[forwardtocharis]

I'm looking at buying a certain cx500 for sale locally, but don't know enough about the bike to make a good judgment, so I was hoping to get some advice before I dive in (though part of me really just wants to dive in and buy it).



It's a CX500 with a blown head gasket and an oil leak. It comes with some extra parts (extra, incomplete engine & some gaskets). Asking price is $500, any advice?

 

[lucky]

ok there is a check point in the quick reference section that has a break down on what to look for in buying a used bike



and now then if you could please update your profile and your signature with your bikes detail that would be great because you never know there could be a member that lives right around the corner from you



now then for the bike does it come with a title? do you know the history of the bike and maintenance records of it? have you seen it run or do you even know if it will turn over??



the price to me is kinda high i am sure if you talked him down to 300 i am sure they would bite and take it



but tell him that its going to cost around 200 to fix it new tires head gasket and misc parts



but before you talk about a price i would want to check a few things try to turn the engine over



check to see if there is a lot of play on the handle bars do to the bearings in the head stock being worn out whats the mileage of the bike and over all looks of it?

 

[bandit]

I'm looking at buying a certain cx500 for sale locally, but don't know enough about the bike to make a good judgment, so I was hoping to get some advice before I dive in (though part of me really just wants to dive in and buy it).



It's a CX500 with a blown head gasket and an oil leak. It comes with some extra parts (extra, incomplete engine & some gaskets). Asking price is $500, any advice?

dollars,ok.local in the usa.can you be more specific.put your location into your signiture line.

worth about 100 usd,unless you post a picture and prove otherwise

and a warm welcome from spain

 

[achille]

Agree with Bandit, seems about $ 400 too high.

 

[Linny]

$100/CC would bo too high in non-running condition for me.

 

[cdyoung1985]

I got 2 running bikes for $800, one needed the carbs balanced, so paying $500 for 1 that needs work, don't think I'd do that, start lower than you think they'll take, I'd say $250, and bring a friend, tell him you have the $250 cash, and have your friend hold onto another $50, and if he won't do it for that then ask your friend if he has any money he can loan you, and have him pull out $50 and tell the guy $300 walks now. I would inspect first though. But if you offer him $250 and start to walk away, I wouldn't be surprised if he takes it to be rid of the bike, if he cared about the money and had 1/2 a brain he'd fix the gasket, it's simple and then he could sell a running bike which is worth a lot more

 

[bandit]

ok,im not local,read this thread

http://cx500forum.com/index.php?/to..._p__41313__hl__deal__fromsearch__1#entry41313

 

[tmoll]

More info needed to judge accurately, but in the Southeast, complete CX500s with issues like you describe go for ~$250 max. Keep in mind that a bike with these problems may likely have other unknown problems that will compound the effort. Do you want a rider, or a project? Move forward accordingly.

 

[bearman1]

For all one knows, this guy is the one selling the bike and seeing what the market will bare.



Tell ya what, From what I read? 100 buks TOPS!

 

[nolavox]

Blown Headgasket??? and what else....



A lot of these owners are still "in love" with their now "boat anchors".... At the salvage yard we get the whiney story that just the parts alone are worth this and that. And they (sometimes) are... then there is the cost of time and labor to pull and catalog parts. Storing the things...finding them again when needed or sold

somehow marketing the parts and then getting them to the buyer in which case is "truck shipping" distance away for large heavy things like engine blocks and up...

Obviously what sounds like a good deal is not always so good for a re-seller.





On the other hand it sounds like this bike needs about at least 750$ dollars of shop work time alone ... (I figure 20$ an hour, which is dirt cheap) maybe another couple grand in parts. a few things come to mind... Tires, brake lines, gaskets, new water pump impeller, main seals, fork seals, valve seals, tank sealer, 7v regulator, new fan, new thermostat, ... I dunno what a head gasket goes for?

OK OK I know, Enough already... short story of how things go to the junkyard dogs.



I would show him the above 100 dollars if the frame was titled, motor # matched and I was feeling lucky or some forgotten accounts are ever settled... At the yard, we would maybe accept it as a donation if titled... there is not that much local demand here for the CX... Yet

there are many examples that have been sold that can be turn key rode home across country for not much more than 500...

 

[bandit]

mmm.or post your location.your happy to spend 500.ask a local member to find you a bike local on cl.

i just wonder what they would find

 

[marshallf3]

Rarely expect to find one that doesn't need at least some work but as easy as it is to do don't let that scare you.

 

[forwardtocharis]

I'm sorry about the lack of details. I'll update my profile in a minute, location is San Diego, CA.



What I know:

'79 Honda CX500

"Good Cosmetic Condition"

Spare engine (needs chain tensioner, includes carbs.)

full set of engine gaskets & o-rings

New Tires

solid forks instead of pitted forks

Vetter fairing included

"Pretty decent" oil leak

 

[marshallf3]

"Pretty decent" oil leak



From where? That can be easy or a pain in the rear.

 

[bearman1]

I suppose the larger question for you would be, how much of a wrench are ya? These bikes and motors are pretty easy to work on, but, no matter how much work ya put into it, yer not gonna realise the money n time ya put into it, should ya decide to sell it.



(edit) I just realised I'm into TRIPLE digitz..........woo-hoo!!!!!!!!



Didn't ya see her? Forgot plum where she was and walked SMACK into that fountain..Yup,seen it on the TV, so it MUST be true.

 

[Trickster]

start lower than you think they'll take, I'd say $250, and bring a friend, tell him you have the $250 cash, and have your friend hold onto another $50, and if he won't do it for that then ask your friend if he has any money he can loan you, and have him pull out $50 and tell the guy $300 walks now. I would inspect first though. But if you offer him $250 and start to walk away, I wouldn't be surprised if he takes it to be rid of the bike, if he cared about the money and had 1/2 a brain he'd fix the gasket, it's simple and then he could sell a running bike which is worth a lot more

Somehow sounds like a scene from a movie.

I always just say what is your bottom dollar after my analysis of the bike and decide if its fair.



If not, walk away there are loads of bikes everywhere for sale.

 

[cdyoung1985]

lol, it kinda does, but I've had it work on 2 vehicles already, people like to try to call your bluff, as you try to call theirs, just gotta see who's got the bigger bluff and who will stand down. If they know they'll be rid of the eye sore and they see they'll have the cash right now, they'll get hasty and take a deal they will regret later, just make sure you aren't the won do stand down and regret it later!!!

 

[JWink]

I bought my bike for 250 bucks. I ended up putting head gaskets on it and the only real problem was swap coil wires. I feel like I got a good deal. But I was able to do the work myself. If you cannot do the work yourself thats not the bike for you. I would defiantly get more info on the oil leak.



I think 500 is a little high but if it runs it might be worth it. Since he has a spare engine and a gasket set to go with it, he might have bitten off more than he can chew or it was a project that he never got around to finishing.

 

[forwardtocharis]

The oil leak is from the Tach cable



I'm pretty handy with a wrench rebuilt my old truck engine a year back, changed a couple head gaskets on cars and I'm pretty comfortable wrenching on just about anything.



Thanks for all the help everyone!

 

[philbrewer]

I paid $200 for mine.



I ended up swapping engines. It was not in good shape.