+BigJayDog g First, it depends on the bike you want. Having spent many hours scouring Craigslist and motorcycle ads though, it seems that good, clean, well-maintained sport(y) bikes often depreciate until they hit $2500-3000, depending on how desirable that bike is. The Katana is likely going to be much less than a comparable CBR F2/3/4 of any given year, but that Katana is not as good in most respects as that CBR either. If you find bikes less than $2500, there's generally some work that needs to be done and/or some cosmetic damage, but even then it's probably not that bad.
A $1k bike soon turns into a $2k bike, once you get all the "little" problems sorted. Like you start with a mushy brake, but by the time you've gotten to the point where you can replace the cylinder, you've decided to also change the lines, fluid had to be changed anyway, might as well get some new pads while it's all apart anyway. Best to also replace the disc when you get new pads, and now that you've got the wheel off, that bearing has seen better days... and now that you're overhauling the front wheel anyway, might as well get a new tyre and get it balanced properly. Shit adds up quickly. Ask me about owning a 700 euro Korean motorcycle... Well atleast Korean parts are stupendously cheap.
exactly what happened to my first bike, picked up an old 900 dollar kawi spectre from 82, ended up spending 1200 fixing all the shit the guy conveniently left out. moral of the story is buy your first bike with someone you trust that can look at it with you.
I honestly enjoyed (enjoy) an old sportster 1200, an 06 sv650, and my 06 Vstrom quite a bit more than I did my Harley FLHS. Honestly I hated that bike, and it was the most expensive bike I've owned.
People underestimate the Katana. I've got a 2006 750 Katana and it is a perfectly good sport touring bike. Makes about 100hp, very comfortable, easy to maintain, super reliable and handles reasonably well. Low footpegs can be an issue in corners though. Only issue is the styling, it looks like a sportbike that melted.
+WraithCommander42 I think for being styled in 98 it still looks pretty good! headlight is a little old fashioned, but then again look at a modern Triumph Street triple, still a bad headlight in 2015!
+WraithCommander42 I got myself a 98 katana 600. It's comfortable, has loads of power (at least for a new rider), and over all a good bike. Personally I like the look of the bike, it has a look of its own.
MrPiikkipallo It is a unique bike, nothing really looks like it. I would say that the 600 is better then the 750. I don't think they balanced the engine properly after the conversion to 750 becasue the vibrations can get pretty bad on the 750.
Expenses in California include but are not limited to carbon tax, road tax, tire tax, gas tax, breathing tax, living tax, looking tax, existing tax, driving tax, sales tax, and the blood of your first born child
xMidnight- Yeah, to say nothing of the old saying, "California- come on vacation, leave on probation." Man, EVERYthing's illegal out there. I lived there for 5 years back in the '60's and I was glad to escape. I was a 'Californa refugee'. There are some very beautiful roads out there, truly a sports car or motorcyclist's delight and I often envy those who get to enjoy them, but then I think of the 'hassle factor' of living there and....
yes, i do. but my point is that where i live, even the crappiest running bike you can think of is at least 2000 dollars. what exactly is your point? are you saying that the that the bikes were so cheap because they lied about them being so?
Depends a lot on the area. Places like Florida and California where people ride all year around, and bikes are common, you can easily find bikes under a grand. Check Craigslist in Florida. No shortage of running, street legal bikes for 3 figures, if you don't mind riding something from the 80's or a rough looking street fighter from the 90's.
Ok so I think you guys should do a video where you buy a cheap bike a few states away, fly out and get it, then try to drive it back home. Now that's an adventure. ha ha. Great work on the video. The only thing I would add to this is make sure the bike fits you. Nothing worse then buying your first bike only to hate it because its the wrong bike for you. My first bike was a Virago and at 6'2" I was too big for it and it killed my butt to ride it.
+Robert Wyrick Did you see the "Ural Adventure" episode from a few years back? The boys bought an old 2-stroke for really cheap, fixed it up in a hotel room, and then rode it 300 miles back to Los Angeles!
Paid $1600 for my current bike, A 2000 SV650 that was never even laid down. It had around 35k miles when i got it and now has just under 80k miles. The only problem i have had was a regulator/rectifier that failed, A common issue with these bikes from what i hear. So many people sell bikes really cheap when they have some miles on them but as long as they have been properly maintained you can easily get 100k out of a good bike without any serious rebuild.
Lane Splitter try negotiating. If it's for sale, they'll budge eventually lol. He denied my offer at first, then a few days later realized that there wasn't a huge demand for a 2005 bike in 2016 ha
WHAT? I just bought a 2000 SV650 for $1,000 and was never laid down either. It has 101,672 miles on it. Did you sell your bike? I may have bought it from the guy you sold it to. BTW..Bike is doing great. Just got her tuned and the service manager said she has another 75,000 miles on EASY!
Bought my first bike for $100, 1969 model KX 80 which turned out to be A1 mechanically. It had been sitting under a tarp for 20 years in an old ladies backyard. So, if you ever spend time on rooftops, keep a look out for old bikes and old ladies hah!
Please make more content like this, It is really cool to watch these "challenge" type videos from you guys. Maybe do one with a 5,000 budget and 7,500. I really want to know what you guys do for those amounts.
Average salary in serbia is 370dolars a month yet lot of us ride and take care of our bikes, now thats called love. Too easy to have fun about anything in america, things cheap to americans are sometimes best we can get in southeastern europe. Take care guys
+Igor Popovic The nice cars and bikes for cheap with no rust in California is kind of nuts, to us Canadians as well, you can tour the scrapyards that are full of rust free cars that just had a mechanical failure, the bikes are cheap since there are SO many as the weather is so good!
