New member would like experienced opinion

Greetings all:
My name is Mark and I'm in the Northern VA/DC area. Found this forum about a month ago but have been too busy to revisit until now.
Am very impressed with the amount of enthusiasm for XJ bikes as by the time they were introduced I'd been 10 years gone from owning a bike. Now I feel the need to ride again but just have no inclination toward modern machines, even though I have even less inclination toward mechanical ability. But, I try anyway.
I plan on doing many archive/FAQ searches down the line but for now I saw this bike on ebay and thought I'd ask folks who would know much better whether it is a worthwhile acquisition or a lost cause. If it's convenient to surf over to the page and take a look here is the link.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 602&rd=1,1
And the item number in case the link does't work.
160135313602
I think the bike looks in pretty good shape except for problems noted but wonder if it would take more time and money to fix than would be worth and perhaps beyond my limited experience and I should just keep looking for another bike.
In any case, glad to have discovered this resource and hope to be back often,
bon route,
-Mark

 

It looks like a pretty good deal to me.

Cosmetically, it looks pretty nice and the mechanical problems sound pretty minor to me.

However, you won't really know until you get a look at it. It sounds to me like the owner is trying to be honest but doesn't really have a clue. There could easily be more serious issues. I'd bet you can get it running though.

The price appears to be right. I'd be tempted to buy it myself at that price.

Keep us informed,

Greg

 

Greg,

Well I don't have any claim on it other than seeing it so don't be shy. The fact that you don't think it's a big problem is encouraging considering your list of bikes bespeaks much experience. Auction is ending today, rather soon even, but it's close by me which would make retreiveing the bike easier.
Thanks for input,
-Mark

 

"Now I feel the need to ride again but just have no inclination toward modern machines, even though I have even less inclination toward mechanical ability".

Not to dissuade you, but with a statement like that I'd stay away from ANY 20-25 yearld bike. Most of the members here DO seem to have some mechanical aptitude, and even an enjoyment for working on their machines. And XJ's, like any bikes their age, will need varying degrees of work and/or maintenance. The problem is their value. If you have to pay someone else to do the work, you will quickly spend more than the bike is worth.

I dont know what your financial situation is, but I'd opt for as NEW a bike as I could possibly afford.

 

I'll agree with Gebake that the price doesn't look too bad.

Dispatcher has a valid point. Paying for service would be prohibitively expensive, and you will have a hard time finding a mechanic with much more aptitude for the XJs than you claim to have.

If you are interested in learning how to service a motorcycle and are VERY patient then snap it up and we'll walk you through what needs to be done. (For instance, if the current owner had asked a question here he could have learned that removing the oil filter does not drain the oil from the crankcase).

The pictures clearly indicate that the carburetors are overflowing. Because of how long it has been sitting you can also pretty much count on having to disassemble and clean the carburetors.

You will also have to catch up on the preventative maintenance - Valve clearances, alternator brushes, starter brushes, probably replace the fuse block. Brakes and tires are also likely.

I think you can expect to spend $300-$500 if there is nothing major wrong with it.

So, if you want to learn, have time and patience - and a garage to work in this could be a great opportunity.

I'm not sure I would buy it though, he doesn't have any bids so far. I'd be tempted to send him a message just before it ends offering to take it off his hands for $350.

 

All valid points. Don't buy this bike unless you're willing to get your hands dirty. If you have hopes of taking it to the local Yamaha shop and asking them to give you back a running bike, forget it. Even if they would work on it (doubtful) it would cost more than the bike is worth and leave you in the same situation if something breaks in the future. With that being said, if you have a place to do some work and just a basic set of tools -- and a repair manual, you can get this bike running. Once you get it running, I'm sure someone in your area would be happy to help you synch the carbs and you'd no doubt have a fine bike.

If you have serious interest in riding, I think this would be a really good way to do it. This is not a hard bike to work on and you can get it cheap.

I would be interested, but it's just too far away. I can't see driving a couple of hundred miles (each way) for a $500 bike.

So snap it up!

Greg

 

Wow, it looks too good to be true. . . . I'm wondering why there are no bids - is this in the boonies or something? Sharp looking (on the outside). Drain off that excess oil right after you get it home

 

If it were me, I would not pay more than $500 for that bike (and only *that* much because I capable and willing to work on it).

In your case, you admitted doubt as to your technical abilities so I would limit your purchase to a bike that is running well, and one you personally have test riddden to make sure everything operates. This bike hasn't been run for at least two years (by his own admission), he has admitted dropping it and no telling what else may really be wrong with it.

It may be a good deal for someone with lots of tools, time, patience and desire but not for someone's first bike.

 

That's an excellent suggestion and one I had been contemplating. Charlottesville is about 90 mins from me but it isn't too far off the beaten path. I think the lack of bids has to do with the price and the description. When I asked a friend who has more mech experience if he would buy it he said he thought the bike would be too much work and probablyneed too many parts replaced. Now that I've had a chance to really look hard at the pics and mull it over I think that spending more and buying better condition is probably the route I should take. It's not that I can't do the work, it's that I usually do it twice or three times in order to get all the pieces back in place, right side up and unbroken. Some things like carbs I've never ventured into. And all that preventive maintenance would be new territory as well, glad you mentioned it.
I very much appreciate the frank comments. They are encouraging and more inportantly, realistic. I do want to spend more time riding then wrenching and at the same time I really dig the look and riding position of these bikes. The good deals are out there, I'll just have to be patient.
Just as an offhand comment, there seems to be a lot of Maxims and Secas from the 80's on ebay and CL right now and a lot from WI, MI, and OH. Too far for me to go.
I'll let you know what I finally come up with.
-Mark

 

Welcome Mark.
From the sounds and looks of it too, you have a shot at a great bike that, to all accounts, should take no more than a weekend to get road-worthy.
I'd scoop the bike and invest a little time. The $350-500 repair parts cost is about right if you include new tires. Nothing on that bike a fellow like yourself with a little determination and time can't fix.
Go for it!

 

If you like the riding position and do-whateverness of the Seca side of XJs (Is it a basic street bike? A sleeper sport bike? A lite-tourer? Perhaps a bit of all three!) but want something newer, you might want to gander at a Yamaha FZ6 with a few miles on it (or new if you like). I haven't ridden one, but sitting on it it has a very similar feel to my Seca. I nearly talked myself into buying one last year when I couldn't get my carbs figured out, but luckily I worked through it and saved the cash. Just a thought. Like I said, I haven't actually ridden one.