price of 1978xs11

[dpj]

Haven't ridden for several years,but recently got the bug again. My neighbor(95 years old) wants to sell me his 78xs11. It has 4k easy miles,garage kept, well maintained, and in vg shape.Hasn't been started for a couple of years. Any ideas on a fair price to give the old fella?

[webbcraft2150]

Thats a loaded question. You should cruise the tech tips on what to look for in a used 11. If it has sat for 4 years, you can be sure your gonna do the carbs. Are the tires dryrotted? Fuel tank coated in rust? Do the brakes work (as in release). The battery is more than likely belly up also. Paint condition, pipes rusted? If you can ride the thing away, I would pay up to 12-13 hundred. If you have to do a bunch of work, and are comfortable doing it, have the space, time and tools, you will have to decide what you are willing to spend. If you have to have a shop do the work, its gonna run into some major bucks, if you can find a shop that will work on it. The are members here who have bought virtual basket cases, have had little or no experience with bikes and are out riding them today because of this forum (and there patience). Ask knewsome. There is not a bolt, screw or wire on that bike that someone, or everyone here has not messed with. When you get it running, you will have a classic mega-muscle bike. They didn't call them XS11's cause they were slow.

[John]

If the bike is as nice as described, and you have any kind of consience, $1000 would be a fair opening offer. It may take a few hundred to get it roadworthy, but it will be well worth it for you.

[osmosis4b]

I just bought a 79SF with 3500 miles in mint condition for $700.
The owner died of old age a few years ago, and his son was complaining about moving the bike around the garage to work on things. He told me to "haul her outta here" and as I has tripping on my tounge and lower jaw, he must have realized it was worth something, and told me $700. I went to the ATM, and hauled her home that night. The rear caliper was seized and the started button was missing. I replaced the batt and stuck a screwdriver in the starter button hole, she cranked over. I put fuel in and she fired right up.
I sleep every night with a clean conscience.
I say offer $750.
It will probably cost a few hundred for new tires and battery and a few lost hours of sleep troubleshooting her little quirks, but after the first time you ride her, you couldn't get a grin that big for any amount of money from a plastic surgeon. At the time I was questioning if I made a wise purchase, After a few days of riding her, I would have happily paid double. She is a fun bike.

[Artic_rider]

Paid 1500 CDN for my 80 xs "chopperized" special. Have devoted an estimated 1000 in odds and ends parts, fixing, and general fixing up, expected to dump another 1000-1500 this winter into a big bore kit, paint, and powder coating. After much research on the xs 11's, learning that they are very high millage life spanned bikes, and experiancing what an 11 can do when it is in less then perfect shape...makes me want it in perfect shape. I would pay 3 times what I have already spent on the bike to get one. I am activly looking for a full dresser in my area to fill the extra spot I have in my garage . Ya the bike is older then me...but there is something about it that turns my crank.

[trbig]

Ya the bike is older then me...but there is something about it that turns my crank.

Lordy..... some days I feel REALLY old! lol.

Tod

[Artic_rider]

Didn't mean to Carbon date members...haha

[Geezer]

Originally posted by Artic_rider
Didn't mean to Carbon date members...haha

Hey, I resemble that remark. ;o)

Geezer

[Artic_rider]

[Hoop]

Realtors use the phrase "Location/Location/Location".

Motorcyclists use the phrase "Condition/Condition/Condition".

I see XS1100's being sold on Ebay for $1000 - 1600. These are sight unseen, other than a photo (which ALWAYS makes things look better than they really are). I'm convinced sellers on Ebay generally overstate positives, or at the very least tend to understate any negative conditions the particular item may have. The line between salemanship and misrepresentation has always an ever so thin line.

The fact that the bike is a one owner, and was always garaged is a big plus. Never underestimate the value of a garage kept bike. Given the neighbors age of 95, we can probably rule out a history of hole shots, red lining, trips to the drag strip, wheelies, and other acts detrimental to long term reliability.
Examine the tires. They probably aren't the originals. They just might be OK. Same for the battery. Ask the neighbor how old it is.

Ask if you can start the bike. Better yet, ask if you can clean the carbs and THEN start the bike. Neighbors generally go along with these sorts of reasonable requests.
Examine hoses and such for signs of cracking. Check paint for scratches. Check frame for such things as battery acid spillovers. If it has an original exhaust in excellent (non dented/rusted) condition, this also is a plus.

I'd say a price range of $700 - $1500 (sorry, without actually seeing it, I can't judge) is fair.

[Dennyz]

Regardless of the miles, these bikes require a bit of massaging and $$ to keep them reliable and safe. If anything the low mile means it may have none of the tweaks they all need. Sitting is not a good thing for these bikes. I say, go for the steal. Make a low offer and see where it goes. The lower the purchase price the more left over to put back in it.

It sounds like a sweatheart just waiting for a loving XS'er.

(love them virgin Standards!)

[dpj]

price of 1978xs11

Thanks for the input guys.Those numbers are in the range I was thinking about offering.The old fellow can use the money,so I didn't want to rip him off, but I don't want to stick myself either.I'll get back in afew days to let you know what happened (and maybe ask for more help).Thanks again.

[prometheus578]

Old Age

The last time I checked a blue book price for these things was over five years ago, the book was several years out of date, and the earliest listing was for a 1980 model, and it said, I believe, $900. The bike you're looking at is two years older, and this is now several years later,etc.
I bought a '78 in January, full fairing and hard bags, plus a complete "extra" 1100(minus frame) fer $700.
I'd say $700 is fair, considering all the work and money needed to get it up to snuff: carbs, fluids, etc. Yes, It only has 4,000 miles, but the bike is still 27 years old. Lots of rubber seals can now start leaking once they start flexin' agin.
With only 4k miles on it, they very well may BE the original tires, and need to be replaced.
Buy the bike as is. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CLEAN THE CARBS AND START THE BIKE! Then you have a "runner" and the price can go up.
One can safely assume that the engine is good, and that the bike has sat "'cause the owner is 95 years old!"
Look at it this way... A bike in "primo" running condition MAY be worth $1,200. Call a shop and find out what it would cost you to get the carbs cleaned($225), two new tires($200), flush 25 yr. old brake fluid out of it, or disassemble the master and calipers to scrape the solidified brake fluid out ($?), New battery($?),etc. Deduct all this from the $1,200... and we're back to $700.
$700 is not ripping the old gentleman off. These bikes have no street value to the common folk, but are priceless to us purists.

[osmosis4b]

well put prom!!

[webbcraft2150]

After thinkin about it, you really don't want to go thru all that grief. Just tell me where it is and I will do my civic duty and take it off his hands. It is with great reluctance I make this offer, its a dirty job, but someone has to do it.