XS650 Craigslist postings depository

'73 CB450. 500 bucks.
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/mpo/d/boys-town-1973-honda-cb450/7335149128.html


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Dang... my Bro lives in Omaha..... but.. rats.. I got 2 Cb450's now.... one runs.. other is " I'll get to it.... in.... "..maybe, I shouldn't call the Bro
 
Back in the day - 1978/79 - I had a brown CB550 Four K. Aka Fork. Mine did not have a sissy bar. I liked the brown colour with orange detailing. Had ridden a mate's CB400F and thought this would be a bigger version of the same.

First bike I went overseas on - France and Spain.

Pleasant, efficient, bland, gutless engine needed revs for much to happen, bland, Honda reliability. But rather bland.
 
Hello All,
I have been contemplating getting an XS650 and exploring this forum for the past few months now.
I have been drooling over this one posted on Craigslist (https://richmond.craigslist.org/mcy/d/henrico-81-yamaha-xs-650/7333443130.html). I have no clue if this is a fair price or the condition of it. Should i be concerned that it says the tail is chopped?
I am a noob, looking for some advice here. Anything specific I should look for?
Thank you!
 
I am a noob, looking for some advice here. Anything specific I should look for?
That style is a popular look. However having owned 5 XS's over the years and "fixing" every one of them to my styling I'd recommend that you try harder to find a near stock/ original XS and then strip or modify that to your own liking.
Re-doing a previous owners mods seems to never be as satisfying or even as efficient.
Besides, $2700 is pretty steep considering half the components are gone.. offer half of that.
:twocents:
edit ps- there is little point in a previous owner listing his financial costs expecting to recover those. We all know a motorcycle can be a money and time pit. We do it for Fun!
 
Hello All,
I have been contemplating getting an XS650 and exploring this forum for the past few months now.
I have been drooling over this one posted on Craigslist (https://richmond.craigslist.org/mcy/d/henrico-81-yamaha-xs-650/7333443130.html). I have no clue if this is a fair price or the condition of it. Should i be concerned that it says the tail is chopped?
I am a noob, looking for some advice here. Anything specific I should look for?
Thank you!
Welcome to the forum!
I guess it comes down to what you want. My opinion is that's to much for a bike that's been somewhat amateurishly built.
No mention of how well the engine works.
Hard shifting prolly has less to do with a "spring" as much as the bad kink in the clutch cable.
No front fender. Needs that or a brace.
No rear fender or chain guard. Like mud and grease stains on your pants?
Mufflers hack sawed off the original headers.... gives poor performance. Exhaust systems ain't cheap.
Passenger peg mounts hacksawed off and we can't even be bothered to repaint the bare tubing? Wtf...
Centerstand mounts have been hacksawed off.
I could go on but you get the idea. Offer a $1000 and put another 1K into it and it'll be a decent bike.
 
Hello All,
I have been contemplating getting an XS650 and exploring this forum for the past few months now.
I have been drooling over this one posted on Craigslist (https://richmond.craigslist.org/mcy/d/henrico-81-yamaha-xs-650/7333443130.html). I have no clue if this is a fair price or the condition of it. Should i be concerned that it says the tail is chopped?
I am a noob, looking for some advice here. Anything specific I should look for?
Thank you!

I don't think this is a good buy ( to late but continue anyways )
Unknown mileage ( odometer broken ) / Shifting problems / Cut frame / Most likely rusted headers / Looks worn on the left side.
And to high price
Its been there 10 days and that is in itself an indication
I don't know of US conditions but this time of year the bike prices are at peak here.
One month or two prices here are better and better deals can be done although less are for sale
 
:twocents: I'd personally wait for one that hasn't been hacked up
There's plenty of 650's out there
At first I couldn't find one to save my soul and then suddenly I found the 75 I now ride and a year later I bought a 75 and a 78 for $750 for both and they weren't all hacked up and both were in pretty decent shape
Best to wait a little
 
Thanks so much for the wisdom. I was getting excited, but waiting to find a less modified 650 is probably my best move.
This is going to be a side project while I'm in grad school and I think @Machine is right. I will have a more satisfying experience if I don't have to undo sloppy work.
Is there anything I should stay away from? Are 650 specials preferred over the standard? I have also heard conflicting information about 256 and the 447 engines. I hardly know what a 'fair' price is.
Once again, I really appreciate your input and I am excited to contribute to this community in the future!
 
IMHO you should proceed by slow steps. Goodness, that's the derivation of Tardigrade. Cast your net wide, be a little patient and a better bike will come along. On your question of standard vs special, it depends what you want to end up with. If you have a picture in your mind of where you want to end up, then one or the other might make a better starting point. But otherwise, they are both good bikes, after all the basics are the same. I'm giving you the kind of advice I would benefit from myself - for some reason, I often buy something on an impulse before spending any time researching the market or looking around.
 
Thanks so much for the wisdom. I was getting excited, but waiting to find a less modified 650 is probably my best move.
This is going to be a side project while I'm in grad school and I think @Machine is right. I will have a more satisfying experience if I don't have to undo sloppy work.
Is there anything I should stay away from? Are 650 specials preferred over the standard? I have also heard conflicting information about 256 and the 447 engines. I hardly know what a 'fair' price is.
Once again, I really appreciate your input and I am excited to contribute to this community in the future!


OK lets talk about common mistakes
There is no such thing as a 40 - 50 year old motorcycle where one don't get the hands dirty not under $ 5000
Worst case it can be time consuming.

I don't know how rich you are what tools or what time to .. put in on this.what place
Or if you are after a rider or a a rebuild project bike

But as a general rule Later model with less miles is worth a premium as a rider and
are more refined mechanically / technically
Older models worth more for a collector. but less parts at a Higher price. out there.
I don't think the exterior matters ( for me )

When the deal is there you gotta move fast typical here half a day one day and then the window of Opportunity is closed
there is the proverbial " Gold wont be laying around on main street " someone will pick it up

Paying the asked price cash at once. there and then .No questions and No haggling.
Proaktive. I have personally been crawling on the ground looking for leaks when from Above the Word was spoken
" Ill take it " -- and the deal was done by someone else. Me and my friend dusted of the jeans and went for a cup of coffee being to Slow.

That does not mean careless and without inspection..
Business is also personal so the haggling can here end in that you are asked to leave. No deal regardless of what money

So if the older 256 is up for sale . Cheap it is a slam dunk go for it even if a later model would be better.
I believe later are more developed and have more parts are available
But if the deal is there .I would go for it. ( Almost ) always there are things that is not working or not told or not Known by the owner.
So there will be extra costs less the more you pay at the start ( generally speaking )

I have been In and Around the last Owner segment all my life.Riders but with problems
And they demand more work .The purchase price is lower but the man hours can be extensive.
One advantage with the cheap bikes is that if you do a bad deal and I am talking a real bad deal
One can straighten out the back and Just scrap it and move on
If not entirely fooled on the deal as mentioned above under time constraints and perhaps not allowed to check
One can sell it.
Here you wont loose any money since a working motorcycle of this size and larger have never dropped below a certain price not in my lifetime

And again if you google the prices you get an idea .I would wait to the fall or winter definitely not the Spring or summers beginning
Again keep Eyes open and Move if it is there Estate sales and clearings.
Be prepared for some work and parts.

All in all it s a very rewarding hobby..
 
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