Dream with cut rear "fender" (frame) bad idea?

[sdaigle240]

^lol

CLIFF NOTES:

well......lesson learned. including driving to home to get a truck, 7hrs behind the wheel. what a freakin load this bike was. man such a bummer.

FULL VERSION:

I got there, checked the tank, some surface rust. speedo glass smashed. headlight cracked. mufflers were garbage! small oil leak. seat was obviously toast. no tail light, NO key. so he gets it running....smokes like a steam engine.....and kept smoking. had to leave choke on, kept stalling. then the guy breaks the kick starter off. then the bike dosent want to run, so i said let me grab my battery, helped smoothe the idle etc. so now the bike wont run with out the jumpers on it. so i cant ride it, put it on the ctr stand and went through all gears, felt REAL weird, that wheel sure wasnt spinning very fast pinning it in first, second etc. clutch felt suuuper spongy. drive chain was slapping all over. i dont know if these bikes have timing chains or what but it was pretty loud in there. all cables were shot. wheels were pretty bad, maby saveable but they almost looked corroded in a moldy kind of way. tires obviously junk. front fender was intentionally bent to increase the flare. 18k miles of im assuming down right abuse from youngsters that likly owned this size bike in the era, someone clearly thought (wished) it was a CL judging but the underside of bike (not motor) and mufflers. i could go on.....im just astonished how much diffrent it was in person, im still reviewing the pics scratching my head. so on to the deal, of course i pointed all these things out (actually my friend and i were discussing them aloud, intentionally) and he seemed to understand. so i said " well im not sure what to say, it bearly runs, and dosent drive" to which he wanted me to trust him that it drives fine. i said, "either way, no key, cut fender, needs a rebuild, cant test drive it blah blah blah... what are you thinking...i think its pretty obvious were not looking at a $500 bike" at this point i bearly would have take the bike for 200, but was curious. he responds "these things go for 1000 not running all day" (me:) "these? you mean 305's not 150's" :) (him:) "well whatever its in there for 800 i said id do 500, id rather take it out on the side walk and smash it they give it away for less then that. "thanks for your time sir, have a good evening" got home at 2:30AM and had to head out for work at 7am. it was pretty much 100% suck, 40bux in gas and a $15 12 pack gift to the truck owner.

All in all, we both learned alot, were both new to hondas (me 3 months, hes been tinkering with his CL200 for a bit longer) and motorcycles (not dirtbikes/quads). i asked alot of good questions ive learned from limited experience and this kick ass site, but i learned i need to be VERY specific, and confirm my definition of something matches the sellers...like i dunno "runs and drives". also expect people are BS'in you, which i do but.....i guess not enough. he said, "the exhaust is in good shape just one small hole" they were shot and bearly smoked out of the tips. so things like that. any way, thats my story.

[e3steve]

Steve, you got off lightly! And experience costs. Upside? At least you didn't end up buying it. A CA95 in running & riding order would have been worth the money, I'd have thought. The CA95/(CA160 derivative) was/is a lovely little bike; just needs tlc, same as a C/CA72/77.

You escaped with your wallet intact, apart from a bruise or two. More to come, chum!

Sounds like that little guy is destined to become a donor/parts bike.

[caldreamin]

what a drag Man, hope your next one goes better, you need a ca77 anyway!! I went to lookat a superhawk that was supposed to "Runs fine and in great shape!! comparable ones go for 3 grand" is what the guy told me, I got there and what a let down, barely ran on one cylinder, pipes were wasted, headlight ears were both bent pretty bad, no kickstand, crusty wheels and the charging system was not charging, ect. ect, would have been ok for 500 bucks maybe, he wanted 2500 for it

[sdaigle240]

ha, sounds just like my adventure! currently i have a CA78 and CB77, 65's i believe. im constantly viewing bikes for fix ride and flip purposes, but generally are run of the mill CB's and CL's from the 70's. Im not per say looking for another 60's CA/CB/CL honda but my eyes are always open for deals. craigslist 3 times a day... i figure if i keep at it for the next 40+ years i may eventually find a CB92 :)