Would like some thoughts on this..

[sclay115]

In the for sale section of this forum, I have listed a XS650 I am thinking of selling/trading/what have you. Had a local guy contact me through CL and here is what he had offered to trade. It is a 2002 DR650 decked out with lots of goodies for adventure touring, minus the road tires. At first, I was really quite enthused, and I dig the DR, but now I am not so sure about getting rid of the XS. I suppose it comes down to me feeling like I am giving up something that has like a billion hours into, but then again, if I don't enjoy riding the XS, what is the point right? Here are some pictures of the two machines in question:

This:

For this:

What do you guys think? From a purely non-biased standpoint, shoot from the hip opinion. Keep in mind my CB350 Cafe bike is in pieces in the garage, but it is still there, and WILL be on the road again, hopefully, soon.

And I understand that it is up to me, and perhaps it is not the decision I need made, but I need to get it through my head that eventually, I will sell the projects I put so much time into. I have had a few cars in the past that I miss everyday, and it hangs with me when making decisions like this. But the way I see it, I can always build another machine like the XS again. Hopefully. So how do you guys deal with it? Giving up a project that you put so much sweat into, where you know every single piece was touched by your hands?

Steve

 

[mccarleyholmes]

If that was my only bike i probably wouldn't trade. because it has alot of character, And I bet you put way more time painting, stitching, chopping, and researching your xs project then dude did putting aftermarket parts on the DR. But I bet the DR is alot more fun to rally and dick around on, then the vintage bike, and since its a new bike might be more reliable? sounds like you have another cafe project in the mix so this one is secondary right now? Ask yourself why you posted it for sell in the first place, if it was go possibly have an enduro to drive on the beaches like the Lost Boys or Johnny from the Karate Kid then here is your chance.
Mike

 

[crazypj]

It should be pretty easy to find price of DR as its reasonably stock
XS is custom, you built it.
Only you know what its worth
That's why I don't build bikes for other people very often and never build to sell
I know I would have to get around $12~15,000 for the XS800 when its eventually finished, its not just a bike bike it's moving art
(or at least it will be ;D

 

[ph!L]

I agree with those above, you have spent a lot of time with that bike; however, if you don't like it, you should do what you think will please you.

 

[kbmx613]

Surely you don't mean a straight up trade? To my eyes, the XS has much, much more value.

 

[sclay115]

Yah, unfortunately, the market for these types of bikes, at least in my area, has dropped out. So it would be a straight up trade, I have had it listed for a while for sale and never got much more than some "Cool bike!" comments.

But originally, I put it up for sale because I wasn't riding it too much, and I have the Honda cafe that is gather dust in pieces in the garage... so my rational was to sell the XS and it would push me to get the Honda together again, while making some green in the process. It was never on an intention to get an enduro, but the idea does sound like some fun, I'll say that much for it!

I think I might just try and put some more miles on it, see how it feels. I like the look, and the comments, but like I mentioned, if riding it doesn't particularly blow my skirt up, then why do I still have the keys?

Steve

 

[crazypj]

if riding it doesn't particularly blow my skirt up, then why do I still have the keys?

Steve

because it would be like selling one of your children
Plus, doesn't actually eat or drink unless you use it.
Its main reason I have so many bikes in bits, if it was a job instead of hobby, I would have to finish and sell them to eat, etc.

PJ

 

[loudest143]

Well, the XS is beautiful, and you have lots of blood sweat and tears wrapped up in it. But.... You've got another 'future winner' in the garage. The new bike offers lots of options. Daily rider, weekend in the country, light camping trip, grocery getter, many things our beautiful project bikes don't really offer. We love to ride our sweet creations, but be honest here.... You love RIDING more. It's that feeling of flying through the back country or ripping past a minivan in traffic that makes your pulse quicken.

If you have to choose, find a good home for your classic xs. The resale on the new bike is probably still higher on a trade in at a dealership than any money you could get on your old bike, even with all the awesome work you put in it.

my two bits.

loudest143

 

[sclay115]

Well, the XS is beautiful, and you have lots of blood sweat and tears wrapped up in it. But.... You've got another 'future winner' in the garage. The new bike offers lots of options. Daily rider, weekend in the country, light camping trip, grocery getter, many things our beautiful project bikes don't really offer. We love to ride our sweet creations, but be honest here.... You love RIDING more. It's that feeling of flying through the back country or ripping past a minivan in traffic that makes your pulse quicken.

