Topic: Thoughts? Yay or nay?

[bartsitarski]

I have been seeing this thing on CL for some time and they just dropped the price by a grand. What do you guys think? Is it worth it?

http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/mcd/3455299228.html

[matt mattison]

The price seems fair, considering  it is in good running condition. I would like to see a fork brace and / or a front fender. Perhaps a rear fender as well.

[Stev-o]

Ad states it has a stuck float which would make it leak gas.
Great looking bike and appears to be a good value.
I would go and check it out in person and confirm really how good it runs and how bad the float issue is. Sometimes a light tap will do the trick.
I'd be curious why they dropped the price a grand, seems pretty drastic.

[CycleRanger]

I would like to see a fork brace and / or a front fender. Perhaps a rear fender as well.

This!

I dunno about that seat, looks cool but also looks like you could slide right off the back!

And they couldn't be bothered to paint the kick stand?
 

[Jiminy Indy]

Looks really nice, and if you're into the cafe look it's probably a pretty good deal price-wise.

But just to be picky, the K model didn't come with a black engine so makes you wonder why they pulled the motor to start with - and then probably painted it to look cool - which it does.

[TwoTired]

If you think it good value to buy cosmetics, go for it.  There was certainly some care put into the paint job.

But, if they are so mechanically inept that they can't fix or can't be bothered to fix a leaking carburetor, you can expect to find a lot of mechanical things it still needs.

IMO, they as just trying to cash in on a "craze".   Remove a bunch of parts (and utility) off an otherwise good bike, throw pretty paint on it and flip it to the first drooling sucker that comes along.   If they've already dropped the price 1K, they know these suckers aren't as plentiful as they thought, and they are trying to unload the mechanical repair burden onto someone else as quickly as possible.

FYI a black engine could simply be painted for effect, or it's had an F model transplant, the one with the troublesome valve guides.

Of course, people buy pretty things all the time.  But, if it has no speedometer, mirror, or horn, it's only good for display, rather than street (hope it never rains or snows where you live, if so you'll have a one month in a year operation machine).  Nice bit of garage conversation piece, I suppose.  The local cafe crowd will be glad you joined them.  But, if they aren't actually racing them, then you'll just become included into a superficial crowd where style dominates function (with rare exceptions).

I might ask what he wants for the tank and side covers, though.  They do look nice.  (I'd look for rust inside the tank first.)  Seat might be ok if you ride less than 20 minutes a day.  Or only use the bike for a picture subject.


Those are my thoughts!

Good luck!

[RFogelsong]

I don't think you could do too much wrong for $1500.  Imo, you've really gotta want it for $2G, but not a bad buy.  There's a couple nice stock looking 750's on ebay right now stuck at $1500 so take that for what it's worth (comparison).

[Retro Rocket]

Makes me wonder why , instead of dropping a grand off the price, they just didn't spend a couple of hundred {or whatever it costs} to fix the carb problem. Reminds me of a friend that left me his car to sell for $1500 dollars, it was filthy and full of rubbish, i meticulously detailed the car and sold it the next day for $2500 dollars, my mate was really pissed off that i made a quick grand but he could have done the exact same thing ....

[FunJimmy]

TT

A wee bit clinical are ya?
Cosmetics, whether purchased as part of or added later, still have a cost/value component to contribute. Some like nice looking bikes, not just sound mechanical.

Looks like a pretty fair price to me.

[Killer Canary]

you'll just become included into a superficial crowd where style dominates function (with rare exceptions).

My cafe has done a couple of 10,000 mile summers. I'm so glad that I have no crowd to belong to.

[750K]

It's got more of a tracker look to it than a cafe imho, at least it still has the stock airbox and not pods. Paint is nice and I bet the seat could be re padded and be comfortable, just needs some mini signals and spedo and a front fender. I wouldn't pay $2000 for it though, stock looking and running nice yeah sure. Hacked up and not street legal no way, not bad if you could low ball them once things check out in person. Good platform to add some things and have a nice non stock 750.

[fang]

The motor looks like it was rattle-can painted black.  Painted fast and dirty... over bolts, grime, screws, etc.  Might mask a problem.  leaking carbs probably will wash that paint right off... You might look for that when you inspect the bike in person.

Having said that, if you like the color, and everything looks good.  Why not? 

Go take a good, close look, print out a pre-purchase inspecting list and go through the list in person.  If aside from the carbs sticking it is perfect, AND you like the color, its a win.

But it won't be perfect.  Best if you can sort it out in advance!

peace and grease,
-Fang

[750K]

On looking closer at the pics, makes me think they just polished a turd so to speak. Painted the tank and body parts, rattle canned the motor but didn't paint the frame or swingarm. The chrome parts are all in need of polishing there's visible rust on the swingarm as well as the chain. Looks good from 10 feet comes to mind...

[srbakker]

If it could be had for $1500, I'd ride it a bunch as is and then decide what to do to with it come next winter.

[bartsitarski]

Thanks guys. The bike has been listed for a few months. I remember looking at the thing this summer when I stumbled across my cb550. I do like the paint job but I am not a fan of the handlebars. I would swap some clubmans in their place. I think I may go down there and look at it in person this week. Probably shouldnt be dropping $$$ on another bike, but, its been following me for some time.

[srbakker]

On another note, on what planet are drag bars considered cafe style?  Yeesh.

