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Hey guys,
I took a drive and checked out a few bikes this weekend, looking for a project that's not too much of a "project;" in other words, I'd like to get it road-ready in a month or so and I have a lot of time commitments. In the winter I can do a real overhaul.
The two that stuck with me were a 97 Honda VLX 600 that has not been ridden much in years (and not at all since winter). It has a freaky-low 4,400 miles on it. The other was an 85 Yamaha Virago that has 10,000 miles on it (also real low). It hasn't been driven much either, and not at all since the fall.
Surprise -- they both have gunked up carbs (but look pristine otherwise based on my limited examination; electronics seem good, etc.). The VLX owner said he thought the VLX leaked gas when he started it up for the first time this season. So he shut it down. We messed around with the throttle, petcock, etc., trying to replicate what he saw earlier (or thought he saw) and there was zero leak. We did everything but turn it upside down. So I don't know what that could have been. The Virago owner was POSITIVE that gas leaking in a carb as well, so he shut the engine down. I didn't really let the VLX idle and didn't start the Virago.
Both sellers seemed like solid guys and as legit as you could hope for. The carbs just go to shit when you let a bike sit, even if you try your best to store the bike right.
Initially I thought the VLX was a lock as my new roommate. I've played with the idea of getting one for a long time because of their chopping versatility. The Virago, though, I have NEVER considered before, but I have to say that in person it was a lot more impressive than I imagined and felt more substantial than the Honda. I feel like the Honda is pretty easy to find anytime I feel like one, while the Virago in this shape is a gem (unless the carbs on an 85 are a clusterfuck, then I'll hara-kiri myself 38 hours into the work). Both bikes are available for about $1,200 after price drops due to likely carb rebuilds, but I may have even more negotiation room on both. We'll see.
General thoughts?
*Virago experts: I thought the 85 only came in 700 in the US. The owner told me it was a 750. What's that all about?
I took a drive and checked out a few bikes this weekend, looking for a project that's not too much of a "project;" in other words, I'd like to get it road-ready in a month or so and I have a lot of time commitments. In the winter I can do a real overhaul.
The two that stuck with me were a 97 Honda VLX 600 that has not been ridden much in years (and not at all since winter). It has a freaky-low 4,400 miles on it. The other was an 85 Yamaha Virago that has 10,000 miles on it (also real low). It hasn't been driven much either, and not at all since the fall.
Surprise -- they both have gunked up carbs (but look pristine otherwise based on my limited examination; electronics seem good, etc.). The VLX owner said he thought the VLX leaked gas when he started it up for the first time this season. So he shut it down. We messed around with the throttle, petcock, etc., trying to replicate what he saw earlier (or thought he saw) and there was zero leak. We did everything but turn it upside down. So I don't know what that could have been. The Virago owner was POSITIVE that gas leaking in a carb as well, so he shut the engine down. I didn't really let the VLX idle and didn't start the Virago.
Both sellers seemed like solid guys and as legit as you could hope for. The carbs just go to shit when you let a bike sit, even if you try your best to store the bike right.
Initially I thought the VLX was a lock as my new roommate. I've played with the idea of getting one for a long time because of their chopping versatility. The Virago, though, I have NEVER considered before, but I have to say that in person it was a lot more impressive than I imagined and felt more substantial than the Honda. I feel like the Honda is pretty easy to find anytime I feel like one, while the Virago in this shape is a gem (unless the carbs on an 85 are a clusterfuck, then I'll hara-kiri myself 38 hours into the work). Both bikes are available for about $1,200 after price drops due to likely carb rebuilds, but I may have even more negotiation room on both. We'll see.
General thoughts?
*Virago experts: I thought the 85 only came in 700 in the US. The owner told me it was a 750. What's that all about?
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