Took off my mittens and it didn't feel hot...Bought a 1985 XJ700N for $250

Okay, I have to admit I was nervous buying this one. and it was an 800 kilometer round trip to see it. It had been advertized on Kijiji for 2 months, so I expect everyone else felt it may be a little hot as well.

A french guy was selling it (I'm bilingual, I grew up in Montreal), he said he had lost the registration papers for it before he licensed it in his name and had lost touch with the previous owner. His sales pitch was that it a 1997 (I could see it was an '85) and that it was a 750cc (it's a 700) and that it would be a good parts or motocross bike...it was at this point I took off my mittens...

Can you imagine putting knobby tires on an XJ700 and showing up at the motocross track? Oh Boy!

Anyways, long story short, I purchased the bike with only a bill of sale - I didn't negotiate, he was asking $250. Pushed it up my ramp into my pick up and threw on some straps (it wasn't running).

Drove it home in an intermittent blizzard and put it in my barn next to my two other XJ's. Peeked outside and didn't see any coppers following me, so I figured I was okay.

This week I went down to the bureau to see if I could license it, the girl behind the counter entered the serial number into her computer...I had already planned my escape route...

Then she said "That will be $40"

It wasn't stolen!

I happily drove home and picked up a battery the next day. Cranked it over and it fired almost instantly. I took it out for a short spin as I found a patch of road with no snow on it (a little cool at -4 Celsius).

I couldn't find anything wrong with it other than a slow leak in the rear tire. 48,000 km's on it.

And, it had a full tank of gas!

Okay, I just HAD to tell you guys about this deal!

Pictures attached (and the original ad)

-Gord-

 

let's see Lust, Greed and Envy. You made me break three deadly sins

 

Haha, sorry Polock! I just had to post it!

 

Nice score!

 

Thanks Chacal

 

Love it, every once in a while some awesome scores show up on kijiji. I just missed out on a mint 750 max with full fairing last week for $500, in the oshawa area, it sold less than 8 hours from being posted!

 

Hi Beekman,

So true, you have to be looking at just the right time (or take a risk as I did, as this one was on the market for months) Too bad you missed that one, 500 beans would have been a great deal. Oshawa is only an hour and a half from where I live too. I guess we have to be searching the classifieds 24/7 ! haha.

-Gord-

 

An XS 650 just come up (half hour ago) on Kijiji. I spoke with the owner already. He's owned it since he bought it new in 1978. Trouble is he doesn't have a price in mind. It's in Mississauga.

 

Here's the link. Ok, it's not an XJ...

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-street-cruis...50/1058807128?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

 

Taku, I am less than 100 kms from that ad! How did I miss it? Oh yeah... the whole bilingual thing... I guess I gotta learn french instead of my monstrous "Frenglish". Umm Je suis.. um... le JEALOUS! Great score. Congrats...

 

oh - my!

 

Hi Matti,

Lol! I like your "frenglish" ! Haha.

Sorry I beat you to it (not!). Next deal will be yours I hope.

Thanks!

 

Thanks dmlyster, that is an apt expression/

 

Awesome score, man.....you got your money back in just a few parts:

tall backrest, w/ a nice pad, too!
sport rack (those nasty mounting brackets need to disappear though!!!)
engine guards

So many other things look great too.....

Dave

 

You suck on two counts. 1. That smoking hot deal. 2. Registering a non-titled bike around here is at least $175 (and that's relatively inexpensive).

Enjoy your project. Dual-sporting street bikes is about the most creative thing a body can do in my opinion.

 

Thanks Dave (Hogfiddles).

Yes, I was thinking that as well...there are some nice little extras on this bike, besides it's great over-all condition.

I'm not quite sure what those bars or brackets are that are installed near the back wheel, my guess is that they are there to keep a previous set of soft saddlebags from fouling in the wheel. I'll be removing those.

 

I would buy them from you, if you are interested in selling/giving them. Ditto for the little cargo rack above the rear fender.

 

Thanks K-Moe.

I'll keep it on the road though. One jump with a bike like this and I'd end up like Evel Knievel at Caesar's palace

 

Yes, those are saddlebag guards.

 

Thanks Hank,

I'll hang on to them, I may plan a tour one day.

-Gord-

 

Thanks Dave, I was thinking that's what they were. Wasn't positive though.