Would you buy this motorcycle? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Would you buy this motorcycle?

B

Beginnerer

Member
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 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 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. I am not expert enough to know, but it caught my eye and concern... thanks for any opinions....
 
"Seller says it needs new fuses so he can't start it for me." What?
 
Fuses are cheap. Ask what fuse it needs and get them yourself. I suspect there are bigger issues. If you can’t get it running easily with a fuse walk away, or run.


Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com
 
SVeezy said:
Fuses are cheap. Ask what fuse it needs and get them yourself. I suspect there are bigger issues. If you can’t get it running easily with a fuse walk away, or run.


Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com
Click to expand...
Ya... I am going to stay away.... someone who can do the work themselves is probably a better buyer.
 
What is your budget and where do you hope to ride it mostly.
guys here love shopping with other peoples money, bearing in mind it is still sight unseen recommendations or direct sellers and you are sure to get some bad suggestions.
 
What grey said

First bike should be bulletproof

When you are new, you want to worry about getting in seat time and improving your skill and confidence as a rider

You can improve your wrenching skills over time
 
bigpoppa said:
What grey said

First bike should be bulletproof

When you are new, you want to worry about getting in seat time and improving your skill and confidence as a rider

You can improve your wrenching skills over time
Click to expand...

This!!!

You want your first bike/main bike to be as dead on reliable as possible. We get a short riding season, last thing you want is to be sidelined cause your bike needs work. This point is multiplied by infinity if you're not technically strong.

Look for a nice Ninja 250/300/R3. $2-3k, will get a very reliable bike that will be perfect to learn on, without having to worry about what's wrong with it or going to break.
 
If you really want a 650 4 cylinder motorcycle, I can hook you up with a Honda Nighthawk (in Gananoque) that actually runs for about 1200.
But I still don't recommend it as your first ride, it's not even an easy bike to push around in a garage.
... it was owned by an old farmer that use to ride it through his fields to get to his tractor, then when he died about a decade ago it was subsequently sold to a guy that never rides it, but at least now it is stored in a heated garage and not a barn. I cleaned the carbs once to get it running and replaced the front fork sliders and seals, last I seen it still needs some front brake master cylinder parts and a new battery.
 
Last edited:
Beginnerer said:
..... 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. I am not expert enough to know, but it caught my eye and concern... thanks for any opinions....
Click to expand...
Something like this:
1701d1241021381-87-kz305-ltd-gasket-woes-kz305-with_notes.jpg

nope, not normal buildup, you are not suppose to be leaking engine compression out of anything other then the exhaust pipe.
 
Stay away take advice from other posters . Get a reliable bike not a project to work on .
 
  • Like
Reactions: TK4
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom