To buy or not to buy??

CALfeRacer

CALfeRacer

Fat man on a little bike
My friend is looking to sell his kz440, and I'm interested. He said he will sell it to me for $600. I've been sorta helping him work on it for a little while. It hasn't been running right for a while, idles at about 5k. Not sure if there's an air leak we haven't found, or if it's the way too long throttle cable (he put on superbike bars to replace the stock hangers). Sprayed the boots with WD40 while running and had no change in idle. Also, he straight piped it so I would have to fix that... Any advice? Worth it or not? I just sold my daily bike so I'm interested in a new bike that runs, title, etc. it does have a rebuilt brake master and caliper, which is nice.
 
That's what I'm thinking. Just curious if anyone had any advice on trying to get it to run right so I can get a better idea of what the cost will actually be.
 
don't do it, buy a good running bike
if you have to ask how to make it run then you will just be buying a huge headache
 
xb33bsa said:
don't do it, buy a good running bike
if you have to ask how to make it run then you will just be buying a huge headache
Click to expand...
Yeah, I had a feeling that might be the way to go. The fact that we can't get it to idle below 5k no matter what the throttle adjustment is set to doesn't seem good to me. He insists that it just needs a new throttle cable, but I don't see how it being way too long could be constantly opening the throttle to 5k... Unless he horribly mis-adjusted the cable when he took it off to clean and jet the carbs.
 
As the proud owner of a headache, I'd steer clear of the basket case issues. The only thing you wanna be concerned with is "what do I wanna change" and not "what do I have to fix" and "how do I fix it". You'll enjoy the bike much more. In defense of my bike my headaches actually came more from what I've changed.
 
Buy it...offer him $400. You can get it running right. You know it runs...Its probably an easy fix with the carbs...$400-$600 for a titled somewhat running bike is a no brainer...unless its a complete rust bucket that needs new forks, rims, tank etc. You have to start somewhere if you want to learn...half the fun is wrenching on a bike and bringing it back to life. Good luck!
 
Tank has surface rust but is solid, and for the most part the bike is clean. I've already brought back a real basket case ($75, engine and parts in boxes) and am working my way through ANOTHER basket case (CB350 I got basically for free) so that part is covered... I am more interested in a cheaper bike I can just ride for now and get away with minimal headaches on. It hasn't totally left my mind, but I'm just gonna wait it out, probably until the endof the summer when I'm back down here for school. I don't really want to load a bike in the bed of my truck and take it to and from Washington with me.
 
Oh wow. I'd buy almost anything in that asking range but I wouldn't pay 600 for that bike. the picture quality might be the issue but this looks much rougher than 600. If you buy it get that price as low as possible. Might even get that one looked over at a shop.
 
Yeah, the picture quality makes it look a lot worse than it really is. I'm thinking I'll pass on this one though. I've got my eye on a couple bikes up in Washington that I'm interested in getting, and I figure I'll be back up there for the summer in a couple weeks anyways.
Rich, I'm fighting the urge to post a picture of Ackbar because of you...
 
i saw either 28 or 38k on the speedo :-\
it is worn out,it has been a good lil bike i am sure :)
find something with sub 10k miles
 
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