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With no end in sight to the cost overruns on the GS550L project, I went looking for something else, firstly as wishful thinking.
Then I saw a CL listing asking $50 for a near-basket case with one cylinder, one carburetor, and smaller tires than my GS.
I reasoned that all disassembly labor had already been done. With the engine in pieces I would not have to worry as much about suprises like the sharp sand some PO packed around several cylinder studs of my GS. At $50 there is not much to loose if it is unfixable or a $400 part is needed. Lots of web browsing.... On one hand it is rare, but not a famous classic so people will still ride them, good for parts demand in event of failure.
This thing has a lot of parts in common with the TW200, the XT200, and the XT225. So my chances of success are good.
I sent out a series of texts and told it was left out in the rain the day before I texted and therefore free.
So I drove down. I sat on it, and it fits me better than the GS. Wiped off what water I could. Some 3 in one and some WD40 went in to stop any further rusting.
I turned the crank with the con rod by hand - no binding. Checked the VIN with NCIB - no records of theft or salvage.
There was not a speck of rust in the fuel tank! One key fits the ignition, tank lid, and helmet lock.
So we signed the bill of sale (that has two mistakes on it, will need to drive 2 hours each way to get a new one)
And loaded it into the back of my RAV4.
Then I saw a CL listing asking $50 for a near-basket case with one cylinder, one carburetor, and smaller tires than my GS.
I reasoned that all disassembly labor had already been done. With the engine in pieces I would not have to worry as much about suprises like the sharp sand some PO packed around several cylinder studs of my GS. At $50 there is not much to loose if it is unfixable or a $400 part is needed. Lots of web browsing.... On one hand it is rare, but not a famous classic so people will still ride them, good for parts demand in event of failure.
This thing has a lot of parts in common with the TW200, the XT200, and the XT225. So my chances of success are good.
I sent out a series of texts and told it was left out in the rain the day before I texted and therefore free.
So I drove down. I sat on it, and it fits me better than the GS. Wiped off what water I could. Some 3 in one and some WD40 went in to stop any further rusting.
I turned the crank with the con rod by hand - no binding. Checked the VIN with NCIB - no records of theft or salvage.
There was not a speck of rust in the fuel tank! One key fits the ignition, tank lid, and helmet lock.
So we signed the bill of sale (that has two mistakes on it, will need to drive 2 hours each way to get a new one)
And loaded it into the back of my RAV4.
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