Rebuilding Classic Bikes on the Cheap

Reader Contribution by James Alaimo
Published on April 1, 2011
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Jim Alaimo’s latest “on the cheap” build was this Yamaha XS400RK Seca,
delivered with flat black primer on everything.

If you’re reading this you like classic motorcycles. Dying to hit the open road, commute to work have a week end or Sunday morning breakfast ride, catch up with your buddies, looking for an excuse to get out of wall papering your mother-in-laws kitchen? I know you’ve checked out the dealer’s show rooms and found even a modest used bike won’t fit in your limited budget.

Help is here with my step-by-step process to rebuilding classic bikes. Rebuild the classic bike of your dreams and have fun doing it! Late ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s bikes are great platforms for a budget build. They have most of the high-tech features without all the complexity on today’s modern bikes and they are plentiful, cheap and easy to maintain. Parts are readily available; new, used and NOS are just an eBay click away. Many Internet stores such as Bike Bandit, Dennis Kirk, Old Bike Barn and others have what you need as well.

The Yamaha XS400RK Seca stripped and showing potential. 

Over the last 48 years I have acquired, enjoyed and sold 29 motorcycles; from miniscule 60cc entry-level 2-stokes to high-end Ducatis and BMWs. But the biggest bang for the buck are those transitional a’80s Japanese and Euro bikes sitting in some one’s barn, garage or back 40.

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