porschefan Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Hey everybody, as you are scouting around craigslist and having a beer with the buddies, please keep an eye out for a cheap bike. Any year or make is fine, so long as its bigger than 250cc and not a dirt bike or sportbike. Looking to do this for around $600. It just needs to run and be solid. Of course offers from OR members are welcome too ???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Some very cool cheap bikes to look for:Yamaha xj600 Seca II. I had one for a season, comfy upright riding position, decent but not overwhelming power (60 hp), good handling characteristics, air cooled motor, easy to work on and 45mpg. Anything from the honda cb line. Suzuki gs 550, Kaw kz650....pretty much any jap standard from the 70's or 80's are great starter bikes. Not too much power, comfortable, easy to work on and cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revelstoker Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 $600 = ouch. quick CL search by max price turned up a couple. http://dayton.craigslist.org/mcy/4283824803.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Yeah $600 isn't gonna get you much...it's either gonna lbts or run like a 3 legged dog. Double your budget and get something that's at least capable and won't get your buddy stranded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 it's hard to find a running bike for $600. I spent plenty of time looking. What you should be able to find for that price is a decent project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschefan Posted January 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 That bike in Dayton looks interesting, though a bit big. And I don't disagree on the issue of budget, but that's where he's at right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschefan Posted January 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) That bike in Dayton looks interesting, though a bit big. And I don't disagree on the issue of budget, but that's where I'm at right now. The plan is for him to buy the bike off of me once the divorce is finalized. I don't have that much extra cash, and I'm not really looking for another project for myself. Otherwise I'd pick up a sweet looking 700sc and call it done:) There is a gs450l around for $650, and a 450 nighthawk for $500. The 450 leaks oil after a rebuild, so I dunno. Wouldn't let me edit. Edited January 13, 2014 by porschefan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 That xj650 is a good bike, the maxim/seca family of motors are very good mills, reliable as hell. Only weak point I know of is the starter gear, they're made out of something slightly harder than play do and if the bike is flooded or in gear and the safety switches fail they strip pretty bad. Other than that it's a good buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschefan Posted January 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 That's good info, thank you. Is it difficult to replace? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) Yeah you have to pull the motor, split the cases and all that fun stuff but it was only a real issue on the SECA II because the cylinder bank was canted way forward and it used downdraft carbs and a vacuum petcock. People would leave the petcock on prime or it would get stuck open and if a float valve was bad it would fill the motor with gas overnight. When the owner tried to start it the next morning the gasoline in the cylinder would refuse to compress and the starter gear would fail. It's highly unlikely that those series of unfortunate events would transpire with the 650 tho due to its upright cylinders and side Draft carbs. If you buy it expect to learn how to do a good thorough carb cleaning and maybe valve adjustment. One nice feature is the shift drive, no chain adjustments or worn sprockets! I can't remember if that's a YICS motor or not...If it is you need a special tool to block off the transfer ports if you wanna synchronize the carbs. Edited January 13, 2014 by CrazySkullCrusher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschefan Posted January 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Called on the xj, didnt sound super promising. The owner has done anything to it besides paint it primer black, and doesnt really know anything about bikes. I went and looked at the gs450gl. I really liked it EXCEPT it was burning oil out of a coupling in the exhaust, and I couldn't seem to find neutral even with my hand. Other than those two faults I would have made them an offer. It could just be a goofy neutral indicator switch, i didn't ride it to really get a sense for what it was doing. Ill post some pics of the engine, and maybe some of you sages could point me to a member or thread where I should direct questions about old UJM's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschefan Posted January 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Engine pics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschefan Posted January 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 More pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Most of the time not being able to find neutral is because of a poorly adjusted clutch. I wouldn't buy it if it's leaking oil. The xj still sounds like a better deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Also those gs 450 bikes are weak... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magley64 Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 I grabbed backpack's CM450E for a few hundred bucks, but it was in pieces. The PO wrecked it, scared himself, and dismantled it. I put it back together, and got the engine purring... to make it right though, i still need a speedo cable, new triple bearings, new forks, new springs and a new front fender...I still think it was a pretty good deal, but it certainly wasnt a "turn key" bike... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschefan Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) Found a super nice looking xj650 maxim outside of akron for $750. Supposedly it's had the same owner for the last 20 years, has 20k on the clock and they have receipts for maintenance. I guess I'm going on a drive this weekend. I found a Honda cb650 roughly same condition, price, and area but I haven't got a return message yet. Somebody tell me why they love (or hate) the xj? Edited January 16, 2014 by porschefan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Good reliable motor, easy to work on, comfy ergos, good gas mileage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschefan Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 It is an '82. Do you know if all of the '82s have the reduced effect (50hp) motor? And do all of the '82s have gas adjust front forks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 There's this handy thing called the internet that you should familiarize yourself with.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad324 Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 my buddies first bike was an '82 Maxim. I think it was the 650 as well. Bike was awesome for a learner bike, especially cause the thing was running and had no issues for $400. I think all we ever replaced on it was the throttle cable and battery. His lil bro bought it off him and rode it another 10,000 miles for a grand total of 60k until he finally raped it enough to blow a head gasket I believe is what he said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smccrory Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 And head gaskets are cheap to replace if you do the work yourself. If a complete noob like me can do it after a lot of watching videos and studying the shop manual, most people could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLeav20717 Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 My bandit is still for sale if you're interested...cant let it go for 6, but its somewhat close to that price. (It's in this forum if you want to take a peek at it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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