Cali is the only place in the us like this. In mi most people that ride are running on less than 1000 in total you still see a lot of old bikes because they just work
Few years ago I bought a 2001 Suzuki GSF600S Bandit. It had 108,000km on it and had that old school carb. And you know what? Aside from a little low revving sluggishness here and there, it was a beast! It sounded awesome, rode great, and was super fun to be on. I bought it for $1,400 Canadian dollars, and sold it a season later for $1,200. Oh, and I put about another 10,000km on it!
This is the video that got me considering a Katana 600. 4 years later, and I bought myself a slightly faced 1998 GSXF600 (UK model of the Katana) for just £800. It's my winter hack, and it's my first introduction to sports bikes, and I love it. It's easy to ride, but fast enough to be fun. I could even argue that it's better than my mint Fazer 600. And I owe it all to this video.
Not my first bike but I found a 93 KLR650 for $750 on cragislist back in May. I put a battery in it and changed the gas and been exploring the back country of San Diego ever since, also commuting to work too. There are a ton of bikes out there, some turn key, some not (mechanics special). Great Video!
This works! Your evaluation of mid/low range bikes is just spot on. And to balance the cost of the bike to the gear and helmet, its really a whole new thing (to new riders). I like to see more like this.
I got a 1999 Katana as my first bike for $850, it was ugly as hell, I wanted to rip that front fairing off and turn it into a streetfighter, now i have a better bike.
Great show. I got a 1979 Yamaha XS1100 that my wife found on Facebook garage sale for $400. Put on 2 front calipers, rear drive since its shaft driven and gear box and got new helmet and gloves. All together paid $900. Love the bike. Plus being old style its easy to do own repairs. 450 miles this summer on permit and taking Msf course next spring. Its so relaxing. I see why so many get into it.
Bought my 89 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 for $800. Spedo doesn't work, battery needed to be replaced, but damn is it fun! Don't need a $30K bike to enjoy the road!
I put a lot of miles on an 86 VT500, it was a surprisingly great little bike, though not the best on a long highway ride. I sold it years ago when we had to move, and still kinda regret it
Those same bikes are like $2-3K where i live. Anything under a thousand is trashed, missing pegs, bent frame, or being sold as 'parts'. My budget is maybe $1500 and there just ain't squat i'd trust riding past 10 mph, if it even starts.
The charm of these guys is their humility. They're very relatable, they respect the machines they ride and don't try too hard to sound or act cool. Thanks for the great video. Subbed
Watching this video in 2021. Good luck finding any running bike for 1k. Two grand might get you a really rough beater (if you're lucky). Bike prices have gotten crazy
+Eric War I've found a few around $500-$600 in the sf bay area, but I'm too scared to even contact them lol 1996 Yamaha R6 for $500 1998 Honda Hawk 657 for $650 1996 Suzuki GS500e for $750
+Chi Ho Ko Not to mention that unrealistically cheap prices and good looking pictures often mean a stolen bike. If I see a 2005 R1 for 2300 and his description is bullshit and he only has 1-2 pictures I just ignore it because they get removed quickly bike thieves are often looking for the quickest sell possible and not worried about getting their money's worth out of the bike.
Just bought a crashed 99 r6 from my friend for 600 bucks. Spent 200 bucks in parts and fixed it. That r6 has performance parts and will outrun a new r6 or gsxr. So it is doable, you just need to know where to look and what you can fix
Motorcycle noob here with a $1500 budget, this video is quite motivating. I knew that parking lot looked familiar.. you guys are right in my back yard.
Man California has crazy deals on bikes, you can't get a nice 2nd gen Katana here for that kind of money, 2000$ minimum for a working decent bike, I guess the Kat isn't that pretty compared to newer bikes, but 86hp on the 600 still feels pretty fast! maybe not to you guys, but pretty good! great episode!
I started motorcycling last year with a $3100 BMW R850R, a $75 full face Joe Rocket helmet, and a $70 Joe Rocket jacket. In the past year I've upgraded my helmet and jacket, and got boots and pants too. The BMW? I still love every mile on it!
Hey I have an 85 Shadow that I bought as a basket case at least 5 years ago and it still moves along fine. No problem with moving at legal speed limits.
Awesome work guys..:) I've ridden a 550 on a 2000 mile trip and a 400 on a 1000 mile trip. Took side roads, took my time, met great people, and had an incredible time..:)
I ride a 2006 750 Katana and it is a great bike for long distance riding, daily use and even going out along the big Rs if you rev it up. It is surprisingly powerful and nimble for its size.
The very first, brand new vehicle I ever purchased was that '98 Katana in Fire Engine Red. Loved that motorcycle. Great all- arounder, jack of all trades master of none kind of bike.
I ride a 2000 Katana and it handles surprisingly well. I took it to the Dragon, Blood Mountain, BlueRidge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, and Wolf Pen Gap last year. The front forks are blown, the rear suspension is shot, and I still skuffed my knees on a few turns.
A few months ago. I picked up a beautiful and professionally modified with high end components. 98 triumph Daytona 995 for $1600. Loved it. But wasn't great for commuting. Traded it for a creampuff 06 vstrom which I just took on a 1300 mile 4 day trip. Which included riding only "the 1" from Ft. Bragg. Ca. to Santa Barbara. Ca.
just bought a Honda cb-1 for $900. Its a cousin to the cbr400rr same 4 cylinder engine. 380lbs. Perfect starter bike!! :) and running perfect at 41k miles
+Marion Cobretti And your point is that a 1300 is more powerful than a 600 even if both still still dogs to look at ? Let's hope you never Google Munch Mammut as seem have a soft spot for ugly bikes
colliedogjoy Thanks for the recommendations. The 955i looks nice and there are some cheap ones. A litre bike might be a bit big for me though, I've only ridden a 125.
