SC and the Corolla feel very refined.

Fred the riding in Rarotonga is so safe it was a very graceful reintroduction to motorbike riding - gave me the confidence I needed to get back on.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

LOL, I had to google cush drive.

And I had to Google Rarotonga.
Never heard of it. Beautiful island.

[Don Ro]

"Real men ride on two wheels; free as any man can ever be."

- - Unknown

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

And I had to Google Rarotonga.
Never heard of it. Beautiful island.

A great place... An amazing place.

And to keep it on topic; most people ride around on a scooter

[MMiller]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

I bought this '75 DT400 a while back from a widow in the AZ mountains.
572 Original miles, manuals, and dealer's brochure. Her hubby took off the signals & she couldn't find them.
Been offered $6k from a visitor/collector from Florida. I'm making it more OEM complete at the moment...turn signals, etc.
It's sitting in my Sun Room snoozing away.
.

.

Oooooo I like that A LOT. Radial fin head and all!

[Bill Douglas]

When we were school kids one of the guys had a Yamaha 360, much the same bike I suppose. I remember it as being brutal - mind you I was a Honda 125 boy hehe.