[TwoTired]

TT

A wee bit clinical are ya?
Cosmetics, whether purchased as part of or added later, still have a cost/value component to contribute. Some like nice looking bikes, not just sound mechanical.

Looks like a pretty fair price to me.

Yep, cynical.  And not a wee bit, either.  I've seen far too many nice complete stockers hacked up into cafe or custom style primarily for "the look", later the posts come in about how to get it running well enough to drive to the local bar or bragging hangout.  Later, it is suddenly for sale or sold to fund another hideous project to garner adulation from those who are too polite to tell them what a freakin' useless abomination they created.  There are exceptions, of course.  But, if the guy's skills are limited to paint and bodywork, I see no need to reward him for a "complete" bike.  I'd bet the carbs are only the first item to work on for that bike.  If you want to put another $1-2K into the bike you might have something the will get you back from the bar as well as to it, albeit uncomfortably.  (I don't need to self torture to feel comfortable as a man.)

Paint is nice to have, but if it can't run reliably or well, it's just parking lot art.  Fark, just buy a picture.  It will look better far longer than a hacked up cafe and be more useful.

If that thing is worth $2000 to everyone, then I must have some $4000 bikes (that you can drive coast to coast).  Cripes $2000 for that one and it isn't even street legal.

Any bets he already sold all the take off$ from the starting subject vehicle?  You want to reward greed for a trendy fashion statement, or a shiny bauble go ahead.  Your money to toss wherever you want.
I simply don't believe it is the wise thing to do.  (That is, until I have a cafe bike to sell.    )

Want more thoughts?  Just ask! 

[madmtnmotors]

TT

A wee bit clinical are ya?
Cosmetics, whether purchased as part of or added later, still have a cost/value component to contribute. Some like nice looking bikes, not just sound mechanical.

Looks like a pretty fair price to me.

Yep, cynical.  And not a wee bit, either.  I've seen far too many nice complete stockers hacked up into cafe or custom style primarily for "the look", later the posts come in about how to get it running well enough to drive to the local bar or bragging hangout.  Later, it is suddenly for sale or sold to fund another hideous project to garner adulation from those who are too polite to tell them what a freakin' useless abomination they created.  There are exceptions, of course.  But, if the guy's skills are limited to paint and bodywork, I see no need to reward him for a "complete" bike.  I'd bet the carbs are only the first item to work on for that bike.  If you want to put another $1-2K into the bike you might have something the will get you back from the bar as well as to it, albeit uncomfortably.  (I don't need to self torture to feel comfortable as a man.)

Paint is nice to have, but if it can't run reliably or well, it's just parking lot art.  Fark, just buy a picture.  It will look better far longer than a hacked up cafe and be more useful.

If that thing is worth $2000 to everyone, then I must have some $4000 bikes (that you can drive coast to coast).  Cripes $2000 for that one and it isn't even street legal.

Any bets he already sold all the take off$ from the starting subject vehicle?  You want to reward greed for a trendy fashion statement, or a shiny bauble go ahead.  Your money to toss wherever you want.
I simply don't believe it is the wise thing to do.  (That is, until I have a cafe bike to sell.    )

Want more thoughts?  Just ask! 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

If that thing is worth $2000 to everyone, then I must have some $4000 bikes (that you can drive coast to coast).  Cripes $2000 for that one and it isn't even street legal.

And it doesn't even RUN PROPERLY... "stuck float(s)" are something that is easily corrected with BASIC MECHANICAL SKILLS. So what does that say about the skill level of the mechanical work that HAS been done?

[BeSeeingYou]

Nay.  Look at the rusty chain, rusty spokes, crap paint job on the engine, haven't even bothered to clean up the controls and mastercylinder, along with the issues others have pointed out, and the fact they can't be bothered to do a simple carb fix to get it to run right.  The whole thing screams quick and shoddy job.  The tank and sidecovers do look good....but I think a close inspection on the rest of the bike may be disappointing.

[stickman]

Nay here.  First, I am prejudiced.  I do not like cafe's in general.  I enjoy the art of a skillfully
prepared cafe but could never understand modifying any bike that cannot be ridden comfortably.  Ever wonder why you see cafes offered up soon after completion?  Two reasonable answers.  Perhaps they built something they could not ride comfortable( the seat, handlebars and seat and did I mention the seat?)  or it was built to flip.  This bike appears to fall into the latter category.  Not much attention to detail and a lack of the usual cafe farkles
and homemade drag bars which tells me it was done on a budget.  It is a total turn off for me to see the fork ears with the empty turn signal posts sticking out there.  Could have at least gone with some aftermarket cafe fork ears.   What you got is an amateur builder using a professional painter.  He has not sprung for one high dollar cafe item and I betcha the cost of the paint was cheap done  by a good friend or family member.

Don't get me wrong, there is value here.  If you are truly interested, check it out closely with a good test ride then inspect for oil seepage at the head gasket.  Black spray paint can  cover up a multitude of issues.  Ask him if the neck bearings and swing arm bushings have been inspected and/or replaced.  That will be a good indicator of how serious a build it was.  If not done, that could explain why he never bothered to fix the carb issue, perhaps he did not have the skill level.   A motivated seller is not necessarily a bad thing but sometimes finding the real reason for selling is not all that easy.

So, Nay here.