It's your call, but triple engines give a very linear power delivery and litre engines are less stressed than smaller ones. If you're sensible, they're no more dangerous and the triple is very forgiving. I have had a Tiger for a year now, coming from various mopeds, and 250's. It's very heavy when stationary, but the upright position and wide bars make for a peaceful ride when that's what I want, with loads of torque and a good view, easy motorway cruising and overtakes etc.. Something smaller would do if you only ever wan to ride locally, round town etc, but the bigger bikes have longer legs..
Passed my DAS few months ago and had my 98 fazer 600 for a bit over a month, its a perfect first big bike, power delivery is smooth, they are known for being reliable and doing massive miles, its comfy, decent on fuel and if pushed can be surprisingly fast. Litre bikes are really overkill, my 600 is more than fast enough to lose my licence if i ride like an idiot, so many people on litre bikes are thrashing it on a straight but go round corners at 20-30mph showing they have very little skill and can only go fast in a straight line. For your budget you could get a more visually appealing foxeye model with fuel injection and as they arent a sports bike insurance isnt too bad. If a fazer isn't appealing the other typical hornet or bandit offerings are similar and well known as good starter bikes, maintain it properly and in a years time you can sell it for almost the same as you paid and buy a newer bike when your more experienced.
That is just a really first first first video, where I see this bubbly Katana for a bit more than just a few second of trying a poor wheelie ;-) And I love it - after GPZ500, CBR600RR, Bandit 600 and finally my beloved GSX 1400, the Katana was the budget way to get back to motorcycles after I sold the GSX1400 after my son born - yeah, I said to myself "no more risks, he needs me, lets reduce the risks" and after 4 months of the seasons I bought the GSXF750 2001 for 1300 USD (5 years ago) and it did just so well!!! Travelling, 3 luggage cases, sometimes a bit sportier ride, never let me down through its 70-95tkm life with me onboard. Its just so nice to see it again in a recent video, it was a really great bike!
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess Respect the fucking classic an go rip off the body of newer ones instead like why do people hurt old gems like these I seriously don't understand it. Like you don't have an ounce of respect for it even if it looks 'bad' in your eyes
Just picked up my 2nd ever Katana. This time a 2005 Katana 750. Only 5,300 miles for $1500. Not a bad deal. They're perfect for us who dont care highly on style and just want a strong and comfortable hwy bike.
you guys are lucky, I'm just about ready to sell my soul at this point to be able to ride ANYTHING on two wheels, I got all my gear, and license. BUT NO BIKE! FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
2 years ago, I purchased a used 2000 Kawasaki ZZR 600 with about 17,000 miles for $2500. Probably a bit on the high end, but it's been a great bike so far. Other than rebuilding the carbs, it has been mechanically sound. Bike is very fun to ride! Hopefully, it'll last me for a while!
great show. my first bike was 1988 or 9 ninja zx10r that I paid 2500. it was inspected and ran good until stator went bad 2 years after the purchase. grand for stator replacement was too expensive for me so I gave it to the bike tech for free if he covered the diagnostic and towing and he did. so yes, you can absolutely get into bike for low dollar amount and have fun. just do good inspection prior to purchase.
PS-Lovin' the way the Honda revs up, and typically Honda smooth! I agree, guys, living with the ...ahem..."classic"(re:old!) bikes is really a hoot, especially when one of my peers(I'm 58) stop and says..." I remember whenI had one of those, what year is it?"!!! Knees in The Breeze, Gents! Shiny Side(the stuff that's has less rust!) Up! Keep up the good work! God Bless!
Damn, I missed notification... It was a 1988 Minsk 125 typ 400 with unknown mileage. Beat up as hell. Cut me some slack on the photo I know how it looks www.bikepics.com/pictures/2485817/1988-minsk-125-typ-400
I still love the looks of the 600 Katana, used to have one in black. It's a great bike and even a good starter bike. I got mine up to 145 MPH one time indicated. It's NOT fast, but it's fun.
I spent £500 on a Honda Deauville 650 and took it on a tour around the UK and then France Belgium Luxembourg Germany Switzerland including the furka pass susten pass grimsel .All two up with full luggage .it was one of the best trips of my life bike didn't miss a beat .only thing topped that trip was UK to Poland on a Peugeot vox 110cc two up that was an experience .it was £995 new .so a bike doesn't need to be big or expensive to have a outstanding amount of fun .
+Wecanhelp Bikes AND gear for $1000. And the only space they're taking up is their portion of the lane on beautiful roads. That doesn't sound like a problem to me!
My first bike was a Triumph Tiger Cub 200cc for £18. Then a Norton ES2 500cc for £1. Then an immaculate BSA Clubman Gold Star DBD34 500cc running on Castrol R vegetable oil with RRT2 close-ratio box for only £100.
My first bike was a 92' Ninja. I felt like Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Bought it when i turned 18. My god my parents were pissed when I rode it home to show them! Looking back it didn't run that great and didn't handle that great but I loved that bike non the less.
I've got 2 older bikes; a "76Yamaha XS650 and a "82 Honda CB650SC Nighthawk, the Yami was 90% complete, motor was good, bought that one for $100! I've worked on it for 5 years now, took 6 months to get it road-worthy, but I've ridden it from Illinois to Daytona for BikeWeek TWICE! 57 mpg on the highway both times, didn't miss a lick! Guess it pays to have a 40 yo motor that runs on either roller or ball bearings! And clean 20W-50 in the cases! The Honda was 100% complete, with the origional tires on it(replaced!) and only 5800 miles on the speedo! Some rust, but it gives it that vintage look! Cost me $900 from one of the guys in my church grou, his dad bought it at an auction, a barn-find! It's up and running,
Had a 2000 Katana 750 for my second bike a couple years ago and although it had its off days, it was actually one of the most comfy bikes I've ever ridden and, to me, one of the better bikes I've ridden even with a bit of experience under my belt having ridden a few dozen bikes. Cruised beautifully at 110kph ticking over in 6th buy still had plenty of oomph if you dropped a gear or two 95hp for around 4 grand (Australian) in good nick for its age was a good deal
I got a 96 cbr 600F3 for $800 for my first bike... Budget first riding is the best... Once I get more confident in riding and ready I'll step up to a gsxr k8 which is my dream bike... But life on 2 wheels is guarenteed amazing especially when in the back of your head you spent next to nothing.
