Honda XR 600

On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 20:26:02 +1100, "Rod Bacon"
<rodb.RemoveThis@_NO_SPAM_baconplanet.com> wrote:

 >There's really not enough info to tell for sure.
 >
 >If all that IS wrong with it is clutch, this may be OK, though I'd suggest
 >that there's not many late 80's XR's around that don't require more
 >substantial work (unless it's already been done?).
 >
 >Has it had a top and/or bottom end rebuild?
 >

He said it had new rings and it had a blown head gasket and it was re
drilled a few years ago and since then it has barely been ridden. I
have been there and rode it a few times. The tires are good and the
rest of it seems in good order. Only thing that is wrong apart from
the clutch is the seat has faded a bit. It doesn't smoke. Only when it
starts. It's a nice quick bike. No lagging or any tiredness noticable.

This bloke I know well and is very honest.
The bike has been sitting almost unused on the farm for a few years.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Honda XR 600 

C.D. wrote:
 > On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 20:26:02 +1100, "Rod Bacon"
 > <rodb DeleteThis @_NO_SPAM_baconplanet.com> wrote:
 >
 >
  >>There's really not enough info to tell for sure.
  >>
  >>If all that IS wrong with it is clutch, this may be OK, though I'd suggest
  >>that there's not many late 80's XR's around that don't require more
  >>substantial work (unless it's already been done?).
  >>
  >>Has it had a top and/or bottom end rebuild?
  >>
 >
 >
 > He said it had new rings and it had a blown head gasket and it was re
 > drilled a few years ago and since then it has barely been ridden. I
 > have been there and rode it a few times. The tires are good and the
 > rest of it seems in good order. Only thing that is wrong apart from
 > the clutch is the seat has faded a bit. It doesn't smoke. Only when it
 > starts. It's a nice quick bike. No lagging or any tiredness noticable.
 >
 > This bloke I know well and is very honest.
 > The bike has been sitting almost unused on the farm for a few years.

Get a mate to check it out for you and then make a choice
The price seems steep for such an old bike with a dicky clutch.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Honda XR 600 

On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 11:53:49 +1100, SmeeR11s <SmeeR1100s> wrote:


 >
 >Get a mate to check it out for you and then make a choice
 >The price seems steep for such an old bike with a dicky clutch.

I trust him so there is no need to get a 3rd party bike mech to
inspect. He is my cousin in-law if there is such a thing.

The clutch will be little to replace as I am aware. I thought people
would be replying saying it's a steal.

Anyway, $1500 for a good condition road/dirt bike seems fine to me if
all I need to do is replace the clutch.

This bike is far from expiring.

Any other thoughts?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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C.D. wrote:

 > On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 11:53:49 +1100, SmeeR11s <SmeeR1100s> wrote:
 >
 >
 >
  >>Get a mate to check it out for you and then make a choice
  >>The price seems steep for such an old bike with a dicky clutch.
 >
 >
 > I trust him so there is no need to get a 3rd party bike mech to
 > inspect. He is my cousin in-law if there is such a thing.
 >
 > The clutch will be little to replace as I am aware. I thought people
 > would be replying saying it's a steal.
 >
 > Anyway, $1500 for a good condition road/dirt bike seems fine to me if
 > all I need to do is replace the clutch.
 >
 > This bike is far from expiring.
 >
 > Any other thoughts?

You've made up your mind why are you asking us?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Honda XR 600 

On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 15:39:16 +1100, SmeeR11s <SmeeR1100s> wrote:


 >
 >You've made up your mind why are you asking us?

I hadn't 100%, but if someone suggested not to then I probably
wouldn't buy it.
I wanted to know what else I could think about from replies.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Honda XR 600 

You anticipated our reply? So your post was simply for self-gratification?

Hmmm.... anyway, having recentlybought a bike of similar vintage ('91
TT600), I can say that $1500 seems to be a reasonable price for a "late 80's
bike", depending on condition. Keep in mind that the clutch plates could
cost $200 or so, depending on which plates you need to replace (the fibre
ones only, or the metal ones as well). If you add a clutch cover gasket,
your're probably up around $225. Then there's oil and filter, which you'll
obviously change while the clutch is being done. While you're at it, do the
spark plug and air filter element (maybe just a wash and re-oil). Assuming
the chain, sprockets and brakes are OK, $300 should see it right. You'll
probably want to adjust the valve clearances as well. No $$$ in parts
(unless a gasket is required), but a bit of messing around if you do it
yourself.

Also remember that in 2005 we are entering the "late" part of this decade,
so the bike in question is almost vintage. (At 20 years you can join the
VJMC - Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club). Even if things look fine, you can
rest assurred that the cam shaft will be pretty well-worn, the bottom end
will be approaching "sloppy", the rear shock will be sagged and may even
need rebuilding, and the forks will most likely be similarly afflicted
(check the fork seals to begin with).

