Thanks for the guide. The fact that it runs/drives is promising. It was stored indoors so that is good. Someone mentioned the chain? These are shaft driven..corrct?
from the looks of it wouldnt it be worth like $800-$1000 since it runs and has been stored indoors? I know it would take another $500 or so, but then one would know just was done to it..am I thinking correctly?
I'd say you are... for a start.
Anytime you buy a used bike it's a crap shoot. There might be nothing wrong or there could be something serious. If the engine sounds good with no knocks, pings, rattles, bangs, wangs, bleeps, or bloops (making up noises here, basically if the engine sounds good) anything else is just some work.
Everything is relative and anything can be fixed if you throw enough money at it. I keep saying "as long as the engine is in good shape" because everything else is just general maintenance type stuff. To me, the engine is what usually makes or breaks a buy.
Change the tires (check wheel bearings while the wheels are off the bike). Since the front wheel is off remove the forks and steering stem then clean and grease the steering bearings (or replace). Since the forks are off change the fork oil... also since the front is disassembled check and lube all the cables... stuff like that looks to be what that bike needs.
The one main thing that could mean more work would be rust, gunk, junk, or other debris in the gas tank--any of that means the fuel system is compromised and that means more work (disassembling, cleaning, reassembling, maybe sealing the tank, etc...)
*I* think that $500 (again, if the engine is sound) is a good deal on that bike. But, again, all things being relative I would be comfortable doing the work that bike currently requires to make it road-worthy. I don't know how confident you would be doing that type of work. It is not a buy-and-ride bike but it does appear to be a worthy project bike.
