Got an XJ750 and Want to Know if it is Worth the $$ to Fix

I got an '82 xj750 for $200 from a friend. It bike runs, but not well. Am working to tune the carbs and etc...

Is this bike work the $$ to fix up? Or is it going to be a bottomless pit... I'm worried that the deeper I dig, the more problems I'll find. Should I spend my time and money on the old XJ or buy a newer bike?

 

Thats a judgement call, but I can say I would be more than willing to buy it off if you right now for the same $200 if you decide to not go for it, and I'm only about an hour and a half away. (I am dead serious about that)

I just missed a deal on an 82 650, and I've been wanting to step up from the XS400 I have that has a bad starter clutch.

If your good with tools and have lots of time to put in, you can possibly make yourself a good little bike, or, it might just sit in the garage, there are no guarantees on it.

 

And if MrShake doesn't buy it from you I will! Any bike can be a money pit. List the known bad parts and what it would cost to replace or repair. Paint job not included since they vary so much in price. Take into consideration your mechanical skills and what you "know" you are able to do. Then add it all up.
For example I was looking at an '89 Venture that needed fork seals replaced. No problem for me and I can do it in half a weekend. It also had an intermittent miss. This could be bad coils, pickups, wires, TCI or dirty carbs. Coils are mounted up top and easy to replace and not expensive. Pickups most never go bad but still are not that difficult to replace. TCI is not too expensive but takes time to find on on ebay. Can be replaced in 15 minutes. Carbs would take a weekend but are not a challenge to me. I decided to buy the bike. What stopped me was it's location. It was just too far and I don't have a truck to go get it with. If I had the truck it would be mine. So anything can make it a no go. Only bad intensive jobs to fix on a Seca are the starter clutch and the primary chain guide. Both require splitting the cases. Some don't want to go as far as pulling the engine and then taking it apart. Others would love it as a winter project. I would if I had a heated shop.

 

I just bought a stripped parts bike for $200 to fix others I have.
It also depends on if you are having fun, is it a challenge, or a hassle !
When is the last time it ran "good" ??

 

Re: Got an XJ750 and Want to Know if it is Worth the $$ to F

In my experience the XJ750s are rideable even if they run like sh!t. To me, that means for $200 you could be riding and worrying about getting it running "right" later. That's what I did. Fine-tune it when the money is available and the opportunity presents itself. You got yourself a good deal.

 

I would look at it as a fun project, but I'm odd that way. I probably put over 100 hours into my XS400 before it ever would even start. (turned out to be a bent valve) But what I got was a fun ride.

My offer still stands though...

 

That 750 Engine was features in a "CycleWorld" Article as being Bulletproof!

You have to seriously abuse the 750 Engine to ruin it. There are loads of Members, me included, who are riding a 750 Max because we got a great deal on them and put-in the time to fix them up that the Previous Owners could not ... chiefly because they were not "Mechanically Inclined."

If you are going to have the work done by "Others" ... it might start costing you some dough that could add-up fast.

You might find that the Dealer is reluctant to have the bike serviced in his shop. Later-day Tech's don't want antiques to restore. They want High-tech bikes to "Plug-in and read-out and do quick "Plug-'n'play" type service jobs.

IF you can wrench ... you got a good deal.
IF you can't wrench ... you might be in over your head and should think about handing-over your find to a member, in here, who needs that bike or its engine or has the shills to do a complete restore without needing to look-up anything about what he needs to do.

Be honest with yourself.
Can you pull the rack of carbs and do a thorough cleaning of a 4-Pack of Hitachi Carbs?
Brake system work.
Fork seal replacement.
Valve shim adjusting.
Just to create a short list.

If you can do ... you got it made!
If you can't spin the wrenches ... you might need to have outside help putting the fun back into that bike.

Before you get to heavily invested ... invest in the Workshop Manual and go-over the schedule of recommended maintenance.

Changing the oil and filter is a routine and simple job for some.
Others begin their Posts for oil change info with "Help" and exclamation points!!!

 

Thanks for all the replies!

I'm handy and my XJ doesn't seem to have any serious cancer. So it looks like I've got a solid platform to hone my small engine skills on. At 11.75k I think it is a pretty good deal!

Thanks!

 

Doh!! I guess that means I don't get it


Congratz man!