Had to walk away from this one

GreenMtnMan · Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 5:36 pm Post subject: Had to walk away from this one

Saw a 1975 KE125 on Craigslist.........drove two hours with the $800 in pocket. Got there, front tire is flat, starts hard, won't stay running unless choke is fully closed. Air cleaner boot to carb is wrapped in electrical tape. Decided to pass. Plus if you're trying to sell something, don't you wash it and clean it up a little?

KirkN · Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 6:28 pm Post subject:

Yeah, $800 is pretty top-dollar for that, IMO. You'd like to think he'd have washed it up and pumped up the tire or put in a new tube...

That said, I'd have probably bought it anyway. I seem to make lots of mistakes like that. Very Happy

I had a bike like that back in 1985 or so when I was in college. Mine was blue with the same graphics. I rode the whee out of it, and sold it to a buddy of mine who did the same thing all over again! Indestructible, as far as I was concerned.

Maybe next time for ya....

Kirk

Rizingson · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:23 am Post subject:

Dirty, flat tires, covered with hay and not running!! It's all good! Use it to your bargaining advantage. More than half the bikes I find have all those issues. Nothing like wiping a few small spots clean on the suspected bad area's while the owners not looking, and finding shiny paint and bright chrome thats not pitted to get the juices pumping!! Then turn to the owner and devalue the hell out of it. Then you buy it for a song, take it home and clean it up while looking for all the things you missed. If you're lucky or experienced you'll have instant equity. It doesn't get better than that.
If your looking for spit polished bike you can bet the owner also has intentions of getting the max bucks he can out of it, and you may end up with a pig with lipstick. I like it when an owner says "I just had enough of it and want to get rid of it"

H2Lou · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:33 am Post subject:

I would have offered him 4 Cool

grimes · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:55 am Post subject:

That looks pretty clean. I would have offered between $450 and $550. Call him back, point out the flaws and ask. It would have been a good idea and fix up.

GreenMtnMan · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:01 pm Post subject:

Yeah, now in hindsight I should have offered 3-400 for it. At the time I didn't think he would go any lower. I'll wait a few days and call back.

grimes · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:01 pm Post subject:

Don't expect to get it for $300. Be ready to haggle prices with him, I would not pay more than $550 for it.

jeepurz · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:33 pm Post subject:

seat and tank good? still has orig signals on it so its not been thrashed to bad, why would the guy have not cleaned it.?

dorT500 · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:46 pm Post subject:

Because he did not really want to sell it. wife

fxray · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:42 pm Post subject:

Too bad you live so far away. A friend of mine has a 1980 KE100 that he wants to get rid of. Of course it lacks a couple parts, like the carb and air box. He got it as a small project, and has found he has no time to track down parts, due to his new job.

GreenMtnMan · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 3:51 am Post subject:

Talked to the owner, offered 550, he won't go below 700.

Hippykid · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 5:56 pm Post subject:

Those are really good all around cycles and 700 is not that bad....

------------------------
74 DT360
74 TY250
74 TY80
80 IT125
10 Honda Fury

grimes · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:54 pm Post subject:

True, call him back and tell him if he gets it running right (prolly only needs carb cleaned or a new spark plug or a battery), you'll buy it for $700.

dorT500 · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 8:02 pm Post subject:

GreenMtnMan · Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:02 pm Post subject:

Went back and got the bike. Thanks to the forum members for setting me straight.