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Whitetrashxb
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2016 - 10:28 am: | 
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what are the issues with the bike for the low selling price? sorry but the CL ad is no longer up...
thanks |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2016 - 11:42 am: |
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I don't think that price is low. Well, it is really low, don't get me wrong, but I think if somebody wants to sell an older tube frame Buell in less than showroom shape, you are getting down to these good kinds of prices. This is a quirky version of a quirky bike from a quirky manufacturer.
I traded in my 2000 M2 with 30k miles for $3500 back in 2005. That also looked "too low" on the selling price. But after a year in the showroom, the dealer eventually ditched the bike on ebay, where it sold for $3000 (in 2006). It showed back up on craigslist last year and I tried to buy it back, even though it had clearly been mistreated and unloved since I sold it. The guy wanted $3k for it. I politely told him he was crazy, he said "for less than that I'll turn it into a chopper". (I stopped short of telling him that for the $5k he is going to spend and fail trying to make it an ugly screwed up chopper he can find many other $5k failed chopper conversions, give me the M2, and save himself a lot of time in failing.)
I suspect it remains in his garage, rotting and collecting dust.
Old Buell's are now in an interesting category. As a motorcycle, I'd argue they are one of the best values on the planet. This bike for $1500? Pffft. You are going to get tons more than $1500 of "motorcycle joy" from this thing. Probably in one season.
But I suspect they are also hard to sell. They always have been, even when they weren't older and the company wasn't out of business.
Frankly, if you are within trailer range of this bike at this price, and you hear it run and it's not making some awful bottom end noise, and have even a remote interest in it, you would be crazy not to buy it. I'm not joking when I say that if this thing was within 8 hours round trip of me, it would already be in my garage.
The honest scoop on downsides of this bike? The seat. It's the old narrower S1 style. Some people like it, some don't, if you don't there are newer M2 parts I suspect you can easily swap over and that shouldn't be hard to get. Or mods for that seat to make it more comfortable. That's about it. These were the older "weaker" motors (really just less top end), and that looked bad on a brochure, but meant jack and squat on the street where the M2 is about grunt and control not screaming top end. And the benefit was that the sportster motor wasn't pushed to the limits that exposed its shortcomings... which really weren't fully sorted until 2008. So again, this one is a keeper.
IMHO of course. But seriously, if you can't get $1500 of fun out of this bike in just a season or two, you should really consider getting out of motorcycling. This is one *hell* of a cafe racer for the money. |
34nineteen
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2016 - 11:47 am: |
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S1 - I have been considering that. I was going to shoot with CHEAP black spray paint so it could be wiped off with acetone and a rag.
Whitetrash - the craigslist ad was flagged long ago by someone who wanted to trade me a gun for it.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/mcy/5636287724.h tml
I'd recommend at very least:
-Replace the copper washers at the bottom of the fork legs. For some reason I didnt when I rebuilt them, but I do have them.
-Pull the clutch pack and make sure someone removed the grenade plate. Might as well just replace the clutch instead. Also, since you're in there, I'd pull the tranny and make sure everything is in order, and probably do the 2nd gear ratio swap.
-Rebuild the top end. The motor probably has 60k on it, and although it runs fine, it probably needs to be done. Might as well do the bottom end and put a 1250 kit on it as well.
- Pull the wheels and replace with some shiny PM's or at least replace the bearings in the wheels. Probably original, and it seems like Buells like to eat them.
- Replace the throttle return cable (might as well to the throttle pull cable)
- Replace the speedo cable. Its jumpy and kinked at the end.
- Replace the clutch lever. Might as well do the cable.
- The brake lights aren't working, but they probably just need some time and new spade connectors. When I replaced the hose, there was no provision for the stock switch, so I put in an integrated banjo bolt/switch.
- The turn signals don't work, but probably just need a LED compatible flasher.
- I'd pull the bearings out of the swingarm and replace them. Might as well replace the isolators while you're back there. Might as well do the front as well.
-The rear master has a small seepage from the reservoir hose where it meets the master.
- The rear shock appears to be in good shape and the damping appears to work and not leak. But until someone gets it on the road... who knows! The bike leaked oil badly when I first got it, and the shock (and everything else) was coated in grease/dirt/oil. So, who knows?
Thats about all I can think of off the top of my head.
(Message edited by 34nineteen on June 23, 2016) |
Phelan
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2016 - 12:13 pm: |
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If I had the funds available at the moment to get this and cover the overhead picking it up, I would in a heartbeat, to get it for my Dad. I just have all my funds tied up in other endeavorstates at the moment. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2016 - 12:47 pm: |
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If it hasn't been done, replace the oil pump pinion gear also. Looks like it already has the good front exhaust mount and updated shock. Bonus! |
34nineteen
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2016 - 03:07 pm: |
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I don't think the oil pump drive gear has been done. I had the cam cover off not too long ago and it don't remember noticing it. I should have added that to the list.
The bike does have the updated (Y-style) front exhaust mount.
Its also difficult to describe what "needs to be done". Some people are happy to ride a clapped together beast held together with bailing wire and duct tape, whereas others (such as myself) like to ride something that is put together correctly. I enjoy motorcycling and projects, but as I'm getting older, I'm finding that I don't have the patience or energy to do a project anymore. |
Blks1l
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2016 - 05:19 pm: |
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Go for it Whitetrash! Did you ever get the S3 was it? |
Peterodegaard
| | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2016 - 02:44 pm: |
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I would be interested in the black hypercharger.
Mine is chrome, but I like the look of the all black one!
Let me know if you decide to part it out.
peter@peterophoto.com |
34nineteen
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 - 11:53 pm: |
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Peter, I will keep your offer in mind. I may just offer to trade you, but bear in mind that mine is a early v1 model. They don't make replacement bushings for mine, but I was able to make some mod to mine to use nylon bushings available from your local hardware store. |
34nineteen
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2016 - 02:12 pm: |
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$1200? Anyone? |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2016 - 02:23 pm: |
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gaaaa! |
Swamp2
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2016 - 02:41 pm: |
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AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! What's wrong with people in that part of the country????????? |
34nineteen
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2016 - 03:13 pm: |
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I'm hesistant to drop the price below $1500 on craigslist, as it seems all the "I just need cheap transportation" people come out of the woodwork and start offering $600 and their toolbox/electric guitar/gun/etc. "which is worth over $1200 any day".
I'm also throwing in the polished swingarm (and axle/adjusters/mounting block) for a badwebber.
(Message edited by 34nineteen on July 01, 2016) |
34nineteen
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2016 - 03:25 pm: |
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Reepicheep
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2016 - 03:54 pm: |
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No kidding. This thing would be in my garage already if it was anywhere near. |
Mmcustoms
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2016 - 01:08 am: |
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Damn I wish you were closer |
Javosos
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 06, 2016 - 05:30 pm: |
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PM sent |
34nineteen
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 06, 2016 - 11:04 pm: |
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Bike is sold. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2016 - 07:47 am: |
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Hope it went to somebody who appreciates it! |
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