Would you buy this motorcycle? | Page 2 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Would you buy this motorcycle?

The infamous air cooled head gasket leak :eek:
at least that one looks to have a good base gasket.
at the very least he is going to see what the top of his pistons look like.
 
Run away...far, far away.

First problem, you can't hear it run. That right there is an "end of discussion" thing for me personally unless I'm buying it as a basket case, priced accordingly. What he's asking would be what I'd consider to be a running condition and close to certifiable price for that type and age of motorcycle, so it is most definitely not priced accordingly.

If it was "just a fuse" he'd replace the $1 fuse and have the bike running for people to hear it run at the very least. He's hiding something, or is too lazy to replace a $1 part to sell it, so that speaks volumes about how much he's cared for the bike. There's a good chance you're buying a can of gremlins - wet, cold, angry ****** off gremlins.
 
'You wanna ride or do you wann a wrench..?

I'm fairly certain for the amount of cake in question one could find a bike that they can actually get on and ride.
 
For the the bike in question for the OP, definitely a hard pass.

However, there are some super 80’s Japanese in-line 4, that are cheap, plentiful and fun to ride. Yes, they can’t get serviced at the local dealer but, there are old school mechanics that can sync the carbs or other things.

They were good bikes back in the day and remain so. Simple and engineered well.

What they won’t do is likely perform better than a cheap entry level bike like an R3 or ninja 250/300.

Some of the challenges might be replacing old tires. Those sizes aren’t flying off the shelf but, wear and tear parts are available.

For me, having a machine that involves the rider in more than just riding, helps form a bond and appreciation for the hobby.

You don’t want an abandoned bike under a tarp sitting and rotting because it didn’t start and lost interest but, there is something attractive about old air cooled Japanese bikes from the 80s.

They aren’t collectable or valuable and some are getting torn apart in poor cafe replica projects. But, a clean and well cared for bike can be a joy to own and ride.


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$1400 is way too much for a non-running xj650, I picked up a poorly running (needed a full carb clean, new plugs, some tuning adjustments) but otherwise decent condition (no major rust, no leaks, tank in excellent shape inside, etc) 85 xj700 for around half that.

80s UJMs including the Yamaha XJs make great project bikes, and are reasonably fast with the 700s and 750s in the 70-90hp range ( IIRC the Honda magna/interceptor/sabre's were the most powerful along with the 20 valve maxim-x's ).

If you're comfortable working on them yourself and aren't relying on the bike as your only method of transport, the 550-750cc air cooled UJMs are fine first bikes, are for the most part very reliable even when poorly maintained, but they will have 30+ year old bike problems and having 4 carbs can be a pain.
 
Hell I will sell you the two GS500E bikes for the $800 I have into them even possible delivery if not to fare.
 
I am considering buying my first motorbike from a private seller. It is a 1982 Yamaha Maxim xy 650. The seller wants $1400. I have been to see it. No major corrosion. Good looking. A bit of oil gunk around the seals of what I guess to be the cylinder casing... if that is a part... I will attach a pic... and there is a minor hole in the muffler that needs to be patched. Seller says it needs 1) new fuses so he can't start it for me. He assures me it does not blow smoke, has new tires, recent oil change etc etc. It does look quite nice. He is close enough to my building that 2) I can walk it home and get it repaired, tuned and saftied later when I have the cash. The young man seems sincere, but I have been ripped off by honest seeming people in the past. Would you take a chance on this bike? I didn't like that I didn't get to hear it idle. It is coming with owner's manual and extra shocks. What do you think? Take a chance? If it is what he says, it is a good deal and a sweet beginner's ride... Or do I walk away and stick with a sure thing from a dealer? Any advice sooner than later much appreciated. Pic file was too large..... the gunk was just grease/oil build up... Seller said someone else pointed to it and called it a leak. He claims it is just normal build up. 3) I am not expert enough to know, but it caught my eye and concern... thanks for any opinions....

1) Fuses are cheap.

2) Repairs are not. Unless the bike is a Vincent or Brough Superior restorations are a money loser. The money lost is money you won't have when the right one comes along.

3) That means you have to pay someone to do the work

You don't have to buy from a dealer. Private sales of running, saftied bikes are done all the time. Do your research and get a better deal. Nothing ruins an life experience like a bad purchase.

It would be wrong for me to accuse someone I have no knowledge of as being unscrupulous so I make this comment as a general statement. A successful con artist doesn't look or sound like a con artist.
 

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