Vintage Motocross Restorer

[dt]

Wanted: Vintage Motocross Restorer 1965-1974

Here it is, almost “real” football season, and I don’t have a restoration project. The way it works around here is I fill the cooler with beer, turn on the games and work on a restoration, all weekend. However, I haven’t seen anything worth a crap on eBay or Craigslist or anywhere (in terms of pure-play motocross) in about a year.

I actually have a couple un-started project bikes over in the storage unit. I have a 1970 Hodaka 125 Combat Wombat and a 1983 Honda XR100. However, I was looking them over yesterday and can’t seem to get motivated on either, and the XR isn’t a motocross bike.

So, if anyone has or knows of a vintage motocross restorer collecting dust and rust in your or someone’s garage, let me know. I prefer Yamaha and Honda, because I know them best and know where to get parts. (I’m thinking about starting a thread on VMX).

There are two bikes that top my list: 73-74 Honda CR250M Elsinore and 70-71 Harley Davidson Baja. Yes, I have a fully-restored 73 CR250M in my collection…I want another  . The Baja…well, that’s a wet dream, but you never know.




That’s ^^^ not my CR. I’m posting another pic because my CR is significantly modified for combat.



That HD is so rare that it would be a miracle to find one in unrestored condition and if I did, and restored one, it would be headed to a museum, like my DT2MX.

[mrbones]

Have you checked www.ocala4sale.com lately? You can also search Craigslist in more than one location with this site, http://crazedlist.org/index.cgi.

[dt]

Well, not exactly what I was looking for, but I just bit the bullet on an '83 XR500R; a Thumper!

Details and pictures to follow.

[mrbones]

Cool, a decent size thumper.

Here's a '79 DT250 at $750. Is that probably all they are worth restored? IDK.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/mcy/1351593503.html

[dt]

It really goes model by model and then it goes along the lines of what the buyer is going to do with it.

I think the range for running vintage restorers is $500 to $750; then premiums to give credit to whatever the seller has done recently to keep it fresh. Let’s say that Enduro has a fresh top end, new plastics, clean tank, good tread and brakes, cables, etc. I’d say someone would drop $1,000 to $1,500 on it for cheap, cool transportation. Obviously the CL bike doesn’t or the seller would have said so and, from my experience, most always these bikes have been sitting for years (note that while titled, there’s no plate on the CL bike). There are probably dozens of rubber/plastic things that need immediate replacement on that bike.

There are too many out there who, in my view, think they deserve a big premium just because the bike is old. Premiums attach to models, not age. These Yamaha Enduros, while cool as shit, were mass produced and are widely available in all conditions. The price this guy has in CL is probably reasonable, but a smart buyer will know there’s another couple hundred, if not more, to get it minimally dependable.

[mrbones]

This one too small?

1971 YAMAHA 125 ENDERO - $500

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/mcy/1372236934.html

[dt]

I suspect that guy is going to take less than $500 and in that regard it may not be a bad deal. Non-running, sitting for 20 years. It would be fun to restore, but for an around town and back streets toy.

I’m going to focus on the XR for now. I’m really coming up with a lot of ideas…all expensive, of course.

[mrbones]

Hodaka Road Toad? It's on the east coast though.

for sale. Runs good starts on the first kick. Replaced a rotted rubber flange, has original tool rack and owner's manual, about 2200 miles, tires and brakes are good. head head light and speedo works.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hdo/mcy/1379111653.html

[dt]

Hah! I put a picture of one of those in the weird motorcycle thread. Road Toad...honestly, what kind of a name is that...what kind of a color is that? It's a tiny 100c enduro. Looks pretty intact, unlike my Combat Wombat (like that's a better name). Hey THANKS for keeping an eye out for me though. If you ever see that baja way up there, I'm going to be forever in debt.

