Been offered this, but not sure?

[diplomaticdanny]

Have been offered this, always wanted one and difficult to find but really want a later model in better nick.

Pretty good condition, no rust but does need a few things doing.

Non original headlight, no indicators, different front mudguard, wrong speedo, could do with painting. Has been converted to 12v.

Can't make my mind up, £1500, is it worth it? 1978 XT500

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Buy it now before someone else does. All the original parts are still available if concours is your thing but at £1500 for a non orginal one you will not lose any money

 

[peepingtom]

its about the going rate id say . if its not the one you want why buy it ??, surely your better off spending the extra grand or whatever and getting the one you really want ??
its easy to spend money on projects and at the end you wont have the later model you desire

 

[Timpo]

I'd buy it at that if it's a runner.

 

[diplomaticdanny]

Problems I have are, I am not mechanically minded so apart from the real basics I would have to get someone else to do the work and I don't have another grand or so to buy the right one.

They are relatively hard to find in reasonable condition so wondering wether I would regret not buying this one.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

MOT?

I reckon it's too much, but about the right money that they're making if you know what I mean

For a start, depends on what you plan?

Ride or restore?

To ride it needs to be MOT'd naturally and sound mechanically - is it? and does it smoke?

To restore - looks like it needs a full genuine exhaust/repaint of plastics, plus in all reality lots of other bits and bobs that can add up, which can cost a small fortune

I've restored a few Yamaha DT's and TY's over the years and my maxim - buy the best you can, for the least you can

Parts are getting scarce, plus parts prices are going up

A few weeks ago I sold a complete brand new set of NOS Yam TY175 forks - the full lot as parts, internals and externals (no yokes) and they sold on Ebay for £510 and the chap travelled 200 miles to collect overnight - that's how valuable they have become to some

A week later I sold a new TY175 front exhaust and a top yoke and these feched £260 and I sent to Germany and the guy was happy to pay £75 postage, without flinching

I'd had the stuff for 10 years and just wanted rid, but you can pick up a running Yam TY175 trials bike for less than £750 for those small items, so that's how crazy the Japanese NOS genuine spares market has become

XT500 Yam stuff is even more costly and in even greater demand than Yam Trials stuff

So don't kid yourself these bikes are cheap, parts are commanding massive prices and there are some serious folks with very deep pockets who will spend 2/3/4 times their original value to 'complete' their bikes with NOS genuine parts

Just go into it with your eyes open, because anything the bike needs may be costly or difficult to obtain

If I wanted a good XT500 I'd pay £3500-£4k for a proper minter with provenance that someone else has spent the money on restoring

 

[GS TRV]

I'd buy it at that if it's a runner.

for sure

 

[STUBBS]

go for it

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Hope you're good at kick starting, they can be a bitch

 

[peepingtom]

Problems I have are, I am not mechanically minded so apart from the real basics I would have to get someone else to do the work and I don't have another grand or so to buy the right one.

They are relatively hard to find in reasonable condition so wondering wether I would regret not buying this one.

in that case id buy it

even rough non runners go for £1000 ish

i dont think you'll find much better for that kinda money unless you wait a long time and are in the right place at the right time

get your wallet out i reckon

 

[diplomaticdanny]

MOT?

I reckon it's too much, but about the right money that they're making if you know what I mean

For a start, depends on what you plan?

Ride or restore?

To ride it needs to be MOT'd naturally and sound mechanically - is it? and does it smoke?

To restore - looks like it needs a full genuine exhaust/repaint of plastics, plus in all reality lots of other bits and bobs that can add up, which can cost a small fortune

I've restored a few Yamaha DT's and TY's over the years and my maxim - buy the best you can, for the least you can

Parts are getting scarce, plus parts prices are going up

A few weeks ago I sold a complete brand new set of NOS Yam TY175 forks - the full lot as parts, internals and externals (no yokes) and they sold on Ebay for £510 and the chap travelled 200 miles to collect overnight - that's how valuable they have become to some

A week later I sold a new TY175 front exhaust and a top yoke and these feched £260 and I sent to Germany and the guy was happy to pay £75 postage, without flinching

I'd had the stuff for 10 years and just wanted rid, but you can pick up a running Yam TY175 trials bike for less than £750 for those small items, so that's how crazy the Japanese NOS genuine spares market has become

XT500 Yam stuff is even more costly and in even greater demand than Yam Trials stuff

So don't kid yourself these bikes are cheap, parts are commanding massive prices and there are some serious folks with very deep pockets who will spend 2/3/4 times their original value to 'complete' their bikes with NOS genuine parts

Just go into it with your eyes open, because anything the bike needs may be costly or difficult to obtain

If I wanted a good XT500 I'd pay £3500-£4k for a proper minter with provenance that someone else has spent the money on restoring

Thanks for the good advice, I will buy it as I really want to ride more than restore, will just look for the odd bits while I am hopefully enjoying it.