Sold / Found / Inactive - For Sale: 1977 Yamaha XS650D Survivor

[Racerxnico]

≈21k miles

Helping a friend with the sale of this motorcycle. He inherited it from his dad (who I understand was the original owner) when he passed away a few years ago. While my friend has maintained the tabs and ridden it a few times since taking possession of it, he isn’t a motorcycle guy and had decided that it is time to let it go.

As near as I can tell it has been garage kept its entire life as there isn’t much of the typical corrosion one would expect to see on a bike of this vintage if it spent any time outside.

While it would start with one kick, it was apparent that it did need a bit of work so over the last month I have:

• Rebuilt the front brakes, both the caliper and master cylinder
• Adjusted the regulator (it was overcharging and cooking the battery)
• New sealed AGM battery
• Checked and adjusted valve clearances
• Retorqued head bolts
• Electric starter wasn’t working so I pulled it to investigate. It bench tested fine so I put it back in and it works. The lower insulator boot was gone and because of the way it was in, I speculate that it may have been shorting back to the frame (friend says it hasn’t worked as long as he could remember). When I reinstalled, I put and new insulator boot on it and flipped wire to give more clearance. Electric start works now.
• The tach was very sluggish so I opened it up and cleaned out old sticky residue, lubed with white lithium, and now it works as it should.
• At some point in its life, someone welded a foot to the kickstand, but it made the stand effectively useless as it was too tall and wouldn’t lean. I removed the foot so it leans on side stand as it should.
• The fork seals were leaking and the dust boots were cracked so I replaced them and gave it fresh 10w fork oil.

The bad: Will need new tires as these are old and the rear is worn. The mufflers have corrosion bubbles. There is a bit of battery acid corrosion around the battery box. The gas tank has some dents on the right hand side.

It isn’t perfect, but I do love that motor. On shake down runs accelerating hard in 3rd gear, it just seems to pull harder and harder (like it wants to pull out from under me). I’m planning on riding it to some local bike nights this month to see what sort of interest it generates.

Located in Seattle and I'd prefer to not ship it, but mostly because I am unfamiliar with doing so and for the right price maybe I could learn . I had a dream last week that someone in Arizona was willing to give me $7k if i would ride it down to deliver

I really don't know how to put a value on this, but giving it my best guess @ $3250 OBO

Pics below are all reduced, but I can send full resolution and anything else you would like to see as well.

Cheers

 

[Racerxnico]

I did get one nibble when I was at "old bike night". Waiting to see if that develops. Going to bring it by a motorcycle swap meet on the 11th and then will probably list on Craig's list and Facebook Marketplace as well. When I was riding home that night, I learned the bulbs in the speedo are out so I may yet replace those and the white "headlight" indicator seems to have a bit of a dodgy connection as it would blink on and off so I'll try to look into that as well.

 

[jetmechmarty]

I have a close friend in Bremerton. He had a ‘77 in Bountiful Blue. It was a nice bike. It was well loved, but still showed well. I don’t remember the mileage. I did ride it and it operated flawlessly. He paid what I thought was too much for it and sold it for even more. If memory serves, I think it was bought and sold at over $3500. I think he told me it’s available again.
It’s my understanding that prices there are not in line with prices here in Mississippi. On anything, for that matter.

 

[Racerxnico]

bump

 

[Racerxnico]

Lowered price. Still OBO

 

[MLW9110]

Lowered price. Still OBO

I'm jetmechmarty's friend he mentioned earlier in this thread. I might be interested in your bike.
Mike
Bremerton

 

[Racerxnico]

Bump. I've had over 2000 clicks on Facebook Marketplace, but everyone who has contacted me to say they want to see it has flaked.

 

[member43148]

Priced too high

 

[Niels B]

I would think you should be able to get 3K is reasonable to expect - maybe location is an issue ?

 

[Racerxnico]

Maybe too high, but it's a lot easier to come down than go up. It's always so tough to gauge what old bikes are worth and it usually comes down to connecting to the right buyer. I'm going to drop the price again soon and maybe once it is below the 3k threshold someone will at least show up to look at it.

 

[member43148]

Here in the Pacific Northwest I’ve sold 5 XS’s on Craigslist.
Portland or Seattle. Searching “XS650” on Craigslist brings up those PNW ads.
It works quickly (Scammers too yes, but recognize that and sell in person only)
I wouldn’t mess with Facebook posts at all as most buyers there are not local anyway.

 

[Jim]

Jus' speaking for myself, I think $3000 is a fair price considerin' it's condition and all the work you put into it. I'd have prolly started at $3500 myself. Jus' sayin'...

 

[halfmile]

$2999.99 is way way cheaper than $3000.00 by a long shot.

 

[atom4488]

Jus' speaking for myself, I think $3000 is a fair price considerin' it's condition and all the work you put into it. I'd have prolly started at $3500 myself. Jus' sayin'...

I agree with Jim on this...I would say that $3K is a fair price. You have to be patient for the right buyer to come along who wants exactly what you have; a very nice survivor.

 

[Racerxnico]

Not sure if it was dropping below the 3k barrier or that Craigslist was the better listing place. Sold within 48 hours of listing it there. I think I found the right buyer too. Older retired gentleman who knows how to work on bikes and was looking for either a standard TX or XS. I feel good about it going to him. Also, it sounds like he has the skills to fix the tank body work.

 

[member43148]

Way to go