Potential Buy - 1987 XR600R - 1985 XL600R

[Alex DeFreitas]

Ok guys so I located a couple of antiques for sale..

I went and looked at them today and here's a few of the pics.

So let's start with the cleaner 87 XR600R

front view:

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img692/6672/4ygc.jpg[/html]

shock:

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img585/985/k0vz.jpg[/html]

countershaft sprocket:

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img837/256/a3zt.jpg[/html]

engine:

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img27/5627/07il.jpg[/html]

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img198/5249/94cw.jpg[/html]

backview:

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img833/314/sz33.jpg[/html]

Thoughts:

This bike looks clean as heck. The engine is showing no signs of any leakage.. and the frame is in very good condition. The rear shock is working nicely. Over all this bike looks very clean for it's age.

Now on to the not so clean 85 XL600R:

odometer (ignition does not work):

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img845/9646/2z19.jpg[/html]

engine pics:

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img268/464/ojmn.jpg[/html]

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img543/8027/dcde.jpg[/html]

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img837/7607/vnvi.jpg[/html]

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img33/536/efhu.jpg[/html]

rear wheel:

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img14/1205/qygi.jpg[/html]

gas tank:

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img822/9010/jom1.jpg[/html]

shock:

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img13/9642/db4p.jpg[/html]

countershaft sprocket:

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img12/1033/rmm2.jpg[/html]

frame oil leak pictures:

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img844/8375/pj7o.jpg[/html]

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img706/1465/5pai.jpg[/html]

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img829/3659/rg3p.jpg[/html]

[html]http://imageshack.us/a/img33/536/efhu.jpg[/html]

Thoughts:

Yikes. This bike needs

1. ignition (no key)

2. new cables

3. choke lever

4. some TLC

So as far as the whole oil leak.. this is what is turning me away the most. The guy knew what he was talking about and had some other Honda dirtbikes. He mentioned the fiber oil lines and was saying how he believes this is causing that leak.

I'm not so convinced. I looked at the crankcase gasket underneath the engine and it seems to be a black (make your own) gasket material thing similar to the one I used to clog up the wires coming out of my stator on my 650L.. Personally with the aount of sludge EVERYWHERE I am pretty sure there's a bigger leak than just these lines. He mentioned how the leak is all the way up the front part of the frame (you can see in one of the pics).. but I'm not sold that huge leak was just from the lines.

So anyways... the important thing and why I posted..

What do you very experienced guys who have been buying bikes wayyyyyy longer than me think these two are worth?

And please answer quick I wanna make a decision in <48 hours.

They are not titled but before buying I would have the owner title and register them so I am grandfathered into a road title

Thanks,

Alex

Edited July 10, 2013 by Alex DeFreitas

[Horri]

You missed the most important part..

Do they both start and run..

Do they blow any smoke.

Do they rattle a lot..

I wouldn't worry too much about that oil,,seen worse on a few of my XLs when I owned them..Sometimes if it is leaking from the centre crank gasket down the bottom of the engine a few of the 10mm bolts that hold the crank together have come loose..a simple tighten can fix it.. I would before you think about the buy check both those countershaft shafts for bad wear..ie,,get the sprockets off for a proper look..Odd looking gearchange lever on one of them,,must be a US thing..

I can tell you what they'd be worth down here..$1300-1500 each depending on whether they run and have papers..

Edited July 10, 2013 by Horri

[JoeBlow Kokomo]

There's nothing there "clean as heck".

Pretty darn ratty looking to me.

Those are $500 bikes here, Tops.

IF you could find someone that wants them.

[Alex DeFreitas]

No they do not run.. They crank over and seem to have compression

[Sqwid]

If you buy an old non running xr.. I hope you have deep pockets and are willing to spend a heap of money. Them things tick, rattle and wear out.

Unless your getting them things for next to nothing my advice is spend your money elsewhere

[Horri]

Darn these guys are fussy,,bit of oil and the things are wrecks..

Not goings a bit concerning..I'd have to get them at least running before I bought them,,They look semi ok to me externally..bit of oil leaking isn't that big a deal to me personally..So long as it's not pouring out,, You wouldn't know that till you get them running and up to temperature..To me they look like typical American owned XR/XL,,ridden a bit then parked in a shed for the next ten years as the owner couldn't get them started one day.. :-) He then purchased a new KTM rode that a bit and parked it in the shed as well..ten years later..it wouldn't go either so he bought a new Husky and so it goes on....You guys are renowned for your "shed" parking..No offence of course,,some guy down here I ran into makes occasional trips to the States picking up old hardly used YZs and the like,,uses them for vintage mx..

