newb thinking about a b4 with some questions

[Phat Ham]

Hi I'm a newb to the motorcycle world, and after a little bit of research am thinking about a b4 as my first bike.  I have a few questions though.

From what I've read the b4 is on the small side.  I'm a skinny 5'11" with decently long legs.  Will I be cramped on this bike?

What's the general price range for these bikes ('91-'93)?  Is there a specific year that I should look for?  Any common problems I should look for?

What is the reliability of these bikes like?  Or moreso how much should I expect to spend on parts?  I'm used to doing my own wrenching on cars so I can probably do most of the labor myself.

[interfuse]

Hi I'm a newb to the motorcycle world, and after a little bit of research am thinking about a b4 as my first bike.  I have a few questions though.

It's a great first bike and you won't get bored of after one season.

From what I've read the b4 is on the small side.  I'm a skinny 5'11" with decently long legs.  Will I be cramped on this bike?

Nope, I'm 5'11" and 130 lbs. Fits me perfectly for riding. I could handle a slightly higher seat height for stoplights though.

What's the general price range for these bikes ('91-'93)?  Is there a specific year that I should look for?  Any common problems I should look for?

Anywhere between $1500 - $2500 depending on the bike and the location. Lots of these bikes have rusty tanks and carb problems.

What is the reliability of these bikes like?  Or moreso how much should I expect to spend on parts?  I'm used to doing my own wrenching on cars so I can probably do most of the labor myself.

Parts can take a while to arrive to the dealership. Seems like they don't stock much for the bike on this side of the ocean anymore.

[JmuRiz]

I agree with what interfuse said.  I'm 6' with long legs and it suits me just fine.  Got it 2 years ago and haven't tired of it yet, sure you have to downshift to get it going sometimes, but that's the fun of it for me.

[Phat Ham]

Lots of these bikes have rusty tanks and carb problems.

 Is there a way for me to check for both of these problems when looking at a bike?  Sorry I'm new to this whole "carburetor" thing.

[PitterB4]

Nope, I'm 5'11" and 130 lbs. ....

Dude - get a sandwich!     People always call me skinny and I'm 5'10"/160.  

Some people do think the bike is a little cramped.  "Folded-up" is the term I've read.  I think that's mostly people who are used to bigger bikes.  For a noob - I don't think it will bother you.  

Bike ownership is at least somewhat expensive - moreso than I thought it would be.  As a noob... you need to plan good gear into your start-up budget.  Figure on $500+ over the cost of the bike to get a good lid, jacket and gloves.  I figure I'm averaging over $100/month on maintenance, mods and gear which would be WAY more if the wife would allow it!

They are totally fun bikes.  Being a decent wrench will make it that much more enjoyable.  They are getting pretty old afterall.

Good luck and....  

[PitterB4]

Lots of these bikes have rusty tanks and carb problems.

 Is there a way for me to check for both of these problems when looking at a bike?  Sorry I'm new to this whole "carburetor" thing.

A flashlight in the tank will do it.

Carb problems...  check for signs fuel has leaked out.  It should idle and rev smoothly.  If you are able, check the plugs.

[Phat Ham]

A flashlight in the tank will do it.

Carb problems...  check for signs fuel has leaked out.  It should idle and rev smoothly.  If you are able, check the plugs.

If I find a rusty fuel tank or a bad carb should I walk away or are these things that can be fixed?  If they can be fixed, how much will it cost?

[millsi1]

im 6ft and dont seem to have any dramas!

[Maniac]

If I find a rusty fuel tank or a bad carb should I walk away or are these things that can be fixed?  If they can be fixed, how much will it cost?

These are all things that can be fixed. Unless the rust in the tank is -really- bad, water tends to condense at the bottom of the tank. So it's a wise idea to inspect the bottom of the tank, check for bubbling in the paint or 'soft' areas that may indicate rust through.

Tanks can be coated, mine has been, definatly worth the cost. I'd actually recommend it even if the tank is fine, since it basically covers the inside of the tank in plastic. That way you won't have to worry about rust later.

Carbs are a little more tricky. Usually they can be fixed, but parts for our carbs are getting hard to find. Oddly enough you can probally find all the o-rings in the carbs at a hardware store, I got mine at Ace. Specialized stuff, though, you will have to order. Occasionally you'll see B4 carbs on Ebay, even rarer yet you will find a set of GSXR400 carbs, which are a tad bit bigger but also work (identical internals as well). I suspect that the carbs off the GS500E have identical internals as well, but I've never taken one apart (I personally suspect that the GS500E is using the two outside GSF400 carbs).

By the way, I'm 6' 2" and was 230lbs when I got my Bandit.

[Red01]

Nobody mentioned the ignition boxes    

[Maniac]

Well, yeah, the ignition box needs to be checked too... but thats pretty obvious because the bike doesn't have spark and won't run if it's bad.  

[gsxr400 racer]

Im 5'5" and need a stool!

[Phat Ham]

Thanks for the responses guys.

How much does it cost to coat the inside of the tank, and is it something I can do myself?

Are there any differences between the model years?  Is any specific year more desirable, or more importantly is there a year I should avoid?

I guess these bikes are getting pretty old.  I wonder if I'd be better off spending a little more and getting something like an sv650.  One thing's for sure it will be easier to find one.

[interfuse]

I think the kreem tank liner kit cost me aprox. $30 and you can do it yourself.

1991 - 1993 are basicly the same. The 1993 has a slightly lower redline...

The SV is a totally different type of bike. Depends on what you're into. As much as I do love the torque on the v-twins, I'd rather be reving the snot out of an inline 4.

[Phat Ham]

The SV is a totally different type of bike. Depends on what you're into. As much as I do love the torque on the v-twins, I'd rather be reving the snot out of an inline 4.

The problem is I'm a newb so I don't know what I'm into.  I pretty much have to base my purchase on other people's opinions.  From what I've read the b4 seems like a great bike for a guy like me.  The only problem is I'm worried about maintenance with an old bike like this and they are really hard to find.