What would you do?

Hey guys, I just picked up this 82 650 for $500 bucks and was told that it ran great just needed new tires put on (Which he gave me) and the battery charged. Well I charged up the battery and it would start but fuel was coming out of the exhaust so I suspected something in the carbs. Took it to the dealership to have tires put on and have them look the bike over. Called me this morning and said rust in gas tank, Compression was 85-120-125-45 and it would be a least a $312 just to tear down motor, possibly 1000-1800 in all!!
I wanted to strangle the guy who sold it to me cause he was having a moving sale when i bought bike and is now gone. He said he had stabilizer in the gas and it was ready to go. I know, I know, buyer beware. Oh well, My questin is
what would you do? I could spend the money and have another mechanic look at it or.........a guy that works at the dealership has a 01 or 02 honda shadow 700 that has 8000 miles and is supposed to be in great shape for $2800 plus he said they would give me 300 trade in for my broken 650. Don't know what to do since I am a yamaha guy but don't have nothing against honda, and I want to RIDE!!

 

What would I do?....I'd blame myself for not running a compression test before forking over my cash.

The best/easiest/cheapest cure is to find another engine that's in good shape and plug it in.

 

Given that situation, and assuming you've got another $2500 handy, I'd take the $200 loss and trade it for the much newer Honda. The Shadow's are great bikes -- though I have no idea if that's a good price or not.

$200 loss and get a 20 year newer bike that's very nice vs spending a lot of time and effort getting the XJ running right --- sadly, I'd go with the Honda

 

I think I would take a look at the bike myself. Starting with the Valve adjustment and ending with the carbs. Sounds like a good bike to learn on. Check out the search option under valve adjustment and then check out ricomatics write up on the carbs. The steler is just that. The tank can be derusted and lined by you. Lots of information here.

 

If I were in your situation, and could afford it, I would come up with the 2800 for the newer bike but keep the XJ as a "learning tool" to learn how to work on them. At least this way, you have a bike to ride while working on the other one.

 

I derusted my tank first thing when I picked up my Seca. It's only around 30 bucks for a kit to do it chemically, or you could do the electrolysis route which would probably cost about $5 in parts, plus you would want to coat it after you got the rust out. My tank was super rusty, so it took both to get it done, but it was a relatively easy process, just make sure you follow the instructions on the chemical stuff to the letter if you go that route.

 

I would suggest you check my post to this question in the General Forum. Hang on to the Yammy 'till the bitter end, then trade it for the Honda if, and only if, you can't get the beast to run. I would use the electrolysis de-rusting process to get that tank cleaned up. Coatings tend to soften after a while and migrate into the carbs, nasty cleanup that.

 

I'd check the law on Motor Vehicle Sale. If your State has a "Lemon Law" ... get the MONEY Back.
"He said it ran great and just needed new tires." -- That's Fraud
Latent Defects are usually a good reason for a Small Claim judgment in your favor.

Demand your money back. Start charging the Seller a reasonable fee for storage after notifying him off your rescinding the contract due to a long list of problems he failed to notify you about prior to taking your money.

Until such time as the matter is adjudicated or you and the seller make piece ... SEND HIM A BILL FOR STORAGE of the motorcycle.

Last resort;

Part it out ...

 

I wouldn't trade it in for $300. You could part it out and get way more.

Something seems fishy about the deal you were offered. Your post makes it sound like someone at the stealership (there is a reason we call them that) is offering you his personal bike, but also offering a trade in of the XJ. Highly unusual for a private party sale.

If the Honda is in the dealer inventory they'd knock the $300 off without the XJ, they have no use for it. In fact, they'll probably go $500 if you promise they never see the XJ again.

See Robert's reply to your post in the general lounge RE stuck rings.

After you do that throw the bike on a trailer and head down here. We'll get honest compression readings and check those valve shims. If we've got decent readings we'll mount and balance the tires, adjust the floats, put on an in line filter and go for a ride.

You're on your own for cleaning up the tank.

It'll cost you a quarter pounder with cheese and a coke.

 

Now we're talking ...

This is the way I like to see things happen. We should start a pool about the Dealer's compression test readings being legit or not???

I have a good feeling about this ... I'm not exactly sure why -- at the moment.

