What are some desireable bikes to restore?

The wife and I were thinking about restoring a classic and hopefully make a few bucks profit. I'm not real familliar with 70's street bikes, so what bikes are real desireable? Doesn't just have to be a Kawi either (although they are closest to my heart) but I'd prefer NOT a HD.

Right now the 70's MXers (250cc+)are going for $3-5k in near pristine condition. So I was thinking one of those already that I could possibly blow out in a coupla weeks, but I'd like to do a street bike too.

Thanks.

If you want to make a few bucks profit, you have to work for free. Your labor is what kills the profit. You'd probably make more money per hour shining shoes.

In order to make money restoring bikes you'd have to have a shop, tons of machinery to save time, tons of chemical processes for paint, chrome, polishing, and tons of space for parts, etc, etc. Then you'd have to hire a bunch of guys to work cheap. Maybe if you set up in Mexico or South america.

But if you are doing it for fun, then the only real solution is to pick a bike you really like to begin with. Then, when you're done, you won't really care about the labor because you'll have something cool.

Edit:
I just realized you probably know most of what I said, based on your signature.

I don't know if you'd get a more desirable Kaw than a 1st year Z1. Maybe an H1 or H2 since you like the smokers. But they are getting really hard to get parts for.

The 1969 sandacst CB 750's go for a ton of money too.

Hondas. Honda luggage racks. The Honda crowd seems to have plenty of money.
Just from personal observations... not expert advice or anything.

the ones with round tires and the ones you can get your hands on...oh...and all the others..:huh:

any bike just have fun doing it

Besides the ones you already know (as per your post), early Honda scramblers have a large following and parts are available. Specifically, CL72 and CL77 Honda Scramblers...if I wasn't in love with Z-bikes, I'd be doing those Hondas. You might also investigate Honda mini-bikes...Z-50's, QA-50's, and perhaps Suzuki GSXR-50s.

I have a little '78 Honda Z-50. I beat the snot outta it from when I was 5 to about 12. I saw one in great shape on craigs list go for over 1k. After I recovered from that heart attack, I had another one when I thought of the '70 50 mini trail (Had the gas tank with the rubber strap and no rear suspension) I beat and destroyed before I had the '78...stupid stupid stupid!

The early Suzuki Water Buffalo is a unique bike that might intrest you. They are a three cylinder two stroke water cooled beast that is quick funky and somewhat hard to come by any more. If you come across one in nice shape it will draw a tidy sum.

If you want a relatively cheap project the mini bikes will probably be the way to go. Some people pay insane amounts for the right model that is all correct. My first "restore was a '74 Honda trail 70 seen in the background of my current project.

It's not all original, and my dad is the original owner, so I don't plan to sell it, but they can go for thousands, and are VERY easy to work on.

Great advice everyone! That's the kind of feedback I wanted. I have a pretty decent shop and I'm good with my hands. To be honest, the reason I asked about other brands besides Kawi is I wouldn't really mind selling them. :laugh:

The 94 KX I'm restoring I'm ONLY using Kawi parts, NOS parts. I've purchased parts from any English speaking country, it's a long process. :S

I think for a street bike I'd like to do a 90% stock, rideable bike. I don't really think there's much of a market right now for trailer queens, we'll see.

I'll keep my eye out for all these ideas. Another Z1 would be great since my feet are wet. The only bike I have to judge by is the one I have, so what do you think that bike would be worth now? 12k original miles. USD, not Canadian. Bikes are ridiculously expensive in Canada.

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