I bought my first bike in 2008 it was a 1981 Honda CB650C, and I paid $600 for it which included a wrecked 1982 CB650C for parts. I rode it for about three years before I bought a newer bike, and I never had to do anything major to it. I recently talked to the guy I gave it to, and he said he was rebuilding the carbs, and replace the piston seals and rings. I asked and he said it was going to cost him about $160 to do the carbs, and about $500-$600 to do the rest.
Back in 06 my first bike was well... no more. I was strapped for cash and ended up buying a katana 600 for $1200. It may have been ugly, but it was fast enough to have fun on and it got me back on a bike. That was many bikes ago but I never regretted buying it.
My first ever bike was given to me (for free) from my grandfathers friend. It too was a Honda Shadow but an '84 model I believe. Upgraded six months later to a brand new 1999 ZX6R. I now drive a CBR1100XX here in Europe which I bought new in 2004 and will sell that one soon to get the new FZ-10 when I return home to the U.S. Anyway, great video. Subbed!
Almost certain that I watched this video before I bought my first motorcycle before even getting the endorsement. Best decision ever to get into motorcycles, got my first bike for around the mid $1000's range minus the travel to Vermont to pick it up and added equipment to my car at the time.
This would make a great series. 2000$, 3000$, 4000$ on and on.
love this idea
+R Tsai Great idea.
+R Tsai I'm already looking forward to episode 1000!
+R Tsai + a Special with Hammond and May
+BigJayDog g First, it depends on the bike you want. Having spent many hours scouring Craigslist and motorcycle ads though, it seems that good, clean, well-maintained sport(y) bikes often depreciate until they hit $2500-3000, depending on how desirable that bike is. The Katana is likely going to be much less than a comparable CBR F2/3/4 of any given year, but that Katana is not as good in most respects as that CBR either. If you find bikes less than $2500, there's generally some work that needs to be done and/or some cosmetic damage, but even then it's probably not that bad.
Spending 20,000$ on a motorcycle doesn't guarantee you 20 times more pleasure than a 1000$ bike.
So true :)
+ehsan83 What the hell is garanite? You trying to say guarantee? Halfwit
+pureforce56 sorry i said it in the french way ;)
A $1k bike soon turns into a $2k bike, once you get all the "little" problems sorted.
Like you start with a mushy brake, but by the time you've gotten to the point where you can replace the cylinder, you've decided to also change the lines, fluid had to be changed anyway, might as well get some new pads while it's all apart anyway. Best to also replace the disc when you get new pads, and now that you've got the wheel off, that bearing has seen better days... and now that you're overhauling the front wheel anyway, might as well get a new tyre and get it balanced properly.
Shit adds up quickly.
Ask me about owning a 700 euro Korean motorcycle... Well atleast Korean parts are stupendously cheap.
exactly what happened to my first bike, picked up an old 900 dollar kawi spectre from 82, ended up spending 1200 fixing all the shit the guy conveniently left out. moral of the story is buy your first bike with someone you trust that can look at it with you.
I honestly enjoyed (enjoy) an old sportster 1200, an 06 sv650, and my 06 Vstrom quite a bit more than I did my Harley FLHS. Honestly I hated that bike, and it was the most expensive bike I've owned.
Katana in perfect running condition for $700? What planet do you live in?
Murika
I know right. Thats like no title price lol.
salvage title haha
England
Mouka Faslouka 900 dollars for one in ohio
People underestimate the Katana. I've got a 2006 750 Katana and it is a perfectly good sport touring bike. Makes about 100hp, very comfortable, easy to maintain, super reliable and handles reasonably well. Low footpegs can be an issue in corners though. Only issue is the styling, it looks like a sportbike that melted.
+WraithCommander42 street fighter conversion
+WraithCommander42 I think for being styled in 98 it still looks pretty good! headlight is a little old fashioned, but then again look at a modern Triumph Street triple, still a bad headlight in 2015!
+WraithCommander42 I got myself a 98 katana 600. It's comfortable, has loads of power (at least for a new rider), and over all a good bike. Personally I like the look of the bike, it has a look of its own.
MrPiikkipallo
It is a unique bike, nothing really looks like it. I would say that the 600 is better then the 750. I don't think they balanced the engine properly after the conversion to 750 becasue the vibrations can get pretty bad on the 750.
WraithCommander42 Oh? My katana vibrates quite noticeably when cruising at 75mph, the valves probably need a re-adjustment.
Expenses in California include but are not limited to carbon tax, road tax, tire tax, gas tax, breathing tax, living tax, looking tax, existing tax, driving tax, sales tax, and the blood of your first born child
Future18Series lmaooooo
Future18Series kinda sound like Rumpelstiltskin
xMidnight lol
thats a lot of taxes
xMidnight- Yeah, to say nothing of the old saying, "California- come on vacation, leave on probation." Man, EVERYthing's illegal out there. I lived there for 5 years back in the '60's and I was glad to escape. I was a 'Californa refugee'. There are some very beautiful roads out there, truly a sports car or motorcyclist's delight and I often envy those who get to enjoy them, but then I think of the 'hassle factor' of living there and....
you guys are lucky, where i live, i cant even find a bike alone for under 2k. like at all
you DO realize that it is a show ,....do you ?
yes, i do. but my point is that where i live, even the crappiest running bike you can think of is at least 2000 dollars. what exactly is your point? are you saying that the that the bikes were so cheap because they lied about them being so?
exactly , this stuff is all made up !
