For Sale Looking at this bike...

http://sarasota.craigslist.org/mcy/5377643162.html

So I'm looking at this bike. I have an old land rover that I'm about to overhaul and I need a secondary mode of transportation so I don't have to bug my wife and drive her car. Well, that and I want a bike. I've read everything I can on these bikes. I like their durability and I was going to turn it into a bobber or cafe racer anyway but I don't know them half as well as you do.

Is it worth a grand? What would you offer for it? Remember, I'm in SW Florida where there are a ton of bikes and seniors, so I'd imagine the market for this bike is small. It runs well but may need some carb work according to the guy that owns it. Tires, battery, hoses, etc are all in good shape. Seat is nice, frame is cut. Exhaust (what's there) has some rust. All I would want is to replace the front turn signals with something more black and and add some fork boots to it immediately.

Whatchathink?

 

Rattle-can black. Crappy job on the rear fender. Both are signs of sloppy/unskilled work. Write him an offer of $200 on the back of a business card, then walk away.

 

don't they all need carb work? Pods won't help

you should be able to buy a much better for a
grand.
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/mcy/5351142882.html

http://ocala.craigslist.org/mcy/5361137822.html

 

I agree with everything except " write him an offer......".

Yup, rattle can black, crappy rear fender...... Walk away.

Even at $200, you're gonna need brake work, and ---- SEE THE PODS?!?! You KNOW you're gonna have issues.....

 

+1 on that.

Remember that you will have to do routine maintenance that has not been done. You can find a better starting point elsewhere, this one will need an airbox, mufflers, etc.

 

Heck... This one needs a BIKE---)

 

Let me clarify. I see parts.

 

I see dead parts

 

"See the PODS?"... Huh?

 

My kinda group here. Expertise with a little sarcasm on the side. Wait...make that sarcasm with a little expertise on the side. Preesh!

 

If I had seen that 81 originally, I would have never been talking to this kid. I'm waiting to hear if he still has it. No title isn't ideal but it's more ideal than a grand for parts.

 

the individual air filters. The bike runs worse with them.

 

Makes sense. So, there's obviously a work-around. Is there a single air cleaner that works simultaneously with all 4 carbs then?

 

BTW, the guy with the lost title and the $500 bike still has it. We're gonna talk tomorrow.

 

Yeah, it's called " get the correct airbox, air filter, and boots... Re-install them and then put the correct jets back in ( unless the guy who put the pods on didnt even change the jets) and while you're at it make sure to check and adjust your valve clearances so that when you get the carbs straightened out it runs a whole lot better"

So, you think it's gonna be better for you to buy a $500 bike without a title?

I don't know about down there, but up here, " no title " means PARTS BIKE even if its a new bike. No title, no go. And I sure wouldnt pay $500?for a parts bike too readily----

 

yes is the oem airbox system.
i have seen one member who found filters for 2 carbs each

 

You may be better off looking at this one:
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/mcy/5365685395.html

At least all the parts are there.

 

Except not original exhaust.... However, the 4/1 may not be a problem. I do see it's Including the optional tall-back king/queen seat

 

Well, I'm not a purist. I'm not concerned about the exhaust. I am concerned about having to put tons of hours into something before I can even ride it though. I'd like to learn about these engines as I go, not have to spend an entire weekend getting my first bike to crank and facing the distinct possiblity that it won't.

 

I noticed the exhaust and of course I learned from you about those all back seats

If you read about this old bikes and safety concerns, most likely you will have to do a fair amount of work to make sure you have a safe and reliable ride. Inspecting brake shoes and pads, checking valve clearances, etc, are routine inspections that should happen no matter what. unfortunately most previous owners don't do this or will tell you they did but never happened. I would only trust a hand full of people on this forum for maintenance records on their bikes. Anybody else will tell you what you need to hear to make a sale.

 

The simple statement in the description that says "does not run" is normally translated as "needs a fair bit of work".

Sometimes it means "I didn't know it only needed a battery", but sometimes it also means " I ran it too long without oil, never checked the valves, the regulator went bad, and just when all the fuses blew the engine seized which caused the brakes to delaminate and lock up the back rim causing me to flop the bike and I had to trailer it home."

You'll never know til you look it over closely.

If you're looking for something ready to jump on and go, you'd best be looking cooking for a new bike, or at least a used one at a dealer that is ready to roll.

 

I know this is an XJ bike forum, but many of you have multiple bikes. Any opinions on XVs? How do they compare with XJs? This one seems to have been exquisitely cared for: http://sarasota.craigslist.org/mcy/5360302386.html

And this XV920: http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/5367908296.html

Also, I buy NOTHING, with a motor, new. Total waste of money. Never have, never will. (Except that weed whacker last year, but it was on clearance.) It's not that I can't. I just won't. I'm cheap like that, and have more style. I just like old stuff.

 

the learning is part of bikes. if you do not want to put in the time buy something set to roll.
once you go through the bike testing the systems you will know how to trouble shoot your bike.
carb cleaning is needed but real easy once you get them clean and free, you will not have to do much to keep them clean.

best part of learning is when you buy the next one you will be able to evaluate its condition, when you show up to look at it.

