To Buy or Not to Buy...

Here is my story, the short version. I started on a 97 Virago 535, did alot of cosmetic changes and some exhaust work to make it more custom but nothing too mechanical (didn't even touch the carbs). Moved on to a 04 FZ6 and loved every min of the 7000 miles i put on it!

Sold them both when i had a kid, and now i am looking for a project, possibly a cafe type build. A guy down the street has an '81 xj650 Maxim that his father-in-law owned. Has 6000 miles on it, but it has sat since '86! He said it starts and runs fine but obviously the carbs will need some work. The engine does not rev smooth with the throttle, but i suspect this is also due to the carbs. There is some surface rust here and there, typical of 20+ years of storage. He is asking 1200 for it but is negotiable.

What I was looking for is some advice on what to look for before I decide to even make an offer. What are the warning signs of a parts bike vs a possible "easy" project? I am mechanically inclined, but I don't know a whole lot about the internals. That said I am looking for a solid engine to work around. Any ideas on what i should be looking for or how much i should offer? I was thinking 600-750 based on NADA but I am not sure because it has been sitting for so long and will require $200+ in carb work. Any help is much appreciated! I am meeting with him on Monday and could possible post some pics after that. I am sure this has been asked before so any helpful links would be great as well.

Thanks!

 

20+ years is a long time for a bike to sit.

I would assume that any fluid in the bike is now tar. The carbs will almost certainly need to be rebuilt and will need to be synched. The tank is probably rusted, but you might get lucky with that.

Whatever is in the crankcase will be horrible. I wouldn't allow the motor to run at all with whatever is left of the oil. The oil in the shaft and the brake fluid are probably toast too.

You'll have a problem with seals on something that's sat that long. I'd be surprised if the front brakes weren't seized.

The cables are probably shot. You would most likely have to replace the brake cables, throttle and choke cables.

Even if the tires have tread, I don't think I'd trust them so they'd have to go.

No idea what you should offer, but I think you really need to think about whether or not you want a project like this. If you can do some or all of the work yourself, it's worthwhile. If you take it to a shop to be resurrected, it will cost a fortune and could turn into a never ending series of gremlins.

With that being said, I'm sure it has potential to be a great bike. i just wouldn't take it on unless I was going to do the work myself.

Best of luck,

Greg

 

I would'nt even think about buying this bike if you are going to get a shop to fix it up for you. However if you are willing to do the work your self it sounds good. No doubt the carbs will need cleaned, carb boots replaced, check your front seals, tires?, battery will need replaced, tank flushed, cables, spark plugs, check brake rottors and it will likely need new pads, check chain and sprocket for wear aswell. Like geebake said 20 years is a long time for a bike to sit but that doesn't mean you can't bring it bake with a little elbow grease. Parts for these bikes are challenging to find but not impossible and they aren't overly expensive most of the time.

 

1200 seems high as hell. I paid 800 for mine with 11k miles, paints rough in spots, but atleast it was driveable, of course I might have to put $400 in the engine tommorow so $1200 might not be as bad as I think.

 

I'd offer him less than $400 for the beast. You will need to invest more than the bike is worth at the dealers (if you can find one that will work on this antique) to make it road worthy after setting that long. If you do the work yourself, you will need to invest several hundred dollars in new tires, battery, brake lines, carb boots, master cylinder and caliper rebuild kit, brakes, wheel seals and possibly bearings... the list is rather lengthy but it is by no means impossible nor overly difficult. I would budget about $600-800 in parts to make this thing safe.