XJ900

I have an opportunity to buy an '83 XJ900 SECA. The starter is broken, he says, so it won't run. And it isn't registered in CA. I an trying to find out how many miles. The owner is asking $750. Your thoughts and comments........ Pic's look pretty good........

 

Does it have a clean title? If not, it's probably only worth whatever you'd pay for a pile of XJ900 parts.

A bad starter is pretty annoying in a bike you're contemplating on buying used, as you can't easily check the compression either. I'd say to at least look at the plugs.

If the bike was supposedly in good running condition until the starter went bad, then you should be able to push/bump/roll start it, assuming the battery's decently charged up.

If the only significant thing it needs is the starter, and you can get it titled, it's a good price.

 

Starter?
Starter ... what?
Motor?
There's tons of Starters that will fit that Bike.
And, the Bike is easily started by ... "Popping the Clutch"

Or, ...
Starter ... CLUTCH.
Starter "Clutch" is a whole nuther story!

Repairing a Starter Clutch requires breaking-down the Engine until there's nothing left to take apart.
Major surgery.

Depending on the condition of the Bike ... you have to decide.

(You can test the compression using a Battery Operated Impact Gun.
Low miles
Nice condition
Very good to Excellent Compression ... might make it a Bike to restore.)

Yamaha USA dropped the Bike from its Parts Page.

 

I say explain broken a bit more...
does it not crank, does it spin the starter, but not the motor, etc
have you jumped the solenoid?

if it really is the starter, I would offer a lot less than 750 dependin on the overall condition. get a quote for labor to fix it and see if he will negotiate from there

 

I will give more info as soon as I can get it from the owner. 19000 miles and It doesn't crank over, he says the starter is fried. I will see the bike in a couple of days and can tell more then. Thanks for the comeback............

 

I'm running a jumper box or cables to it from a battery to ensure it isn't fried any other way...

 

I decided to forgo the XJ900. I can deal with not running for the right price, but not being titled in CA is another matter. DMV is very difficult and expensive to work with on out of state bikes.
Thanks for all the comebacks..............