Almost ready to sell my XS

[jdsmithinc]

Hi guys, I wanted to just tell you guys thanks for all the help you have given me. I am almost ready to sell it but need a few suggestions. When you guys go to buy one what kind of things do you look for? I do not want to be crooked on any sale I do, and this is my first motorcycle project. Do I need to change the oil in the tranny case? I have a million questions but if some one could just give me an idea of what to look for I appreciate it. I like to put myself in the shoes of the buyer before I sell something. Oh before I forget, it is a 79 XS1100 Special, with an old school 2 up chopper seat and sissy bar. I would get some pics right now but it is dark and the lighting in my shop isnt that great. Would any of you suggest putting it on Ebay? Sorry Im so long winded! Thanks, Joe.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Joe,

If you'll scroll down from the MAIN FORUM page to the MISC forum, you'll find a thread on what to look for in a neglected XS11, that will give you plenty of info on what folks look for when attempting to evaluate an old bike for possible purchase, should also work for selling!

Also, doing a search for "what its worth", or similar phrases will show threads where folks have provided their opinions on what to expect to pay for a bike in various states of condition, ie. if it's in good turnkey drive off the lot state, then it's worth more than if it's have to do lots of wrenching to get safe/road worthy!

The old rule of thumb was $1.00 per cc, +/- depending on cosmetics and such! Pristine bikes in Ca-ca land have gone for $2K+, many folks have bought runners for under $100.00!
T.C.

[mro]

Pristine bikes in Ca-ca land have gone for $2K+,

Maybe one like this




mro

[mro]

Not counting the two 79 specials

Never paid more than $300.00 for one.
Found several for $100.00 or less
The one I got for three hundred is the only one I offered less than the guy was asking for. 79F full bagger, floor boards, forward controls, blown middle drive and no title. He had picked it up at an auction for cheep so he still made a few bucks.


mro

[fredintoon]

It depends where you are

what a bike will sell for.
For instance, my son just got back from Australia and says that any used bike over there will sell for easily twice what you'd pay for it here in Saskatoon.
And mro, where do you find a complete XS11 for $100? I know I paid $1,000 for mine in pretty derelict condition 5 years ago. But I did sell my '78 XS650 for $1,200 to raise the money for the deal.

[mro]

Used to check criegslist ever day.
Then one day had no more room to store any more bikes.
Now with out a shop I have less space and have to move shi...stuff out of the garage to be able to work on anything.

Twice I was a day or so late on getting an XS11 for free from criegslist, and just a few days ago missed out on getting a free LG. There be deals out there. Might have something to do with there being around 6 plus million people living with in 50 miles of me and over 30 millon in the state. (I call it CA CA land for good reasons ) Could move...but would go nuts having to trek thru snow etc. for several months each year.


mro
F $300
F $50.00
F $100 plus about $80 in gas to get it
(2) SF (price unknown )
G about $200 plus some labor (first XS)
G $150
LG $100
SH $250
All were non runners when I got em (except the two SF's) and
two were used for parts altho could have made one of em into a runner...but needed the parts

[COOL TOM]

Bike prices

Yes you can find them for very little money.
78E---$65
79F---$25
80SG--$200
82XJ--$100
82XJ---FREE
These all were complete none runners but need very little to make them run. Clean carbs,new battery, heavy duty cleaning, change fluids and they would run. Guy told me yesterday he had one sitting in his garage for about 20 years, was going to clean out garage this summer. Said if i wanted it to come over when he cleans out garage, said i could have it pretty cheap. He don't know what year or model just said it was a 1100 full dresser. These where all found within 25 miles of my house.

[fredintoon]

Curiouser and curiouser

mro posts :- " - - (2) SF (price unknown ) - - "
Hi mro,
and how could you possibly not know what you paid for two bikes?
There's a t least a short story there, if not a novel.

[mro]

if not a novel

may be a novelet
Ya gotta admit...the Mirriam 79 special be one nice XS


mro

[jwoell]

Fred were you just quoting Carl Sagan? That's gotta be a first for the forum no??

Sorry, I just found that amusing.

[fredintoon]

quoting Carl Sagan?

Hi JW,
not on purpose, no. I'd suppose that phrases and sayings from most well known authors can pass into common speech. Like the lady who didn't like Shakespeare because "he wrote in clichés"