[busrocker71]

i've got a guy who wants to trade me my 68 sprint for his 75 cb 550 4. im new to bikes and have no problem turning a wrench. the only thing is that the scoot is worth a good $2800+ with a new motor and other goodies. the cb is in good working condition with only a few little things needed. im looking for reliability and a good amount of drivability. thanks guys in advance.

-hely

 

[Geeto67]

$2800 for a cb550 the bike should be damn pretty close to perfect. It sounds like you are describing a $1500 cb550 but I can't tell without pictures. Personally I woulnd't pay more than $2K for a cb550 and $3K for a really nice cb750. I wouldn't trade your vespa for that honda unless he is giving you some cash to boot.

Hondas are dead nuts reliable, I had one as my only transportation for a couple of years and the same bike has been in service 7 years without fail or anything more than regular maintenance. It has 22K on the clock since I got it and who know how many before (I bought it sans speedo).

 

[joe c]

is that a vespa or a harley sprint? you could just sell the sprint, whatever it is, and buy 3 cb550s in good shape for 2800. i bought mine for 650 and ive got another 5-600 into it. but alot of that was just shit i wanted to change. and i think i overpaid for my 550. lets put it this way, for 2800, you could have 2 really cherry cb550's if youre willing to wait and look. they arent worth THAT much. and personally, for a cb550, i wouldnt pay more than 1500, and even then itd have to be be exactly what i wanted. and i dont want one that bad. but they are super reliable. and the earlier ones are the ones to have. the 77/78 ones arent as easy i dont think.

jc

 

[busrocker71]

thats what i thought. the vespa is restored and the 550 is a daily beater. anyway...thanks a lot for the advice.

-hely

 

[Geeto67]

quote:
thats what i thought. the vespa is restored and the 550 is a daily beater. anyway...thanks a lot for the advice.

-hely

Although it won't exaclty be japanese reliable (unless you get one with new electrics) you could always trade your vespa for a triumph. I see a lot of tigers, daytonas, and such hovering around that price. Nothing says old school cafe like a brit bike.

 

[cafeteria_racer]

This is in Cali....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hond...ryZ80647QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[texmawby]

hely,

if you trade your vespa in for that piece of s*@#, i'm never talking to you again. seriously dude, the guy brags about this trick modern exhaust he put on the bike but couldn't click another photo. maybe he couldn't afford the extra 15cent ebay fee?

show us a pix of your vespa if you can. i'm sure a.d. will want to trade you a bridgestone.

good luck, but please take a pass.

tex

 

[cafeteria_racer]

Yes tex, but at least that piece of shit doesn't cost $2800. I wouldn't buy it. Personally, I like to find nice unmolested motorbikes.

 

[LiLBull]

hey take these guys advice with a grain of salt they are BIKE MOLESTERS!!! Prices are changing these guys have been playing with bikes so long they arent thinking straight, good Bikes are getting hard to find ,these guys still know how to look for them ,most people dont, so prices will climb ,not in these guys minds but in the real world. I also can find cheep bikes but most people havent a clue of where to find them .THESE GUYS DO!!!
Should you trade ,I agree show us some pictures so we know what your talking about.

 

[Geeto67]

quote:
hey take these guys advice with a grain of salt they are BIKE MOLESTERS!!! Prices are changing these guys have been playing with bikes so long they arent thinking straight, good Bikes are getting hard to find ,these guys still know how to look for them ,most people dont, so prices will climb ,not in these guys minds but in the real world. I also can find cheep bikes but most people havent a clue of where to find them .THESE GUYS DO!!!
Should you trade ,I agree show us some pictures so we know what your talking about.

Good bikes may be getting hard to find but no 70's Honda should cost more than a grand if it isn't showroom perfect or a really custom cafe. The last three 750s I bought cost me $300, $350, and $50 - two of them ran and one I rode home (and I have a line on a couple for $150). The most I have ever paid for one was $800 and $1000 and the the $1000 was for a custom amen framed 550 chop from the 70's. Craigslist is my source for cheap bikes right now, as is the free ads paper, and word of mouth. Be patient, the deals will find you, it just takes some time.

I've seen AD's bridgestone, that thing gives me wood it is so clean. If I wasn't a total monster and broke, I would be all over it.

 

[joe c]

id pay 1k for a nice mid/early 70's 750 that was really clean. but really no more. im too into the buck a cc mentality. there are plenty of nice cheap jap bikes out there. and i mean really nice. theyre still around.


jc

 

[texmawby]

hely,

didn't mean to be harsh. i was confused thinking that bike listed was the guy who offered it to you for $2800.00. that and i had a good amount of gin in me. i still think that ebay bike is pretty grim. geeto said it best, the good bike will find you if you are patient. how 'bout a pix of that vespa?

tex

 

[busrocker71]

lol. that actually was the bike i was talking about. i ended up telling him no way and that the scoot was worth way too much to let go for that 550. the vespa has just recently been re-restored(previous restoration was shit) and a new motor has been built with great internals. i should have the scooter doing at least 80 <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> i'll load some pics soon to see what you all think. but i've come to the conclusion that im going to take my time and find the cafe that really calls my name. i want to be picky and find the perfect cantidate you know? anyway, thanks for the advice. and if you see anyone out there with a brit bike that is dying for a vespa...let me know.

by the way...whats a bridgestone? im doubting its the tires.

-hely

 

[Geeto67]

quote:

by the way...whats a bridgestone? im doubting its the tires.

-hely

Bridgestone, the tire manufacturer (which Is a japanese company by the way), decided in the 1960's it was going to get into the two stroke bike market. So it released a bunch of slick ass bikes ranging from 100cc to 350cc. They were little screamers. My favorite is the 350 GTO, just for the looks. here is a good site to read more:

http://www.bridgestonemotorcycle.com/index2.html

 

[texmawby]

thanks geet for posting that picture. it will be my new ad, since i have a red 175cc twin and a blue 200cc mach 2. all i need now is that girl to direct more (internet) traffic.

still for sale, $1000.00usd!

holla!

tex

 

[texmawby]

i notice that that cb550 went for $985.00 on ebay!

i'd be satisfied if i was the seller!

tex

 

[busrocker71]

thanks for the info. great looking bikes. and if i were that seller...i'd be VERY happy with that ending bid. good luck to the buyer.

-hely