XR600 for first bike?

[chasio]

Cheers for your replies. The KLX guy has started answering so I'll keep an interest in that. I had a chat with the XR seller and he's stuck on $3k minimum so with tyres and other costs I'd be in for $3500 there before I know where I am, and that seems a bit steep for one in that condition.

I'm actually getting to the point where I think I should sell the GT200 and spend a bit more on a bike to get the best I can afford - say $5k or so. What I really want is both, but I'll struggle to afford them.

Life was simpler before I started reading about what you lot get up to!

[oldskool]

I had my eye on that bike for a while...until it went pass what I was prepared to pay for it ($1500). I love XR's and the 600 is the king of them. $3k is too much to pay for it tho.

Correct me if I am wrong guys but obtaining a VIN for an old dirt bike that's never been road registered before shouldn't be as much an ordeal as people make out if you have a spare vinned frame in the shed? (Electrics aside)

[CRM]

I had my eye on that bike for a while...until it went pass what I was prepared to pay for it ($1500). I love XR's and the 600 is the king of them. $3k is too much to pay for it tho.

Thing is... if the motor, frame and suspension is sound and it is warranted and regoed, but it's a bit scratched up it's actually not a biggy to turn it into a great tidy bike - new seat cover ($50?), paint the ugly blue side covers ($20 plus a bit of labour?), new tyres ($200) and you've got a little ripper for under $3500 that will out-perform anything short of a $15000 KTM 640 Adventure . If you want to really get it looking good get the frame blasted and repainted and new plastics but a lot more $ probably better spent on the suspension. I had the same thought - who would pay that much for 15 year old bike? - but I'm glad I did.

My 5c...

[oldskool]

Thing is... if the motor, frame and suspension is sound and it is warranted and regoed, but it's a bit scratched up it's actually not a biggy to turn it into a great tidy bike - new seat cover ($50?), paint the ugly blue side covers ($20 plus a bit of labour?), new tyres ($200) and you've got a little ripper for under $3500 that will out-perform anything short of a $15000 KTM 640 Adventure . If you want to really get it looking good get the frame blasted and repainted and new plastics but a lot more $ probably better spent on the suspension. I had the same thought - who would pay that much for 15 year old bike? - but I'm glad I did.

My 5c...

Agreed. The seat upholstered with an XR logo would be about $60. Side covers look to have been painted over, maybe they'll strip off and buff up. Resticker the swingarm etc. Reseal the front forks and reco the rear shock. Oil change, oil the cables, grease the linkages etc etc. But I've seen XR600's sell for around $1500 to $1800 unrego'd. If you're lucky enough to pick up a frame that's already been vinned, if it was me, I'd powder coat the frame and then it's just a matter of rebuilding the thing from the goer. That way you can check it through and know you have a bullet proof bike at the end of it... good project to do over the summer too! A lot less than buying a $3000 bike that may not be in better condition mechanically. My 2c

[chasio]

The XR has gone too steep for me just at the moment. I've also decided I need to keep the Vespa for commuting as it is perfect for it and I do like it. The KLX sounds like it will register OK so I may see if I can find someone out west who can inspect it. Any recommendations? I'd be happy to pay someone...

Cheers - Chasio

[chasio]

PS I 'm not mechanical enough to do a rebuild job! But it sounds like one of you might fancy a go! He's offered it at $2900...

[Waihou Thumper]

Or a certificate from the Cops that it's not "of interest" to them.

Good idea but when you re-vin a bike, I think it already goes through the process. I re-vinned the Husaberg, they checked at the testing station and because it was all clear did the WOF, and as it was in the system it was just a matter of re-inspection and I was away...