I know one thing ... I'd definitely throw-in some Fries with that Quarter-cheeze and Coke.

 

You know, I forgot to include setting floats in the initial reply and had to edit that in.

Setting the floats incurs the fry charge.

Thanks for bringing that to my attention Rick!

 

By the inital pictures of the thing, I went Uggh, sure is a Rusty beast, when looking at the kick stand, pipes and other stuff. The PO is obligated for not misleading you, but Buying something THAT used and Rusty on the outside is a huge decision of the buyer to. I wouldn't have paid $500. for that.

Then I think taking something that old and rusty to a stealership was another big mistake. I think a person should be a very knowledgable mechanic to buy something like that, because you have to look at something like that as "it's up to me to fix it."

If your not a mechanic and want to get riding soon is most important to you, dump it for a couple hundred to someone that wants to work on it.

But me personally I see it as most of these things can be fixed. I'd lube up the Cylinders like Robert said, change the oil, completely go through the carbs, and flush the tank or replace it and all fuel lines.

I live in Phoenix where things don't rust, and we have a huge motorcycle yard downtown, the guy has like 15 acres of motorcycles and parts.

IF you want to replace things and can't find a source or they're not showing up on Ebay timely enough for you, let me know and I'll find out the # there you could call and ask if they have what you want. They used to have tanks on shelves lining the walls. His inside building is like a warehouse and ton's of stuff inside, besides the outside yard full of bikes. He's not always the cheapest, but he dang near will have anything you need.

Good luck in your decision.

 

I too had bought a 1980 XJ650 a month ago. It had been sitting for 9 years, and showed it when I was finally able to get it running, with a blown head gasket. I was to a point where I had to make a decision on whether I wanted to commit to a teardown or sell it/part it out. Since I had some free time I tore it down and found why the head gasket was blown: water in cylinder which also had ate away the cylinder. Fortunately I found a cylinder on Ebay for $70 and a set of gaskets for $150, and I'm in the middle of a rebuild. So I'll be into to it for around $800 when I find a good tank. But It's what I was looking for.

If you have the time and expertise to do it yourself, It could save you some $. Stealerships are what they are and dont really like working on the older bikes and if they do they are gonna make some money doing it.

How much are you into the Stealership for, another $100 or so ?

Sounds like you might be better suited to cut your losses, find someone looking for a bike like it to re-condition or just part it out. Obviously you would want to let them know what you know. Either way your gonna get most of your money back. Might take a bit, just call it an exercise and move on.

Good luck on your decision,

Richard
1985 XV700 Virago
1980 XJ650 Maxim

 

banshee:

Do the right thing for you! Go ride the Shadow and see if it will do as your ride for this season. The buzzin'-of-the-bikes is already happening, out here, near Boston.

Negotiate your best deal for the Max. Try to get more than $300 for the trade. Try to get a better deal on the Shadow; too. If the Max is clean other than needing motor work; it's worth all of 3-Bills -- for sure!

Look-out for yourself. Get some warranty or guarantee on the Shadow.

We don't run out into the parking lot to see what you rode in on ...
You can still sneak-in and have fun with us, in here ... until you find a Yamaha, again ...

Or ... until you post a pic of your Yamaha tattoo!!!

 

You should move to MO.. sure would be nice to have someone to help me with tuning mine.. LOL

 

Thanks for all the great advice. I decided to sell it, my uncle wants it for what i paid for it, hes got the time to put into her. I also checked out the shadow, and I'm picking it up this Saturday. The guy wouldn't budge on the price but I still feel that I got a good deal at $2800, compared to what i saw on ebay, cycletrader, etc. This bike runs and rides great and looks like new. Here are a couple pics.

 

What would you do?

I'd go-out and buy a boat-load of Bike-pimpin' products ... and stop-off at the Bank, every now and then ... for some Brand New 5-Dollar Bills.

Ask a couple of your neighbor kids if they want to make 20-Bucks an hour helpin' you Polish Chrome all day.

You and two helpers ought to be able to get all that glitter gleaming in 15-Minutes ... right? Slip 'em $5.00 each for their trouble and RIDE!

 

2800.00
SOUNDS LIKE A SMOKIN' DEAL TO ME!

My son bought a 2005 for 8900.00 but it sure is sweet! Hope you have lots of enjoyment from her.