New to this section... Have some questions!

[jmdjax]

Let's say one had $1,000 to spend and thought of buying a motorcycle capable of all of the things we like about motorcycles.

Gas mileage, ability to go on or off-road, expedition-capable, ability to store things and keep them dry...

What is there?

I am not stranger to motorcycles, but I have always owned and ridden Suzuki GSXRs, Ducati's, and some cruisers and such.. Street Bikes, mainly... I have always loved the BMW K1200Rs, but for this purpose I need something much more affordable.

I want something a little simpler, a little more rugged, a little more utilitarian, but still fun, reliable, and useful, and good gas mileage.

Oh, and a LOT cheaper than what I am used to paying for my Duc's or Zuk's.

What's on the market right now? Is there anything around in that price I should particularly look for? Style? Design? Brand?

Be specific as I am very new to these types of bikes...

Thanks!

I have wanted another bike for a long time but could never afford it. With gas rising, my Daily Driven FJ40 might have to take a rest every now and then if I can pull something like this off.

 

[sandalscout]

$1000 is your budget on the bike, or bike and accessories (luggage, tools, spares, etc)?

Honestly, $1000 is not going to get you anything modern enough to not have to put (at least) $400-500 more into it to get it capable of any serious lengths trips.

If I were looking for a bare-bones budget bike, I would seriously look into something of the 250cc class bikes, and then lay out a basic plan. For $1500 or so, you can get a few year old, low-mileage bike, something like a XT225 or XT250, maybe a Honda CR230, KLR250, DR200, or perhaps something a little older and bigger (KLR650, DR650, etc). The smaller bikes have some real advantages (forces you to travel lighter, easy to pick up, travel slower is a good thing) but also some disadvantages (lower top speed, light in winds, not as much power, not as popular in some places). I think that they make GREAT first dual sport bikes though, and with some decent planning and time in them will do just about anything you could want it to. Just might not look as "cool" or do it as fast.

That said, if you have some offroad/dirt road experience, the DRZ400 is an excellent choice, with some caveats. It's got a great aftermarket, is only slightly heavier than most 250s, and responds well to modifications. You can find them for about $2500 in really good shape from time to time, but the seats are not comfortable.

On just about any bike you choose factor in $200-400 for a new seat, $80-100 for hand guards, $100-150 for skid plate, side covers for the engine if available, probably $150-200 for tools (tire irons, replacements for the crappy stock tools, air pump), spare parts (levers, tubes, etc) and then luggage. A lot of this stuff can be found second hand at good prices, if you are willing to compromise on some of it and wait for deals.

In my opinion, starting with a used bike, regardless of what you buy, I would break up the costs into three categories, after the purchase of the bike:

bike protection ($150 minimum-$300 average)
Parts/Tools ($100 minimum-$250 average)
Luggage and racks ($100 minimum-$750)

Luggage is also highly personal, you can get a cheap rear rack and fabbing up bike panniers ($50 new for Nashbar waterproof panniers) and strapping a duffel to the rear on the low end, new lightweight (no rack/supports needed) mid-range soft luggage like a giantloop for about $400 or so, to full-on hard panniers for about $750, depending on what you want to carry. This is possibly the most expensive area and definitely the most subjective.

I know this is a huge message, but basically, what I'm getting at is $1000 is not going to get you a lot of bike, or at least not a good shape reliable one, most of the time, in my opinion. There are plenty of jewels out there, and occasionally you can find them in that range, but I think deciding on what class of bike (250cc, 450cc, 650cc, 850cc, 1000+cc) will decide your minimum price first, and then what you want to do with it will determine how much more you want to put into it. I love my XT250, it's a great first bike for me, I've learned tons, it's super easy to work on, but I'm planning on moving to a DRZ400 in the next year or so. All of my modifications currently planned for the XT will be transferable to any new bike I get.

Hope that helps some and isn't too long!

 

[goodtimes]

$1,000 total is going to be tough to do .

If I were dealing with that budget, I would be looking at older (early 1980s) Honda XR/XLs, or similar import bikes -- you can pick them up for a couple hundred bucks (make sure you get a title -- it can be a huge pain and expense if you don't). Be careful with the electrical system -- a lot of them have been butchered (the cheapest aftermarket universal harness I have found is ~$300). I would expect to tear the motor down and at a minimum put a set of rings in it and lap the valves (possibly a piston as well). Then of course you need to consider tires/tubes, chain/sprockets, carb rebuild (beware -- diaphragms for old carbs can be expensive) . . . it adds up pretty quick, making an inexpensive bike become not so inexpensive. Of course, if you like old bikes, and enjoy working on them (I do), then this isn't a bad way to go. But honestly, $1500 is a better budget if you need to do much work to an older bike (and that is assuming that you do the work yourself).