If you have to choose, find a good home for your classic xs. The resale on the new bike is probably still higher on a trade in at a dealership than any money you could get on your old bike, even with all the awesome work you put in it.

my two bits.

loudest143

Very true. I am getting the two extremes on this, and this is the most rational argument for trading I have seen thus far. And it is true, I have ridden a DR350 before, and there is very few machines to compare it to in the "I'm going to ride the shit out of this thing and hop off curbs!" category. And I can only assume the 650 is that, and then some. I am still milling this over. And I have no worries about where the XS is going, to a good guy that is from the custom car/bike scene, and seems to really know his stuff, which is a huge plus for me, as I don't want it going to just anyone...

Steve

 

[Tim]

Here's my $0.02 and I may ask for a refund and change my mind later.

There's nothing on your XS650 that can't be replaced and rebuilt. Sure it's a lot of work, but if you felt like it you could do it all over again (and probably do some things differently next time around).

So don't stress selling it / trading it. The DR650 looks like an awesome bike to ride, and if you're into the enduro side of life, then it's a no brainer. You're getting into a 7 year old bike with modern suspension, brakes etc. that you'll be able to take out on 10 hour rides. When did you do that last?

Sprinting from one cafe to the next is fun for a couple hours at night with your buds, when you spend as much time off the bikes as on, but for me the real joy are uninterrupted 500 mile days.

I don't know anything about the DR650, but if it's a decent bike, then jump ship! My only other suggestion would be to sell the XS and buy something else, but you've already listed it with no buyers. Not sure how much you're asking. I'd guess the 2002 DR650 is probably worth no more than $4000 or so, maybe closer to $3000.

If I ever go to sell my XS650 (I have a 1975 stock BMW R75 that I can ride for 8 hours at a stretch) I'd probably do things like take the Evan Wilcox aluminum tank off it first, and keep it for a future project. If you had something like that on your bike, an impossible to find and/or $$$$$ part, I'd suggest you do the same.

 

[Tim]

And apparantly you can go all super-moto with the DR650.

http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-street-cruisers-choppers-2002-SUZUKI-DR-650-SUPERMOTO-W0QQAdIdZ169221090

 

[Tim]

Here's one in Orange County for $2400. Not sure what these things are worth (aside from whatever people will pay)

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/1499346581.html

 

[sclay115]

Here's my $0.02 and I may ask for a refund and change my mind later.

There's nothing on your XS650 that can't be replaced and rebuilt. Sure it's a lot of work, but if you felt like it you could do it all over again (and probably do some things differently next time around).

So don't stress selling it / trading it. The DR650 looks like an awesome bike to ride, and if you're into the enduro side of life, then it's a no brainer. You're getting into a 7 year old bike with modern suspension, brakes etc. that you'll be able to take out on 10 hour rides. When did you do that last?

Sprinting from one cafe to the next is fun for a couple hours at night with your buds, when you spend as much time off the bikes as on, but for me the real joy are uninterrupted 500 mile days.

I don't know anything about the DR650, but if it's a decent bike, then jump ship! My only other suggestion would be to sell the XS and buy something else, but you've already listed it with no buyers. Not sure how much you're asking. I'd guess the 2002 DR650 is probably worth no more than $4000 or so, maybe closer to $3000.

If I ever go to sell my XS650 (I have a 1975 stock BMW R75 that I can ride for 8 hours at a stretch) I'd probably do things like take the Evan Wilcox aluminum tank off it first, and keep it for a future project. If you had something like that on your bike, an impossible to find and/or $$$$$ part, I'd suggest you do the same.

This is a very good piece of reading, and after some thought, the truth. I COULD replicate this bike again, and do things differently if I wanted to. I had already put thought into this, when I was first considering the DR, telling myself I could always pick up an old machine(like this one was) and turn it into something great(like this one is), and it would be no sweat.

That is a real eye-opener with the links there Tim, that supermoto is sweet, but man that is a hefty price tag. And with the other at 2400, not sure if this is a rational dollar to dollar trade...

Steve

 

[Darmstro]

I`ll also point out that a lot of the love we have for these old bikes comes just as much from building them and wrenching on them as riding them. I don`t think I`ll keep my XS500 for too long after I finish it. There`ll always be more projects, but it`d be nice to have a more modern, reliable, daily rider.

 

[sclay115]

I`ll also point out that a lot of the love we have for these old bikes comes just as much from building them and wrenching on them as riding them. I don`t think I`ll keep my XS500 for too long after I finish it. There`ll always be more projects, but it`d be nice to have a more modern, reliable, daily rider.

And that is another reason why I wanted to sell the XS, to get myself a modern rider. I still have my devilish CB350 cafe as well, so it is not as if I am getting rid of all that is vintage..

Steve

 

[JRK5892]

to me... it is a no go, but i have no intrest i that enduro touring... however, the idea of a newer bike for the older one is not so bad bud!