10 reasons you should get a vintage motorcycle

Most people think that vintage motorcycles are nothing but a pain to own and ride. In this video I'm breaking down some of the main reasons you should at least consider buying a vintage motorcycle. Whether you're considering a british bike like Triumph or Norton, or a vintage american bike like Harley or Indian, this video shows exactly why vintage motorcycles aren't as bad as many think

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[garyharmatski]

There's a great sense of pride in buying an old bike, rescuing it from the back of a garage or dusty barn and bringing it back into the living so to speak. They are a joy and put a smile on my face especially during that first ride after finishing it! I will agree tho, that it's good to have a modern bike as your main ride, as these old dinosaurs WILL break down occasionally. But it's all worth it, as they are a pure old school experience with tons of charm. 4 wheels move the body but 2 wheels move the soul 😎

[peggymcgranahan]

You are right about old bikes turning heads. When your dad starts his motorcycle, neighbors wander over to our garage to check it out, and one day a guy on the street corner stood at attention and saluted him!

[joonaskanerva]

I take some issue with the bonneville on track claim. The bonnie easily outbrakes the old one simply by the merit of having modern discs. ABS is just icing on top. The imroved frame and suspension also put the new one ahead of the old.

[daveco]

Great looking Triumph. I got my first bike three years ago, a 1975 Honda CB750. I paid 2 grand for it and it's been bulletproof. I wanted to find something cool and affordable that I could learn to do the maintenance and work on. A 70's Honda CB was a great choice. When I was first looking for a vintage bike I wanted an old Triumph but was told by a motorcycle mechanic to start with a Honda CB, learn to do the basic maintenance then get a Triumph as your second bike. It was good advice. Last year I picked up my second bike, a 1964 Triumph TR6. I've been having a blast with it.

[AdrianWhyte]

You’ve made a great, thought provoking video- BUT, if you aren’t handy with a spanner, forget it! I’ve restored and recommissioned several bikes now that have come from people who couldn’t maintain it. It’s just sad! And with shop rates here in Australia at 150 dollars an hour, you’ll be broke if you take it to someone. And trust me when I say “simple to work on” is great until you find rounded bolts, opened up Philips heads screws, ceased parts, carbs that constantly clog (use fuel stabiliser folks!)
Having said all this: I love vintage bikes!
Get a vintage bike!

[heathbarber]

I agree there is a lot to love about older bikes, however, weight to horse power is not going to make your old bike competitive with a modern bike.The engineering of newer bikes is amazing. Weight distribution, braking, suspension are all superior on new bikes to older bikes. Yes the new bike is heavier, but it brakes harder, more smoothly loads the suspension and carves a corner better than an older, lighter bike. Speed isn't everything. I got the most smiles when I was zipping around town on a Vespa. The coolest ride is the one that makes you smile. I'm smiling on 2012 Triumph Tiger. Be safe, and take care friends. Thanks for the video.

[mr.carguy]

I’ve got a 1976 2 stroke! It’s a money pit but I love it so much! I wouldn’t swap it out for a modern bike with ABS, TC etc!

[thedoffen]

I spent last summer on my 1952 Triumph Speedtwin 500cc and it was amazing. I had the great luck of being asked if I wanted to buy it from the estate of a friend of a friend's father-in-law. The father-in-law kept the bike in super condition and totally stock and original and I guess he drove it a few times a year, mostly on good days in the summertime. Since we live in Sweden, that's not very many. Riding a small British 500cc compared to my usual and preferred rides, which are Harley big twin flathead choppers, it was a surprisingly fun alternative. The bike starts easy with a light kick start, usually on the first kick, and is so smooth and mellow to ride. And the sound of a British parallel twin is almost as good as the sound of a flathead. I second the opinion on this post - vintage bikes give you alot of feel and joy, and in my experience more so than modern bikes. But that's a personal reflection and no truth whatsoever! Each to his own.
I've got a few more hours of work until my '62 Harley Duo Gilde will run and take me around town. So come summer, I've got the choice of a '38 Flattie chop, a vintage '62 full dresser, and my super sweet Brit '52 pre-unit! Ride on and ride safe! preferably on something old.

[Comrade]

Old bikes are like time machines... The feeling is priceless.

[jackc]

One thing you failed to mention with the older brit bikes, and older bikes in general. As people have worked on them over the years and replaced original parts with newer more reliable parts. They're often better now than when they came out of the factory.

[pdm]

The rectifier failed on my 1973 Norton Commando a few months after I got it. Bought a solid state replacement I saw in a J.C. Whitney catalog which also eliminated the zener diode. Forty eight years later it’s still doing the job.

