by "Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
Published 06/05/2017 at 10:24
by "Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
Published 06/05/2017 at 10:24
Tags: Two Wheels Good
STARS: 0
I’ve written about this bike before (a couple times ). Well, my dad formally offered it to me last night. He’s got a VTX and a couple of Suzuki’s picked out that he’s interested in. This has to go first.
He told me to throw out a number. I said I could do $1800, but no more. He thought that was fair.
I looked around this morning and found a few (but not many) KZ1000 LTD’s for sale. One was restored and listed for $4600, one in much worse shape than this one for $2500, and a couple between $3-4 thousand. So I’m thinking I could potentially double my money in a few years when I let it go.
Pros:
Nostagla/sentimental value
This was the first bike I ever saw. First bike I ever rode on the back of, first bike I rode after my MSF class. I have vivid memories of sitting on it at 5 years old, barely able to reach the bars, and making motorcycle noises.
Condition
It’s the nicest original KZ1000 of this vintage I’ve ever seen. 13,000 miles and all original equipment.
Maintenance
My dad has had it since 1982 and is meticulous about maintenance. I know it’s sound mechanically.
Flipability
Living in the Twin Cites means I should be able to take this thing around to some local bike nights and other events and get some eyes on it. Possibly somebody willing to shell out some money to own it. My goal would be to have it 2-3 years and then sell.
Cons:
Money
I have the cash to go pick it up, but I could use that cash to pay down some debt, or keep saving. I already have a motorcycle. I certainly don’t need two, especially one that’s 40 years old.
So what say you Oppo? Make the deal or let it go?
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
06/05/2017 at 10:27, STARS: 1
MAKE THE DEAL! MAKE THE DEAL! MAKE THE DEAL!
It’s not easy to maintain an old inline 4, especially the big displacement ones like this, but you have to admit it’s cool to have something that isn’t around anymore. Keep it safe and warm and enjoy it on sunny days. Then sell it if you want to or keep it around for memory’s sake.
"Trunk Impaired 318" (matteocscaptura)
06/05/2017 at 10:34, STARS: 2
Im just going to leave this here.
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
06/05/2017 at 10:42, STARS: 1
Do it.
"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
06/05/2017 at 10:47, STARS: 1
I’m just going to leave this here.
"DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By" (ducst3-red-1liter-standing-by)
06/05/2017 at 11:02, STARS: 0
As long as you burn that eyesore of the old vetter fairing and sissy bar! The 80's are strong with this one!
"Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
06/05/2017 at 11:06, STARS: 0
Hahaha yea, like I said in previous articles., the old man bought this and then left it exactly how it was. I’d maybe keep the fairing, rack, and sissy bar, but they’d sit in a very dark corner of the garage....just in case the new owner wanted them.
"DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By" (ducst3-red-1liter-standing-by)
06/05/2017 at 11:08, STARS: 0
Good plan. My first bike was an 81 xj650, with one of the old vetter windjammers (with functioning 8 tack!). Tried selling it on eBay, but it would have been $200 to ship the damn thing it was so big!
"Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
06/05/2017 at 11:13, STARS: 0
It’s so odd that they routinely put those on such small bikes. Those Windjammers push alot of air. I doubt an old 650 sporting a Windjammer could get out of it’s own way with a stiff headwind..
"Monkey B" (monkeyb)
06/05/2017 at 11:14, STARS: 1
there is no question here...you were just telling us what you are about to do. I didn’t read the cons, there are none.
"Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
06/05/2017 at 11:15, STARS: 0
you may be right....
"DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By" (ducst3-red-1liter-standing-by)
06/05/2017 at 11:17, STARS: 1
Yeah they do! I took one ride with it, drove home and got out the wrenches. Plus, and I’m sure some will disagree, I think they really age the bike. Most UJM’s have some style since they more or less copied the old British bikes from the 60s and 70s
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
06/05/2017 at 11:39, STARS: 1
Do these have some sort of cult following that I don’t know about? Because the prices you listed seem absolutely ridiculous to me. $1800 even seemed high and anything above $2000 is too much for an nearly any 80's UJM IMO. If you really like it I’m not going to say it’s a bad deal because it’s a really clean looking bike, but keep an eye on the other used bikes for sale, I expect you’d have a harder time flipping for a profit than you think.
I’ve been trying to buy a new bike lately but have to sell my old one first and the bike market is kinda weird right now, I’ve had my bike (‘08 Sportster 883) priced at a hell of a deal for quite a while now, but haven’t had any takers. The bikes I’ve been looking at (Yamaha Warriors) are also priced really well, but have been sitting on CL for a long time. It’s a buyers market right now, and definitely not a sellers.
"Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
06/05/2017 at 11:52, STARS: 0
Yea, they have a following for sure. This was the replacement for the Z1, which was revolutionary. The LTD is also the widely credited as the first attempt at a cruiser. So they have a following. The mid-eighties 1100's are dirt cheap, but the mid 70s through 79 do pretty well in the used market. There are two on ebay right now (not LTD’s) that have been bid over $3200.
I completely agree on the buyer’s market. I’m sure it would take time and effort to get it sold, which I’m fine with. I’ll probably get it, ride it for a year, then start posting it on forums and putting a for sale sign on it. If it takes two more years to sell that’s fine by me.
"Pearson Hurst" (phurst)
06/05/2017 at 11:55, STARS: 1
Both of my bikes are 40+ years old. I’m not seeing the problem there :) Nice bike at a great price. No brainer, though I agree it looks best without the fairing and sissy bar.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
06/05/2017 at 11:55, STARS: 0
If the following is that strong then I say go for it.
Related side note, I had a guy offer me one of these, in complete but non running condition for $200, I didn’t have the space to put it so I haven’t checked it out. Maybe I should...
"Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
06/05/2017 at 13:11, STARS: 1
You should. The motors are pretty legendary. Used for drag racing for years and years. Rough ones will sometimes go pretty cheap, but if it can be brought back to good condition and made to run you can turn a good profit on it.
"Cow" (coweatgrass)
06/05/2017 at 13:25, STARS: 1
This is the kind of thing that you will regret not doing.
And if worse comes to worse, you realize you should have used the money to pay of debt you can flip it after you buy it to pay of more debt. Although I’m sure your dad wouldn’t like if you flipped it fast, but you can at least say you tried.
"Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
06/05/2017 at 13:54, STARS: 0
I told him directly that I’m buying it for a flip. He told me if I wanted to mess around with that it didn’t bother him. He knows where he’s at (northeast SD) he doesn’t have the population to find a buyer at a good price. With me in the Twin Cities, I might find someone...
"Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
06/05/2017 at 14:00, STARS: 0
Totally agree with you. I like the style of UJM’s, and I think they can be pretty timeless. However a Windjammer tells you pretty quickly that it’s from the early 80s.