looking for small light old-style air-cooled bike

[bpw]

How about a Yamaha wr250? or Kawi KLR250?

 

[Gabe]

My bad. I've ridden one and the Scrambler too. I see so many bikes they blur together in my memory. So many bike that try to look air cooled, but have radiators. I guess those are mostly cruisers. I had some vague memory that water cooling was behind the hefty weight gain of the Scrambler over the old bikes it emulates. But it must be something else.

Hmmm...I think the weight gain is due to a frame that doesn't flex, wheels that hold air, functioning suspension, electric start and a battery and electrical system that actually do something...

 

[flying_hun]

How about a GB500? If you can find one, they have electric start, IIRC.

Another option that can be found cheap (I shouldn't have sold mine) is an MZ Skorpion.

 

[Ol' Gravy Leg]

How about a GB500? If you can find one, they have electric start, IIRC.

Oooh. Good suggestion on the Tourist Trophy!

That's an awful big oil cooler on the front of the Skorp.

 

[davidji]

How about a GB500? If you can find one, they have electric start, IIRC.

Another option that can be found cheap (I shouldn't have sold mine) is an MZ Skorpion.

Good stuff. Yeah he brought up the GB500 while we were talking the other day. A mutual acquaintance bought one. It may be on the heavier side of his scale, but other than that it might be perfect.

I told him there was a used MZ at Scuderia West, but he says it's too big and wrong style.

 

[davidji]

http://www.ncrfactory.com/eng/html/24.00.shtml

Lol. If you have the budget NCR does impressive things with the weight. When I saw the One Shot name I was expecting it to be an insane nitrous bike.
Fortunately not. Looks amazing.

 

[flying_hun]

That's an awful big oil cooler on the front of the Skorp.

Yeah, yeah, I broke the rules suggesting a water cooled bike. But this is teh BARF, and following directions is sketchy at best.

 

[OldMadBrit]

Trumple Bonne

It was considered and dismissed too early in this thread. So I am fixing it

Its been tested against the MG V70 and kicked the Italians arse

But seriously, they are sweet forgiving bikes with a low CofG that makes them a great all rounder

 

[ohio]

If your friend has money to spend, Moto Guzzi just came out with a neat modern/retro cafe bike that's all over Cycle World... Looks like a neat little bike but way out of my tax bracket.

http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/motorcycles/v7-racer.html

This. Lightweight (significantly lighter than the Bonneville), versatile, stylish. To me it's the purest of the neo-retros (Bonnie, Sportster, Sport Classic, etc.).

 

[stevidx]

I got a '09 Suzuki s40 I'd like to sell... 650 single just under 400 lbs

 

[davidji]

I got a '09 Suzuki s40 I'd like to sell... 650 single just under 400 lbs

Thanks. I talked to him about the idea of doing or buying a custom based on one.

If the TU250X were available here, I think his search would be over. It pretty much fits his description exactly.

I might go look at some bikes with him and we'll see how he feels about them.

His SR500 is pretty light--maybe less than 330lbs. Those are pretty light bikes and he took a fair bit of weight off it.

Building a light custom from a dual-sport is an option he's considering. He has some serious machining skills.

If he'll go with an older bike a CB175 or CL175 might meet his needs too.

 

[flying_hun]

If he's really thinking as small as a 175, there are a couple of other options that Gabe featured in City Bike a few months back, the SYM Wolf and the CCW Tha Misfit.

Moto-USA version of the article

 

[davidji]

If he's really thinking as small as a 175, there are a couple of other options that Gabe featured in City Bike a few months back, the SYM Wolf and the CCW Tha Misfit.

Thank you! I completely forgot about CCW.

Yeah, not sure he'd go for the old 175. The CCW bikes sound ideal though.

I think the search is over. I emailed Tha Misfit links.

BARF was really an awesome resource here. Thanks all.

 

[Ol' Gravy Leg]

I'd rock tha Misfit, if I could fit it.

I looked at the Wolf (149cc) and it was tiny!

 

[ToraTora]

Italian Stallion

.

 

[stevidx]

here is a pic of the Ryca Motors kit for the s40. I've been holding on to it hoping to pull this off... maybe this winter. Website says custom build is around 320lbs.

 

[crick]

SFmoto i think has Sym motorcycles, chinese made, dirt cheap. 125 cc.

http://alliancepowersports.com/models/Wolf.html

between 3 - 4k new i think.

edit: looks like i'm late to the party! someone already suggested it.

 

[Stormdragon]

His SR500 is pretty light--maybe less than 330lbs. Those are pretty light bikes and he took a fair bit of weight off it.

If he's still got the SR500 and likes it, why not put the 600/660 motor with the electric start in it instead?

 

[Gabe]

SFmoto i think has Sym motorcycles, chinese made, dirt cheap. 125 cc.

http://alliancepowersports.com/models/Wolf.html

between 3 - 4k new i think.

edit: looks like i'm late to the party! someone already suggested it.

A repost, but a good call. Read my review: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/8/13102/Motorcycle-Article/SYM-Wolf-Classic-vs--CCW-tha-Misfit.aspx

I would not dismiss the Wolf for being too small--they are really the same bike in a lot of ways. The Sym is built in Taiwan, the Misfit in mainland China.

 

[davidji]

Went with him today to pick up an old KZ200. It will be a Winter project. Lighter than his lightened SR500, and e-start.