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Would you buy this motorcycle?
- Thread starter Beginnerer
- Start date
Go ahead and roll the dice, because buying a 1982 anything is a gamble. Parts availability? $1400 is a bit absurd.
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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.
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.
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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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.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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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.
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.
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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