JayR, 17 hours to go and still 3,000.
looks like the buyer is sitting and waiting.
As a buyer i always look for a lie or evasive answers. If a seller is caught out then my spidery sense is awoken and once it is i am more than ready to walk away and wait for another opportunity. Yes they always do come about again, just takes time and patience.
Why would i buy the 79, (in the ebay add), over the 81, (first post).
The 79 at 2,600 miles, has hardly been broken in, it is in concourse condition and it shows in the small things. The stencils on the instrument tower has no fading at all. With such low miles there is little chance any damage, of any kind, through any lack of maintenance. Pics are notoriously hard to gauge the condition of any bike because they will always show it to be better than it really is.
The pics of the 79 shows absolutely no rust in the usual spots, around the carb area or bolts or nuts where a wrench has been used at some time or another. The chrome appears to have a good deep luster., and the rear wheel shows where the chain has thrown some lube against the alloy on the back wheel. Shows the bike in a used condition. Really does looks like it is just off the showroom floor.
These are all positives but the secret now would be to ask some questions of a general nature about its history and if any work or upgrades have been done to it and if yes to any then ask what and why.
If i ask 3 questions, (never ask to many for a start 3 is enough), in a query and the seller only addresses 2 my sense's start to tingle, just one then i am in a very defensive mode. Every question deserves an answer, i will usually address the question, (with others), again and if it is unanswered again i walk. There is no excuse for a seller not to answer a question, maybe it is missed that's why i would give them the opportunity to answer again in another batch of questions. A dodgy seller will think he is getting away with something if the same question is posted with others again and he/she doesn't answer the repeated question.
The 81, 6000+ miles.
The headers are a big concern for me. The discoloring of the headers, and especially different colors, raise a lot of other questions about the condition of the motor. If the maintenance is so laxed on the carbs, (causing the heat stains on the pipe), then has the maintenance schedule been keep up in other areas and even if it has to what quality has the work been done. Cam chain especially and tappets comes to mind. As Weekendrider pointed out the carbs have been overflowing, so what has caused this and is the issue resolved, or as it looks like, the bike has been ridden with one side rich and the other lean. There is a chance damage has been done to the internals. I have seen neglected Specials with oxidization/rust on the headers and the inner is still good.
The rest of the bike looks to be in good condition, but with the headers like that i would be inclined to disbelieve the speedo, and look for any telltale signs of a change.
To sum up the 81:
Obvious damage and tell tale signs of past/ongoing problems that could have major implications, internally, (top end), and cost a lot of money in the immediate and near future.............Note: signs are there but the worse case scenario is still ...........could be............. Would need a comprehensive pre buy check to confirm one way or anothe,r the problems listed above.
To sum up the 79:
All indications are of a well looked after low mileage bike in excellent condition. No indications of any neglect or abuse...........Note: Needs to be heard running, as a pre buy check test the rotor for charging issues and that all electrics are working. If it was running a compression test wouldn't hurt.
I would travel 3 times the distance, (would i travel 3000 miles to 1000 miles, proberbly not, but i would travel 300 miles to 100 miles, Yes, probably even 600 to 200 or 1000 to 333), to buy the 79 over the 81 based on the points above.
I know the 81 has been sold but the comparisons can relate to any further bikes you may look at.
Hope this helps you in the future, JayR.
Well I thought I'd check back in. You've all been very helpful and I found a 1982 XS 650 For $900. No that is not the original tank. Brought it home today in a rented Home Depot van. It was close by and will allow me to do "that build" someday without hacking up a nice stock bike. The PO bought it from a PO who had taken it apart. The guy I bought it from slapped the parts back together and if my plan was to keep it stock I'd have a lot to do just with then nuts and bolts.