[mrbones]

This guy says he has a "SR100/(BAJA)" in his auction listing for a different bike that he will list soon. Is that it? If so, maybe you can email him. His email address is in the auction. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BARN-FIND-Harley-Davidson-Aermacchi-125-Rapido-3-bikes_W0QQitemZ250469804697QQcmdZViewItem

It doesn't look like he has listed it since then.

He posted the Indian.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-INDIAN-Vintage-BARN-FIND-Two-Indian-70cc-Bikes-MX-Pit-Dirt-Mini-Trail_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3911Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem3a5278523aQQitemZ250491720250QQptZUSQ5fmotorcycles

[dt]

There's the Baja MSR100 and SR100. I want the MSR...he says he's got an SR and I'd look at it, but that was a streetafied facked up version of the real Baja. It could be converted real easy but they have separate serial sequences, and the SR wouldn't have the value or meaning to me. Sorry I didn't clarify that way up above, but as I said, I'd definitely look at an SR.

What that guy was selling was a Rapido (pic below). That was one weird bike and I had a whole weekend on one a long-long time ago. My dad was a big Harley guy (like those Electra Glide Ocean Liners, although he had a cool yellow Sprint 350 he rarely rode and that was the bike I learned to ride on in the parking lot when I was about 12). So he brings a recently returned Rapido home when I was a kid later on for the weekend thinking he'd get it for me. Why, oh why didn't he bring home a baja? Anyway, I already had a honda 175 something or other dirt conversion and wanted to mx. As you can see in the pic below the Rapido wasn't a "real" dirt bike say nothing of mx, so it didn't fly, although that didn't stop me from riding the piss out of it.    I ended up on a Suzuki TM250 (73ish I think?), which was my first real moto.... TMI, right? Alright, I'll stop.

...but before I do, again over in the weird thread, if you noticed me going off on that chopper with the teeny-tiny Rapido tank (pic'd below), there was a little history there.

[mrbones]

So, why the MSR100?

I had a '68 Sprint 250 a few years back that I bought for $500 to restore, lost total interest in it, and sold it for $550 a year later. It's hard enough doing an old Honda where they made 1000's, but an Aermacchi? That was a hill larger than I wanted to climb. Below are the pics I took of it before I posted it on ebay.

[dt]

So, why the MSR100?

The MSR was the competition model. The M stands for motocross, although it never really made it in that arena. Rather it got its fame  in the 1970-1973 Baja500. Don't let the pics fool you...that's a big, serious bike. The saddle height is 34 inches (consider my YZ is 38; a typical touring bike is maybe 25). They only came in 100cc and if you saw one you'd bet it was packing a 250 because the damn engine is huge.

Having said that, the only real difference between the two bikes is the lighting, and the SR was supposed to be street legal. Why you ask would I want the MSR. It's kind of the same as the Elsinores. I have a CR250 and and MT250, each Elsie's of the same era. The CR was the mx'r; the MT was the street legal enduro. Although my MT isn't restored to the level of the CR, if it were, it would probably be worth $1,500, tops, where the CR is worth $4,500 and up. I've seen full restorations go for $8,500 (although I thought that was facking crazy). People just like, want to collect and will pay more for the racing bike. Same with the MSR/SR.

SR Top; MSR Bottom (not much difference)






As far as the Aermacchi Harleys…personally speaking…I think they were mostly a bunch of real strange birds, MSR excepted (SR included, I consider that a strange street model). That’s just my opinion.

If you like looking at the Aermacchi’s, here’s a great website I found that has tons and tons of pictures, including conversions to cafés and other racing types.

http://www.aermacchi-world.de/Frameset.htm

 

[dt]

I had a '68 Sprint 250 a few years back that I bought for $500 to restore, lost total interest in it, and sold it for $550 a year later. It's hard enough doing an old Honda where they made 1000's, but an Aermacchi? That was a hill larger than I wanted to climb. Below are the pics I took of it before I posted it on ebay.

Restoring an Aermacchi would be new ground for me to plow, too. I pretty much know where all the old asian parts are. When I got the possessed Bultaco, I didn't know where to get those parts, but I was able to track them down eventually. I think part of fun of restoring old bikes is finding those parts and then improvising on what I can't find.

