Topic: I know these questions get old...but...should I buy it??

[betterthanurs916]

So I've more or less finished my '77 CB550F and out of nowhere a local guy puts up a '76 550F for sale. Claims to be the original owner.

I went to look at it, and it is pretty rough, last registered in 1984 and has literally been sitting in a barn.

It is mostly complete (missing airbox and side covers)

everything else is a bit ratty but...a very good cafe project if nothing else.

Another good feature of it is that it does start and run with 22,000 original miles on the clock.

Frame looks to be pretty good without any major rust pitting...

I talked him into $200 but didn't have any cash on me when I first stopped by. He said it would probably still be there if I came back soon since he wasn't really trying very hard to move it.

Titles don't matter since I live in Alabama and I can basically get one squared away for $60

If I don't start this as a cafe project, I will go ahead and sink effort into reassembling/modifying my once wrecked SV650...

[Tugboat]

Starts? With a title? $200?!? Buy it already!!!:)

[pat english]

yes it is a silly question..you could part it out and make more then 200..is it far from youre house?

[Bluto]

Tell ya what..........

You go get it and I'll drive over from Atlanta and give ya $300 tomorrow

[Stev-o]

No, don't buy it, not worth your time or trouble.

Since you really don't want it, would you mind PM'ing me his ph #?!!

[betterthanurs916]

I mean, ok. It hardly makes sense not to go get it.  But I will easily have $800 in it by the time it's moderately roadworthy...and at that point it will still be ugly.

I guess if I get to that point I can decide to sell it for a somewhat break-even price, or continue on to make it something special...

[Tews19]

Please don't take this the wrong way.. I am new the the Bike scene.. I made one bad investment last month buying a 79'SR with 3300 miles on it for 850... Today I picked up my Honda CB550 and I really do not plan to sell it. I will put whatever I need to in her to make her great... But maybe it's me being ignorant since I am new to the bike scene....

[Spanner 1]

Ain't a damn thing wrong with ugly bikes that run well.... in a weird way, I almost prefare them when you can see the efforts of the owners to get them running with (very) mostly the original parts,  all gone thru' and sorted. It's often a lot of work and more than I have ever done I would admit !

[Tews19]

Ain't a damn thing wrong with ugly bikes that run well.... in a weird way, I almost prefare them when you can see the efforts of the owners to get them running with (very) mostly the original parts,  all gone thru' and sorted. It's often a lot of work and more than I have ever done I would admit !

+1 for the effort

[754]

 If you have to ask on this one.. you really dont know..

 Nothing wrong with a rough runner.. you wont worry about rain, dirt roads, can ride instead of polish..etc..etc..etc..

 I am on about ride #180ish on this ugly old 750.. this year..

[Holden]

It runs and is complete (minus air box and side covers) for $200?  You could say it's ugly, or just look at it as a blank canvas...

[betterthanurs916]

I definitely see what you're saying.  The most fun I've ever had on a motorcycle was beating the crap out of my friends rusty old KZ400.  The thing just ran, and we never did anything more than we had to to it.

Maybe it would be fun to poke around on it in that shape (sloppy suspension and rust holes in the fenders and all) until I get the bug and decide to do something else with it...

Then again...I have always been wanting to build a paulages style 550/650/750 hybrid motor, and this might be a good canvas for it..........