What would be a fair price?

Well, here is a summary about the '83 Seca900 for sale I saw today :

-cold engine compression readings: 135, 115, 128, 150
-plugs: three normal, one black (#3 or #4)
-engine starts but runs like on three cylinders
-tires are shot even if they looked good
-battery is so-so
-starter is good
-gas tank has several holes, paint is cloaking where the gas wants to leak, looks like someone puts Kreem in there (white stuff)
-throttle cable smooth, clutch and choke cables rough
-instruments: 2 faded glasses, one cracked
-brakes: feel correct, but original lines
-forks leak a bit, barely noticeable
-original rear shocks or similar
-cover seat looks cheap and has a very small tear at the front end and is light violet with yellow paint spots (from the paint job)
-muffler sounds like it is shot (Kerker 4-1)
-most of the plastic parts have one tab broken and sort of fixed
-bike has the front bottom fairing (or cowl not sure of the word), but not bolted to the frame
-seller said he cleaned the carbs but didn't do the valve clearances

Looks like a parts bike, what would you give for that? It has 60 000 kms on the counter. Only money the guy spent on it was to paint the headers black (they look good ffor the moment). Seller is asking 500$, I would offer 250$

Thanks in advance

 

$250 is a good offer.....explain to him it is just a parts bike for you.....

 

Agreed. It IS just a parts bike.

 

It sounds like a lot of hard-to-find parts are in rough shape. $250 assuming it has a clean title

 

I'm more than concerned with the weird compressions readings. Is that possible that out of spec valves are the only issue? I didn't see any blue or black smoke when we started the engine.

Actually the bike DID start and run only on three cylinders for a minute because the seller forgot to reconnect #1 spark plug wire, but it didn't run better after he put it back. Is there a chance it damaged the TCI?

 

Here are a few pics from the ad:











It seems somebody powder-coated the rims and disc hubs. Brake lines are original ones, and rear shocks are probably too.

 

It would be worth more if he HADN'T slapped that quickie paint job on it. Who knows what it is hiding. The fact that he did that but totally neglected the mechanicals tells you all you need to know about him.
Still, worse bikes than this have been resurrected.

 

Definitely worth $250 for all those parts.....start low with your offer....you can always go up....

 

Is the windscreen really painted yellow?

How about he pays you $50 and you'll haul it off for free..........

 

Paint job was done by the previous owner to the seller. Actually, this is the second paint job, it was apple green before...

 

Well by know the owner knows your not a kid who wants a vroom vroom...tell him what you found, offer him a couple of hundred on a take it or leave it offer.

 

texted you this morning......Dave F

 

Just got your message, thanks!

 

Finally bought it for a bit over 300$ this afternoon. Will post some other pics when I get the bike in two weeks.


Thanks to all for your quick answers!

Francois

PS: I consider painting black stripes on it and calling it Yellow Jacket...

 

bumblebee.....let's watch it transform....lol

 

I need a muffler that would make it sound "BBBBIIIIiiiiiiizzzzz" at it passes by, and a back plate saying "beware I sting"

 

On a more serious note, I hope the caliper pistons are in good shape because I need them to finish my front brake rebuilt on my other Seca900.