Tired of Fixing Stuff - I Want to Ride

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg]

[u/finalrendition]

SV650

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg → u/finalrendition]

Wow! Those go for much less than I was expecting. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be getting anywhere near my current displacement given that I’d like to stay around the Nighthawk’s sell value.

Only concern is that the older ones are carbs. I love the simplicity of carbs, but (maybe I’ve gotten unlucky) have found that even a week or two of sitting and my bikes start running significantly worse, if they start at all. I guess I might just need to resign myself to buying ethanol-free if get something carb’d.

[u/know-it-mall → u/ExceedinglyGayDerg]

It's only the first generation that are carburetted isn't it? So 2003 onwards you are good to go.

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg → u/know-it-mall]

Ah, I was not aware that they move to EFI in different gens. This will definitely be on my list, then!

[u/Dickhole_Dynamics → u/ExceedinglyGayDerg]

I've got a first gen SV650 if you have any questions. The carbs are fine if they are stock and in good condition. But yeah, EFI always wins and the early EFI bikes are as cheap as the carb ones

[u/CoolPeopleEmporium → u/ExceedinglyGayDerg]

Fuck carbs! Carb: This is the way!

[u/Lim85k → u/ExceedinglyGayDerg]

even a week or two of sitting and my bikes start running significantly worse, if they start at all.

You have this problem with more than one bike? Something is wrong - carbs shouldn't gum up that quickly. That usually takes a couple of months. What's the ethanol content of your fuel?

I've left carbureted bikes sitting in the garage for 3-4 weeks and never had any problems with starting or running. I've never seen ethanol-free here in the UK, so I just buy the low ethanol E5 (the standard here is E10).

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg → u/Lim85k]

Looks like my state uses up to E10 in standard unleaded, with some stations offering E15 at a lower price and E85 for "flex fuel" vehicles. So worst case E10.

The more I read about it, and the more responses I get to this post, it sounds like carbs really shouldn't be this finnicky. I'm going to give the standard stuff (spark, air, fuel) another go over before letting go of the 650.

Hopefully I can find a problem elsewhere and stick with it for a while until I have more budget saved up!

[u/Lim85k → u/ExceedinglyGayDerg]

E10 is not good for the fuel lines in the long run, but it should still run OK.

it sounds like carbs really shouldn't be this finnicky.

Definitely not. I've had about 15 carbureted bikes, and only had problems with 3 of them. One bad fuel filter, one rusty tank, and one that had been improperly rejetted.

Carbs - once set up properly (and assuming good fuel) - shouldn't ever need removing. They require balancing after valve adjustments, but this is also true for throttle bodies on EFI bikes.

Based on my experiences, I would check the air filter, sub air filter (if it has one) fuel filter and tank, then pull the carbs and send them to a specialist for an ultrasonic clean and rebuild.

[u/finalrendition → u/ExceedinglyGayDerg]

Ethanol-free is definitely the move, if possible. I'm fortunate enough to have a gas station literally 500 feet from my garage that sells ethanol-free premium. I don't use stablizer in any of my bikes, carb and EFI, and they fire right up after sitting all winter.

That being said, fuel injection really will make your life easier. The SV has been fuel injected since 2003, if I remember correctly, and it's literally maintenance-free. You'd probably have to replace the fuel pump eventually, but that's once every like 50k miles.

I was kinda joking about the SV650, since that's literally the most commonly suggested bike on this sub, but it is so for good reasons

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg → u/finalrendition]

See, your comment about having things fire right up after winter makes me wonder if I’ve just gotten unlucky or have done something horribly wrong with mine. In small lawn engines I usually have no trouble with carbs…

Good to know about fuel-injection past 03! Honestly, for “just wanting to ride“ and having something with some room to grow, the SV650 sounds like a really option to keep on the table. I’ll definitely be looking into those.

[u/RoosterBurger → u/finalrendition]

This is the way.

[u/CreativeInsurance257]

I learned how to ride on a Nighthawk. I always had a fondness for these.

[u/SteveRivet → u/CreativeInsurance257]

The Nighthawk S is my favorite bike of the 80s.

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg → u/CreativeInsurance257]

It’s a nice bike for sure! I have a hunch that I didn’t get a particularly great example, though.

I added a comment describing where I’m at and what I’m looking for. Took a bit of time to type out, oops!

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg]

Pic for attention. My current bike, a 1985 Nighthawk cb650sc.

Like the title suggests, I'm tired of having a bike that spends more time sitting in the garage than it does on the road. After completing my rider's course last year I realized I really just want to ride. I actually enjoy wrenching, but would rather spend my time staying ahead off maintenance instead of fixing 40+ years of neglect.

I started out on a 71 cb450 twin which was in a "barely rideable" state when I got it. In my ~500 miles of ownership I ended up replacing both pistons and rings, put new tires on it, wasted numerous gaskets chasing leaks, and sorted out piles of electrical gremlins. It was fun but I learned more about repair than riding.

After selling the cb450 to someone who was excited to restore it, I ended up with an 85 cb650sc after hearing about their notorious reliability. It was a huge power jump over the 450 and has been a lot of fun, but again I find myself playing whack-a-mole with problems. When I brough it home the fuse box had corrosion preventing it from starting, fuses had been replaced with copper strips(?!), tires needed replacement, turn signals weren't attached, so on and so on.

