Advice purchasing older motorcycle

Argo

Argo

Member
Forum Sponsor
I posted a similar thread here in 2010, just before I bought my current bike. It was of great help, I knew I wanted a older bike, Honda 750 actually, always wanted a Honda 750 ever since I was a wee lad.

At any rate I posted for help, and got great advice. The biggest help I got was repeated suggestions that I get a bike with a rad, as it had a better chance of lasting longer. I did just that, purchased a 1984 V45 Magna 750 Honda. It had a rad and also Cam shaft, which I love, no maintenance with chain, beautiful.

Bike works great, paid 1500 for it,certified it for 69 bucks, all I have done is oil changes and purchased rear tire this spring that`s it, have put over 23,000 khm over almost 3 full seasons now.

I would still like something bigger, always wanted a Gold Wing, lots of them available out there. But I suspect they may have a chain as apposed to drive shaft, and unsure about Rad.

At any rate I got such great sound advice last time, thought I would try it again .

Not interested in modern bikes at all, sorry

Thanks to anybody with a opinion, does not have to be Gold Wing or Honda even, I had a 1978 GS 550 Suzuki once that I really enjoyed

But want rad and Drive Shaft
 
If it is a Gold wing you want, and you do not want a newer one, get the 1500cc model They are shaft drive and liquid cooled and 6 cylinder. I believe the first year for the 1500 Gold Wing was 1988 so any 1988 or newer would be fine. Older wings will be 4 cylinder, and different engine size dependant on the year, started as naked bikes in the mid 70's and later added Vetter fairings and bags. Went to an 1,100 cc then to a 1,200 cc before finally going to the 6 cylinder 1500 cc model.

Other good bikes in that catagory, but were not around long, would be the Yamaha V-4 1300cc shaft drive Venture. Great bikes, same engine platform as the Vmax in a touring bike with more cc displacement.
 
Last edited:
Outlaws Justice said:
If it is a Gold wing you want, and you do not want a newer one, get the 1500cc model They are shaft drive and liquid cooled and 6 cylinder. I believe the first year for the 1500 Gold Wing was 1988 so any 1988 or newer would be fine. Older wings will be 4 cylinder, and different engine size dependant on the year, started as naked bikes in the mid 70's and later added Vetter fairings and bags. Went to an 1,100 cc then to a 1,200 cc before finally going to the 6 cylinder 1500 cc model.

Other good bikes in that catagory, but were not around long, would be the Yamaha V-4 1300cc shaft drive Venture. Great bikes, same engine platform as the Vmax in a touring bike with more cc displacement.
Click to expand...

FANTASTIC RESPONSE, thanks, just the kind of info I was after. You cant buy advice this good :) AWESOME
 
The Honda has a know reputation as well and able to last a long time, One of the instructors I work with has over 150,000 Miles on his. My Dad also has a 1995 1500cc model that I ride on Occasion. (I think the Newer 1800 cc bikes is a much better machine all around,) but if you want older the 1500cc would be the best one to get. It was made the longest, there are tons of them avaialble and parts are easy to get. Lots of support etc.
 
I have a 1980 GL1100 Interstate I am thinking about selling right now. PM if you are interested.
 
Two bikes I bought with both rads and shaft drive: 84 Honda Shadow VT750C and 99 Honda ST1100. Never an issue.
I keep passing a guy on the way to the cottage with an older Wing for sale a couple of months now in the town of Warsaw, Ontario if you want to pop up to see him. It was there last weekend and I'm heading by there tomorrow too if you want his # I can stop in and get it for you.
 
Outlaws Justice said:
The Honda has a know reputation as well and able to last a long time, One of the instructors I work with has over 150,000 Miles on his. My Dad also has a 1995 1500cc model that I ride on Occasion. (I think the Newer 1800 cc bikes is a much better machine all around,) but if you want older the 1500cc would be the best one to get. It was made the longest, there are tons of them avaialble and parts are easy to get. Lots of support etc.
Click to expand...

Very good!

I failed to mention this...It is very true that I like the older bikes, love the gold Wings etc, even like my little V45 Magna 750, people sometimes mistaken it for being smaller (not appreciated LOL)

But the other reason.. I figured went without saying is the price is low for the older bikes, but dont get me wrong I do prefer the look, dont go for these modern ones..to quote a old biker I know...they look like they are doing it like a dog, love dogs btw, just that the shapes do not work for me.

thanks for great advice
 
Would be great thanks, btw was very serious when I posted this, however with season coming to end in October (for me until snow falls) may continue search over winter. Also current bike still very strong.

But yes it might just be the one, would appreciate very much
 
I had an '83 goldwing when I was 17, great bike, large and in charge. The only problem I ever had with it was front fork seals would go every spring. The goldwings have been shaft for a long time, I know my '83 was shaft and its what I prefer, next would be belt and last chain. I commuted mainly with the goldwing, wish I had been into touring back then, with summers pretty much free and a perfect touring bike
 
just wondering what a rad is...and its advantages?

never owned/ridden a bike but really love the old ones - favourite is 78 honda cb750
 
abkdt41 said:
just wondering what a rad is...and its advantages?

never owned/ridden a bike but really love the old ones - favourite is 78 honda cb750
Click to expand...

Rad is just short for radiator, like all cars have. liquid Cooling system as apposed to just being air cooled :)
 
abkdt41 said:
Thanks Argo.

What about the difference between cam and drive shaft and their advantages?
Click to expand...


I am not a expert, all I know is that I drove bikes for years with sprockets and chains. You always are adjusting tension etc, kind of a headache.

Difference between cam shaft and drive shaft? As I said I am not a expert(perhaps someone else will come by and correct me, but I think they are the same)

At any rate chains are a pain, drive shaft is almost maintenance free, in my case it is maintenance free. The 3 seasons I have had my current bike with drive shaft, I have done nothing to it, absolutely nothing, it`s great! A chain on the other hand I would have to adjust somewhat frequently, popping up on big kick stand, loosening wheel bolt and adjusting chain tension.

That`s the difference to me...if there is a difference between cam shaft and drive shaft, I do not know for sure, I think are the same, perhaps just language??
 
Cam shaft? Drive shaft? You are mixing up the functions of the bike - engine vs drive train. 1/ Engine - the lower end has to turn the top end to operate one or more cam shafts that control the valves. that is transmitted either by a chain driven by gears, or a uninterrupted collection of gears. (let's skip the push rod design option for now)

2/ Drive train - the power from the engine to the back wheel. It gets back there either by the almighty chain driven by a gear at each end (commonly call those gears sprockets) or a set of enclosed gears coming off the transmission and turning a drive shaft that ends up with more gears in a housing at the back wheel. ie. Shaft Drive.

If you like shaft drive you still have to maintain that system each year. Get it done or read the manual. Check levels and change/top up fluid at the front and rear gear housings according to the manual. There are seals in there too that can leak and that's a big PITA compared to replacing a chain and sprockets.
It's more about your care and use of the machine than the inherent design choices. There are people almost terrified to ride a shaftie with thoughts of bad torque handling effects or a shaft seizing up.
Buy what you like and take care of it.
 
Last edited:
abkdt41 said:
Thanks Argo.

What about the difference between cam and drive shaft and their advantages?
Click to expand...

A cam is a lumpy stick located inside the motor and it opens the valves (except in the case of a "Desmo" setup which opens AND closes the valves).

A driveshaft tramsmitts the power from the transmission to the drive wheel(s).
 
The seller in Warsaw, Ont has a black 1983 Honda GL1100 asking $2500. I don't know if that's good or not. He says he put in a new stator and front tire last year. I will send you his phone number if you are interested PM me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom