Alternative bikes of budget build?

[L_Kilkenny]

Looking to do a budget scrambler build and while the XS's (kinda a duh) are near the top of the candidate list I'm wondering what other bikes I should be keeping and eye out for.

In town street 50%, dirt and gravel 30%, remaining 20% highway.

LK

 

[Okie]

I've always liked big singles, Yam XT, Honda XR. They're plentiful, cheap & torky. (is that a word?

 

[Tech7]

Me too. How about a Savage 650 with some suspension? They make cool little trackers too. (Yeah,... sure torky's a word...I use it all the time)

 

[pckopp]

KLRs are cheap and plentiful. Tons of aftermarket stuff.

Just not fast.

 

[L_Kilkenny]

Did I forget to mention that e-start is mandatory? Oh ya, guess I did. Done the XL/XR route already and am wanting something with a little more street biased manorisms and a lower stance. Plus I'm looking for another project I have no time or money for

LK

 

[Ironsled77]

anything with a motor works. craigslist is great if its cheap enough any bike would work

 

[Okie]

Saw this Suzuki S40 on The Kneeslider, nicely redone, wouldn't be too good for really rough terrain, but it looks like a slider.

 

[Tech7]

Yes, I saw that bike too! The S40 is just the new moniker for the Savage. That guy did a sweet job. (I just may need to find one of those) Damn you guys.

 

[gentlemanjim]

Plenty of Honda 350/360's out there cheap. Occasional 450/500's. Lots and losts of 4 cylinder by all the Jap guys. Another thought is the Suzuki GS 500.

I have the same plan, but want at least a 500/600 single or twin.

Let us know what you end up with it might help my decision process.

 

[Tech7]

I forgot to mention the Suzuki GS 450. (I have one). Great powerplant, 6 speeds and counterbalanced. Fairly plentiful and cheap to aquire.

 

[pckopp]

I forgot to mention the Suzuki GS 450. (I have one). Great power plant, 6 speeds and counterbalanced. Fairly plentiful and cheap to acquire.

No kidding. 10 pages of them.

Suzuki GS450 on Craiglook

 

[Tech7]

Wow! Cheaper by the dozen!

 

[gggGary]

70's Honda 450's are cheap, e-start, plentiful and would adapt very well to the tracker look. A CL450 has lots of stock parts that work. That engine is as recognizable as the XS650 and is just weird enough to be cool. Not to mention a revver and near bullet proof. It's pretty well supported with power upgrades available. Good grief, I am talking MYSELF into one.

 

[L_Kilkenny]

The only thing I worry about with the older, 2 valve(?) 400-450 cc motors from any of the makers is the lack of power for anything on the highway/freeway. Seems the next generation motors of the late 70's/early 80's had an extra 10 or so ponies and better vibration damping. Do like the idea of the smaller GS's but around here most of them are the "L" cruiser models.

How were the motors on the late 70's Honda 450 Hawk's?

LK

 

[L_Kilkenny]

Plenty of Honda 350/360's out there cheap. Occasional 450/500's. Lots and losts of 4 cylinder by all the Jap guys. Another thought is the Suzuki GS 500.

I have the same plan, but want at least a 500/600 single or twin.

Let us know what you end up with it might help my decision process.

I've set my max starting weight for this project at 400 lbs which will throw out all the 4 cylinder bikes (plus the xs650) for this project. The added width doesn't help either. I hear you when you talk about wanting 500-600cc's though and I worry mucho about the smaller twins. But in reality many of the late 70's/early 80's 400 and 450 cc bikes have almost as much HP than the earlier 500-650 bikes. Torque should be less though.

FYI comparison numbers:
XS650 = 50hp
70's XS400's = 27hp
'82 xs400 seca = 45hp
Late 70's/early 80's 450 Hawks = lower 40's HP
Late 70's/early 80's GS450's about the same as the Honda's
Honda FT500 ascot = 27 hp
Mid 70's CB/CL450's = 45hp (seems kinda high to me when a comparable xs400 is running 27hp?)
Mid 70's KZ400 = 35 hp
Later model KZ440's = 40 hp
SR500's = same as Ascot

All the above 400-450 cc bikes weight between 350- 400lbs. The XS650 is about 100 lbs heavier. That 100 lbs will go along way's in recovering some power drop in the smaller bikes. Don't know if this helps but now you got it.

LK

 

[Travis]

I've always liked big singles, Yam XT, Honda XR. They're plentiful, cheap & torky. (is that a word?

I think if it were, it would be torquey

Didn't see the SR500 mentioned. That might work if you can find one.

Edit: just saw it listed in the post above

 

[Teebs]

I don't know about the actual horsepower of the XS400, but the CB/CL450 number is 40+. Hell, the 350/360 is around 35hp. Nothing beat a Honda in the smaller displacement arena back in the day.

 

[jayel]

as a owner of a sr500 (kickstart only) and a CL450 and a CL350 (kick and e-start)kick on them is a last desperate action the SR is MUCH more dirt capable, 350/450 are heavy short wheelbase pigs in the dirt, better than the SR as a road bikes higher revs = more speed and mine will turn 9500 easy enough think what you would like is something like a Honda XL600R sit fairly low damn good power dirt or street, good parts availibility

 

[Travis]

Whoops. missed the e-start mandatory part.. nevermind on the SR500.

 

[gggGary]

A little rare but sometimes pop up on craigslist the vt500 Ascot or more commonly the FT500 Ascot. typically for less than $1000, check the starter carefully on the FT500 before purchase. same engine as the XR? 500 so hop up parts are around too.