Topic: Would you buy this bike?

[JAG]

It's a '72 K2.. The engine seems to have good compression, and the wiring is intact. Wheels still have good amount of tread on them. The intentions with this bike was to turn it into a cafe..

NO carbs but was told I was going to receive a set of Keihin CV carbs for free. Will they bolt up, or will they need to be customized to work? I don't know anything about them.

I was also going to receive a '82 KZ750 Gas tank, also for free. Will this fit on the frame

The final price we settled on was $600 delivered to my door..

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance

JAG

[JAG]

more pics

[736cc]

$300 tops

[JAG]

Wow.. 1/2 the price.. Even at $300 would it be worth it?

It also doesn't have an ignition. How hard is it to get one and get it wired back up? How much does one run?

[Gordon]

I'm sticking with the $200 - 250 that I said in your other thread about this bike.

Wait a little while and some much better deals will show up.  Every old bike is going to be somewhat of a money pit, but this one is going to be a black hole.  Unless you absolutely must have this bike, right now, and no others will show up for the next year, $600 is way too much. 

[Johnie]

Was this bike involved in a fire?  Looks like streaks of carbon running down the mufflers and other parts of the bike which lead me to believe that maybe it was stored in a garage that burned down.  If that is the case I would pass for that price.

[Gregorymoto]

That looks like oil splash from the chain, i would by it for 200 to 300.

You will need to know how to work on it, but it looks like a good starting point for a Cafe.

As for parts, the key ignition will cost 25.00 plus shipping.
Even if you do this bike on the cheep you are looking at spending 300 to 500 to get it on the road, i do say this without looking it over in person.

g. Mountain

[Somemonkey]

I agree with these other guys. I wouldn't pay over $300 for this bike. Even then I wouldn't feel good about it.

[KB02]

based on the pictures and your posts, it has:
No Carbs
No Ignition
No Tank
No Seat
No Headlight
(and based solely on the picture) A rotting out exhaust.

I'd have to agree with the others that $600 is a bit rich for this machine. You say that it is $600 delivered, so if the seller lives 400 miles away, I could see that, if they're in town, they're asking too much (unless you know something about the engine that you haven't told us).

As for the Kawi tank, anything can be made to fit. It depends on what you are planning on doing with this bike as to whether or not the kawi tank is the one you want.

Is the seller the one who has the CV carbs? If so, hold them up to the intake to see if they fit right on. If not, they're not going to do much for you.

As for parts, the key ignition will cost 25.00 plus shipping.

A Dyna ignition will run a little over $100, plus coils...

[Gregorymoto]

Ow and the KZ tank, i trird to fit a Z900 tank on my back along time ago and it did dont work.
It would if you did some cutting a welding to the bottom.

If you need a tank let me know i might have one or two you can choose from.

[BobbyR]

I woukd say $200 which is what I paid for mine with all of the parts on it. You are looking at a lot of hours and considerable expense. The brake line is rusty which is around $100 right there. If the caliper is seized it adds to the cost.  This would be a long labor of love and cost some bucks to boot. 

[andy750]

After seeing more photos I revise my initial estimate...Ill go with the others $250-$300 tops. Since there are no carbs who knows the condition of the engine if its been exposed to the elements. However since most of the bike is not there fairly easy to remove engine and rebuild if required.

cheers
Andy

[goon 1492]

I agree with the above, no tank, seat ,headlight, you should consider shotting a new price to the guy/gal and mention about carb. fitment and the missing parts vs. price to replace and  how that would in turn drive the selling price to 250-300$ and like the others said if all else fails wait and another one will pop up for a better price and less work to get it on the road.

[ekim98]

Only as a parts bike if I could get it for $200 or less. That way you could probably break even if the engine is toast.

[754]

Does it have Reggie??

For 600  you should find a runner with papers that looks as good as that or better.

[Patrick]

That is not a $600 machine. Frankly, I probably wouldn't go more than $125, and that's if it came with a title. For $600 you should be able to ride it home, or at least harvest some really primo parts and a solid and complete running engine. I buy and restore a lot of bikes. That one has too many issues up front. It's a parts bike.

