How old is too old?

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noobie mcnooberson · Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:30 am

So I bought a really fun bike after finishing my MSF course and have had a great time with it over the past couple of months, a 1982 CB750k to be exact. Perhaps a bit big for a beginner but the weight slowed it down a bit and I've ridden dirt bikes since I was a kid. In any event, I've sold that bike for what I bought it for because the pipes were rusting out and I couldn't find any replacement parts on the cheap on the internet or around me. So my question is this, how old is too old for a bike? I mean, at what point do the manufacturers stop stocking parts, 10 years, 15? I'm getting a newer bike, but I'm just wondering if it'll be easy to replace parts on it if they go (I can't buy new because most of my money is tied up already). Also, where do you all find your parts, besides ebay! Thanks much,
d

#2 Unread post by **bok** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:52 am

not to be flippant, but it totally depends on the bike.
the ninja250 is basically the same bike it was 20 years ago and the shop manual has had some minor upgrades here and there, but mostly the same stuff throughout from what i can see.

that might be a way to tell how old is too old though...look at the shop manuals, say you are looking at a 1990 bike, does the shop manual run 1985-1992 or does it run 1989-1999.

if the run of that particular model of bike ran to something within the last 7 years or so, it shouldn't be too terrible.

i'd say as a general rule 10 years is where things "can" start to become tough if you aren't very mechanical by nature though.

flynrider · #3 Unread post by **flynrider** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:50 am

I've never heard of anyone having trouble finding an aftermarket exhaust for something as common as a CB750K. MAC makes a full 4 into 1 set up. If you just need the mufflers Jardine makes two different styles of slip on.

I guess it would come down to what you consider "on the cheap" (the MAC 4into1 goes for about $200).

I've always found plenty of parts for common 80s bikes on Ebay and oldbikebarn.com .

It's not so much how old the bike is, as its commonality. As a general rule, the more common (i.e. popular) your bike is, the longer you'll be able to find parts for it.

sharpmagna · Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:12 am

I think you also have to factor how long the bike was made. If the bike was made several years and had aftermarket support, you shouldn't have much of an issue finding used parts on ebay. The dealership may have some parts still in stock. Wear items like washers, gaskets etc shouldn't be a problem because manufacturers have a habit of using parts on multiple bikes.

My bike is almost 20 years old, but I can still find some parts at the dealership. I recently changed it's air filter and sourced the OEM part from a dealership too.

TorontoBoy · Tue Aug 15, 2006 4:02 pm

My stealership told me Honda stocks parts for 12 years, and after that it MIGHT be hit and miss. Common wear and tear parts are usually always available. eBay usually has lots of parts for bikes that have a long production run life. Your CB750 was pretty common and pretty famous so I'm surprised you couldn't find an exhaust for it at a reasonable price.

Old bikes can run for a long time.

#6 Unread post by **Kal** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:35 pm

Between 17 and 23 is best...

< edit >
Sorry didn't realise you meant 'bikes...

noodlenoggin · Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:05 am

As a general rule, the more common (i.e. popular) your bike is, the longer you'll be able to find parts for it.

+1
I have a 1979 Yamaha, but they made my model from 1968 or 1969 until 1983 with no real major changes, AND they have a sort of cult following. There are parts on eBay, there are a couple of websites that specialize in my bike, and I can still order parts from the dealer.

I'd think the same would go for other popular older models like the CB 4-cyl's, the XS650 twins, maybe the Kawasaki 2-stroke triples, that kind of thing. If you get a Puch or a Hodaka, you might be out of luck?

BLKNSLVR · #8 Unread post by **BLKNSLVR** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:15 am

Here's another tip: When you're looking at an older bike, hunt down some parts for it and see how easy or difficult they are to find. Might save you some headaches down the road.

Greg

Bugg · #9 Unread post by **Bugg** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:25 am

As a reference, I have a 30 yr old kawasaki 400, and replacement parts are very easy to come by, upgrades, not so much, but my friend had a 25 year old honda 400, and parts were damn near impossible to find, so theres no across the board answer, it definitely depends on the manufacturer and the production run (and popularity) of the bike