Katana 600s are basically worthless because nobody wants them. I can 100% believe this if they live in a highly populated area.
Depends a lot on the area. Places like Florida and California where people ride all year around, and bikes are common, you can easily find bikes under a grand. Check Craigslist in Florida. No shortage of running, street legal bikes for 3 figures, if you don't mind riding something from the 80's or a rough looking street fighter from the 90's.
Ok so I think you guys should do a video where you buy a cheap bike a few states away, fly out and get it, then try to drive it back home. Now that's an adventure. ha ha. Great work on the video. The only thing I would add to this is make sure the bike fits you. Nothing worse then buying your first bike only to hate it because its the wrong bike for you. My first bike was a Virago and at 6'2" I was too big for it and it killed my butt to ride it.
+Robert Wyrick Did you see the "Ural Adventure" episode from a few years back? The boys bought an old 2-stroke for really cheap, fixed it up in a hotel room, and then rode it 300 miles back to Los Angeles!
No I have to find that
+Motorcyclist Magazine You should do it more often :P
That's very Road Kill
+Jovan Hardy yep!! ROAD KILL
Suzuki Katana 600 (1998)
Honda VT500 Shadow (1983)
*in case you missed it
Paid $1600 for my current bike, A 2000 SV650 that was never even laid down. It had around 35k miles when i got it and now has just under 80k miles. The only problem i have had was a regulator/rectifier that failed, A common issue with these bikes from what i hear. So many people sell bikes really cheap when they have some miles on them but as long as they have been properly maintained you can easily get 100k out of a good bike without any serious rebuild.
Got an 05 sv650 for 2 grand, has 17 k miles. Got a heck of a deal
Lane Splitter try negotiating. If it's for sale, they'll budge eventually lol. He denied my offer at first, then a few days later realized that there wasn't a huge demand for a 2005 bike in 2016 ha
WHAT? I just bought a 2000 SV650 for $1,000 and was never laid down either. It has 101,672 miles on it. Did you sell your bike? I may have bought it from the guy you sold it to. BTW..Bike is doing great. Just got her tuned and the service manager said she has another 75,000 miles on EASY!
Bought my first bike for $100, 1969 model KX 80 which turned out to be A1 mechanically. It had been sitting under a tarp for 20 years in an old ladies backyard.
So, if you ever spend time on rooftops, keep a look out for old bikes and old ladies hah!
creepy! ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I never thought to ask an elderly woman if she has a bike. Maybe I could help her with yard work clean up the garage and work out a deal.
This was very Top Gear style, enjoyed it immensely.
Not sure how to take that post ! May be a Top Gear that past me by
Please make more content like this, It is really cool to watch these "challenge" type videos from you guys. Maybe do one with a 5,000 budget and 7,500. I really want to know what you guys do for those amounts.
Average salary in serbia is 370dolars a month yet lot of us ride and take care of our bikes, now thats called love.
Too easy to have fun about anything in america, things cheap to americans are sometimes best we can get in southeastern europe.
Take care guys
+Igor Popovic The nice cars and bikes for cheap with no rust in California is kind of nuts, to us Canadians as well, you can tour the scrapyards that are full of rust free cars that just had a mechanical failure, the bikes are cheap since there are SO many as the weather is so good!
Cali is the only place in the us like this. In mi most people that ride are running on less than 1000 in total you still see a lot of old bikes because they just work
How much does a 90s bike cost in Serbia?
The only motorbike show with actual value. Nailed it again boys. We'd love to see more from you.
Great upload! I can get a Ducati Panigale review anywhere, but I can't get real world fun like this anywhere else
Few years ago I bought a 2001 Suzuki GSF600S Bandit. It had 108,000km on it and had that old school carb. And you know what? Aside from a little low revving sluggishness here and there, it was a beast! It sounded awesome, rode great, and was super fun to be on. I bought it for $1,400 Canadian dollars, and sold it a season later for $1,200. Oh, and I put about another 10,000km on it!
I had 2 katanas. One of the most comfortable bikes. I'm 6'6", I kinda like the way they look.
My 99 CBR600 F4 was $1200, 50k miles, new tires, new battery and for the last year hasn't skipped as much as a beat. Love it.
Thumbs up just for selecting this topic.
This is the video that got me considering a Katana 600. 4 years later, and I bought myself a slightly faced 1998 GSXF600 (UK model of the Katana) for just £800. It's my winter hack, and it's my first introduction to sports bikes, and I love it. It's easy to ride, but fast enough to be fun. I could even argue that it's better than my mint Fazer 600. And I owe it all to this video.
Not my first bike but I found a 93 KLR650 for $750 on cragislist back in May. I put a battery in it and changed the gas and been exploring the back country of San Diego ever since, also commuting to work too. There are a ton of bikes out there, some turn key, some not (mechanics special). Great Video!
klr 650 is good bike to own? for local roads ride and highway too?
This works!
Your evaluation of mid/low range bikes is just spot on.
And to balance the cost of the bike to the gear and helmet, its really a whole new thing (to new riders).
I like to see more like this.
I love the look of the early 90s bikes, so ratty, I can hear the Sega Genesis road rash music in the background.
legit love that honda shadow. its so simple and cool looking
I got a 1999 Katana as my first bike for $850, it was ugly as hell, I wanted to rip that front fairing off and turn it into a streetfighter, now i have a better bike.
Indeed the Katana is very nice in black.
But it looks like a rotten watermelon in red.
Great show. I got a 1979 Yamaha XS1100 that my wife found on Facebook garage sale for $400. Put on 2 front calipers, rear drive since its shaft driven and gear box and got new helmet and gloves. All together paid $900. Love the bike. Plus being old style its easy to do own repairs. 450 miles this summer on permit and taking Msf course next spring. Its so relaxing. I see why so many get into it.
