To Restore or Not to restore, That's the question.

[purenergy]

I've owned a 78E for about 3 years now with hopes to restore it completely. I had it on the road for about a year and then it sat in my mother's yard for another year. Now it's at my house again and I really want to complete it this time but don't have the time to or $ invest in it now. My question is this: Should I comtinue to restore, slowly, little by little or would it be more beneficial to others needing parts to sell?

[randy]

I wouldn't hesitate to restore it.

But then, I'm certifiably insane

[fredintoon]

What to do?

Stupid poll, no right answer.
If it's rideable, ride it. If it stops goes and corners who cares what it looks like?
If it don't run and you don't currently have the time or money to make it rideable, mothball it for later.
If you are fed up with it, sell it as a complete titled bike to someone who'd appreciate it.
Only part it out if it's completely FUBAR.
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[garyrc]

yeah what he said.......................

[purenergy]

Thanks for the replies guys. I can appreciate them because I truly want to restore the beast. It just not going as fast as I want it to.
Even the "stupid poll" comment!

[Czekus21]

If it's paid for and you have the room, Restore it. Little bit by little bid is better then no bit at all. It aint eatin or drinkin anything so it only matters to you what kind of deadline pressure you put on yourself. I've got a Kawi CSR 305 I've been working on for quite some time now and it's far from being done. I guess if I really wanted to, I could cobble it together in a weekend, but why. It's in my garage and it's paid for. It'll get done eventually and someone will have an even older bike to enjoy.

[fredintoon]

To what level?

Hi Purenergy,
"Restore it completely" means different things to different people; from "just get it running" all the way to "better than new".
What hasn't been mentioned in this string apart from that it was running 3 years ago is what shape the bike is in right now and what you want it to be like after the restoration.
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[mac707477]

speaking from experience, I stumbled across a 1980 special that had been sitting for 14 years in a leaking garage... now granted I got it for free but it took a lot of time and knuckle-buting to get it running and running right... now I have one heavily modified beastie that is an absolute screamer (it got me an introduction to my counties newest state cop yesterday...lol)... also from experience, if you are trying to do a full-on restoration... you are in the right place... these guys are great... a true online encyclopedia... on top of that most are also one-man part stores that will work with you if you are tight on a dollar like the rest of us...