any good places to look for a bike?

sharno · Full Member Joined: May 01, 2009 Posts: 13

i have been wanting to build a bobber and im having a hard time finding one at a super low price. you guys got any suggestions on where to find those deals? i looked on ebay and didnt have much luck also craigslist and cycle trader. thanks in advance

650skull · Support Staff Joined: Jul 19, 2007 Posts: 1186

well this is what it is coming to, the cheep ones are getting harder to find...................... as more and more get chopped and bobbed, especially once the frame has been cut, they will become more expensive.......as you are finding out.............Short supply=more money.........good luck

gantzcb

I've been watching e-bay prices. Bikes not meeting reserve, high starting prices, prices on the ones that see are moving up well over $1000. The low end ones I've seen are on Craig's list.

BigGeorge · Full Member Joined: Apr 13, 2008 Posts: 267

There are bikes and deals still out there, you just have to keep searching. Put the word out to everyone you know and on every 650 site you visit. Check your local newspapers and even check out garage sales and estate sales. You never know what might be in the corner of someones garage or barn and keep checking e-bay and craigslist too. If there are motorcycle swap meets in your area they may have complete bikes or a rolling chassis or know of someone who has a bike for sale so ask around..................BG

s008ess · Full Member Joined: Apr 09, 2009 Posts: 48 Location: Ohio

Are you looking for a complete bike or building one from ground up? I have found some good deals on projects others have given up on. They may have $1k invested and sell it all for $500. That

BeanerBiker · Full Member Joined: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 103

It would also be a good idea to let people know where you are from so if they see something they can contact you.

sharno · Full Member Joined: May 01, 2009 Posts: 13

im wanting to build it but i would consider one that has been started but not too far into it cuz i dont want to have to go back and change what the person already did, and would like to ride a little before i chop it up. i had an chance to get an xj 550 from a friend for 500 bucks but come to find out i was too late with talking to him about it cuz he got rid of it. oh well

oldbikenut

I really searched when I decided I wanted a streetbike. I found my XS off CL and guess what I did not find it in the motorcycles section, I found it in the garage sales section. The ad said old yamaha motorcycle, I called and found out it was an XS! The people were nice enough to hold the bike til the next day for me. Be creative in your search and you may want to put an ad on CL that you are looking for an XS. Good luck!

s008ess · Full Member Joined: Apr 09, 2009 Posts: 48 Location: Ohio

What state are you in Sharno?

sharno · Full Member Joined: May 01, 2009 Posts: 13

im in florida also thanks for the craigslist tip oldbikenut

kingwj

www.searchtempest.com/

This site allows searching of multiple CL sites based on a starting zip code and search radius. Here in DE I get Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, parts of New York and Connecticut. Comes in handy if you are searching for a specific item.

sharno · Full Member Joined: May 01, 2009 Posts: 13

thanks ill use that!

NateDogg

I know someone who just bought one from a cycle bone yard for a couple hundred. It runs but they had sold off the tins and stuff. And in CT if it's a 79 or older you don't need a title

s008ess · Full Member Joined: Apr 09, 2009 Posts: 48 Location: Ohio

There are a couple XS projects in the Dayton, OH Craigs list area...

VoodooXS

I find them on craigslist all the time. I got mine for $900 looking and running great.

p73ornstar · Full Member Joined: Jun 17, 2008 Posts: 54

Yeah Craigslist works great. I just found a XS650 for $350 in my area. Ebay is where I got my engine. Found a guy 30 miles away that had an 81 Special engine for sale and picked it up for $150.

sharno · Full Member Joined: May 01, 2009 Posts: 13

well apparently in florida noone is selling these lol

oms1981 · Full Member Joined: May 07, 2009 Posts: 14

I found mine on craigslist as well. I saw several 650's come and go. Some were too beat up, some were too expensive. I just waited patiently for the right one. It took a few weeks but eventually I found a great bike at an amazing price. You just have to be patient and monitor the website very closely. When the bike I ended up buying was first posted, I emailed right away. Good deals are out there, but they don't last...

I guess another thing to consider if you are in fact having a hard time, is that you may need to expand your search area. I drove about 50 miles to get mine, which was no big deal to me. I would have gone substantially farther, it just ended up not being necessary.

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650