New Guy Here.... looking to learn some things.

Hello all... name's Zach.

I, as of right now, do not own a bike. Well I take that back, I own a really old Mongoose ten-speed that has some weeds growing through its' spokes. But I'm not sure it counts. My dad rides a Harley, my mom grew up on Hondas, and my girlfriend rides a little Honda Rebel to work. I have no experience riding a motorcycle.

I sort of stumbled across the XJ's in my searches of used motorcycles, and aside from the ever-domineering Honda Magna, I tend to find them my favorite. I'm tentatively looking into purchasing one (an XJ) right now, and educating myself more on ownership and maintenance. I'm pretty mechanical, own a completely built-up Subaru Outback (sounds silly, but it is quite entertaining and scares the poop out of people) that runs on 100 octane low-lead aviation fuel, as well as a Nissan Sentra SpecV that I autocross.

So, I suppose, I'm looking for some pointers / things to think about as a first time bike buyer. Obviously not opposed to getting my hands dirty, but when buying a used one, I want to make sure I'm not about to inherit a bucket of lost hopes and dreams (though what old vehicle isn't to some extent?). There is a local '81 here for sale with some 16k miles, claims to have had the carbs "overhauled" (interesting word there) recently and says it runs excellent, and has it priced at $1000. If I were to go take a look at it, what would I want to watch for? I don't have the cash yet (engagement rings are expensive), but lets use it as an example.





Any help is greatly appreciated. I have a lot more reading to do around here, already found some great threads.

 

The seat has been redone and frankly looks like it might be more comfortable than stock.

If it's as nice as it looks and runs well $1000 is probably a fair price. If the tires aren't old it's probably a deal.

 

I bought mine for 1K but put a lot of money into the bike. Its been worth every penny. The first thing I did after buying it was to get the owners manual and service manual. I replaced a lot of parts myself and at times needed to take it in to the shop. I read through these threads all the time and that's how I got a lot better doing my own repairs on my Maxim and keeping it on the road and looking new. It would be a good idea to pull the plugs on your prospective bike and take a look at the colors. It would be real good if you could have a compression check done. If you buy it, make sure you LOOK at the rear brake as they fall apart after time and lock-up. Wouldn't take any chances with that. Jump in and learn to ride safely...

 

The single most important thing you can do is insist upon doing a compression test.

This is the ONLY way to ensure that you're not buying into a holed piston or burnt valve. The rest of the XJ power plant is virtually bulletproof with one Achilles' heel: the "primary" chain guide. At that mileage, you're probably safe for a while.

The next biggest issue with these motors is neglected valve clearances. They were to have been checked at 3000 miles, and every 5000 thereafter. In a majority of cases, they've simply been neglected. The valve clearances tighten as the valves bed into their seats, and left unchecked, they will eventually get so tight as to no longer seal properly and then you get a burnt valve.

And then there are the carbs. These bikes use CV carbs, which contain a lot of delicate parts and tiny passages. They need to be kept clean. They need to be adjusted to within very tight specs. Once done right; they hold up for a good long time.

Also important is to check for obvious rust in the fuel tank. This was a known issue with these bikes from sitting seaside at the docks before delivery.

Don't even worry about brakes and tires; you'll be replacing the tires and rebuilding the brakes. Original front brake lines may LOOK fine; but they were only supposed to last 4 years. Caliper and master cylinder seals, two years. The brake lines have date codes embossed in them or stamped in their ferrules.

Tubeless tires over 6 years old are dangerous and need to be replaced. A lot of folks seem to consider "original tires, lots of tread left" as a selling point.

The bottom line is this. No matter what you pay for it, you'll need to put about $600~$800 into making it functional, safe and reliable. That is the parts price, and assumes you're doing the work. Any shortcuts will lead to frustration and additional (and often unnecessary) expense. I've recommissioned two XJs so far; and there are a good dozen other members who've done it also. We'll all tell you the same thing: yes it can be done but you have to do it right or you'll be at it forever.

For that particular bike, if it makes at least 130~140lbs across the board, I'd say $1000 is fine but it's at the top end. More like $800 if it runs. If a compression test gives disappointing or uneven results, either pass or plan to do some engine work.

Just being honest. Too many folks jump into this without realizing what's entailed. These aren't old cars.

 

This is more the stuff I'm looking for.

While it's nice to be optimistic, I know all too well how much "fun" it can become when you buy something old and know nothing about it. I'm still reading and researching. Good tip about the date-stamped brake lines.

 

It looks like a nice platform to start with. That bike looks like its mostly there and should "Recommission" nicely.

Like Fitz said brakes,tires, valve adjustment, carb inspection, sync and check all wire connectors and brushes in the alternator plus fuse box upgrade. You'll have a nice ride. Remember you can spend several hundred gong through all of that suff, make sure this is the bike you really want to do that to.

MN

 

I agree, it sure does look like a definite possibility.

Good man.

Keep something in mind: most of the things a 30-year old XJ will need, so will any other bike of the same general age. Pretty much anything over 10 years old will need going through, to some degree or another, no matter what brand it is.

 

The bike looks real nice. Hop over here for some more useful information. And read The Chruch of Clean. The carbs are the single biggest reason these bikes don't run right.

Also Bigfitz has some outstanding walk through's he put together.

Good luck!

 

I have been looking for the "House of Clean" all day today, and was very happy to see it "referenced".

Many, many thanks

Ron

 

Excellent, thanks for the links.