Would you buy a brat, tracker, or cafe modified frame bike?

PHeller · Jan 19, 2012

Lets say that you want an XS650. You find a bike, good engine, good wiring, runs strong. Price is right.

The only thing, its been modified for brat, tracker, or cafe seat. No seat hinges, seat lock, and the rear frame loop has been cut.

Would you buy it?

littlebill31 · Jan 19, 2012

Yep. My first XS had the tail cut off. I'd rather buy a bike with a tail cut off and have a title, then a mint bike with no title. I can weld on the needed parts. In my opinion, the owners that throw away, lose or don't care about the titles are the modern day bike killers. If the bike is worth 10K, and has no title, it's now worth zero in my state.

Cornish Pixie · Jan 19, 2012

I'd look at all of the frame very carefully, especially in all ofthe usual de-lugging areas that will have had grinder waved at them. If it looked ok, there was no evidence Bondo covering up over enthusiastic grinding, holes drilled in the tubes for seat mountings, no evidence of structural damage or general bodgery, then yes I probably would as long as I knew I didn't want to change it back to stock and the price was right.

I think you can tell quite quickly if a bike has been built properly or chucked together and somebody who knows XS650's would soon know if it was time to "walk away"

liljerry564 · Jan 19, 2012

Yeah I would. Saves me work. Do u want the stock frame?

OakBehringer · Jan 19, 2012

Kind of a stupid question without stating what you want to do with the bike. That makes all the difference.

angus67 · Jan 19, 2012

yeah, ide buy it if I was biulding a tracker, brat or cafe.
naye, if I was restoring or hardtailing.

shaas · Jan 19, 2012

Not only would I but I have. I bought two basket cases with titles one of which was cut and that was the frame I used on "The Troublemaker".

gggGary · Jan 19, 2012

Yup would and have a bunch of times. Good, bad or downright dangerous if it has a title and the price is right someone WILL be willing to build it.

1974jh5 · Jan 19, 2012

Zero problem if buying a parts bike w/o title. If looking for something titled to modify or restore it's still not a deal killer- unless it's been done so poorly that it's structurally unsound and would be ridiculously difficult to fix. But even that could be OK if the price is low enough.

sidewinder · Jan 20, 2012

If the price is "right", the "strong running motor" is worth it. Just last month I picked up another 650 w/o a title. The guy I bought it from never had a title. Motor runs super strong, had the extra 19" front wheel I needed, etc. Did a DMV search on last registered owner,(all you need is ser.#) sent him a release of intrest form, he mailed it back, took the frame to state patrol office, title is in the mail. Only cost me $200.00 for the bike and a stamp!

PHeller · Jan 20, 2012

I'm starting to gather that the majority of XS650 buyers out there want this in level of priority:

1) Cheap
2) Title
3) Running

Everything else doesn't really matter.

Everywhere I go, the seat seems to be one of the firs things changed on these bikes. Even folks who build long distance adventure style bikes ditch the stock seat hinges and lock because it interferes with producing the adequate seat for that style of riding.

I'm lead to believe that a seat the doesn't require special hinges or locking mechanism is cheaper and easier to make a variety of different seats to fit the needs of the rider.

Would you buy a brat, tracker, or cafe modified frame bike?

Buy a bike with removed seat hinges, lock, and rear frame loop?

Yes

No

PHeller

Erie, PA

littlebill31

Smells of Raw Fuel

Cornish Pixie

Shiny obsessive

liljerry564

XS650 Addict

OakBehringer

XS650 Guru

angus67

Welder's penetrate deeper!!

shaas

shaas

gggGary

If not now, When?

1974jh5

Curmudgeon.

sidewinder

XS650 Addict

PHeller

Erie, PA

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