| Author | Message | ||
     Gentleman_jon |
I keep running into these Harley "sitters". Garages all over America must be full of them. This one is a black 1997 Sportster 1200 in Black. Slash cut mufflers. As it only has 500 miles, it looks like new. Hasn't been run in ten years. I am going to fit new tires, rebuild the carb with new jets and all new rubber parts, new plugs and wires, change oil and filters, new battery, change fork oil and brake fluids, drain and replace gas. Anything else I should do? Wheel bearings? Assuming this thing runs and looks just like new, would any one hazard a guess as to what it might be worth? | ||
| Bill0351 |
I sat on my '05 883/1200 for months last year before selling it for $5,400.00. Then there is the '02 for sale in the classifieds for $3,800.00. It has more miles but it is 5 years newer and has no history of sitting and doing nothing. Considering everything, I would have a hard time paying any more than $3,500 for it. That's just me though. That being said, I loved the Sportsters I have owned, and at some point I would love to have another. Bill | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Thanks Bill. I am afraid I did not specify whether the value would be before or after being refitted for proper operation. Did you mean as is, where is, or all fixed up? What I mean was after being all fixed up, looking like new and running great. ( If I get lucky:-). thanks (Message edited by gentleman_jon on April 17, 2008) | ||
| Mikej |
Sportsters have sort of a Buell tube frame vs. XB issue where the "older" Sportsters are rigid engine mount and the newer Sportsters are rubber mounted. I'm seeing the rigid mount Sportsters take a little hit on the price because of this. Hit kbb.com and Edmunds.com and http://www.nadaguides.com/ to work up a rough price for it. NADAguides shows one at $3,200. Edmunds shows one at, well, nevermind as I have a hard time finding bikes on their site. KBB shows one at $5,030. Check your local craigslist and see what local ones are asking priced at. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Mike, Thanks for that. I didn't even think of that. Rigid mounts are definitely an acquired taste, I am not at all familiar with the different Sportster generations. Could you fill me in on what other differences there are between the 97 and current generation, and when the rubber mount, and other major changes came in? Thanks. | ||
| Mikej |
I'm not that up on the XL timeline but I do know the rubber mount XL has only been out for a few years now. There were also some upgrades to the heads and I think pistons to integrate a bit of Buell-like performance to the Sportster line. There were some other internal changes, maybe the oil pump like the XB Buells got (I think). An indirect relative of mine had a rubber mount Sporty for awhile, then we had it for a short while, then it went back to him, then disappeared and went elsewhere. I probably ran a tank or three of gas thru it. Ran nice, felt fairly smooth, power was somewhere between my M2 and S2, less acceleration than the M2, more than the S2. Felt like it had less torque than a very early 1970's XLCH I had years ago and quite a bit less attitude than the XLCH had, maybe I should say the rubber mount XL is more refined these days. Still a nice ride, but I didn't care for the foreward controls. If I were to get another newer Sportster I'd want the bigger Custom gas tank, drag bars, and mid-controls. I'd ignore the salescritters who say I can't do that, but I'd be buying from a good salesperson I know and he'd just say to go for it if I wanted to. If I were getting a '97 XL then I'd just play with the air filter, play with the carb jetting (unless the '97 were f.i. (ick)), and look into getting a 2-into-1 exhaust system. The folks over on xlforums would be better informed as to other differences, but I think the '97 models were fairly well sorted out from what I know. I don't view the Sportsters as long distance bikes, even though I used to take the XLCH on 300-900 mile runs with no problem, but I was much younger back then. If the '97 makes you smile then just discount it a bit for the rigid mounting of the engine, hardball the seller a bit with that angle, and see where the cards fall. Sorry if this got wordy and meandering, I just sort of turned the fingers loose and followed along on the ride.  You might also check out Blastard's XL http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/21/ 349277.html?1208135592 (click his profile for a smile)  | ||
| Bill0351 |
