New Member looking to buy...

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the site, well a new member, I've been lurking for a month or two (gaining tons of knowledge on these bikes!). I'm looking to buy an XJ650. I've found quite a few, and contacted a couple owners but like most times with craigslist, people post but never respond. I did however find this bike

http://rochester.craigslist.org/mcy/2973291740.html

I was wondering if i could get some opinions from you all on the forums, does it look like a good deal? If i choose this bike I won't be offering $850....what should i offer (if i should at all). I haven't gone to look yet but think i may. Anything i should look at that is make or break?

Guy says it's been sitting since 2010, ran it around the house last year. Needs a seat cover and possibly new front brakes. The mileage is kind of high, but from reading the site, with some maintenance it shouldn't matter.

I really appreciate any help on this and thanks in advance! If this is the wrong category, i apologize <--noob.

 

First off, WELCOME from TN! That mileage is not really excessive and as far as the price, they go from Can to CAN'T depending on where you are located. Definitely try for a compression test before buying...

skillet

 

If it runs $850 is not a bad price. It's hard to tell from just pictures but it looks complete and fairly clean. Just keep in mind when you make your offer that it will probably take $600 to $800 to make it street worthy. Maybe you can get a package deal and get the 550 with it. Two bikes are better than one.

 

Where are you located? I'm just a bit south of Utica. There are some other XJ riders in your area. Also, I'm going to be hosting a Carb Clinic on June 9. PM me for details.

About the bike......For that kind of price I'd expect the bike to be running well. by MY definition, not of someone who says "runs well" in order to get a sale. Now, if it is an xj-list member who can show WHY it runs well, that's different.
I would expect it to have had the carbs thoroughly cleaned, valve clearances checked and adjusted, and all brakes in good order. W/ 37k on the clock, the valves shims are probably way overdue...........................

Back brakes supposedly are done. I'd want to see it anyway. Tires pretty new, that's good. Battery is already two years old. Gonna be dead soon, anyway. Seat. that's the relatively rare tall seat...........covers are not readily available for that one, and those that are, are pretty pricey. It is missing the seat back support, though. I think I may have one of those, as I do have a couple seats like yours around.

Can see from the pic that the left frame reflector is broken. If you do get it and need a replacement, I have some.

See if you can get a compression reading on all 4 cylinders for us. Also, see if you can listen to it run. How easy does it start, can it run at all without the enricher on after it warms up? Lights, horn? etc........

Smell the crank case and see if it just smells like oil (good....replace with fresh oil and filter simply so YOU know when it was last done))., or does it smell gasoline-y? (bad..........replace right away so you don't blow up the engine. You'll also have to do the carbs, AND the petcock since the gas is getting through all of them even without the engine running, and it's filling up the crank case)

If everything IS good...........that's about the right price. But if anything needs to be done, price should drop a ways quickly.

Let us know............

Dave F

 

Thanks for all the info!

I'm on the west side, almost directly between rochester and buffalo. Utica is a bit of a haul.

I'm not feeling as confident about this bike being what i'm looking for but i am confident I'll be able to make the right choice.

 

I would buy a bike from someone here who wants to upgrade to a different bike. I'm sure there is a few guys here that are looking to sell a nice runner you could ride home within a couple of hundred miles from you.

MN

 

hmmmmm....

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/p=3 ... tml#324848