How junkie is too junkie?

[TigerPaw]

Recently I've been seeing a lot of junk bikes around for cheap on Craigslist (50-200 bucks). A lot of them have either been sitting outside and don't run but still have all of the parts (usually with seized engines) or they're bikes in alright condition but missing things like tires, engines, and carbs. I'm a newb with mechanics but I have some people who can assist me. Fabrication is really my forte. I want to get into a fun project for the summer and would like to build something on more of a beginner level. My budget is tight since I'm a college student... I just don't want to make a dumb mistake and buy something that turns out to be a big paper weight. Thanks!

[Sp33dwagon]

All else fails you can usually double your money with a little eBay work, otherwise get a couple of similar bikes and piece together something unique that fits your style.

[surffly]

Most expensive motorcycle is always a cheap one.
I would figure that if you found a complete and nice "barn find" it would take almost a grand to put it on the road in a safe and legal fashion.
So really you are better off to buy a bike that is already safe and legal.  Its cheaper in the long run.

Also it gives you a benchmark to work from.  You can consult the factory manual to keep it running and parts are easy to come by.  If starting with a pile of stuff that kinda looks like a motorcycle you need to figure every little detail out, and with no prior experience this can be alot harder then you would think.

[JustinLonghorn]

yep. If you are relatively new with the mechanical side of motorcycles, I would definitely spend the extra money to start with a decent running motorcycle. Surffly pretty much nailed the figure of $1,000 to get a complete non running bike on the road. If you buy a basket case it can get even more expensive than that.

[diggerdanh]

I think that $1000 figure is about dead on too.  If it's a non-running bike and you have to get into the engine it could be more. I bought a running KZ400 last spring for $400 and have put another $1000 into it to just get it running well with only minor modifications like new bars, smaller turn signals and tail light and bar end mirrors.

Almost every old bike that isn't already being ridden will need a new battery and tires and tubes. Most or all the cables will need replaced: clutch cable, throttle cable(s), tach cable, speedo cable. You'll need a new air filter(s), new oil filter, new plugs - buy several sets because you'll probably foul a few. Fork seals and boots will probably need replaced. You'll need oil, carb cleaner, fork oil or ATF, chain lube, lots of cleaner/degreaser and a lot of rags. You'll need to buy an impact screwdriver, a battery trickle charger, and maybe some other tools if you don't already have them (feeler guages, dial caliper is handy, metric wrences and sockets obviously, and more I can't think of now). You'll probably need a new chain and maybe new sprockets. You'll probably need new grips, may need new brake and clutch levers. You'll probably want to replace the brake pads front and back. You may need to replace a lot of bearings: wheel bearings front and back, swingarm bearings, steering stem bearings. You may need to rewire some things. You may need new headlight or new bulbs for tail light, turn indicators, dash lights. You may need new carb boots and carb holders if they've been sitting for a while and dry rotted. You'll probably need a new gas lid gasket. You may need new shocks which can get expensive depending on what you want.

Couple of things to look for: if it doesn't run does the engine turn over? Make sure it's not frozen. Might not be a deal breaker but could be. How do the header pipes and mufflers look? Replacing mufflers can get expensive depending on what you want. What does the inside of the tank look like? If there is a lot of rust you may be able to remove it or line it or you could end up having to buy a new tank. Are the wheels and spokes in good shape or at least usable? If they're rusty but solid you can always paint them black but if they're really bad you may have to order spokes and re-lace them or find new wheels. Finally, check to see if there is anything obvious missing like any engine covers, pegs, broken shift lever or kick starter, or body panel side covers, chain guard, fenders, etc. None of those things are expensive on their own put they add up. I probably spent an additional $150 in just finding and replacing things that were missing before even getting into any maintenance items. Any of the engine cover bolts have their heads stripped? Those can be a PITA and may cost you money at a local machine shop. Are the spark plug threads okay?

Again, those are all little things and none of them really complicated but they will add up and can take a long time to find, order, and get them put on.

It really comes down to what you want out of owning your bike. If you want something to ride then take the $1500 that you'd sink into getting a cheap bike running and look for something that is already being ridden. If you want to wrench, want a project and know what you're getting yourself into then go ahead and buy a cheap runner that needs some work but realize that you'll probably end up spending as much or more on that than you would have something already in good condition. I really wanted/needed a project more than I needed something to ride and I'm glad I took the path that I did, I've learned a ton (knowing next to nothing about motorcyles prior to this) and had a lot of fun. It's your call, buy a bike to ride or choose the path less traveled

[TigerPaw]

Excellent, Thank you for the advice. These are things I didn't even consider...the more you know!

[JustinLonghorn]

Nice write-up DiggerDan.

[diggerdanh]

Thanks Justin and TigerPaw. I thought I should share while most things are still fresh in my mind and get it all down before I make the same "mistake" next time and think "it'll only take a couple of dollars to get this thing road ready"

But while I was falling asleep last night I remembered a couple more things:

You'll almost certainly need new points and condenser and maybe a new coil. If you change indicators you'll probably need a new digital flasher relay.

Other 30+ year old electronics can go bad too, can be hard to come by depending on the model, and can be a big expense: things like rectifier and/or regulator and stator/alternator. 

[MB]

Digger nailed it 100%. I want to print this out and hand to every friend that wants to buy a vintage bike that doesn't understand why I won't let them take this or that "bargain" on CL

[Worst cb650 ever]

Most expensive motorcycle is always a cheap one.

Amen to that.  You have to assume that any "cheap" motorcycle will need every bit of rubber in it replaced, from the brake part seals and hoses to rebuilding every carb to the fork seals.  Right there is about $200 in parts, plus lots of cleaning.  You probably will have to spend another $100-$300 if the charging system needs love, and then you can see how well the thing runs to determine if you have to do engine work on it. 

Now, if you're looking for a project, it is very satisfying to take a $50 lump of crap and turn it into a motorcycle...

[swan]

Yup,

Buy an ugly, but running bike. Nearly every motorcycle I have bought I have striped to the crank and restored or rebuilt them completely. Cheap bikes require lots of time and money, but I love turning $50 lumps of crap into beautiful and perfectly running bikes. If you lack time, money, workspace and/or tools, buy a running bike and do the upgrades one step at a time.