Bought my 89 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 for $800. Spedo doesn't work, battery needed to be replaced, but damn is it fun! Don't need a $30K bike to enjoy the road!
I still own my 83 VT500 and that bike is awesome. Lost my side covers after my first two seasons with it.
I put a lot of miles on an 86 VT500, it was a surprisingly great little bike, though not the best on a long highway ride. I sold it years ago when we had to move, and still kinda regret it
Those same bikes are like $2-3K where i live. Anything under a thousand is trashed, missing pegs, bent frame, or being sold as 'parts'. My budget is maybe $1500 and there just ain't squat i'd trust riding past 10 mph, if it even starts.
Bought a 98 Katana 600 for 1k. 20k miles. Up 2 in the rear. Not bad for a pig
The charm of these guys is their humility. They're very relatable, they respect the machines they ride and don't try too hard to sound or act cool. Thanks for the great video. Subbed
Pretty good deals there lol
JoeGo101 ooh shit its you
these types of videos are very rarely true to budget
@@poemedufeu I bet hehe
The 83 Honda Shadow vt500 was my first motorcycle. Still sad that i sold that bike. Amazing starter bike, perfect for a beginner.
This is Gold. This reminds me of Top Gear. Do motorcycle challenges! Best sportbike, touring bike, dragbike for X number of $
Watching this video in 2021. Good luck finding any running bike for 1k. Two grand might get you a really rough beater (if you're lucky). Bike prices have gotten crazy
Wish you could still get a bike that cheap
After watching this a few months ago I went and bought a bike for $500. Had a few things wrong but it was cheap fixes and she's going great now.
450 bucks? Wow! Nothing like that here in SoCal
+Eric War Err, we bought the bike in SoCal. Off of Orange County Craigslist.
ive been searching these past few weeks and cant find anything!
+Eric War I've found a few around $500-$600 in the sf bay area, but I'm too scared to even contact them lol
1996 Yamaha R6 for $500
1998 Honda Hawk 657 for $650
1996 Suzuki GS500e for $750
+Chi Ho Ko Not to mention that unrealistically cheap prices and good looking pictures often mean a stolen bike. If I see a 2005 R1 for 2300 and his description is bullshit and he only has 1-2 pictures I just ignore it because they get removed quickly bike thieves are often looking for the quickest sell possible and not worried about getting their money's worth out of the bike.
Just bought a crashed 99 r6 from my friend for 600 bucks. Spent 200 bucks in parts and fixed it. That r6 has performance parts and will outrun a new r6 or gsxr. So it is doable, you just need to know where to look and what you can fix
Its nice to see you guys getting grounded again. Thats what riding is all about, for a small majority of us.
You two need a bigger budget and a TV crew...
Motorcycle noob here with a $1500 budget, this video is quite motivating. I knew that parking lot looked familiar.. you guys are right in my back yard.
Are you guys going to get your hands on an Africa Twin?!?! (Given you are so close to Honda).
I want to see that as well, as it's gotten mixed reviews in the bike mags that I get at home.
yeah.. my first bike cost me 300$. that was 15 years ago.
it.s all about the fun they bring and the smile on your face
7:53 "yeah you can see there's plenty of damping" O_o good Lord
Guys, this is HANDS DOWN the best video about riding ever made! Keep de spirit alive.
Man California has crazy deals on bikes, you can't get a nice 2nd gen Katana here for that kind of money, 2000$ minimum for a working decent bike, I guess the Kat isn't that pretty compared to newer bikes, but 86hp on the 600 still feels pretty fast! maybe not to you guys, but pretty good! great episode!
My CBR is one year newer and looks as good as modern bikes. That fucker is an eyesore.
Your videos are such a blast of sunshine. Always upbeat, informative and fun to watch
I started motorcycling last year with a $3100 BMW R850R, a $75 full face Joe Rocket helmet, and a $70 Joe Rocket jacket. In the past year I've upgraded my helmet and jacket, and got boots and pants too. The BMW? I still love every mile on it!
the one on your picture? looks great. love these older bikes
Hey I have an 85 Shadow that I bought as a basket case at least 5 years ago and it still moves along fine. No problem with moving at legal speed limits.
I would love to see a continuation of this, buying a bike for $1000, fixing it up on the cheap and trying to sell it with a profit, for example.
Awesome work guys..:) I've ridden a 550 on a 2000 mile trip and a 400 on a 1000 mile trip. Took side roads, took my time, met great people, and had an incredible time..:)
Yes guys, do some challenges! Roadkill with bikes kinda thing, would be amazing!
we watch for the dynamic between this two people talking about the thing that we all love.... #ontwowheels are these guys... you can't replace that
I love videos like this.
I just got a SPOTLESS 82' Kawasaki 440 LTD for $1300! I haven't owned a bike in 15yrs and am so happy I got it! It's a blast to ride!
Oh man, here in Belgium it's like 1000$ just to get your license XD
Norway here, 3k to get license ! :/
Ørjan Tufte but how much is it in us dollors
Lucky guys 😁 in Switzerland you pay 4000 more less just to take that shit license
3k USD.
damn dude that sucks, its $30 here lol, unless you take the motorcycle safety course which is $200. I thought the course was expensive damn lol
I ride a 2006 750 Katana and it is a great bike for long distance riding, daily use and even going out along the big Rs if you rev it up. It is surprisingly powerful and nimble for its size.
More of the non-scripted banter (like at the end) please. Good video, regardless. :)
Maccaroney agreed. Basically top gear vs road kill on bikes. Id watch that.
The very first, brand new vehicle I ever purchased was that '98 Katana in Fire Engine Red. Loved that motorcycle. Great all- arounder, jack of all trades master of none kind of bike.
