Whats It All Worth When Done?

Subject: 1982 XJ750J Maxim with 14000 Miles on the clock.

Lets just say for fun the bike was 95% all there and just in need of maintenance and ugrade mods to make road worthy again.

Rebuild carbs w/all rubber parts replaced Except Diaphrams :roll:
New Carb Tops and all new screws for tops and bowls
Upgraded stainless steel bowl drain screws
New gasket, needle & seat kits installed.
New pilot jets and main jets
Valves adjusted 3-4 pads replaced
New Valve Cover Gasket and 1/2 moon plugs and grommets
Sync and carbs adjusted
Replacement brake pads front
Rebuild calipers front
Replacement Stainless Braided brake lines
Rear brake shoes replaced.
New blade style fuse box installed
Alternator Brushes Replaced
Front Wheel Bearings Replaced
Front and Rear Tires Replaced with new Dunlops similar to factory tires.
New Battery

Now keep in mind you could never afford to have a shop do all of this work but the parts to make all this happen are not the cheap. When this is all done what do you think it would be valued at. Just looking to see what you guys think.

 

Depends on the local market but I'd guess around $1200-1500.

 

before all that was done 400 to 600
after 1000 to 1100 if it shined and was dishwasher clean

 

If you are not getting a kick out of doing it, give it the arse.

 

This requires you to decide, others can only give you advice.

 

Your list includes everything I still plan on doing and some I have done already.

I doubt any of us would get our money back or make a profit to fix them up the way they SHOULD be (like your list and MORE). I hope I never want or need to sell my bike.

Besides having parts on hand to redo carbs, valves, MC, brake lines, calipers, front springs, steering head bearings, both wheel bearings, swing arm bearings, front brake pads, rear brake shoes, ALL the rubber bits used in the air assign for the forks... I also installed Progressive shocks on the rear and did an oil change this year.

Even if we sucessfully buy our dream house in the next 1-5 weeks (we are at mortgage application step), I don't know if I'd actually have enough time to put all of the parts I have actually bought onto my bike before spring. Even if I did it in the garage all winter long. :x

Beyond MY bike, I still think I might fix up my "Parts Bike" and get it running. I just don't think I'd be willing to buy nearly as many parts for a 2nd bike I might never ride or rebuilld to sell...

 

Eventually, through attrition, maybe in another 50 years, an '82 Maxim 750, if it's been restored, could fetch...$5,000 or more. It all depends on the number of remaining bikes. If I had been able to keep my BMW R90s, WOW, I've seen them (sellers) ask $25K for a cherry one. For sure, I'm not planning to sell mine for a profit after I'm done with her. I plan to invest 3 grand for my restoration, but I got lucky, she was 99% complete. So I figure after it completed, fair market value may be somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000.

 

I look at it like an old car. You can dump a lot of money into it, and not get much out when you re-sell---- as in the show cars and restorations.
I rebuild for the hobby, I enjoy it.
Secondly, dumping $1500.00 into a bike to make it nice is a great hobby verses spending $12,000.00-$20,000.00 for something new.
If you think about it... investing $1500.00 or so into a bike to get a reliable, fun, and classic mode of transportation is not a bad investment. If you do that just make sure its a project you intend on keeping in your garage, because recouping your time/money investment is nearly impossible. That said, I'm sure you have a very cool looking 750!!! Post some pics!

 

This bike is and has been a good runner. For me it's the love of the bike that's why I spend money on these things.
My first post in this thread is to get members to think about the "real" costs of bringing one of these back to life. Think Fitz has one he calls the toxic asset which is what one of these projects becomes when you put in all the goodies to make them safe and actually run correctly. As time goes on I do agree that XJ's may make collector status, but untill then I plan on keeping them safe to ride and run like they were meant to.

MN

 

Well said.

What's it worth, market wise? One hell of a lot less than what you have into it. Then factor in your time (I bill at $60/hr) and what's that add up to?

My "Toxic Asset" is absolutely named that for exactly the reason you stated--- but I didn't build it to sell. I built it to ride. And in that respect, it's already paid for itself, not just in fuel savings and low maintenance costs but also in fun-per-miles.

Even if you "spare no expense" you're going to end up spending less than half the price of a new bike. And end up with a nearly new 30-year old bike. I don't mind the simple (albeit more frequent) maintenance chores at all, and they just don't make my kind of motorcycle any more.

So yes, I for one am well upside down. And it's also well worth it, a bargain in the long run. I guess it depends on why you're doing this.

 

Amen Fitz,

We are thinking alog the same lines, Fun Per Miles not how much we spend. My goal is to run this bike till it wears out, which it may not happen because it could outlast me.

MN

 

restore as a hobby, a labour of love and self satisfaction at being able to bring back to life or extend the life of classic motorcycle design. Engineered, fabricated and assembled in Japan. The big manufacturers now outsource much if not all to China and the emerging nations. ( that includes Harley Davidson - tell that to the next 1 % member - better not lol ) I was actually interested in buying a new Yamaha until I heard the engines that have been in production for a few years are usually manufactured in China.

 

Made in Japan... re-made in America, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, etc.etc.

 

i have thought about this many times. Having rebuilt and resold a Kaw Concours and a 81 Wing i really wonder how much i really made after it was all said and done. Its a commitment thats for sure. Now i have and 85 K100 Bmw and am rebuilding and making my own and KEEPING!!!. Then there is the 82 Seca i bought with no title and need to rebuild and have fun with. Its great to have options and have fun projects that you can see what you can do with and if you dont like it... Start over. My K bike will be my daily rider and when i get the Seca done it will be my tool around bike. What is something worth???? Only the value you see in it. If you like it its priceless.... My 2 cents . As we age ( im goin on 53) these things that frustrate us so much are reward us when we do things right keep our mind sharp as well... another benny!

 

For an old bike, that's mostly maintenance with some upgraded parts. The value is going to depend on the overall condition of the bike. If the paint is perfect; the tank interior original and clean; if there are no dents and the seat is original those type of things will add up.

As my father said - It's worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

 

Funny thing, MN - when I look at that list and think about all the posts relating to how and why for all those repairs/upgrades, I remember first starting to work on mine - and the big sigh I had to take before I dove in. But that list isn't really all that much compared to the list I could create for my wife's 94 toyota previa. And the cost.

I think there are two ways of looking at value: 1. if you buy one of these and restore to showroom, then its a collector's item and probably really valuable to you or a buyer. 2. If you spend the money and time to bring it to used/running condition, requiring maintenance, not repairs, then it's at bluebook value, either excellent or good, but can sell for more to the right buyer.

I had a couple 76 corollas as college cars (i didnt go to college in 76) so they were old, pushing 200,000. I did most of that list and more to them, myself and garage for the stuff I couldn't: brakes, calipers, rotors, battery, tires, carb rebuild, alternator, starter, valve adjustment, paint, brake cylinders, clutch. It made it run enough to get me to school and back and sell for the same $300 I paid for it.

When I bought my XJ two years ago, the bluebook was $900 in average condition, and this one actually had been kept in pretty decent shape (the reason I bought it)

But with cars, even 80s japanese cars, when you put thousands in repairs into it, it really only keeps it at bluebook (something a lot of craigslist sellers don't get). I think with a classic bike, you can easily push it above bluebook, with this kind of work, and of course becomes invaluable to the owner.

 

Thats really all it comes down to.