I’ve recently found a motorcycle I really liked for only 200€. Then I wondered, for how cheap can I get it on the road? Challenge accepted!

1. Acquisition

In Spain, you can leave with the vehicle right after the contract is signed. I was able to pay and start loading the bike into my car right away.

I had to buy some straps in order to secure the bike inside my car. It probably cost me around 15 euros. I also drained all the fluids (gas, oil) from the bike before strapping it in. I did this to prevent any spillage and to comply with the local regulations. The heavy duty straps that I used have been removed in the last photo.

2. Repairs

The motorcycle had the typical mechanical problems: a clogged carburetor, a dead battery and out-of-spec valve clearances. It also had a broken turn signal and the rear brake pads had to be changed.

First, I did the basics – oil filter and oil change

Then the engine malfunctioned and started spewing exhaust out of the intake due to badly adjusted valves. I decided to take the head off and clean everything, just for the experience. I lapped the valves and then left the combustion chamber spotless using a dremel and some soft brushes. Always check that the brush you’re using doesn’t leave scratches on aluminum!

Then I fixed the blinker with a piece of metal that I turned on my lathe

After reassembly and testing, I discovered that I had messed up the mating surface on the exhaust. I was desperately trying to remove the copper washer and damaged the aluminum. This prevented the new washer from properly sealing. So I came up with a hacky solution to regrind the surface. I used a metal cylinder on a drill with a piece of sandpaper on the end. Considering how hacky this solution is, it did an outstanding job.

All in all the repairs cost me about 61€, considering that I bought all the parts off of Aliexpress.

3. Technical Inspection

The technical inspection cost me about 33€, and I passed it successfully on the first go. It is worth noting that I had to have the bike insured in order to pass the test. The insurance cost me around 320€ for a year due to my small experience and young age.

Then, I was finally free to ride my bike legally. But how much did it cost?

RESULTS

Spending:

1. Seller’s price – 200€
2. Transfer – 88€
3. Transportation – about 15€ (gas and straps)
4. Repairs and maintenance – 61€
5. Insurance for 1 year – 320€

TOTAL: 684€ (About 700€)

So yes, it is not exactly cheap to own a vehicle in Europe, even if the vehicle itself is cheap. But with a little ingenuity and cheap parts you can afford almost anything as a DIYer.