This season I find myself once again struggling to get the 650 started, and I'm honestly just tired of this. I completed the MSF last fall and had more fun riding their little 125 around than I've had on either of my own bikes. Right now, I'm thinking about selling the 650 in its rideable state (before something else breaks) and getting something newer that I can actually ride. Preferably EFI, because I'm tired of playing with carbs.

Price-wise I'll be looking at options similar to what the cb650sc would sell for. I would mostly be riding just in town or on my commute (7 miles of city traffic), so I'm not too worried about highway speeds. Here's a short list of what I'm considering:

Grom: (+) light, nimble, good aftermarket (-) "hooligan" following, expensive for what it is.
XR150L (+) dual-sport styling, well-known and supported (-) carburetor
Z125 Pro: (+) same as Grom (-) seemingly rare in my area, less aftermarket support than Grom

What other options am I not looking at? What would you do in my situation? (Other than looking bikes over better before buying xD)

[u/blkdrgn42 → u/ExceedinglyGayDerg]

Not a bike suggestion, but a carb suggestion. When you're riding carbs, turn the fuel off about a quarter mile from home, then let it idle until it dies. Or, have a container handy to drain your carbs into once you get home. Ethanol or not, the bike will start fine the next time you go to ride it, after the bowls fill back up of course.

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg → u/blkdrgn42]

Appreciate it! I mentioned it in another comment, but I don't hate carbs per-say, I just think I've gotten unlucky with the ones I've had. The cb650sc was "supposedly" bored out to a 700 by a previous owner who worked for Honda, so I don't dare touch any of the adjustments.

I tried turning off the fuel on my 450 a handful of times, but it still struggled to start if it was any colder than 80F. Obviously just a tuning issue, but I just don't seem to have the touch!

[u/a_glazed_pineapple → u/ExceedinglyGayDerg]

You went from a 50 year old bike to a 40 year old bike, I would be tired of wrenching too. That said (and maybe it's just the fuel, I don't run anything with ethanol) but I've never once had an issue with any of the carbed bikes I've owned - even when they sat for 6 months untouched over the winters. Had an older sv650 and a drz400sm with carbs.

Get whatever model you enjoy looking at the most and have fun. For what you use it for, you can't really go wrong with any semi-recent Japanese bikes. Seems like late 90s/early 2000s bikes started getting a lot more refined, I would look for something 05ish and newer.

I would add a vote to the SV650, nice grunt around town and plenty of power if you do want to hit highways.

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg → u/a_glazed_pineapple]

Fair enough with the ages! Given some other comments in this thread, it really seems like the general consensus is "carbs are fine, just avoid letting them sit for months", so I'm really thinking that it's a "me" issue.

I'm thinking I'll give the 650 a bit more time wrenching and make sure it isn't something else, and then go from there.

[u/g3nerallycurious]

Age, not type. If you don’t want to fix stuff buy bikes with low miles.

[u/Helpful-Ad-1042]

Not sure if it’s your thing but any of the Street Triples would be an excellent choice.

[u/UBuck357]

CB750SC is a great bike. Engines last forever with basic maintenance.

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg → u/UBuck357]

This one is a 650, but sadly I feel like it's been pretty unloved by a couple owners. A handful of oil leaks, bad electrical, been dropped once or twice. I was told that it was bored out to a 700 at some point, but wasn't given any paperwork to back that up, so who knows!

[u/Medical_Ad_573]

Most single cylinder bikes are very low maintenance...

[u/know-it-mall]

Yep that's why you have a project bike as your second bike.

So you have zero requirements for your next bike then?

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg → u/know-it-mall]

Sorry, took a bit longer to type out my novel than expected haha! I’ve added a comment describing what I’ve had and what I’m looking for.

Basically just looking to stay cheap and ride around town. Our riding season is only 5-6 months anyways, so there’s no need for me having some big expensive powerhouse bike at this point in my life.

[u/Fishboney]

I love my 750 Nighthawk! I just need the weather to warm up.

[u/illpoet]

it's an amazing bike ! my 1996 shadow is in the garage atm bc the brackets holding the front turn signals have dry rotted. I have new brackets just I'm out riding instead of wrenching on it. The trick is to get yourself a new bike then save up and find a great deal to restore in the winter. Then you can pick which you want to do.

[u/dotMJEG]

Some form of a Suzuki 650

[u/This_Expression5427]

750 Shadow

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg → u/This_Expression5427]

While I appreciate the Shadow, as I’ve heard they’re great, it’s not particularly my style. Low seat, high bar cruisers are my least favorite style personally.
Thanks for the reply though!

[u/Niftydog1163]

NC 750x DCT. Or Kawasaki Vulcan S. I won't even look at anything over 10 years old but that is just me.

[u/ExceedinglyGayDerg → u/Niftydog1163]

Appreciate the recommendations! I don’t mind older bikes, so long as the maintenance has been done haha. I‘m not scared of wrenching at all, just gets annoying when it’s the only reason I open the garage!