What is an 81 850L worth nowadays?

[HiSPL]

Hi all

I'm an old, OLD member of this group. I actually began using the GS resources when it was still an email based FAQ! Anyways, I've been out of the GS game for quite a long time, but I ran across a very clean and well maintained 81 850L that I'm thinking about buying to ride for a bit and flip for profit. I've just been out of the GS game so long I don't know what they are worth anymore? Been searching through the FS section and ebay without much luck.

Some info on the bike: it has signs of having a tender, loving original owner. It has SS allen screws on the carbs, the original exhaust has a good color, it has a oil pressure gauge, NGK plug wires, and a general lack of rust everywhere. It must have been sold to the current owner who let it sit, and now it won't start and he's trying to just get rid of it.

A little troubleshooting and some spitshine and this thing would look great. So what do you think it's worth?

 

[Steve]

First of all, that's an '82 850L in the picture.

Picture is a bit dark, but bike appears to be OK. Check the dates on the tires. If the bike were in pristine condition and ready to ride, 'value' could be around $2000 to the right person. Most might say closer to $1500, while the L haters would say it's not worth the money it would take to haul it to the dump. The fact that it is not currently running would notch it down a bit. If it needs tires (they should be less than five years old), that would also notch the value down a bit. Limited number of owners helps a bit, good paint and chrome help a bit. I think if you offered $1000, it might be fair.

The lack of starting is likely due to dirty carbs. A proper carb clean and rebuild would take care of that. If you don't want to do it, there are a few of us that offer that service.

One other critical area is to check valve clearances. That can be done while the carbs are being rebuilt, so the bike will be ready when the carbs come back.

.

 

[HiSPL]

First of all, that's an '82 850L in the picture.

Picture is a bit dark, but bike appears to be OK. Check the dates on the tires. If the bike were in pristine condition and ready to ride, 'value' could be around $2000 to the right person. Most might say closer to $1500, while the L haters would say it's not worth the money it would take to haul it to the dump. The fact that it is not currently running would notch it down a bit. If it needs tires (they should be less than five years old), that would also notch the value down a bit. Limited number of owners helps a bit, good paint and chrome help a bit. I think if you offered $1000, it might be fair.

The lack of starting is likely due to dirty carbs. A proper carb clean and rebuild would take care of that. If you don't want to do it, there are a few of us that offer that service.

One other critical area is to check valve clearances. That can be done while the carbs are being rebuilt, so the bike will be ready when the carbs come back.

.

Yeah he's asking 800 right now. Hopefully can talk him down a bit more. I'm just curious about what I could get for it after shining it up and making it run good. Chances are I'd ride it for a little bit, but I have long legs and find the L seating position tough after a few miles. Will be great to be on a GS again though after too many years!

 

[Guest]

Yeah he's asking 800 right now. Hopefully can talk him down a bit more. I'm just curious about what I could get for it after shining it up and making it run good. Chances are I'd ride it for a little bit, but I have long legs and find the L seating position tough after a few miles. Will be great to be on a GS again though after too many years!

How many miles has it done? I mean I would check the normal stuff of buying a used bike, but I don't think $800 is far off from what it's "worth" as it sits. I paid $350 for mine but it was in much tougher shape cosmetically. I would offer $600 and expect to pay $700. Also FWIW you can change the handlebar and shave the seat foam to change the looks and riding position of the L models to better suit you fairly easily.

 

[Steve]

We have had a couple of Ls in the stable at various times here. I also have long legs, but don't have much problem with the seat. The biggest problem is the angle of the handlebars. The height is not much of a problem if you use a windshield, but the angle is a real wrist-killer.

I agree with R to R, if he is asking $800, offer $600, settle on $700. However, if the tires are relatively recent, even at the full $800, you won't be taken.

.

 

[Guest]

Yeah he's asking 800 right now. Hopefully can talk him down a bit more. I'm just curious about what I could get for it after shining it up and making it run good. Chances are I'd ride it for a little bit, but I have long legs and find the L seating position tough after a few miles. Will be great to be on a GS again though after too many years!

A handle bar change and some flip down highway pegs on those case guards, so you can stretch your legs out and you should be ok. I had a 750 L that was fun to ride with the changes.

 

[HiSPL]

Thanks all. Hope to go see it in person tomorrow.

