Cheep Bike Challenge <$1500

[Andyvh1959]

Here is my $200 basket case thumper 83 XL600. I bought it as a rolling chassis, and the crankcase in the frame, rest of the engine was in a 5-gallon pail. Looked like all the parts were there, so I went for based on my "$1 per CC is a deal" guideline. I replaced the bent intake valve, reassembled it, changed the awful red flame on blue paint job, for something a bit more classic Honda looking. Fired on the 5th kick. Since then I replaced the cam chain/sprocket and guides, and two more bent intake valves (worn cam chains DO jump timing under load). I have maybe $500 in it so far.

Since I now have a 2004 DRZ400E as my dirt bike, this will become a retromotard. I have another 17" rear wheel I will lace to the front hub, change the seat and tank to something a bit more late 60's cafe bike style.

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by Andyvh1959

Here is my $200 basket case thumper 83 XL600. I bought it as a rolling chassis, and the crankcase in the frame, rest of the engine was in a 5-gallon pail. Looked like all the parts were there, so I went for based on my "$1 per CC is a deal" guideline. I replaced the bent intake valve, reassembled it, changed the awful red flame on blue paint job, for something a bit more classic Honda looking. Fired on the 5th kick. Since then I replaced the cam chain/sprocket and guides, and two more bent intake valves (worn cam chains DO jump timing under load). I have maybe $500 in it so far.

Since I now have a 2004 DRZ400E as my dirt bike, this will become a retromotard. I have another 17" rear wheel I will lace to the front hub, change the seat and tank to something a bit more late 60's cafe bike style.

That will be one sick bike.

[still southern]

Bought for $700, rode about 2500 miles on it, then put another $600-$700 over the winter to turn it into a rat bike tourer. Put well over 9000 miles riding two up in just one trip around the US this past summer. All told I put around 15,000 miles on it in just over a year most of it two up. Up for sale now since I've moved to the other side of the world.







http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/...P5281466-1.jpg

[bk brkr baker]

[QUOTE=still southern;19363617]Bought for $700, rode about 2500 miles on it, then put another $600-$700 over the winter to turn it into a rat bike tourer. Put well over 9000 miles riding two up in just one trip around the US this past summer. All told I put around 15,000 miles on it in just over a year most of it two up. Up for sale now since I've moved to the other side of the world.


Cool trip , you had !
I can't beleive you went to Carlsbad the town and missed Carlsbad the Caverns . Big difference and worth a look if you're ever in the area again.

[still southern]

[QUOTE=bk brkr baker;19365168]

Originally Posted by still southern

Bought for $700, rode about 2500 miles on it, then put another $600-$700 over the winter to turn it into a rat bike tourer. Put well over 9000 miles riding two up in just one trip around the US this past summer. All told I put around 15,000 miles on it in just over a year most of it two up. Up for sale now since I've moved to the other side of the world.


Cool trip , you had !
I can't beleive you went to Carlsbad the town and missed Carlsbad the Caverns . Big difference and worth a look if you're ever in the area again.

Honestly we had a pretty poor reception when we came into town. The folks hanging out at the gas station on the north side of town were positively scary, then we had a lot of trouble finding a place to stay that wasn't bug ridden, and then we were treated rudely at the restaurant for dinner, so we just moved on, no staying around for more of the above! We'll check the caverns out if we are ever in the area again!

[ben2go]

Are you currently living here, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan?A friend says that Russia is and entirely different world now and it's a pretty good place to live.She plans to go back when she gets out of school.I always wondered about that country.

[still southern]

Originally Posted by ben2go

Are you currently living here, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan?A friend says that Russia is and entirely different world now and it's a pretty good place to live.She plans to go back when she gets out of school.I always wondered about that country.

Just moved here at the end of July. So far it seems great. There are lots of quirks in a place like this. You can't own a gun and you're supposed to wear a helmet if you ride, but they leave open holes into the sewers that you could fall into and the minibuses which should carry 15-20 people carry upwards of 40. Add to that the police are corrupt and just looking for bribes. So far, though, I love it. Gorgeous place with great friendly people.

Did I see you're from Upstate, SC? That's where I grew up!


BTW, here's a picture from just outside of Bishkek.

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by still southern

Just moved here at the end of July. So far it seems great. There are lots of quirks in a place like this. You can't own a gun and you're supposed to wear a helmet if you ride, but they leave open holes into the sewers that you could fall into and the minibuses which should carry 15-20 people carry upwards of 40. Add to that the police are corrupt and just looking for bribes. So far, though, I love it. Gorgeous place with great friendly people.

