Is this Bike Worth the asking Price, Opinions

Astrolite

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I know this is a difficult question to answer with the small amount of information I'm about to provide but I value the opinions of the experienced XS650 buffs here and am just looking for a general idea. This would be my first XS650 purchase since 1972! My original goal was to buy a bike that could be restored back to stock condition.

The bike is pictured below. It starts on first kick and runs and accelerates smoothly. It does have a title. The owner is a used/classic, car/motorcycle dealer with a passion for Yamahas. He has several Yamaha builds in his shop right now along with a frame off restoration of a 1965 GTO. He says he rebuilt the carbs and synchronized them and replaced the points with an electronic ignition. As you can see it is missing a few parts, has some incorrect parts, needs some parts replaced and has had a paint job. There are things that I would still want to check, of course, like compression, whether it is charging, that it drives and shifts properly, etc.

Lets assume, for this exercise, that the bike checks out to be in reasonable mechanical condition. He says his bottom line is $1800 and I'm feeling that maybe that is at the high end of the price range for what I'd be getting. I'm not planning on flipping it, so I don't need to make any money on the deal, but I don't want to feel like I'm being taken either. So what is your opinion?
 

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Looks a little rough around the edges, but for an (almost) complete runner... that runs good.... 1800 bucks is not unreasonably high. Prolly on the high end of what I'd give.
New tires and battery... chain and sprockets would make it a fair price. If all that needs replacing, it's a bit on the high end.
.... in my humble opinion of course.
 
My first impression it is to high priced
I notice some oil under on the floor

Getting it back to stock
My original goal was to buy a bike that could be restored back to stock condition.

Is more difficult than it needs to be ( Paint / Exhaust / saddle / Rear shock dont look stock )

I prefer the Ratty Looking ones with low mileage.
This being a " Shop " Oil leaks can be wiped off and a rattle can paint.used
Price higher than a private deal.

It sends signals of the type lemons my Friends was fooled on in the early seventies.
Even if it checks out the mechanical + electrical tests I still think it is High

The carburetor : And ignition is more or less Normal service

More pictures and listening to the engine can help . Looking for smoke
But all in all I believe there are better deals out there
I don't think I would pay 1800 for it here and the prices are lower in the US
There is always ( For me anyways ) something that you notice later and not at the Purchase
 
As posted elsewhere that one is a bitsa, so not a great candidate for restoration. I wouldn't take the odo reading seriously.
I'd agree 1800 is a good strong number, for the seller.
With a bit of patience and getting the word out you should be able to find a somewhat neglected stock standard that will be more straight forward for restoration in that same $$ ballpark.
One question is do you want a special or a standard? Or the special II, which has features of both. Skull's ID thread helps with deciding what appeals to you and figuring out what the bikes you see actually are.
 
As posted elsewhere that one is a bitsa, so not a great candidate for restoration.
Hate to admit this but what exactly is a bitsa and why is that not a good candidate for restoration? EDIT, OK I looked up bitsa and now know what it means.

Update on the bike, I went to see it again and it actually has 26,500 miles on the odometer. It started right up with both the kickstart and the electric. shifted into 1st and neutral fine but couldn't get it into 2nd. Once he took it out and ran it up and down the street it started shifting fine. It ran smooth with no smoke, popping or backfiring, sounded good. We checked the voltage across the battery and it didn't ever quite hit 14 volts while reving it, so I'm not sure it is charging properly. I did notice that both carbs were a little wet on the bottom with what looked to be thickened, discolored gas, a little was on the case below too. Strange for having rebuild the carbs. He told me we could do a compression test, but we didn't get around to it today.

He said he was willing to take $1500 for it and would throw in the correct mufflers, handlebars, and a pair of chrome fenders, all with the caveat of "if I can find them". I told him I needed to mull it over and would get back to him.
 
Not wanting to shift while not moving is normal.
Some gas leaking out of carbs while on the side stand is pretty normal too.
It should be seeing 14 plus volts. You understand buying any old bike, no matter WHAT the seller claims is just the downpayment?
 
Yes, no matter how good it looks, all these bikes need a going through when you get one. They're 40+ years old after all. Max charging in the low 14's is ideal, but a '79 would still have the old mechanical voltage regulator and it probably just needs to be adjusted.

Something else to keep in mind is that most all of these need the top ends looked into by now. It's not so much a mileage thing but rather an age thing. The front cam chain guides are failing on many, their rubber strip coming unglued and falling off. And normally, you change the cam chain too while you're in there. The chains will last much longer than the mileage on that bike if they're properly cared for, kept properly adjusted and checked often enough. The thing is, most haven't been, hence the need for a new chain.
 
If you can’t or are unwilling to do maintenance and repairs, step away and go buy a new Royal Enfield 650. Great bike! Since you’re here, I assume you’re a tinkerer. So, welcome aboard!

The first thing about an XS650 purchase is, what do you want to do with it? Do you like Specials or is it just a platform for modifications? Ride or show? Restoration?

Fixing one up to ride and make it look nice is easy with any of them. ‘77 and later models probably make the best riders. Rear disc brake Specials have challenges to altering wheels and brakes.

