What are the cheapest motorcycles to restore?



To make our selection, we have looked for bikes that are easy to find , that is, you can always find bargains of a specific model, but it is more appropriate to choose a motorcycle that has a stable price and of which there are many units on the market.


We have also taken into account the availability of second-hand parts to restore. There are some truly rare motorcycles with which you will have serious difficulties finding parts.


1. Vespino

The Vespino is and will be a highly topical motorcycle, one of the most legendary Spanish models of all time, and which was the undisputed sales leader during the 32 years it was on the market.


It is an easy motorcycle to find and with a lot of second-hand parts market. You can find a cheap Vespino to restore from just under € 200.


In this same line of mopeds, you can find for a similar price, a Derbi Variant or a Mobylette Cady .

2. Derbi Torch

The Derbi Torch , also known as Derbi Paleta, is a moped that you can find without problems and that was another sales reference in Spain.

It has a simple mechanics that can be ideal to start in the restoration of classic motorcycles. You can find it from € 200. With so many on the market, finding parts is relatively easy.


In the same style, you can find the Derbi Rabasa and the Derbi Coppa .


3. Puch Borrasca

To continue with cheap mopeds to restore, we cannot forget the Puch Borrasca , a 49cc moped with a country aesthetic, which was a great sales success. You can find it for about € 250.


From the same brand, the Puch Minicross and Puch Condor are also easy to find .


4. Benelli 250 2C

I love this bike, in fact we have two in the workshop, Lebrijana and Zamorana . It is quite a lady 2-stroke motorcycle, two-cylinder and with very sporty lines.


It will not be difficult for you to find second-hand parts, there is even a German website that sells all its newly manufactured parts.


You can find it from € 500 and it is undoubtedly one of the best options to start restoring, although it is not as easy to find as the previous ones. Motobi and Moto Guzzi made identical models, which makes finding parts even easier.


5. Honda CB

First Japanese on the list. Despite starting its manufacture in 1971, it has much more modern lines than its generation companions, which make it look like a less classic motorcycle, but nothing is further from the truth.


You can find the Honda CB from € 300 and they are very reliable bikes once restored and tuned, in fact it is a motorcycle that is widely used to make cafe racers . You can choose between the 125cc, 250cc and 450cc version.


6. Ducati Mini

I wanted to include a model of the Italian brand in the list, although most of the motorcycles that you can find in Spain at a good price correspond to the Spanish manufacturer Mototrans , so they are nationally manufactured motorcycles.


The Ducati Mini 2 , or the Mini 3 are 49cc miniature motorcycles, easy to find and above all, cheap. For € 300 you can find them without problem.

If you are looking for a Ducati at all costs, our recommendation is the Ducati Forza 350 cc , a four-stroke motorcycle from the Mototrans factory, which you can get from € 400.


7. Yamaha SR 250

As with the Honda CB, the Yamaha SR looks like a much more modern motorcycle, in fact, it was produced for so many years and with so many versions that what you will have difficult to find is whether a part corresponds to your motorcycle or its older sister.


They are motorcycles of proven reliability, which you can see every day driving through your city. You will find them from € 300. Another very good option is the Yamaha Special 250 .


8. Montesa Cota

The Montesa Cota is a beautiful motorcycle, with a transgressive design in its time that earned it several international awards. You can find it in several displacements but the cheapest you will find in its 74 cc version.


You can buy a Montesa Cota from € 300.

Another Montesa model that can be considered a cheap motorcycle to restore is the Montesa Brío (from € 500).


9. Sanglas 400

We love the Sanglas, their 4-stroke single-cylinder engines, their slow and deep sound, with so much waiting time between blasts that it seems that it will stall.


In our workshop we have Primitiva and Raimunda , and we can say that they are a magnificent option of cheap motorcycles to restore.


You can find them from € 400 and it is not difficult to find second-hand parts to restore them. They are also large motorcycles, which you can use in your day-to-day life once restored.


We recommend the Sanglas 400F , the Sanglas 400E and the Sanglas 500S , other models are more difficult to find or too modern.


10. Moto Guzzi Dingo

We finish our list of cheap motorcycles to restore with the Moto Guzzi Dingo , another 49 cc moped, easy to find and affordable, since we can buy it from € 200.

If you are looking for a more classic aesthetic, the Moto Guzzi Cardelino , although more difficult to find, is a great option to get started in the art of restoring motorcycles.