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Joined: Jun 17, 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Edmonton AB, Canada
Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:41 pm Post subject: Buying First Bike, Suzuki A100, need advice.
Hi, as you can see I'm new to this forum, and this is my first post. I joined because recently I have become very interested in purchasing an old japanese bike, and I figured you all would have more than 2 cents to give me on the subject. I don't know where to begin, so far I have no bike, but I have been checking listings in my home town to see when one comes up. I have been searching mostly for Honda CB series bikes, but I have seen a Honda CA 94 that interested me, and most recently a Suzuki A100. (Kijiji Listing)
I am very green, as you can imagine, that is why Im asking, in all your experience what are some Do's and Don't when looking for a bike? My price range I suppose is up to 1000 dollars at the moment, I'm looking for something smaller (under 350cc), and no NEWER than 1979. I am also planning on putting a lot of time into the bike to get it up to shape. That Suzuki I just posted a link to interests me a lot, what do you all know of this model (it does not say, but from my research looks to be a A100).
Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 4:55 pm Post subject: Hello RENE-LEMIEUX
Welcome to the VJMOG ! The bike you posted is very interesting . If I was from the land of Corb Lund , I would already have that little guy loaded in my truck . But , I live in the desert in Phoenix Arizona and that is too far a trek . Well it certainly blows your newer than 79' , but is well under the 350cc and the $1000.00 criteria that you set up . A non running bike is always a risk and especially in that vintage . So base what you are looking for on your skill level or wallet thickness . None of my projects have been cheap , but they are all labor's of love . Good luck to you with your hunting . It will be interesting to follow this thread as it progresses .
Joined: Feb 01, 2010 Posts: 45 Location: West Kelowna, BC
Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:45 pm Post subject:
That's a nice looking little unit...a little spendy, perhaps, but it is 43 years old, and looks complete.
Any project bike has to be, as already stated, a labour of love. You won't make money at it, but you'll spend many hours (days) happily puttering in the shed on some minor reconstruction. You'll buy the bike for $500 (or $400..try it), put $1000 into it, and have a bike worth $900...oh, yeah, never mind, that's my version of a project bike...
Seriously, I'd go for it if it I didn't already have too many projects.....you'll never pass yourself going the other way down Jasper Ave.....one of a kind at that age, at least in my neck of the woods. _________________ Past Rides:
´81 Virago
´82 GS400E
´82 GS750E
´82 GS650GL
´77 DT250
Current Runners:
´80 GS850 (Collector Plate)
´78 XS400 cafe/tracker (Collector Plate)
Projects:
´73 RT3
AD- (nothing personal against the person advertising this ad)
What you see is what you get...
my interpretation
Don't ask for your money back...the unseen may be bad...maybe no title...
AD
was running fine 2 years ago when parked
my interpretation
not running. ...time flies-what I thought was two years is really 7 years ...if it was running fine why was it parked?...Do I want to look in the tank?
AD
...throttle seem sticky now...$500.00"
my interpretation
sticky or frozen? Carbs need rebuild ... Is the kickstarter fozen or sticky too? ....Offers??
Caveat emptor-Let the buyer beware -sometimes it pays to be cynical!
With this bike I would assume you are looking for a project to work on. If you decided you want a project bike (as opposed to a running bike) this looks like a good candidate. I would look at it and if I decided to make an offer, I would based it on the cost plus parts and labor to get the bike running.
Larry _________________ ´73 Honda CB350G
´72(1) Honda SL100K1
Joined: Jun 17, 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Edmonton AB, Canada
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 3:16 pm Post subject:
Hey, Thanks for the replies guys.
I called the person selling it, and it turns out it belongs to a woman, who got it for her 14th birthday instead of the horse she had requested (man, I wish my parents were that cool.)
She seems very honest, and says that it's going to need TLC, but not alot to be drivable.
Again, I know, there's never a lot of honesty when it comes to business, but we talked for about 20 minutes on the phone, and it warmed me up to the bike a lot more after getting to know her better.
This will be a project, and it will also be my very first bike (besides the honda pc50 we own, and barely ever ran) so I don't know a whole lot about it, but you gotta start somewhere right?!
@ tcanough, it's funny you mention Corb Lund, it's such a small world we live in. I work at a recording studio in Edmonton with one other guy named Scott Franchuk. He's a good friend of Corbs, and is his touring soundman, and is responsible for the recording and mixing one of Corbs live DVDs.
@Runningdog, Jasper Ave? Are you from Edmonton aswell?
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 5:37 pm Post subject: That is good news !!