 

920 does not run and needs a starter clutch you would be in the gotta fix it mode and the bikes are still mid 80's
the 750 seems to be your best choice for a run and ride except straight pipe exhaust

 

Going to look at an XJ in the AM. It's an 81 and there's no title. Get this though...it's from New Hampshire and it's registered and plated there. I've verified with DMV here that in NH, antiques do not have to have titles and many vehicles are registered without them. Registering/plating it will cost about $160 here. As for the bike's condition, it's original and it appears to have an issue with the battery not charging (stator perhaps?) Hope to say I'm an XJ owner this time tomorrow.

 

I have a lot of parts for you when you get this bike.

 

Parts? I like parts.

 

if you have no previous registration in NH you get a vin check done by Police dept against the bill of sale.
in NH
Vehicles that have a model year of 1999 or older are not titled
New Hampshire does not issue titles for vehicles that have a model year of 1999 or older, except for heavy trucks with three (3) axles or more, or truck tractors whose gross vehicle weight exceeds 18,000 pounds which must always be titled regardless of age. Also, vehicles that are over 25 years of age may only be titled at an owner's request.

 

Yep.
http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/1982-xj650-seca-part-out.77301/

Let me know what you need.

And this is all 100% correct. I've had a lot of cops come over and run a VIN check. Takes like 5m.

 

RE the XV. The first generation Viragos are nice, and easy to work on, but....they have a persistant starter bugaboo that can get annoying (though it is somewhat fixable). IF you go down that road buy yourself a second generation (twin shock) model. The later starters fixed the problems that the first-gen (mono shock) Viragos had.

 

It's "somewhat" fixable? What does somewhat mean, exactly?

 

I have an 81 xv750 w/ only 16k mi on it.... Here's the info you need/ or will eventually need:

http://viragohelp.com/81-83-virago-starter-systems/

http://viragohelp.com/2015/05/08/update-dr-piston-archives/

 

That's a lot of information. Thank you. I read through the first link. Looks like it is next to impossible to tell the condition of those systems looking at a bike. Are they worth it? I tend to like high maintenance women but not motors. (I already have to overhaul my Disco. (Land Rover Discovery 2)

 

Do the SECA 750s from 82 have the same issues?

 

Hey howdy, whereabouts in SW Florida are you located? I'm in Sarasota, FWIW.

 

No

 

West Bradenton here. Just down the road from you.

 

Are they worth more? Got a bead on one I can pick up for $800, all original. It's an 82 750. All original. 20K on it. Has sat for a year.

 

I think you'll find that with any 80's UJM bike, they're pretty stone cold reliable but almost all have been neglected and just ridden until the rider decides its a POS because of all the little things that need fixed. Granted, there are a few bad year/model bikes out there but a quick google search will solve that.

If its all original, then plan on another $700 to get it truly road worthy/safe/reliable.

It's going to be tricky to find a bike for ~$1000 that you can just jump on and go. There are plenty of cheap bikes out there that need work. The ones that have been thoroughly gone through by a knowledgeable owner are not worth what they have into it and generally not up for sale.

 

Well, this one belonged to a man who loved it, and coddled it, but he's gone now. Even the original paint is cherry. I'd rather $800 for a SECA than $500 for an XJ with starter and stator issues. I missed a cherry 86 XJ jetted properly with straight pipes, with all needed maintenance and cared for well. It sold in pristine shape with 12K on it for $1000.

 

Go check it out then, I'm not saying it's impossible but rare. Occasionally someone gets a screaming deal on a bike.

BTW, a SECA is an XJ

 

Man where the heck was that, I keep an eye on the Lists of Craig in all the local markets and that one must have slipped by me.

 

It had a windshield and saddle bags as well. Sarasota.

 

I think he meant an XV With starter issues, but maybe he was looking at an XJ like that, too...... I may have missed that part of the discussion. That xj750r sounds like it might be a pretty good catch....

 

Somewhat fixable means that the starter engagement can be improved, but it only lasts for so long. Typicaly the repair has to be re-done in around 25,000 to 35,000 miles.


XJs have starter engagement issues too, but they are less common, and once fixed they stay fixed for a much longer period of time ('m talking about the starter clutches here, not the starter motors). The upside of the XV starter problem vs. the XJ starter engagement problem is that the XV can be fixed without splitting the crankcase.

I would not choose one over the other based solely on the starter clutch, but I would steer you toward a '84 or later Virago if you decide that one fits the bill for you better than a Seca or Maxim.

 

+1

 

Well, I like the performance and fuel efficiency of the SECA bikes. They may not be the easiest to work on but if I can work on my Land Rover and my wife's BMW, I can figure SECAs out with forums like this and good manuals.

 

The 750 seca is EASY to work on. And, it's just as easy as the 750 maxim. They are basically the same bike. The differences are primarily cosmetic with basically minimal electrical and/or mechanical differences.

 

The saga continues. I'm looking at a well running stock Maxim X tomorrow if she's not gone. Don't think the guy knows it's an X or know the difference. Heh.

 

there are xj seca and xj maxim. for a basic running bike $1 a cc is a good rule of thumb, then you can add $$ for cosmetic conditions, if it is not running far less unless it is cosmeticly all there and in great shape then its up to you .