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I have a guy offering me a mint condition (albeit 16k mile) XT550 plus a little cash ($200) on his end for my old truck (I value the truck at around $1100 give or take $100) and I've been wanting another dual sport bike for some time. I already know that the suspension is late 1970/early 1980 tech and the drum brake is also 1970 tech (which I have an idea to help and it rhymes with bisk drake swap) but my main concern is the engine and longevity. With regular fluid changes and chain tensioning/valve adjustment, how many miles are too many miles? It runs good, excellent power, no smoke, and no funny sounds...
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BARE BONES CHOPPERS: If it don't make it go faster, you don't need it!
80 XS1100SG(cafe in progress *slowly) -
I have a buddy with an XT550, great solid bike. Biggest thing would be to get it for what it's worth to you. Based on what you are saying, it's around $900 for the bike value. Plus $200 you can save for a rainy day. 16k miles isn't a lot IMO if it's nice like you indicate. I would do that in a heartbeat.Howard
ZRX1200
BTW, ZRX carbs have the same spacing as the XS11... http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35462 -
I had an XT550 a few years ago. Great bike! The only thing that was wrong with it was the rear shock had warn out and there is no direct bolt on replacement. I wish I never sold it. At the time my wife said only one bike at a time...
How time changes things. 
they regularly sell for between $800 and $1200 so that is not a bad trade.Ty
78 XS1100E - Now in Minnesota
80 XS1100LG - The Punisher
82 XJ1100 - Current project - The Twins
82 XJ1100 - Wife's Bike - The Twins
82 XJ1100 - Daughter's Bike
72 Suzuki TS125 - Daughter's Bike
72 Yamaha Mini JT2 - Youngest Daughter's bike (She wants a bigger one now)Comment
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Cool I will definitely entertain it a bit more closely. Still haven't been able to find much on engine life, but I imagine if quality control was anything like the 11, the engine should hold up well past 30k...BARE BONES CHOPPERS: If it don't make it go faster, you don't need it!
80 XS1100SG(cafe in progress *slowly)Comment
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They are a bullet proof motor and rest of bike is rock solid. Used to do serious trail/single trac riding 'back in the day' with several who had those when they first came out........definitely a rock-solid 'thumper'!81H Venturer1100 "The Bentley" (on steroids) 97 Yamaha YZ250(age reducer) 92 Honda ST1100 "Twisty"(touring rocket) Age is relative to the number of seconds counted 'airing' out an 85ft. table-top.Comment
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Yeah that's what I've been reading. ~38hp and only 320lb sounds like fun to me! The truck is a 74 Ford F250 Supercab long bed, with a 69 Cadillac 472ci engine and Cad TH400 trans. It's the truck equivalent of a big mean thumper, only negative is the truck is right at about 4,000lb. But I think I'd get a lot more use and fun outta the XT than I do the truck. I have another vehicle that has a tow hitch and seats 6, so the truck only gets moved from behind the fence about once a month and even then it only goes to the gas station and a few times around the block.BARE BONES CHOPPERS: If it don't make it go faster, you don't need it!
80 XS1100SG(cafe in progress *slowly)Comment
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