[legendary]

Tell the owner it is a parts bike....and worth $200 to you.  Be sure to mention you are going to keep looking for a more complete bike.

Even if you are making a cafe you could buy a complete bike and recoup some of your $$ by selling what you do not need on e-bay.

Hanging out on this site you would think the world is full of CB crazy people. You are likely the only person who has shown real interest in it. $200 will sound like an insult..at first.

Sit back and in about 4 weeks with the Mrs. telling him to get rid of it....he'll call you offering it for less.

Oh and if this is the bike you plan to rebuild...find one with a title.

[neil young]

i'm looking at a running 78 cb550 with a spare engine,new cafe seat.spare exhuast,and a ton of spare parts for $600.00 canadian.
wait and you will find a better bike for a better price.

[JAG]

You guys are awesome. Thanks for all the input..

The plan is to go for a cafe racer. So not having the seat/gas tank isn't a big deal for me.

I'm In Tennessee..  He's in Austin Texas.. So shipping cost is pretty good I would think.

I believe there is to much uncertainity, and not being able to do a walk around myself, and knowing the bulk of the money I am willing to spend is going into a WORKING engine, not knowing if this will even run is a huge headache and fear of mine. The bike is titled...

I guess I am just not that willing to take the risk..  Thanks for all you guy's help.

I did, however, found a rebuilt '74 in what looks to be great condition, but it hasn't been titled since '92. What does that mean as far as getting re-titled and costs? Does anyone know how much it would cost to get it shipped from Plainfield Illinois down here to Nashville? Here are some pictures, which are a major 180 in comparison to this other bike. the asking price is $1,100. I believe he said the engine had 31K before the rebuild.

Thanks for all the help guys, I really do appreciate it!

Jonathan

[754]

Put an ad in the paper.. looking for say a 73 750.. or pick any year. You sould get calls and then you can say, I will wait and see what else turns up, etc.. or get a great 72 or 75 or 76 offered to you, then pretend it not really what you wanted.. but maybe!

Bottom line is it puts you in beter control of price and you get a good selection..

Bikes that sit a long time, with owners that dont realize current value should be reasonable..

The one you are looking at has been cherry-picked of the high demand parts.. if they thought it would be a runner, you got to wonder why they started parting it already..

[ofreen]

You made the right decision rejecting that bike.  It would have been a money pit.  The guy would have had to pay me to haul it away.

[Somemonkey]

Check it...  Here's a guy in Nashville selling a 750 with a seized motor and clear title for $500 OBO. If you were willing to fix that motor I bet you could talk to guy down to $300. maybe. If you check your local paper or put an ad in Craigslist I bet you could find a great bike for little $$.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/mcy/506181799.html

[JAG]

Yeah I think that is a good deal for a bike..  I have actually already tried to contact that guy a few times and received no response..

I suppose I just need to be more patient.

In regards to that other bike, I have found a friend with a truck willing to go and pick it up in Illinois. Does that seem like a good deal for that bike??

[Gordon]

In regards to that other bike, I have found a friend with a truck willing to go and pick it up in Illinois. Does that seem like a good deal for that bike??

I'd stay away from a bike with no title, unless you're only using it for parts.  You seem to be a bit impatient about getting a bike.  Believe me, I know the feeling, but that's only going to get you into a bike that isn't ideal and is much more expensive to work with than it's worth.  Just wait a couple of weeks, keep watching Craigslist and the newspaper, and some good deals will show up in your area. 

[JAG]

It did have a title


I agree with you all..  I am a bit impatient. I did back out of the deal...  I am working with a guy in Illinois that has that blue bike that is posted above. There are other buyers interested in the bike, but if that doesn't work out I will be heading up there this weekend to probably buy that one. Which again like I said before, is a complete 180 in comparison to this other heap of junk..

Thank you all for your input and advice, I really do appreciate it

Jonathan