You can get more guidance if we know your goal and capabilities. A ‘79 Special is a nice looking bike in my eyes. Some folks hate them.
 
View attachment 235032

Is it your desire to reproduce this? Was that picture taken in 1975? Did you mod that bike yourself? Very cool!
Picture was taken around 1973-74. I bought a brand new 1972, road it for one season, tore it down and built this. I do not want to reproduce this, looking to go stock now. My Fatboy is getting too heavy for me and I need to downsize. If you know anyone looking for a custom Fatboy! On the Yamaha I had a local chopper shop cut and weld the frame for me. I bondoed, painted assembled and wired it. It was plain blue the first time, then I repainted it metalflake blue.
 

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I know this is a difficult question to answer with the small amount of information I'm about to provide but I value the opinions of the experienced XS650 buffs here and am just looking for a general idea. This would be my first XS650 purchase since 1972! My original goal was to buy a bike that could be restored back to stock condition.

The bike is pictured below. It starts on first kick and runs and accelerates smoothly. It does have a title. The owner is a used/classic, car/motorcycle dealer with a passion for Yamahas. He has several Yamaha builds in his shop right now along with a frame off restoration of a 1965 GTO. He says he rebuilt the carbs and synchronized them and replaced the points with an electronic ignition. As you can see it is missing a few parts, has some incorrect parts, needs some parts replaced and has had a paint job. There are things that I would still want to check, of course, like compression, whether it is charging, that it drives and shifts properly, etc.

Lets assume, for this exercise, that the bike checks out to be in reasonable mechanical condition. He says his bottom line is $1800 and I'm feeling that maybe that is at the high end of the price range for what I'd be getting. I'm not planning on flipping it, so I don't need to make any money on the deal, but I don't want to feel like I'm being taken either. So what is your opinion?
To me that is not a bad price. Yes cheaper would be better. It all depends on your expectations and what you want. If you want a turn key daily rider that is not it. For something like that you will need to spend 2 maybe 3 times that. Or has Marty said a RE650. If you want something you can ride and improve as time goes on it may be perfect.
 
To me that is not a bad price. Yes cheaper would be better. It all depends on your expectations and what you want. If you want a turn key daily rider that is not it. For something like that you will need to spend 2 maybe 3 times that. Or has Marty said a RE650. If you want something you can ride and improve as time goes on it may be perfect.
Funny you guys should mention the Royal Enfield because I was looking long and hard at them and I may still go that route, but I keep getting drawn back to the XS650. I'm not naive to the fact that these things are a project and that is one of my major considerations. Selling the Harley should allow me to buy something that is much less work if that is the direction I decide to go.
In my world, these are the words of a bullsh*t artist.
Beware.



.
Somehow he doesn't come off like that to me. Lord knows I've been wrong before. He has a huge shop, two floors worth of cars, bikes and parts everywhere. He has already brought out a front fender and handlebars and there is an XS1100 parts bike sitting right next to it that looks like it has the right mufflers and another XS650 with what looks like a Standard seat. Not sure whether the seat and mufflers would fit, but maybe.

I think another big decision is exactly what do I want to do with it. Restoration back to a "stock look" might be possible if the right parts come along at the right price, but it would probably be more practical to just make it road worthy and ride it, make upgrades here and there. I think it may have had a decent life and been kept in a garage as there is not a spot of rust anywhere.
 
Dont know US Conditions --but here you pay more for a bike bought at a dealer or Professional seller
Than if you buy private.
Some give a guarantee ..which can help.
Senior customer rarely drive like a 18 years old with these type Motorcycles.

I noticed the price came down $ 300 which in itself I would be Suspicious about. But the Business side is not my strong side.
I feel one or two hundreds up or down here or there is not much to loose a deal on if it is the right bike.
Sometimes you have to go for it.
As Gary mentioned it is a Down payment Chasing parts with freight Cash quickly goes away. If it is the wrong starting point.
Can even end up in a box as parts. Worst case.

More parts here are discussed. if it is mint stock Exhausts in there Wooooww it is different story Especially if the plan is going back to stock Can be worth 1/2 - 3/4 of the price asked.
Perhaps you can get a week or 2 Guarantee. Even experts dont always know everything about the bike.

The charging is expensive should it need repair. . Did you test it with lights on ?
 
I keep getting drawn back to the XS650. I'm not naive to the fact that these things are a project and that is one of my major considerations.

I think another big decision is exactly what do I want to do with it. Restoration back to a "stock look" might be possible if the right parts come along at the right price, but it would probably be more practical to just make it road worthy and ride it, make upgrades here and there.

With that perspective and understanding you'll be fine whatever you decide......inflated prices considered.
 
Thing is you can sell the Harley, find a nice late model 500-750 street bike, buy that and this and still have some room to start buying parts for the build.
A modern "riding bike" and an XS650 "garage bike" a VERY common theme in the US and many other parts of the world.
Probably more guys with that combo on the forum than dedicated XS650 only owners. And in the "over the top, collection guys" and you have M/L 80% of the denizens here.
 
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