Whether it's ultimately good value largely depends on what you're going to
do with it. I only ride my TT600 a handful of times per year, so a "rattly"
cam chain and a little oil burning end are of little concern to me, and
certainly don't warrant a complete rebuild. If you want to use a bike
regularly (e.g. every weekend), then you're probably better off scrounging
up some more money to get something that is less likely to need work in the
near future.




"C.D." <none.DeleteThis@spam.au> wrote in message
news:bo65215cj9bitvputuapao1pmcm88m57dc@4ax.com...
 > On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 11:53:49 +1100, SmeeR11s <SmeeR1100s> wrote:
 >
 >
  >>
  >>Get a mate to check it out for you and then make a choice
  >>The price seems steep for such an old bike with a dicky clutch.
 >
 > I trust him so there is no need to get a 3rd party bike mech to
 > inspect. He is my cousin in-law if there is such a thing.
 >
 > The clutch will be little to replace as I am aware. I thought people
 > would be replying saying it's a steal.
 >
 > Anyway, $1500 for a good condition road/dirt bike seems fine to me if
 > all I need to do is replace the clutch.
 >
 > This bike is far from expiring.
 >
 > Any other thoughts?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Honda XR 600 

On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 21:28:19 +1100, "Rod Bacon"
<rodb.TakeThisOut@_NO_SPAM_baconplanet.com> wrote:

 >You anticipated our reply? So your post was simply for self-gratification?
 >
 >Hmmm.... anyway, having recentlybought a bike of similar vintage ('91
 >TT600), I can say that $1500 seems to be a reasonable price for a "late 80's
 >bike", depending on condition. Keep in mind that the clutch plates could
 >cost $200 or so, depending on which plates you need to replace (the fibre
 >ones only, or the metal ones as well). If you add a clutch cover gasket,
 >your're probably up around $225. Then there's oil and filter, which you'll
 >obviously change while the clutch is being done. While you're at it, do the
 >spark plug and air filter element (maybe just a wash and re-oil). Assuming
 >the chain, sprockets and brakes are OK, $300 should see it right. You'll
 >probably want to adjust the valve clearances as well. No $$$ in parts
 >(unless a gasket is required), but a bit of messing around if you do it
 >yourself.
 >
 >Also remember that in 2005 we are entering the "late" part of this decade,
 >so the bike in question is almost vintage. (At 20 years you can join the
 >VJMC - Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club). Even if things look fine, you can
 >rest assurred that the cam shaft will be pretty well-worn, the bottom end
 >will be approaching "sloppy", the rear shock will be sagged and may even
 >need rebuilding, and the forks will most likely be similarly afflicted
 >(check the fork seals to begin with).
 >
 >Whether it's ultimately good value largely depends on what you're going to
 >do with it. I only ride my TT600 a handful of times per year, so a "rattly"
 >cam chain and a little oil burning end are of little concern to me, and
 >certainly don't warrant a complete rebuild. If you want to use a bike
 >regularly (e.g. every weekend), then you're probably better off scrounging
 >up some more money to get something that is less likely to need work in the
 >near future.

Thanks for the reply.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Honda XR 600 

 >but if someone suggested not to then I probably wouldn't buy it.
I thought someone had said that...<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Honda XR 600 

"C.D." <none RemoveThis @spam.au> wrote:
 > Anyway, $1500 for a good condition road/dirt bike seems fine to me if
 > all I need to do is replace the clutch.
 >
 > This bike is far from expiring.
 >
 > Any other thoughts?
~
You've obviously made up your mind ling before you posted here; why are you
wasting our time asking?
Clem<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Honda XR 600 

"SmeeR11s" <SmeeR1100s> wrote:
 > You've made up your mind why are you asking us?
~
Clem wrote:
 > You've obviously made up your mind ling before you posted here; why are
 > you wasting our time asking?
~
Shit; out-smeed!
Clem<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Honda XR 600 

"SmeeR11s" <SmeeR1100s> wrote:
 > Get a mate to check it out for you and then make a choice
 > The price seems steep for such an old bike with a dicky clutch.
~
Of course you're gonna' have to pay more if they've got you in a dicky
clutch!
Clem<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Honda XR 600 

"Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle DeleteThis @notmail.com> wrote in message
news:4223133b_1@x-privat.org...
 > You've obviously made up your mind ling before you posted here; why are
you
 > wasting our time asking?
 > Clem


I knew there was something fishy about that bike.

Postman Pat<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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Pat Heslewood wrote:

 > "Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle.RemoveThis@notmail.com> wrote in message
 > news:4223133b_1@x-privat.org...
 >
  >>You've obviously made up your mind ling before you posted here; why are
 >
 > you
 >
  >>wasting our time asking?
  >>Clem
 >
 >
 >
 > I knew there was something fishy about that bike.
 >
 > Postman Pat
 >
 >
 >
<groan>

Sometimes he *is* funnier in real life.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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