I would have paid $3,500 for it the way you found it if I could get it back to 100% for around $500.00. That bike would probably get $4,000.00 easy if it is like new with those low miles. That's based mostly on looking at dead auctions on ebay. The rubber mount came out in 2004. It made the bikes heavier, but much easier to live with. I would never have thought of taking my '85 on a trip, but that '05 was a really nice bike. I could spend the day in the saddle without any issues at all. In fact, the position agreed with me more than the RK I replaced it with. I love the way the standard tanks look, but I have to agree that another gallon of gas would have been nice. I dont' think you could go wrong having anything in the neighborhood of $4,000-4,500 into that bike. I have been thinking HARD of another HD, and there isn't a better deal than a used Sportster. I'm no real expert, but I do look at prices all the time. Good luck with your project. It sounds like a lot of fun. Plus, you will be doing a HUGE favor for a motorcycle in need! That Sportster deserves to be loved and abused! That's what it was built for! Bill | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
I think 4k-5k is very reasonable (cheap) for a stock low mileage 1200 Sportster. Rigid shmidgid! Never saw the point in adding 60lbs just to make it rubber mount. Watch the prices and dont be lowballed by someone bad mouthing the bike. Its going to be a really good deal for someone.Just sell it before summers over. Back in 1995 when HD prices were high, I sold my 84XL for $3600, cash,80k miles. It was just rebuilt, but the bike wasnt stock. Stock I could've got what I paid for it new. That bike was a daily driver with 2 coast to coast trips on the clock! | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
PS It sounds as if you are going to a lot of trouble just to sell a bike. I'd fix what needs fixing and dont fix whats not broke! | ||
| Pammy |
Always get the motor running(well) before you make any changes. This includes tires, etc...) Then if you can't get it running, there is no point in putting more money into it. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Thanks Pammy. You got me thinking about exactly what order I should go about everything. I am thinking the first thing I will do is to remove the plugs, spray a little WD 40 in the cylinders, and let it soak in for a while. Then I was going to rebuild the carb, replace the rubber in it, and the jets, (easier than cleaning them). Then see if it will turn over with the plugs out to see if the starter motor works, and if the pistons are free. If that works, put in the plugs, change the gas,reinstall the carb, and see if it will fire up. Assuming that it is good to go, do the rest. This is a one owner bike, only five hundred miles, looks like new, run when put away. What do you think? | ||
| Bill0351 |
Do you already own this bike, or are you still in the planning stages? If you want to keep it and ride it, I would do everything you are talking about. If you just want to turn it around and make a few dollars that is a totally different situation. I would change the oil (I think I read somewhere that high detergent diesel/semi oil is good for an engine that has been sitting, but I would definitely check that our further.) and charge the existing battery. Change out the gas, drain the carb and let it fill with fresh fuel. Crank it a little to get the oil flowing, and then see if it will start. A friend of mine and I did that to an old Honda 400 that had been sitting in a barn for years. We used a car battery and jumpers to get it going. I was surprised how quickly it fired. Even with a Walmart battery and an eventual carb cleaning, I don't think any more than $50.00 went into the project. If you were just looking to make some cash on the deal, that might be your best bet. If it runs, idles well and goes up and down the road, you could just sell it that way. If you paid lets say $3,000 for the bike as a non-runner, and you spent $20.00 to make it run, you could probably get $4,000.00 for it and spend an hour or two of your time. It's just a thought. It would be like Flip This House for motorcycles. Keep this thread updated. I would like to hear how it turns out. Bill | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Thanks Bill, Actually, I am helping a friend who is proposing to fix this bike up for the original owner. However, the owner is not positive that he wants to keep it, is also thinking of selling it, and buying a new one. So I am trying to figure out what is the best way for my friend to fix it up for the owner, or, if the owner decides he wants to sell it, how we would fix and flip. The last Harley sitter I bought would practically not run until the carb had new jets and accelerator pump diaphram, petcock, plugs, and battery. So if the owner wants to keep it, we're going to do everything. If not, not. | ||
| Wardan123 |
Jon, You may wish to poke around at http://xlforum.net/index.html. There you'll find people as enthusiastic about Sportsters as we are about Buell. They have been very willing to help me with my old Sportster... Andrew | ||
| Budo |
The other thing to check is the fuel tank for rust. The metal tanks are bad to rust unless they were put away full of fuel. If there is rust in the tank that of course has to be cleaned out, also the petcock and fuel lines have to be checked for rust. Good luck. |
