Old Bike Prices Creeping Up.

MacMcMacmac

Failed Hedonist.
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Maybe it's just wishful thinking on the seller's part, but these prices seems pretty out of whack. I'd love to pick this up as a stable mate. Maybe put both on antique insurance for sunny weather countryside trolling. As a test I put my XS up for ~$3000 a few weeks ago and got zero responses, so I'm thinking he'll be sitting on this for awhile. Half of the lower bound of his price range would be about what I'd throw on a 42 year old bike with known weaknesses and almost zero parts availability. I'd prefer an earlier one, but this still looks nice to me, despite the brown paint.

That engine would shine up a treat!

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-motorcycle-other/ottawa/classic-motorcycle-1978-yamaha-xs500e/1518567243
xs500.jpg
xs500-1.jpg
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As I recall.... early bikes ate their vibration dampening shafts pretty regular 'till they modded it. Hot oil/frothing was another prob. Iirc they offered fixes for all the probs... though it would be hard to know if they were incorporated unless the PO kept records. Later ones were said to be reliable, enjoyable bikes.
 
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It’s funny, I can remember being 19 years old and standing in the dealership trying to decide which 500 I wanted to buy. It was between a 1976 XS500
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and a ‘77 XT500.
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Both were new bikes, and about the same price. Me being a little desert rat who grew up on dirt bikes, the XT got the nod. Great decision, I had tons of reliable fun on that old thumper!
D7B1E5BC-3376-48C5-8044-BE057DAA3D16.jpeg
 
I had a 73 TX500 in the early - mid 80's which I liked a lot but it was challenging to keep it running well. I sold it to my then brother in law, a mechanic, and he found it demanding to keep it going too. It's one of the reasons I ended up with the XS650s.
 
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There's an awesome thread on ADVRider about a group of young guys going cross country on a group of old beater bikes that's a great read. The guy with the TX pulled his engine somewhere along the trip and installed a used one. He also pulled the head and lapped in valves with toothpaste.

https://advrider.com/f/threads/cross-country-on-a-50-bike-ny-sf-and-back.366117/#post-7477853
I read this story several years ago. It is a riveting story. I recommend it.
 
There's an awesome thread on ADVRider about a group of young guys going cross country on a group of old beater bikes that's a great read. The guy with the TX pulled his engine somewhere along the trip and installed a used one. He also pulled the head and lapped in valves with toothpaste.

https://advrider.com/f/threads/cross-country-on-a-50-bike-ny-sf-and-back.366117/#post-7477853
That sounds like a great read. I will read it at some point. Imagine how minty fresh the exhaust was.
 
Still have the girl? :laugh2: Oh to be young again and have a sweet young thing hanging on to you , on the back of your motorcycle! Some of the best summer nights of my youth started out like that!
+ 1 on that!
No, don't still have the girl but we had 25 great years. She bought me that bike as a gift. It was out front of a neighbours farm with a "For Sale" sign on it. We had been courting for some time and I mentioned that I'd like to buy it. Turned out I didn't have to.
 
+ 1 on that!
No, don't still have the girl but we had 25 great years. She bought me that bike as a gift. It was out front of a neighbours farm with a "For Sale" sign on it. We had been courting for some time and I mentioned that I'd like to buy it. Turned out I didn't have to.

Thats a great story!
 
Wow! I'm trying to reduce the "XS inventory" in my garage but I would have had a very difficult time saying no to that. Great deal, nice score!
Exactly! I have too much crap in the garage, but could not pass on this one. Also, it was less than an hour away. I wasn't looking. One of my friends found it and called me. These networks are really wonderful.
 
Exactly! I have too much crap in the garage, but could not pass on this one. Also, it was less than an hour away. I wasn't looking. One of my friends found it and called me. These networks are really wonderful.

Im still trying to get over your statement that you’ve never paid more than $50 for an XS650! That simply blows my mind! I’ve never bought a basket case before, doubt I ever will for fear that all it will ever be is a pile of parts.
My hats off to you guys that can find these deals and create usable motorcycles out of them.

Btw, I read that article yesterday, that you guys referenced about that group of college kids doing a transcontinental ride on cheap beater bikes. It was an outstanding article that everyone should read!

https://advrider.com/f/threads/cross-country-on-a-50-bike-ny-sf-and-back.366117/#post-7477853
 
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