Edited July 10, 2013 by Horri

[Alex DeFreitas]

Ok well I have them both for $1300

When asked if he would sell individually he said make me an offer. He was asking $1600 for both. I told him $800 seemed fair for the XR but told him with the oil leak 400-500 is all i saw for the XL. Thats how he went down to 1300

[Alex DeFreitas]

Im trying to get my buddy on the XR for 800.. What do you guys think?

If its only a carb cleaning then i think its a good deal..

[Sqwid]

Hope for the best and expect the worse. It'll be nice if you can get away with just some carb cleaning but with all the old xrs I've seen they all have worn cam's, rocker arms, cam chains and tensionors. Expect to replace that. It's just a common problem they all do it..

[JoeBlow Kokomo]

Im trying to get my buddy on the XR for 800.. What do you guys think?

If its only a carb cleaning then i think its a good deal..

Non running Ratt bike. Sorry, but you're going to have to be awfully lucky to get that.

A clean example of that bike (not rusty frame, paint off motor, etc etc) would MAYBE get $800 around here.

But there just aren't that many guys willing to buy really old ratty bikes like that when you could buy 10-15 YEARS newer and clean for a few hundred more.

Not even factoring in the not running problem. (which is HUGE)

Good luck. ?

Edited July 10, 2013 by MindBlower

[Sqwid]

Also keep in mind a lot of parts for these bikes are obsolete

[Horri]

I'd have to agree with the other jokers,,non running so you don't know what's up with the things,,As sqwid said the parts thing is also starting to become a hassle with those twin carb versions,,bit much of a lottery without running motors..

Edited July 10, 2013 by Horri

[Alex DeFreitas]

Yeahh thanks guys im not taking any offense. Its stupid to actually think the cam chain is in spec all sprockets are good .. Oil pumps good .. Cluch.. Shifter forks etccc etccc

[Horri]

You seem determined to get one or the other,,we can only advise of the pitfalls..totally your call..

Personally if I saw both in NZ for 1300 and had the time/energy/place to work on them I'd buy them but that's just me,,You're in the States so bargains come up all the time over there,,they don't down here,,market and pricing's completely different between the two countries..Do not let me influence your decision,,I don't want to be responsible for your getting a bad one and having to pump thousands into making it good..

In your case I'd hold off and keep my eye open for a single carber,,I know what it's like being young, seeing bikes you think are good and doing the impulse buy..cripes I almost bought an old Greeves scrambler as my first bike,,just be aware we've all I'm sure been there done that..

Edited July 10, 2013 by Horri

[JoeBlow Kokomo]

+1 - Not trying to give you a hard time. Anybody here that's bought and worked on bikes has done this in one form or another. I've got over 3k in my bringing my 85 XR350 back from basket case and it's worth 1/2 that. LOL

At some point you just accept that you could have made a better choice ($1300 buys you a NICE, complete, strong running XR600) and make the best of it.

I learned a lot on mine, doing things that I couldnt' afford to have someone else do, so in the end I'm happy.

If the motors aren't trashed (pray), then you can find nice plastic and forks and all kinds of goodies pretty cheaply as guys have to have USD front ends and such. Some 400 or late model 600 catridge forks would BLOW your mind compared to the stockers. ?

[Sjgi48]

For what it is worth, the engine in the 1987 XR 600 is not original nor is it an XR engine. It appears to be a mish mash of various XL 600 engine components. I do not see a single 1987 XR 600 part on that engine. A peices parts, nonoriginal engine speaks volumes about a bike, its condition and how it has been treated, none of which is good.

[Alex DeFreitas]

Thanks for the heads up

[Alex DeFreitas]

Im thinking the only way I would make an offer would be to have him let me pop off the valve covers and clutch covers off each bike

[JoeBlow Kokomo]

Did I mis-read, thought you said you bought them for $1300?

[Alex DeFreitas]

Sorry i meant I have them as in the offer was on the table for $1300. I actually just bought a 250r today so these frankenbikes are off the table.. for now lol