Welcome to The Forum and enjoy!
I'm biased, since I've owned my '86 since new. Haven't experience with the 1500s, but some wrenching friends have stated they are more difficult to work on due to the 'tupperware'. My '86 had a stator problem that was corrected under warranty and has worked ever since. I did have to replace the connector for the three yellow wires on the stator, but hasn't cropped up since. I replaced the water pump at about 60k miles, it was just starting to show signs of wiggle in the shaft. I just considered it a preventative maintenance item. I've replaced the fuel pump once, the ticking seemed to be getting louder, so another preventative measure. I had the carbs rebuilt after it had a long nap, they were leaking. I had the rear oil seal at the drive shaft replaced due to it leaking, not a lot but was making the rear wheel a mess. I've done other maintenance type items but they would be expected on a machine that is getting up in age.
The machines you are looking at are old enough that there are few if any dealers that will work on them, the one I found will never see it again after they jacked it up worse than when I brought it to them. If you aren't going to work on them yourself, find an independent mechanic that comes from a recommendation.
Best of luck....
