Are 20 year old bikes good for commuting?

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dan18

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As the title says, I'm wondering if bikes this old are any good for commuting every day for a summer or two. Will they break down every few months?

I'm going to go check out a 1993 Suzuki Bandit 400 this Saturday which the guy is selling for $3000 (I think that's far too much). But my intentions are to use it as a daily commuter for four months at a time.

Am I better off spending $1000 more and getting a new CBR250R?
 
If the bike is well maintained there shouldn't be a problem, but that dude is smokin crack...

check kijiji, lots of newer 250-500 for cheaper
 
check the inside of the gas tank for rust, battery and tires are basic, but 3k$ is too much for that 20 year old bike. also check the cost of insurance between the two bikes.
 
An old bike could work, but if you have a budget of 2k+, I would get a much newer 250 (ninja or cbr). Until you've owned an old vehicle for a while to make sure the gremlins are excised, you can't rely on them to get you to work everyday. As an added thought, the amount of extra money required at purchase should more than be offset by reduced maintenance (and better resale value).
 
dan18 said:
As the title says, I'm wondering if bikes this old are any good for commuting every day for a summer or two. Will they break down every few months?

I'm going to go check out a 1993 Suzuki Bandit 400 this Saturday which the guy is selling for $3000 (I think that's far too much). But my intentions are to use it as a daily commuter for four months at a time.

Am I better off spending $1000 more and getting a new CBR250R?
Click to expand...

Is any 20 year old vehicle good for commuting?

First off you're riding on 20 year old technology, plus how long is it realistically going to last? Finally what resale value will it have?

If i were you id buy something newer. cbr 250/sv650 etc...
 
There's a 2009 250R floating around kijiji for $3500. Guy is moving, needs it gone.
 
If it was a $1000 bike and you're not afraid to do some maintenance yourself, then sure. But if you need reliable transportation to get you to work everyday and can't afford a breakdown then go for something newer.
 
I just checked quotes on a couple of motorcycles today and wow... If I just wait a year after getting my M2 (with no insurance), insurance goes down to about half of what it would cost right now! I'm hoping my old VW Golf lasts me for the summer in case I decide to wait a year.

And also, insurance for a GSF 400 Bandit costs about the same as that for a Ninja 400r.

I agree with dash8 that the guy selling the Bandit is smoking crack... I can buy a bike that's 10 years newer with 100cc more for about the same money.

I shall get a much newer bike when I decide to buy one (which may be a year from now).
 
That bandit has little to no fairings on it. If you are using the bike for commuting purposes try to find one that has some wind/rain protection for you.

How long per day will your daily commute be ? This should also dictate what bike you choose.
 
It will make a difference, fully faired bike compared to a naked bike, maybe not that much of a deal breaker if your commute is only 15 mins.
 
69 Honda CB350 owner. Daily rider coming on to my sixth year. North York to downtown. Highways but not in rush hour. Long day outings on weekends. Doesn't require rebuilds every couple months, but it takes love. If you don't have the space, or patience to learn maintenance, go new.
 
As it was mentioned - once you work out the gremlins it can be, but you'll need to put some work into it. You can get newer for less.
 
If it's well maintained and running well, and can be had at a good price, I say go for it. It stands out a bit more from the crowd. You might learn a little bit about maintence yourself and to me, that is a good thing. JMO.
 
I would not even bother going for a look at $3000. As a rider of a 30 year old bike, things are going to come up that don't appear on newer bikes. Electric problems need fixed because of age and if your not handy with a multi-meter and wrenches the old bike CAN cost you a fortune in repairs. Shop rates are what ... $90/hr. I'd look for something smaller and newer. Some dealers still have 2012 bikes to selloff. My 2 cents. Good luck
 
Last year/ my first bike was a 1989 Fzr400. Had a couple problem but after resolving the issues, it ran like butter. Then again I bought it was $1550, sold it end of the season for $1850.
Go for it, in the process you will learn a lot about the maintenance.
 
You guys are making me doubt myself haha. I have enough mechanical and electrical skills to maintain the bike myself (I've done brake lines, exhaust, oil changes, and other minor electrical things here and there on my old golf). But one day my starter solenoid crapped out on me and I had to leave my car at school for the next couple of days and replace it in the autoshop. I just don't want things like this happening when I need to get to work because I can't walk nor take public transportation there.

Are there things like this that can go wrong with an old bike? Anything that would need me to order a new part and wait? Or can most of the issues be dealt with basic tools and a little elbow grease?

p.s. If I go and check out the Bandit, how much should I offer him if the bike looks clean and everything is in check? It has 30k on it. I think his main selling point is going to be that it's rare...
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