It sounds to me like you have found your first bike and it is one that allot of us would like to have in their stable . That is a rotary disk engine [very good power output in the small engines ] and since the carburetor is inboard they tend to stay cleaner [unless water got inside somehow ] . Well good luck with it and keep us posted with pictures and progress reports . As for Corb Lund , who could not admire his brand of country music . With song titles like "TRUCK GOT STUCK" [go to youtube and listen to it , it's killer ] . I would love to see him if he comes on tour down here in Phoenix . For those not aquanted with Corb he comes from this gentlemans neck of the woods and he and his band "THE HURTIN ALBERTANS " are very talented .
Joined: Jun 17, 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Edmonton AB, Canada
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: That is good news !!
tcanough wrote:
It sounds to me like you have found your first bike and it is one that allot of us would like to have in their stable . That is a rotary disk engine [very good power output in the small engines ] and since the carburetor is inboard they tend to stay cleaner [unless water got inside somehow ] . Well good luck with it and keep us posted with pictures and progress reports . As for Corb Lund , who could not admire his brand of country music . With song titles like "TRUCK GOT STUCK" [go to youtube and listen to it , it's killer ] . I would love to see him if he comes on tour down here in Phoenix . For those not aquanted with Corb he comes from this gentlemans neck of the woods and he and his band "THE HURTIN ALBERTANS " are very talented .
Yeah, I just phoned the woman who's selling it, and shes bringing it into town for monday, I'm really excited, I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy it. It's funny though talking on here with all of you who are in the know, I will openly admit that I don't even know how to ride a manual drive cycle. I drove a standard piaggio scooter when I was India a few times, but it's been too long since then, haha. All I really have is the desire to buy a bike, and the money to do it, from there on I am in the dark completely. I don't know a thing about motors... consider this my dive into it. You all seem very supportive of a true newbie, I hope you can help me get through every step of the way.
As for Corb, it still blows my mind that he's known all the way down there, coupled with my close degree of separation with him. He's a famous in alberta for his past band The Smalls, and now his succesful solo career. I've met and performed on the same bill with many members of the smalls, besides Corb himself, as well as working with one of his close friends, his go to sound guy.... Small small world...
Joined: May 07, 2010 Posts: 297 Location: Gadsden, Alabama
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:53 pm Post subject:
As with most others, I have to say that's a dern good first project! And yes, one my stable would LOVE to house!
There will always be this and that to do to any bike. When it comes to bikes such as what you are looking at there, how complete it is and how clean (IE not needing frame welded to fix rust outs and "tins" being in good shape). If I found that same bike down here as shown in your pic, I'd have a look over to see if the engine's free and all the other quick-sightable areas, but would buy it seized up and needing every component pulled, to get it as complete and clean as it appears to be.
Joined: Jun 17, 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Edmonton AB, Canada
Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:43 am Post subject:
I would just like to reiterate upon my first post about a very minor mistake I made. When I said no older than 1979, I meant no NEWER than 1979, I have since edited the post (not that it matters really). Gotta think before you type.
Joined: Jun 17, 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Edmonton AB, Canada
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 12:07 am Post subject:
The people were supposed to bring the bike in for this Monday, but they forgot, so I have to wait until next Sunday to get it!
It's too bad, but they sent a video clip to make up for it. She Runs!
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 5:23 am Post subject: Hello again .
Well now , your first bike sounds like a winner . Started first kick , idled smoothly , light on . This should be the perfect beginner bike and a runner to boot . Wait till sunday it will be worth the wait !! My favorite bike of all time was my 72' Suzuki ts 90 honcho . I had more fun on it than I have since I sold it many years ago . Good luck and keep us posted .
Joined: Jul 10, 2008 Posts: 1639 Location: Galveston County, Tx.
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 6:12 am Post subject:
If it has a clear title.....you need to get the money to them TODAY and worry about how you will get it home later....in my opinion. _________________ _________________________________
GONE.......WITH A PUFF OF SMOKE AND A BLUR OF SPOKE........
_______________________________________
Joined: Jul 10, 2008 Posts: 1639 Location: Galveston County, Tx.
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 1:11 pm Post subject:
Perhaps the wrong word to use(In Canada) when it comes to some type of documentation package that show's sellers proof of ownership (Bill of Sale) and that same name is on registration (last time it was registered) You might see if you can find a phone number in the link below. From what you said before about the lady owning so long...there is probably nothing to worry about. But business is business. Good luck and if you really want that bike....I myself would still get the money to them TODAY. This is of course your call. I had noticed that they had changed the ad to 'Sale Pending' .....but...."Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." (Simple version of "Murphy's Law")
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