looking at buying a motorcycle. this thing has 80k on the clock!! uncle to nephew ownership, good record of maintenance, custom paint, no rust.

anyone had one of these bobbers? its inline 4, shaft drive, 47 hp. i can get it for a grand

what say you?

12/20/2011 4:59:33 PM

I had a '94 xj600, got it for 1500 a good number of years ago but it had like 10k.

definitely look around some and check out what else is available in that price range.

12/20/2011 10:20:26 PM

Not saying its a bad bike, I just mean to get some comparisons.

12/20/2011 10:50:38 PM

$1000 for a 30 Y.O. bike with 80k on the clock (whose maker isn't BMW) is too high, I think.

12/20/2011 11:01:35 PM

make sure you check the compression!

when you say maxim, you mean like the magazine? custom maxim paint job?

12/21/2011 12:22:39 AM

Quote :

"$1000 for a 30 Y.O. bike with 80k on the clock (whose maker isn't BMW) is too high, I think."

I really dislike that mentality. In the $1,000 range a bike is all about its current condition IMO. You can easily spend that much on a pile of parts. Do you expect them to give it to you for free just because it has high miles? Maybe the high miles are an indication that it has been well maintained and well cared for over the years?

In any case, you can drop $1k on a basic bike refurbish pretty quick. A pair of tires, chain, sprocket, fluids, gaskets, brakes, some cosmetics (seat cover, grips, paint?), and a few OEM parts can go to $1k with the quickness. Far too many people are willing to spend $300 on a "mechanic's special" and then go way over budget on time and cash fixing it up rather than just buying a decent bike to begin with.

If the bike is in good shape it's in good shape. Blanket statements such as "$1000 for a 30 Y.O. bike with 80k on the clock (whose maker isn't BMW) is too high" don't carry much weight IMO.

12/21/2011 12:34:48 AM

Is it this one?
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/2757714965.html

That one appears to be a good deal, even if the owner does sound mildly retarded as he describes novel features like a neutral indicator and "showcase dual leg stand"...

12/21/2011 2:14:32 PM

CB900/CB1100
FJ1100
GPZ1100
KZ900/KZ1000

I'd pay a lot of money for any of those bikes in good running condition, regardless of the mileage.

For a CBX, I'd empty my bank account and fork over either of my testicles (seller's choice).

But those are all sort of rare bikes, I guess.

The bike in the CL ad above, I'd pay like $400 for.

12/21/2011 2:53:50 PM

yeah thats the one. i decided to pass. it would be a cool 1st bike, but i was planning on doing higher mileage travel and what not, needing some gear room and something dependable. probably a good call.

for the use on my future machine with the type of riding i would be doing, does anyone recommend anything in particular?

12/21/2011 11:28:59 PM

Elaborate on the type of riding you'll be doing?

I bought a 1980 CB750 a little over two years ago for $900. It's at 46k now, 26k of which came with me at the controls. It's a fucking tank -- never needed anything beyond routine maintenance, starts in any weather, and has never let me down.

So, I'd say get a CB750. But, really, any large 80s Jap bike that's in good shape should be cheap and dependable and fun.

12/21/2011 11:59:07 PM

I still think that bike would be absolutely perfect to learn on. Other than another sub-$1500 UJM, there's nothing better. I can guarantee you that you won't be doing any "higher mileage travel", which I think means touring, on anything in that price range. You'll need to double or perhaps triple your budget just to break into that market.

I started on an 85 GS550L - not a sporty, comfy, or interesting bike by any stretch, but I did some little mods here and there - new signals, bars, seat, etc. and learned a lot about wrenching on bikes as a result. I knocked it over a couple of times, but it got me through close to a year of riding before I found what I really wanted, and I sold it for pretty much what I paid.

The point of a starter bike is that it is so minimal and simple so that you can just learn how to safely operate it without worrying about anything else. You may get stuck around town once or twice in its lifetime, but you're also saving 2-3k over something that's still liable to break down sometimes. I'd buy the thing for $850 and ride it until you bin it or sell it off for something nicer. Clean, running, titled machines are hard to come by for under $1000 unless you're fairly patient.

[Edited on December 22, 2011 at 8:43 AM. Reason : .]

12/22/2011 8:37:59 AM

I bought nearly the exact same bike - 82 Yamaha Seca xj650. w/ 60k on it. Though I test-rode it and it went fine, it crapped out on me in the 2nd week of ownership. I spent the next year trying to get it going again. I completely rebuilt the carbs, reseated the valves and replaced all the electronic pieces that might be at fault. In the end, I think it needed new piston rings (compression was still somewhat poor in one cylinder).

I ended up selling it to the previous owner's son, who happened to post on this forum about his dad's bike that he'd wished he bought when he had the chance.

12/24/2011 10:30:58 AM