Love these budget projects
I ride a 2000 Katana and it handles surprisingly well. I took it to the Dragon, Blood Mountain, BlueRidge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, and Wolf Pen Gap last year. The front forks are blown, the rear suspension is shot, and I still skuffed my knees on a few turns.
I love my 600 Katana 😎
good tough engine
A few months ago. I picked up a beautiful and professionally modified with high end components. 98 triumph Daytona 995 for $1600. Loved it. But wasn't great for commuting. Traded it for a creampuff 06 vstrom which I just took on a 1300 mile 4 day trip. Which included riding only "the 1" from Ft. Bragg. Ca. to Santa Barbara. Ca.
This is what I need, because I'm po' as fuck.
just bought a Honda cb-1 for $900. Its a cousin to the cbr400rr same 4 cylinder engine. 380lbs. Perfect starter bike!! :) and running perfect at 41k miles
Not gonna lie, that Katana is the ugliest bike i have ever seen.
Yes is a bit of a "Busa" look to it
+Tony Pate yes, like the hayabusas inbred cousin.
Rip a arm clean off for a old air cooled GSX 1100 S even a leg for a KATANA
1000 S SZ with wire wheels
+Tony Pate at least "busa" have 1300 cc to back the ugly looks. katana is like, "look at me, I'm a learner".
+Marion Cobretti And your point is that a 1300 is more powerful than a 600 even if both still still dogs to look at ? Let's hope you never
Google Munch Mammut as seem have a soft spot for ugly bikes
These guys are the "Top Gear" for motorcycles. I love it! Great show.
Where do you find these deals... I've got a budget of $3000 (£2100) and it's pretty slim pickings over here in the UK.
+6Twisted Look for Triumph 955i, Sprint or Tiger :)
colliedogjoy Thanks for the recommendations. The 955i looks nice and there are some cheap ones. A litre bike might be a bit big for me though, I've only ridden a 125.
It's your call, but triple engines give a very linear power delivery and litre engines are less stressed than smaller ones. If you're sensible, they're no more dangerous and the triple is very forgiving. I have had a Tiger for a year now, coming from various mopeds, and 250's. It's very heavy when stationary, but the upright position and wide bars make for a peaceful ride when that's what I want, with loads of torque and a good view, easy motorway cruising and overtakes etc.. Something smaller would do if you only ever wan to ride locally, round town etc, but the bigger bikes have longer legs..
colliedogjoy It's also the insurance though. Being a new rider the insurance is the most expensive part of a bike.
Passed my DAS few months ago and had my 98 fazer 600 for a bit over a month, its a perfect first big bike, power delivery is smooth, they are known for being reliable and doing massive miles, its comfy, decent on fuel and if pushed can be surprisingly fast. Litre bikes are really overkill, my 600 is more than fast enough to lose my licence if i ride like an idiot, so many people on litre bikes are thrashing it on a straight but go round corners at 20-30mph showing they have very little skill and can only go fast in a straight line. For your budget you could get a more visually appealing foxeye model with fuel injection and as they arent a sports bike insurance isnt too bad. If a fazer isn't appealing the other typical hornet or bandit offerings are similar and well known as good starter bikes, maintain it properly and in a years time you can sell it for almost the same as you paid and buy a newer bike when your more experienced.
That is just a really first first first video, where I see this bubbly Katana for a bit more than just a few second of trying a poor wheelie ;-) And I love it - after GPZ500, CBR600RR, Bandit 600 and finally my beloved GSX 1400, the Katana was the budget way to get back to motorcycles after I sold the GSX1400 after my son born - yeah, I said to myself "no more risks, he needs me, lets reduce the risks" and after 4 months of the seasons I bought the GSXF750 2001 for 1300 USD (5 years ago) and it did just so well!!! Travelling, 3 luggage cases, sometimes a bit sportier ride, never let me down through its 70-95tkm life with me onboard. Its just so nice to see it again in a recent video, it was a really great bike!
I wanna rip the plastic off the katana and run it as a rat bike, I think it would look sick
Niko Prather ikr, awesome
Turn it into a 600 bandit 👍🏻
At the end when they were yanking on the plastic, I was hoping
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess Respect the fucking classic an go rip off the body of newer ones instead like why do people hurt old gems like these I seriously don't understand it. Like you don't have an ounce of respect for it even if it looks 'bad' in your eyes
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess are we going to pretend the katana isn't fucking hideous
Just picked up my 2nd ever Katana. This time a 2005 Katana 750. Only 5,300 miles for $1500. Not a bad deal. They're perfect for us who dont care highly on style and just want a strong and comfortable hwy bike.
I was expecting a scooter 😂
i love that you guys were cruising up palos verdes east lol I love rippin it up that road when im too lazy to ride to malibu
you guys are lucky, I'm just about ready to sell my soul at this point to be able to ride ANYTHING on two wheels, I got all my gear, and license. BUT NO BIKE! FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
2 years ago, I purchased a used 2000 Kawasaki ZZR 600 with about 17,000 miles for $2500. Probably a bit on the high end, but it's been a great bike so far. Other than rebuilding the carbs, it has been mechanically sound. Bike is very fun to ride! Hopefully, it'll last me for a while!
Good god, you really have to stop the scripted dialogue.
great show. my first bike was 1988 or 9 ninja zx10r that I paid 2500. it was inspected and ran good until stator went bad 2 years after the purchase. grand for stator replacement was too expensive for me so I gave it to the bike tech for free if he covered the diagnostic and towing and he did. so yes, you can absolutely get into bike for low dollar amount and have fun. just do good inspection prior to purchase.
Find me how to get motorcycle insurance for less than $1000 in Canada lmao
Move out of Ontario!
Milsparro not possible
Try getting quotes on older 250cc dual sports, Sherpas and KLR250s and stuff like that.
Ontario is seriously anti-sport bike and anti-displacement for younger folks.
