looking to buy a starter bike

[nabonline]

hi - i was thinking of buying a 86 yamaha radian, with bad carbs. is this an easy/inexpensive repair? other than that its in pretty good shape and reliable. i know little about maitenance. would appreciate some thoughts...

[Wizzard]

Welcome to TMW .
I've always found MC Carbs relatively easy to rebuild . Not much to them at all . Of course it all depends if the price is right for you .
Regards, Wizzard

[nabonline]

Thanks Wizzard -

[storysunfolding]

So true, I've gotten both of my bikes for relatively nothing because the guy hadn't run it in awhile and it wouldn't start

Guy-"I don't know what's wrong with it"
me-" *sigh* God only knows, there could be so much wrong with it and the repairs could get expensive. Did you notice XYZ?"
Guy- "Well I really don't want to deal with it, what would you give me for it?"
me- "next to nothing, but I don't have a way to pick it up"
Guy-"Give me $200 and I'll deliver it and give you everything I have for it" So far has included loads of spart parts, a cover for each bike, a battery charger and an extra jacket

I love buying a bike when I know the only thing wrong with it is bad carbs

[Scott58]

yep that's the ticket. I got a near new Fantic dirt bike when i was in europe for next to nothing that wouldn't run. the magneto had come loose and I had it running like a top in about 20 minutes. That was my best motorcycle deal.

[flynrider]

That's definitely the way to go, as long as you know your way around a bike (mechanically speaking). The flip side is the clueless noob that buys a bike that supposedly just had "bad carbs", but turns out to have other major problems that were not discernable until he/she tries to fire it up. Seen that way too many times.

Bottom line is, if it doesn't run, you really can't tell what shape it's in, so offer bottom dollar and hope for the best.