Is the bike worth it?

[ilknascar]

Here is my problem,
I go look at another 84 aspencade last night. It has 50K miles on it, looks real nice and even has good rubber. It runs fairly good although it has not had good tags since 2000 so I am guessing the carbs need cleaned. It sputters some when you give it the gas. The guy says it was given to him to pay a dept off. He doesnt seem to know much about bikes and said he rode it around the block a few times then parked it. Said he changed the oil, clutch fluid and the brake fluids. I jump on it to go for a ride, it will not budge forward or backward cause the brakes are locked up. I pop it into gear and no go. The clutch feels kind of stiff when I pull it. So, my question is................ do ya think it is worh $1650.00. He was asking $2300.00 and I told him I wasnt sure what I would offer him and I left. He called me last night and said he needed to pay some bills and would drop it to $1650.00. Any ideas as to what he could have done to the brakes and clutch when changing the fluids that would cause them all not to work? Would this be one of those killer deals everyone else comes acrross?
Thanks guys
:thanks:

 

[mcgovern61]

Is it worth it?? Hmmmmmm. Can't move it? Hmmmmmmm. Should at least be able to move it in neutral with a dead battery and no runnig engine! Hmmmmmmmmm. What could he have done? Might have the wrong brake pads, calipers are rusted from sitting (not sure about that because my '82 sat outside year round for 12 years...rusty, broken...dead....seized calipers......blown engine and it still rolled in neutral!) Pop it into gear and no go?????? Thar is a lot of power there..even with a bad set of carbs. Engine runs but cannot move the bike????

I would not automatically assume the brakes are locked. Put it on the center stand, in neutral, bike off and see if you can spin the back wheel. If you can't, are the rotors real...real rusty?? (I am assuming you can find neutral since the bike started up.) He may have done something completely goofy with the clutch that messed something else up! I would try putting it in neutral, engine off and push. If it cannot get rolling in neutral, ask if he will crack the bleeders open to release the brakes (assuming they are not rusty). If none of this works....walk away...someting is seriously wrong!

 

[dan filipi]

Back yard mechanics are a big source of ingenuity but also can cause many many problems.

The brakes could be a simple repair by flushing fluids to get gunk out of the master cylinders and calipers.
Worst case is they need rebuilt which is a rather simple deal.

Sight unseen it sounds like a fair price to me.

Whether it's worth $1650 would (for me) depend on the condition of the paint and chrome and IF those are original miles. Both paint and chrome would have to polish up fairly well with minimal scratches/rust and fading.
I've seen sun beaten rust buckets going for more $.

The engine could have problems but if it idles and accelerates and sounds quiet internally then I would go for it.

Bottom line is it depends on what it's worth TO YOU.

 

[slabghost]

Here is my problem,
I go look at another 84 aspencade last night. It has 50K miles on it, looks real nice and even has good rubber. It runs fairly good although it has not had good tags since 2000 so I am guessing the carbs need cleaned. It sputters some when you give it the gas. The guy says it was given to him to pay a dept off. He doesnt seem to know much about bikes and said he rode it around the block a few times then parked it. Said he changed the oil, clutch fluid and the brake fluids. I jump on it to go for a ride, it will not budge forward or backward cause the brakes are locked up. I pop it into gear and no go. The clutch feels kind of stiff when I pull it. So, my question is................ do ya think it is worh $1650.00. He was asking $2300.00 and I told him I wasnt sure what I would offer him and I left. He called me last night and said he needed to pay some bills and would drop it to $1650.00. Any ideas as to what he could have done to the brakes and clutch when changing the fluids that would cause them all not to work? Would this be one of those killer deals everyone else comes acrross?
Thanks guys
:thanks:

Clutch fluid? Sounds fixable. If you like/want the bike offer what you are willing to pay. If the offer is accepted buy it and get it home.Brakes could need bled or rebuilt.

 

[ekvh]

Could the brakes be the infamous spoofs hole is plugged?

 

[paddy.shadow]

I, personally, would be willing to risk it, all the brake and clutch issues easily repaired!

 

[ilknascar]

Well, thanks for all of the advice and thoughts.
I went over to look at it again last night and I bled off some of the brake fluid and they released, we also bled a little clutch fluid. We started it and got through the rough idle until it warmed up and we were able to get it into gear. I released the clutch and clank...........clunk................( I think there was a little tiny clink also) griiiiiiiiiinnnndddddddddddd, and growwwwllllllllllll. It of course did not move and I quickly shut it off, removed the key and after placing the key in the guys hand I told him good luck and have a great evening...........................then walked to my bike and rode away!

 

[dan filipi]

Driveshaft or final drive problems sounds like.

 

[danf]

$1.200 and no more right now cash take it or leave it :shock: , listen to your intincts...Not me...

 

[slabghost]

now it sounds like a $500 bike.

 

[OldWrench]

From your discription I wouldn't give much for it. It just may have some serious trans problems or could be a easy fix but without knowing the source of the problem you could be buying a very big problem.