The plate for a sport bike in Quebec is about 1200$
PS-Lovin' the way the Honda revs up, and typically Honda smooth! I agree, guys, living with the ...ahem..."classic"(re:old!) bikes is really a hoot, especially when one of my peers(I'm 58) stop and says..." I remember whenI had one of those, what year is it?"!!! Knees in The Breeze, Gents! Shiny Side(the stuff that's has less rust!) Up! Keep up the good work! God Bless!
My first bike cost 75$ Yeah, seventy five bucks.
You can't post a comment like that without saying what the bike was! Year, model, mileage?
Mongoose 10 speed bicycle ahahah
Damn, I missed notification... It was a 1988 Minsk 125 typ 400 with unknown mileage. Beat up as hell. Cut me some slack on the photo I know how it looks www.bikepics.com/pictures/2485817/1988-minsk-125-typ-400
lenon1980 walmart bicycle? lmao
Benjamin Wilson funny thing is you're not wrong about the price
I still love the looks of the 600 Katana, used to have one in black. It's a great bike and even a good starter bike. I got mine up to 145 MPH one time indicated. It's NOT fast, but it's fun.
I'm sorry, but I'm not skimping on a helmet.
I spent £500 on a Honda Deauville 650 and took it on a tour around the UK and then France Belgium Luxembourg Germany Switzerland including the furka pass susten pass grimsel .All two up with full luggage .it was one of the best trips of my life bike didn't miss a beat .only thing topped that trip was UK to Poland on a Peugeot vox 110cc two up that was an experience .it was £995 new .so a bike doesn't need to be big or expensive to have a outstanding amount of fun .
Those bikes for a 1000? BS it'll be a hunk of junk taking up space, another mans problems becoming yours.
+Wecanhelp Bikes AND gear for $1000. And the only space they're taking up is their portion of the lane on beautiful roads. That doesn't sound like a problem to me!
+Wecanhelp politely rekt
I bought an 02 ZX7-R for $1400 mechanically its sound its just ugly
My first bike was a Triumph Tiger Cub 200cc for £18.
Then a Norton ES2 500cc for £1.
Then an immaculate BSA Clubman Gold Star DBD34 500cc running on Castrol R vegetable oil with RRT2 close-ratio box for only £100.
My first bike was a 92' Ninja. I felt like Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Bought it when i turned 18. My god my parents were pissed when I rode it home to show them! Looking back it didn't run that great and didn't handle that great but I loved that bike non the less.
I saw this video about a year ago. It is a huge factor in pushing me to get a bike and start riding.
Thanks!
Amazing, i like it with complete grear up for only $1000! Most i like is your motorcyclist tshirt and black with green jacket.
I've got 2 older bikes; a "76Yamaha XS650 and a "82 Honda CB650SC Nighthawk, the Yami was 90% complete, motor was good, bought that one for $100! I've worked on it for 5 years now, took 6 months to get it road-worthy, but I've ridden it from Illinois to Daytona for BikeWeek TWICE! 57 mpg on the highway both times, didn't miss a lick! Guess it pays to have a 40 yo motor that runs on either roller or ball bearings! And clean 20W-50 in the cases! The Honda was 100% complete, with the origional tires on it(replaced!) and only 5800 miles on the speedo! Some rust, but it gives it that vintage look! Cost me $900 from one of the guys in my church grou, his dad bought it at an auction, a barn-find! It's up and running,
Had a 2000 Katana 750 for my second bike a couple years ago and although it had its off days, it was actually one of the most comfy bikes I've ever ridden and, to me, one of the better bikes I've ridden even with a bit of experience under my belt having ridden a few dozen bikes. Cruised beautifully at 110kph ticking over in 6th buy still had plenty of oomph if you dropped a gear or two
95hp for around 4 grand (Australian) in good nick for its age was a good deal
I got a 96 cbr 600F3 for $800 for my first bike... Budget first riding is the best... Once I get more confident in riding and ready I'll step up to a gsxr k8 which is my dream bike... But life on 2 wheels is guarenteed amazing especially when in the back of your head you spent next to nothing.
Got a brand new grom last year for $3500. You can get them cheap used. Tons of fun just putting around town and trail riding
I bought my first bike in 2008 it was a 1981 Honda CB650C, and I paid $600 for it which included a wrecked 1982 CB650C for parts. I rode it for about three years before I bought a newer bike, and I never had to do anything major to it. I recently talked to the guy I gave it to, and he said he was rebuilding the carbs, and replace the piston seals and rings. I asked and he said it was going to cost him about $160 to do the carbs, and about $500-$600 to do the rest.
This is one of the best ideas you ever had and executed. 2 thumbs up!
Laguna beach!? ... My home! Awesome video! Always puts a smile on my face .
Back in 06 my first bike was well... no more. I was strapped for cash and ended up buying a katana 600 for $1200. It may have been ugly, but it was fast enough to have fun on and it got me back on a bike. That was many bikes ago but I never regretted buying it.
My first ever bike was given to me (for free) from my grandfathers friend. It too was a Honda Shadow but an '84 model I believe. Upgraded six months later to a brand new 1999 ZX6R. I now drive a CBR1100XX here in Europe which I bought new in 2004 and will sell that one soon to get the new FZ-10 when I return home to the U.S. Anyway, great video. Subbed!
Started with the Honda then the katana next... Both fun starting bikes! Now I'm on a FZ6R and love it
Almost certain that I watched this video before I bought my first motorcycle before even getting the endorsement. Best decision ever to get into motorcycles, got my first bike for around the mid $1000's range minus the travel to Vermont to pick it up and added equipment to my car at the time.
bought my 84 nighthawk 650 for 875 dollars, and it has lasted me a solid 2 summers. the only things i have had to do with it was tires and a clutch
my shadow 500 was awesome... loved that thing. First bike!