Unfortunately I live in CT where everyone thinks the poo is gold. I got him down to $800 and here thats not a bad deal. For $1k and under you are note likely to find anything better. Lots of early 80's lates 70's bikes that need work for that price.
The battery is brand new, has receipt.
The tires are mint, I checked those.
The brakes I didnt check because I already planned on new pads/shoes because I am going to flush and re-fill the brakes. I don't mess around with my hide
The missing side cover will run $80, not bad but the bigger problem is I think the bike is custom painted. So matching the color is going to be a nightmare. I am a rattle can dude so this will require help. Luckily I know a guy who is an auto body/paint guy. Will have to check with him.
I think one of the directionals may need to be replaced but other than that nothing "needs" to be replaced. Being that I am a bit OCD with bikes I am sure I will replace a bunch of other stuff to make it look/run mint before all is said and done.
I figure if I get it for $800, it will cost me about $100 to get it putting me at $900. I will "try" and cap myself at $600 to put into the bike leaving me with a net investment of $1500. I think when I am done with it I should be able to sell it in excellent shape for $1500.
I say try because like I said, I am a bit OCD with bikes. My last one cost me $200 when I pulled it out of a snow bank in NH. By the time I was done I was up to $3k, I sold it for $2500 so I only took a $500 hit. Not tooooo bad. I have done worse
verslagen1 wrote on 03/03/09 at 22:25:33:A $1k for an '88 that needs work is a bit expensive maybe by a couple hundred.
How old the battery?
How old are the tires?
Take a look at the front brake pads, you should see a groove in the middle of the pad next to the disk.
carb cleaning, missing parts, misslainy all add up.
Go in with these costs in mind and you'll come out ahead.
I don't know where you're at but how long's your riding season?