Did I see you're from Upstate, SC? That's where I grew up!


BTW, here's a picture from just outside of Bishkek.

Looks like a beautiful place.Sounds a bit sketchy tho.

Yep,I am from Spartanburg,SC.Born here,grew up here,and still own the house I grew up in.I moved next door to a bit bigger place.

[still southern]

Originally Posted by ben2go

Looks like a beautiful place.Sounds a bit sketchy tho.

Yep,I am from Spartanburg,SC.Born here,grew up here,and still own the house I grew up in.I moved next door to a bit bigger place.

Born in Greenville and grew up in north Spartanburg county near the NC line!

Yes some things here are sketchy, but I just mentioned the bad stuff, the good part is that the people are very hospitable and you can make friends quickly and easily. The scenery here is second to none and the cost of living is exceptionally low...most things cost half here what they would cost in the states. I can take my wife out for a nice dinner at a gorgeous sit down restaurant and it'll cost about $15 for the both of us. A bus across town costs about 17 cents. A taxi across town costs $2. Plus out in the countryside they still have nomadic herders! Anyway, it's cool, and only somewhat like Russia.

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by still southern

Born in Greenville and grew up in north Spartanburg county near the NC line!

Yes some things here are sketchy, but I just mentioned the bad stuff, the good part is that the people are very hospitable and you can make friends quickly and easily. The scenery here is second to none and the cost of living is exceptionally low...most things cost half here what they would cost in the states. I can take my wife out for a nice dinner at a gorgeous sit down restaurant and it'll cost about $15 for the both of us. A bus across town costs about 17 cents. A taxi across town costs $2. Plus out in the countryside they still have nomadic herders! Anyway, it's cool, and only somewhat like Russia.

Inman here.

Sounds like a cool place to visit.

[dbg326]

Got the KZ rattlecanned before I left for school, I apologize for the terrible cell pic.

[rightone1974]

I bought a 1976 Yamaha DT 250C for 50 bucks and it runs good but needs carb redone and a few other things done for it to be right. It is clean bike for its year I just need to clean it up and replace the seat cover(which I am going to do myself) I will post pics soon.(as soon as I figure out how to post them?

[rudolf35]

After looking at stealerships and checking the Craig's List I finally found my XL1200S. Sunday, three weeks ago, I was parusing the Craig's List to see what I can find; what trouble I could get into. Well, this time it paid off. Found a listing for a XL1200S for $1,500 - had to be a trash add. But having finally found what I was looking for I sent the owner a Craig's List email to send me his phone number and the VIN. About two hours later the owners email hit with the VIN and his phone number. Having the VIN in hand I ran a quick check and it came back no records; called the owner and setup a meeting three hours later. After convincing my better half that it looks to be a good deal we drove to the NE side of the DfW area with helmet and riding gear in the car.

Once at the sellers location the owner just pulled up as we where getting out of the car - will it run was answered with that. Looking the bike over it showed signs of age but not of abuse. It turned out that the bike was taken in payment for debt owned and the seller had lost the title. OK, I ran the VIN (had a cop buddy run it through their system) and it was clear so a lost title was no issue (at least in TX). We agreed on the $1500 and drove/rode to the bank to make the transfer. After fighting with the ATM to get the funds the owner made a detailed sales receipt and we concluded the deal. After the financials where taken care of, I rode the bike (wife behind me with the 4-ways on; bike had tags from 2005) 45 miles to the house.

During the ride the bike showed no issues; no stalling, no backfire no nothing - it just ran. Two days after getting it home, not having being started in that time, I pulled the choke hit the started and the bike lit up just like it should - a winner.



First "baby" picture

Since I am working on a /5 project, the fender in the picture, the XL was put in the back of the garage to wait for it's turn. But all good attentions just did not do it for me and I had to get the forward controls off the bike; the exhaust will follow as will the mini-apes.



SE without baffles are a no go



The lowered and short rear shocks are also a no go

I have a set of XR1200 shocks that I will mount on the XL1200S. The are the length I would want to run and are also a good way to see if I like the setup; once they work out, I will get some decent Hagons or YSS shocks for the XL1200S. A full build up report will be started as soon as the /5 project is done.

[brucifer]

Nice score rudolf35!

[davevv]

Great score. That one must have showed up just a week or so after I bought my XL1200R. I generally keep pretty good track of CL ads in this area, but slacked off a little while I was getting the new roadster up to snuff and missed this one. Good job on snapping it up.