Yeah the rear tire is a Shinko and looks brand new. Can't tell what the front is, or how old.

 

[Steve]

Don't go by looks, LOOK at the date code on the tire.

Do you know how to read it?

.

 

[HiSPL]

Yes, absolutely. I do know how to read it. Thanks.

 

[HiSPL]

Ahhh Crud! Sold today while I was at work. Oh well.


I still have my old 750E which was torn apart for a rebuild and I never finished it. I guess I should get on that huh? I've been going through the archives here searching my old handle (also HiSPL) and reliving memories. I really need to get my GS done. I bought a Rickman Fairing from Robinjo so many years ago and never got it installed. I t's funny what having kids and starting 2 businesses will do to your hobbies. Poof! 20 years gone by in a heartbeat!

I have pics of the first national meet I was going through. So many old friends and many of them have passed on now.... Don't wait folks. Life passes by too fast already!!

 

[bobgroger]

Yeah, you can't ponder a decision on a well priced bike very long in riding season.

 

[mhobryan]

Yeah, you can't ponder a decision on a well priced bike very long in riding season.

That's why I always buy in the fall, and sell in the spring. Although, I'm beginning to think I'm over paying when it comes to motorcycles...not by much mind you... maybe a hundie or two at most.

 

[mhobryan]

Yeah, you can't ponder a decision on a well priced bike very long in riding season.

That's why I always buy in the fall, and sell in the spring.

 

[mhobryan]

Since it sold, this may be a moot point, but I just realized I don't think anyone has really answered his question....what's it worth if he gets it running? The unfortunate reality is the spread on these aren't great. If you get it running, then you can pop the value up to about $1k. If you get the bike well sorted (I'm talking abouI t regulator/rectifier, fork seals are good, neck bearings are good, flushed brake system, clutch working smoothly, all lights and turn signals working properly, carbs cleaned, and sync'd, valves adjusted, all fluids changed, and tires within spec). then maybe $1500 to the right buyer. if the bike is very clean, original and relatively low miles and is almost perfect... 2k? At least that's the values up here in Michigan/Ohio.

I bought an '83 850GL two years ago for $1k. Thought it was a good deal b/c it had new tires, carbs rebuilt with new diaphragms (those are $100 each...4 carbs) R/R taken care of. I still had to fix fork seals, neck bearings, clutch cable and springs, and valve adjustment. And.......it's worth about $1001 for all of my efforts.

Bottom line, unless something seismically changes to make these uber valuable, not a good flip choice. However, as you already know, if you want a sweet running UJM on the cheap, they are hard to beat once they are sorted out!

 

[Guest]

Since it sold, this may be a moot point, but I just realized I don't think anyone has really answered his question....what's it worth if he gets it running? The unfortunate reality is the spread on these aren't great. If you get it running, then you can pop the value up to about $1k. If you get the bike well sorted (I'm talking abouI t regulator/rectifier, fork seals are good, neck bearings are good, flushed brake system, clutch working smoothly, all lights and turn signals working properly, carbs cleaned, and sync'd, valves adjusted, all fluids changed, and tires within spec). then maybe $1500 to the right buyer. if the bike is very clean, original and relatively low miles and is almost perfect... 2k? At least that's the values up here in Michigan/Ohio.QUOTE]

Your assessment seems about right for my area as well. $1500 seems about top of the market for a well sorted, higher mileage bike, and perfect bikes seem to sell for around $2k (there has been a very nice, original 750 for sale for $2200 in my area for quite a while, seems the ceiling is lower than $2k).

I bought mine for $350 in sorry shape cosmetically and non-running (but that was easy to sort with a carb clean and valve adjustment), spent probably $500 on parts to get it properly sorted. Would expect to sell for around $1200 if I was so inclined (and I'm not).

 

[HiSPL]

It's crazy, when I first started reading this site back in the listserve days nobody would pay more than a dollar per CC for a decent running bike. 1100E's and 1150's got a premium, but only about 500 more just because most of them were gutted for race engines. Finding an unmolested 1100E got top dollar which would've been about 1500 bucks!

I bought my old 83 1100E for 700, got it running, rode it for a couple years then sold it to Leon (Focus Frenzy, he still around?). Last I heard he still had it. In those days a running and registerable shafty would have been 500-800 bucks.

It seems like any bike that is registerable now is over 1500.



I know, I know. Pics or it didn't happen......