General cost of 70s 80s 125cc for restoration

[Gareth Roberts]

I've been thinking about finding a 125cc bike from the 70s/80s to restore, searching ebay and gumtree throws up mainly chinese bikes from the early 2000s and everything else seems a bit pricey. Am I looking in the wrong place? I was thinking 400 quid would get me a complete but broken bike...any advice would be appreciated.

[Tiggie]

Auto trader is worth a go. You might find it easier if you don't limit yourself to 125's though. There always seems to be many more bigger engined bikes available at your price point than 125's as they seem to hold their value more

[dynax]

You will be hard pushed to find anything from that era, that isn't pushing upwards of a grand even as a barn find.

Having said that though there are some FB groups that might be worth joining that specialise in these bikes, and you can usually find reasonable examples for sale at a good price, one of them is " Great fun on small bikes", very knowledgeable members and some of them often have bikes for sale that won't break the bank 

[Mr Fro]

Also Gareth, bide your time.

 

My experience is that if you rush about looking for something then you usually over pay or end up with a complete dog.

 

Waiting a bit with something in mind often turns up a gem at a steal.

[Gareth Roberts]

Thanks for the advice guys. I was keeping my search limited to 125cc as I havent really looked into getting a full bike licence but if there is more choice I think this is the avenue I'll look down.

Ive always been a car guy but its getting to stage where I realise I'll never own the car I want, hence I'm now looking for a bike project. They seem easier to store generally more accessible and some of the styles tick all the boxes.

[fastbob]

15 hours ago, Gareth Roberts said:

I've been thinking about finding a 125cc bike from the 70s/80s to restore, searching ebay and gumtree throws up mainly chinese bikes from the early 2000s and everything else seems a bit pricey. Am I looking in the wrong place? I was thinking 400 quid would get me a complete but broken bike...any advice would be appreciated.

Unfortunately for you the Cafe Racer / Brat / Rat / Hipster  craze has swallowed up every available 70's and 80's 125 . It turns my stomach to see a CG 125 stripped to the bone with the regulation brown seat being sold for £2,000 + . I rebuilt 9 CG 125s about 16 years ago . The most I ever paid was £200 and the least I ever paid was £20 . I even got given one for free . What you could try is putting wanted ads in newsagents and grocery stores asking for a scrap bent or blown bike , anything considered . This way you might just avoid the greedy f*****s on eBay . 

[dynax]

3 minutes ago, fastbob said:

Unfortunately for you the Cafe Racer / Brat / Rat / Hipster  craze has swallowed up every available 70's and 80's 125 . It turns my stomach to see a CG 125 stripped to the bone with the regulation brown seat being sold for £2,000 + . I rebuilt 9 CG 125s about 16 years ago . The most I ever paid was £200 and the least I ever paid was £20 . I even got given one for free . What you could try is putting wanted ads in newsagents and grocery stores asking for a scrap bent or blown bike , anything considered . This way you might just avoid the greedy f*****s on eBay . 

This is why I won't sell mine, I have thought about it but I just know it will end up fooked by some twat.

[fastbob]

FFS ! 

[dynax]

It really is depressing to see good serviceable bikes turned into crap.

[Guest]

I went through a phase of hunting for my old Kawasaki AR50 (still kind of keep an eye out), but I think now that it'd be too expensive to buy it back, even if I found it. 

[Bender]

It's in your price range but that's it.

 

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C916957

 

While your on pick me this up as a finders fee

 

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1287354

[skyrider]

22 hours ago, Gareth Roberts said:

I've been thinking about finding a 125cc bike from the 70s/80s to restore, searching ebay and gumtree throws up mainly chinese bikes from the early 2000s and everything else seems a bit pricey. Am I looking in the wrong place? I was thinking 400 quid would get me a complete but broken bike...any advice would be appreciated.

i had an as3 125 yam twin that was fairly quick 

[fastbob]

Here you go . This is a bit more like it , especially if you can get two bikes out of it . https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324443648786

[Bender]

32 minutes ago, fastbob said:

Here you go . This is a bit more like it , especially if you can get two bikes out of it . https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324443648786

T reg had 22,548 miles at last mot in 2013

 

The other expired 2012 with over 40k on clock.

 

Got to be one bike in that lot

 

[Six30]

On 04/01/2021 at 13:58, dynax said:

This is why I won't sell mine, I have thought about it but I just know it will end up fooked by some twat.

surely yours would only get improved .

[fastbob]

9 minutes ago, Bender said:

T reg had 22,548 miles at last mot in 2013

 

The other expired 2012 with over 40k on clock.

 

Got to ne one bikes that lot

 

No worries , you can bolt a barrel and piston on to a CG in a couple of hours . https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383367302583

Edited January 12, 2021 by fastbob

[Bender]

@fastbobwasn't a worry, was just a bit more info to entice  

[fastbob]

4 minutes ago, Bender said:

@fastbobwasn't a worry, was just a bit more info to entice  

I couldn't actually figure out if you were for or against . Might be an autocorrect glitch . Anyway you are obviously in favour . High mileage is not an issue on a CG because there are as many moving parts as half a Harley so that's about seven .

Edited January 12, 2021 by fastbob

[Bender]

4 minutes ago, fastbob said:

I couldn't actually figure out if you were for or against . Might be an autocorrect glitch . Anyway you are obviously in favour . High mileage is not an issue on a CG because there are as many moving parts as half a Harley so that's about seven .

Ahhhh gotcha Def in favour bob, thought it was a great find.

[linuxrob]

God find and good advice Bob.