Of course, at that price point ($1500), you are starting to get into the range where you can pick up gently used late model bikes that don't need much work. Last year, I paid $1700 for Marisa's DR200 with 7K on it -- and the only thing it needed was a rider. Prices haven't risen since then, so if you can squeeze a bit more into your budget, you'll be able to pick up a much newer bike that doesn't need as much (or any) work for not much more than the total investment on an older one. But you lose the quirky style and satisfaction of reviving an old bike (assuming either of those factors appeal to you).

 

[scarysharkface]

If you can exist without the off-road aspect, I'd suggest a Honda CX500. Bullet-proof machines with shaft drive and good manners. I would not hesitate to ride one across country if it's in any kind of decent condition.

John

 

[jmdjax]

I guess I don't mean off-road really, I mean more of, "dirt road."

i.e. I couldn't ride a Ducati 999 very easily into a dirt driveway, so just something that had a little bit better handling or ground clearance in that aspect; easier, so to speak.

The Honda CX500 looks pretty nice. The dual sports (I guess they are called) look really good when outfitted, but otherwise look very dirt-bikish.

The CX500 looks good without that giant windscreen on it.

Like this: http://lakecity.craigslist.org/mcy/2195140461.html

That is pretty close to me and reasonably priced.

But how can it be outfitted to actually carry things? I'll put it this way.. I usually rode with a backpack, but, I generally carry (now-a-days, at least) a change of clothes for school, books, laptop, etc, and would want to make sure there was at least a decent sized "dry storage" (without looking like ugly leather saddlebags) to store things in.

Passenger ability is nice too. I kind of like that one in the link I posted. Not sure what else I need to know... Or really what I need vs. want...

 

[scarysharkface]

I bought a very clean one for my wife off ebay a few years back for $800. Prices vary, so look around. I believe Honda made hard cases for them, and of course soft saddlebags are not a bad option either. It will do 2-up, although the suspension is not much to brag about.

John

 

[jmdjax]

I have seen also a few other Hondas, cafe-racers and other sorts of similar (to me) looking bikes in the $1,000 range but I do not know what constitutes a good bike, so to speak, or what makes one able to be outfitted with useful equipment, reliability, etc.


Example, I can buy a Toyota Camry for $4,000 or an FJ40 for $4,000.

Or, a Rav4 for $4,000 or a FJ40 for $4,000.

I am trying to convey my question as best I can... Hmm...

 

[jmdjax]

I bought a very clean one for my wife off ebay a few years back for $800. Prices vary, so look around. I believe Honda made hard cases for them, and of course soft saddlebags are not a bad option either. It will do 2-up, although the suspension is not much to brag about.

John

I like the boxes you have in your avatar. What kind of bike is that?

Girlfriend only weighs 105lbs so It wouldn't be too bad I don't think.

 

[jmdjax]

Ok, so, what exactly makes a motorcycle an "expedition" motorcycle?

Obviously criteria 1 is reliability, and availability.

 

[scarysharkface]

That's a KLR650 with the Happy Trails SU Rack and boxes.

My previous KLR had the same rack and used 30mm ammocans (the big ones).

KLR with ammocans:

KLR with Happy Trails boxes:

KLR and CX500:

An Expedition Motorcycle is whatever meets your needs.

John

 

[hurricane harry]

I have seen also a few other Hondas, cafe-racers and other sorts of similar (to me) looking bikes in the $1,000 range but I do not know what constitutes a good bike, so to speak, or what makes one able to be outfitted with useful equipment, reliability, etc.


Example, I can buy a Toyota Camry for $4,000 or an FJ40 for $4,000.

Or, a Rav4 for $4,000 or a FJ40 for $4,000.

I am trying to convey my question as best I can... Hmm...

Your in Lake City? Your going to have hit Jax or Gainesville, and even then your not going to have many choices at $1000.

 

[jmdjax]

I'm in Jax. Lake City is about an hour away or so.

 

[sandalscout]

An Expedition Motorcycle is whatever meets your needs.

Bingo, but be mindful of what those needs are and how they can change (quickly). A year ago, I owned a CX500 and thought it would last me a year or 2 before moving on to something like a Dual Sport 650 (while learning to ride, etc). I liked it, but began having stator issues with it. Didn't feel like spending $600 to tear it down, replace the stator, due the triple bypass, replace the ignition box (whatever that thing that everyone was importing was) so I sold it after I got my XT. I had no intention of doing more than riding gravel and dirt roads occasionally, but after one weekend of riding rough (public) roads in areas that don't get much traffic, I changed my mind quickly. I really enjoy riding more technical stuff the more I get out, nothing EXTREME offroad, but stuff that I couldn't get my car to.

So, if a Ninja 250 with gravel and dirt capable tires will get you here, don't rule that or similar bikes out. If a 400 pound standard with a little bit of work and some cheaper throw over saddle bags will work for you, cool too. Everyone's ride is going to be a little, or a lot, different, but if it works for you, cool!

 

[hurricane harry]

I just checked Jax, Valdosta, Gainesville, Tallahassee Craigslist. It's going to be tough to find a bike that has dual sport capabilities. If you could live with a street only bike, there are a couple around at your price.

 

[hurricane harry]

How about this http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/mcy/2201590384.html