Too part or to repair?

[Pat Kelly]

Re: REPAIR IT

Originally posted by brownbear1000
it took me all winter and part of the summer and my wife yelling it cost to much and your spending to much on that bike! but I am glad I did it now it looks and runs great .

Have you spent (total) less than a new bike would? Like I said in another post, If I plunked $12,000 into my XS1100 I'd have one hellofa bike.

[Sibgyp]

The discussion in this thread makes me curious about what bikes will typically go for.

I have a 1978 XS1100E that is in relatively good shape... needs some basic repair and maintenance but so far (knock on wood) nothing too bad.

I paid 2450, which sounds a little high to me, but as good a shape as it is in, it was worth it (to me).

My understanding is that they sold for around 3000 when new, so I am curious as to what the typical price for these machines are.

(If this is not the right place for this question, please let me know).

[DiverRay]

For the most part, an XS1100 will go for $900 to $1,600. Some will be much less, a VERY FEW will be more. I have about $1,500 into mine, and that includes the purchase price. You will NEVER get rich trying to sell these, but you WILL understand what a motorcycle SHOULD be capable of after owning and riding one. What more do you need?

[olebiker]

I paid 1600.00 for my 82 XJ1100. High miles but seemed in decent shape turns out like so many of them this one will need to lie on its back and have a tummy tuck (trany repair). No matter it is a great bike.

[fredintoon]

If you are happy it was a bargain.

Hi Sib,
was $2,450 too much to pay for a good runner with the usual wear & tear? Not if you were happy with the deal, no. And if you continue to be happy with the bike, you done good. Coupla years down the road and what you initially paid for it won't even bother you, what with the ongoing costs of insurance plus the price of replacement tires and all.
Remember that when those bikes were new $3,000 was real money and you'd pay $12,000 or more for an equivalent bike these days. That said, your $2,450 is at the high end of the XS11 market, only the "still new in crate" bikes will sell for much more. 5 years back I bought my XS11SG for $1,000 in pretty sad shape. I've since seen posts from folks saying they bought this or that XS11 for $100 or less and will admit to seething with envy about that.
So there is no "Typical price" just whatever amount the buyer and seller can agree on.

[olebiker]

Ok I wanna whine. How come I never get one of the hundred dollar ones?

[fredintoon]

"How come I never get one of the hundred dollar ones?"
Because you are shopping in Canada.
The fellow Canadians who you are looking to buy from are either too smart or too grasping to sell anything at all unless they can get top dollar for it.
I'm sure you could go Stateside and find a $100 XS11 but by the time you factor in travel expenses plus however much the border nazis will screw you over to bring the thing in together with the hassles the Provincial vehicle inspection gestapo will give you to register the thing you'll be better off paying $1,000 locally and avoiding all the aggro.

[olebiker]

Yep so true never see anything really cheap here. There has been an xs bagger on ebay twice now that hasn't reached minimum. I finally emailed the guy and said how much do you want for that thing. $2000.00 is a bit rich for my blood.

[exquized1]

My 79 Xs special cost 400 and the 80 special John and I split cost 180. The 79 runs perfect the 80 needs alot Carbs, tank, and exhaust so I will beback up to 400 or so.

[egsols]

I picked up my second 79xs back in june for $600. Wasn't running, was real clean though, good tires. PO said he had spent about a year and a half taking it to shops to try to get it running right. They never did. (The bills he gave suggest he spent about $2000). I spent a weekend and got the thing purring. (PO is now pissed for selling)

Replaced speedo, tach, rebuilt front mc, front calipers, fitted russel ss lines to front, redid wiring, etc. Figure I've probably spent close to $600 plus numerous hours. Had I taken it to a shop for the work I've done who knows how much I could have spent.

If you have extra money to spend on an XS I don't really think the amount matters cause the joy you'll get out of it is more then worth it.

[BrianB]

I missed one that sold for $2495. It was a 1979 XS Eleven Special. The seller said he could have sold that bike 5 times over. I just purchased a 1980 XS Eleven Special a few weeks back for $1200. The bike was in the process of being restored when the owners wife died. He decided to give the bike to a church. They did a raffel for it but prior to that, a local bike club completed the bike. The previous owner won the bike and put it up for sale. I jumped right on it. I bought it 4 hours after seeing it posted on Craigs List.

[egsols]

Wow, $1.09 per cc, awesome.

[olebiker]

That is really a good looking ride.

[brownbear1000]

repair

I got my bike for 200 and i have a total of 975 in it incloding the sadol bags and coust of the bike and tags I put new rings pistons did a valve gob new tires buffed the thing out and rebilt the carbs I whoud post a picture but i do not know how yet

[Crazcnuk]

Bought my G for $500, have at least $1000 more into it.

Derwat picked up his 79F for $1400 in July.