Author Topic: Good Find  (Read 1552 times)

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Offline britman

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Good Find
« on: October 23, 2020, 04:54:17 AM »
Since I enjoy bringing vintage Japanese and British bikes back to life as a hobby I think I was pretty lucky a couple of days ago when I located this 1979 XS 650 on Craigslist.  Price was decent but the PO accepted a lower offer since he had just purchased a new bike and was motivated to sell.  The bike is bone stock with the exception of the handlebars and the longhorn OEMs came with the sale.  I am the 3rd owner and the bike has under 10k on the clock and runs and drives like new.  I really don't have much to do on this one, a little polish here and there before listing.  It will go around the block several more times however, it is really a fun bike to ride. I really hope it doesn't end up a café racer or bobber, nice to see a stock one now and then....




Offline BenelliSEI

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2020, 06:25:20 AM »
Nice find! Such a treat to find a +40 year old bike in such lovely condition! I was looking at an equally nice 1979 Honda “anniversary edition” DOHC cb750 this week. Unfortunately the owners seems to think it’s worth 2X reality.

Offline MRieck

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2020, 08:51:22 AM »
 Definitely fun to ride around town. The lower bars look so much better and work better as well. I have tried to find an early Kawasaki W-650.....they are a blast to ride. Unfortunately people want too much money for them (IMO)
Owner of the "Million Dollar CB"

Offline britman

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2020, 09:12:31 AM »
I have to agree with the prices lately.  Folks are wanting a fortune for older CL and CB Honda's, with some in horrible condition without titles.   I do notice however, that the ones priced in those brackets tend to stay for extended periods on the sites.  I truly enjoy the process of bringing them back to life, and if I put one up for sale they generally go out the door quickly.  The Wife and I had a small sideline antique business years back that we did quite well with.  I used to hear other dealers always quoting value "Book Prices", which I never opened the cover on.  If I bought at a good price, I sold at a good price, money in hand is always a sure thing....

Offline 754

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2020, 10:06:52 AM »
Hope you made a good deal , I got  similar one 2 years back.. 80 or 81. Cheap.

I assume it runs ? Now for something fun, pop off the 2 round covers on ends of cam  and check out the ignition....shhh , tell me what you think of it..
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline BenelliSEI

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2020, 05:12:13 PM »
Frank..... now I’m curious! What’s under their?

Offline Prospect

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2020, 05:22:34 PM »
I had one of those about 5 years ago.  I blew a piston on the highway and that was it for the bike.  I found the bike vibrated a lot at higher rpms.
Current Bikes

1969 CB750  Sandcast #256
1971 CB750K1
1972 CB750K1
1975 CB400F
1975 GL1000 Goldwing
1954 Harley Davidson Panhead
1957 Harley Davidson Panhead

Toronto Canada

Offline CaseyH

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2020, 06:25:23 PM »
I had this 1975 XS650 given to me about 5 months ago
Sat is a shed since 1987.
1300 miles on the clock.
Keeping it stock

Offline 754

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2020, 06:38:09 PM »
Frank..... now I’m curious! What’s under their?
Best he takea look, only takes a few minutes..
 Benelli PM sent..
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2020, 06:47:07 PM »
I bought one last year that a would-be Cafe Racer kid bought, pulled apart, chopped up the wring loom and then decided he was in over his head and advertised on FB. I offered him the asking price if he delivered it and he was only too happy to, for a fist full of dollars.

It was very rough, hadn't run in 10 years, but he'd bought a few new parts and importantly, it came with a set of Brembo calipers which I've put on my Kawasaki KZ1000 hotrod. Luckily enough he hadn't thrown too many of the original items out, so I reassembled what was there, and was able to buy some parts locally from a nice Vietnamese guy who has a love for Yammy 650's.

I've bought an original seat, a better tank (the one that came with the bike is held together with bondo, paint and not much else) and will eventually install the new wiring harness, sidecovers better brake calipers etc that I've bought for it. What I did like was that once I cleaned the carbs and hotwired it, changed the oil and cleaned the mesh filter it started right up after only a couple of kicks.

XS650's don't do anything really well, but they're a tough old bike and enjoyable cruisers. ;D


 
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2020, 06:48:58 PM »
I had this 1975 XS650 given to me about 5 months ago
Sat is a shed since 1987.
1300 miles on the clock.
Keeping it stock

That's my favourite model mate, I'm glad that you're keeping it stock, dump the horrible fairing and seat, and it'll be beautiful again! ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline britman

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2020, 06:33:12 AM »
Hope you made a good deal , I got  similar one 2 years back.. 80 or 81. Cheap.

I assume it runs ? Now for something fun, pop off the 2 round covers on ends of cam  and check out the ignition....shhh , tell me what you think of it..


This is the last year of points and condenser.  I remember the first time I looked in there with a 1981 model, WTF..........Had a number of these go in and out of the garage.  Their early electronic ignitions are a real PITA...... 

Offline britman

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2020, 07:56:09 AM »
Well I posted it on Cycle Trader with the cheapo free posting listing just to feel it out.  Sold within 24 hours.. Time to start looking again with the mad money stash just a tad fatter.....
« Last Edit: October 31, 2020, 08:01:03 AM by britman »

Offline CaseyH

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Re: Good Find
« Reply #13 on: October 31, 2020, 10:04:08 AM »
I had this 1975 XS650 given to me about 5 months ago
Sat is a shed since 1987.
1300 miles on the clock.
Keeping it stock

That's my favourite model mate, I'm glad that you're keeping it stock, dump the horrible fairing and seat, and it'll be beautiful again! ;D
Thanks Terry
I already scored a decent seat on Ebay to replace that abomination.
This is a fun project.