When I bought my first bike a few years ago for $650 (’83 CB750 Nighthawk), I knew nothing at all about motorcycles. I have been a gearhead for as long as I can remember, but bikes were a mystery to me. It was running fairly well but in somewhat rough shape. It had no guages, a torn seat, shot chain, no rear brake (that made for fun…) stuck slider in one carb after someone had apparently tried to “fix” a stuck float with a hammer to the slide cylinder, and the rear tire was showing cord. I bought a manual, dove in, and learned as I went. A couple years later, a buddy of mine who had ridden it back when the previous owner still had it asked me if he could take it for a spin. He returned with swept-back hair and a great big smile on his face, and said that he couldn’t believe it was the same bike! That really does give you a satisfying feeling. I still have the bike and commute with it most every day, weather permitting.

The only thing I will say against old bikes is how difficult and EXPENSIVE it is to get parts (at least in my rural area)! This bike is somewhat rare but still… Of course I did have to buy a bike known for electrical miseries (I’ve put WAY more $$$ into electrical parts alone than what I paid for the bike). I’m on my second $250 rotor in 5 years, I have replaced the stator, and have had to track down several nasty wiring gremlins. The engine, however, has never been open and for that I am thankful (knocking on desk…).

You can’t beat the feeling you get from riding something you resurrected yourself, and as a hobby, it sure beats making new bike payments or playing golf!

I agree with you. For some reason the price of bikes in the Mid-Atlantic region is insane. I have traveled to New England and the Midwest to buy decent, cheap, used bikes.