[peterwilson]

I have been Riding for 58 years and have had many bikes. Sold off most of my vintage bikes but still have 6. I still have a 1982 Honda 450 Nighthawk. It runs perfectly and is a lot of fun. I also have a Harley, with 140, 000 kms no issues and no failures. It is basically maintenance free. Yes it is heavy but it certainly isn’t slow or clunky. I liked your video even if I didn’t agree with all of it.

[davidjessee]

My first experience on a motorcycle was when I was about 6 or 7 years old and I was visiting family in Cincinnati. My Dads cousin had a 650 Triumph Bonieville and he gave me a ride ! I had been bitten by the bike… my dad bought my brother and I mini bikes and go carts and eventually when I was around 13 a Honda cl100 scrambler! My brother had a cl175 he was 2 years older. My Dad rode a cb 450.. mine you this was in the mid 70s… through the years I’ve had many many motorcycles… but the favorite that I own now is a 71 cb175 and a 72 cb500 four… I think they are absolutely the best

[davidhamilton]

Back in another lifetime, (1963), I bought my first bike, a 1959 650cc Triumph Thunderbird. Had no problem handling the weight, as was able to sit with both feet flat to the ground, which I'm told greatly improves one's balancing the bike when at rest. Since that time have owned a 1967 Yamaha YDS 3 250cc, and a 1982 Honda CBN 250cc. Today after a 35 year absence from riding, I've just bought a 2022, Royal Enfield 350 Classic, in that stunning color of Halcyon Green. After riding it through heavy traffic, I can agree that it's weight becomes more apparent in stop/start situations than my old Triumph did. On the move though, it's fine, feels light, handles beautifully, belying it's 195KG wet weight. After looking at the reviews of many makes and models, The RE 350 Classic ticked all the boxes pertaining to, Price, Paintwork, Seat comfort on long hauls, ABS to both front and rear wheels, Petrol economy, as in 2.6 liters per 100 kilometers, or in the old money, as near as dammit to 100 MPG, (UK gallon= 4.5 liters), EFI, Handling, and superb attention to detail in keeping it's retro styling close to the original Royal Enfield Bullet. It may have a top speed of almost 120km/h, but then realistically, where it shines, is that this big single is quite tractable, pulling away strongly from a mere 20km/h in 3rd gear without the slightest hint of laboring. It's a bike built for cruising. Another interesting point of note, is that reviewers the World over were/are unanimous in their praise of this motorcycle and indeed other variants of the Royal Enfield stable...

[TombstoneHeart]

My very first road bike was a 1954 BSA B31, 350 cc single cylinder. I think '54 was when BSA went away from the old plunger suspension and began to make bikes with a swinging arm suspension. It was easy to work on, easy to start and easy to ride.
What's probably been forgotten about most of those old British singles is how interchangeable internal parts were, not just from one model to another, but also from different makes. Pistons, rings, valves and valve springs were commonly the same between BSA, Ariel, AJS, Matchless etc. If, like me, you owned a B31 or a B33, you could fill the inside up with Gold Star components, add a big Amal GP carby and to all intents and purposes, you had a Gold Star without the good looks!

[carls]

Memories of riding my Honda CB500T is exactly what’s keeping me from buying a vintage bike, the terrible handling, the subpar brakes, the incessant handlebar vibration, the constant fiddling with spark plugs, points, and carburetors; no thank you!! Not to mention the horrendous seat.

[timcarter]

I had a '67 Triumph TR6 back in the early 1970s. It was a great bike and I loved it. There were some cons, even back then.
It shook. I lost two license plates, the left rider's footpeg came loose and once a month or so you had to tighten about every fastener or something else would come loose out on the road. Yes, I had loctited the peg bolt.
The other problem was its gearing. It was a wet dream to ride on the two lanes and back roads. On the freeway, however, the engine was not happy spinning along at 70+ mph. England has slower roads.
If you're willing to take care of things and keep to the back roads, an old Triumph is as much fun as you can have with your pants on.

[terryboehler]

Good on you for introducing the kids early to the sound and feel. Seeing you giving rides on the tank brought back vivid memories. I was three and I still remember. I'm 69 now. Looking back at my motorcycle history, I realize it was a huge chunk of my life. Favorite bike? Whichever one I'm on at the time.

[rickconstant]

I've had my 78 Bonneville 750 here in England for 29 years and love riding it, but it's too valuable and too good to use in the winter when they cover the roads with salt, so this year I turned to the dark side and added a 1980 Suzuki GS550. It was cheap to buy and mechanically simple and, most importantly, I'm now enjoying riding all year round without worrying about ruining the Triumph.

[jamesneufeld-be]

The most reliable bike I ever had is a 1941 Indian Chief, which was my wheels for 7 years. Most unreliable 57 cu in. Indian Scout stroker with twin Linkert carbs.
In 1965 I rode a new Bonnie and was blown away by the performance.
Current ride is '79 XLS with S&S motor and sidecar (arthritis got me.).
Yup, I love old bikes.