[mrbones]

This one is cheap. I can't tell what it is.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/mcy/1383351956.html

125 CC'S HARLEY---NEEDS TO BE RESTORED--NO TILTE--AS IS-100 BUCKS-EXTRA TANK AND TIRE AND RIM----FIRST 100 BUCKS-OUT THE DOOR-EMAIL ME

[dt]

I have no idea what that is. If it were a 76 125cc, it would be an SS (AMF) or SX (Aermacchi). I just surfed some photos of each and that doesn't look like either. Ditto all the way 71-78. But then...how can anyone tell with that terrible picture.

I did just find the coooooolest picture of a Baja and a plane in the background, but the site won't let me copy it. Here's the link...

http://www.everyoneweb.com/AERMACCHI/



Edit: When you click through scroll the left window down to "Baja meets Aermacchi plane at..."

Hmmm. Looks like Aermacchi made fighter jets. Didn't know that. That's one in the background of the picture. 

[mrbones]

Cool picture. Lousy Java script preventing right-clicks be damned.

[dt]

Ohhhhh. You got it! 

I want to start a Vintage MX Thread and wanted that bad boy.

[mrbones]

The pic is linked, but you can save it now.

These bikes just keep coming on CL.

1979 Yamaha DT 125 Runs Great - $500 (Largo)

Nice shape, starts 1st kick, clean and not doctored, 30 years old and still running like a champ. Oil injected 2 cycle with expansion chamber/exhaust baffles are good. Will demo.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/mcy/1383623297.html

[dt]

Sorry, I'm still hyper-focused on the Jet-Baja photo.

I tracked down the jet. It's a 1957 Aermacchi MB321. Too cool.  

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00427518

[mrbones]

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hdo/mcy/1385781946.html

1973 Yamaha MX 360 - $1500 (Spring Hill)

Ready to race. Has all the good stuff: Circle F pipe,Supertrapp Silencer,Mullholland Shocks, Pro-Tec Chain Tensioner, Fork Brace,New Tires. Bike has all origional body work,needs proper air filter. Must sell,trades considered.
Call George.

[dt]

1973 Yamaha MX 360 - $1500 (Spring Hill)

Wow…this bike was on CL back in May (page 5 of What’s up with CL thread). He previously listed it for $2,300, see list below. I called him on the chance that his price was a typo. Good guy, but he wanted $2,300. That bike is rare, but it’s not particularly attractive either for racing or collecting. It’s kind of in the same group as my SC500A. Right in the time Yamaha was trying to get their production motocross business going, but the bikes pretty much sucked. It certainly wasn’t worth $2,300, maybe $1,500, but someone would need a good reason to buy a bike like that. In his shoes, I'd put it on eBay for the broader audience.


__________________________________
1973 Yamaha MX 360 - $2300 (Spring Hill)
Date: 2009-05-28, 3:12PM EDT
Attention AHRMA-VINTAGE RACERS, here is a beautiful MX 360 needing a new home. Very original with nice add-ons. Circle-F pipe with Supertrapp tuneable silencer, Mulholland rear shocks, Pro-tec chain tensioner, new tires.Runs great and pulls hard for a 36 year old bike.Needs a correct air filter assembly. Serious Inquiries only-NO TRADES.

[mrbones]

Since you got your XR500, this will be the last one I guess. Unless I see something really awesome.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/mcy/1387350634.html

1975 Harley Induro - $250 (New Port Richey)

1975 Harley Davidson Induro 175 cc Needs resoration. 2 - motors. 90% complete with parts.

Serious inquiries only. Can take better picture if you are serious.

[dt]

Okay, however bad that picture is, I can tell that’s the 175 cc version of the SS, the AMF model. What a pile of junk that is. You'd think that they could have dragged it out and at least got a decent couple shots of it.

I’m having second thoughts about the XR500. I spent a good deal of quality time with it this weekend and I keep running into dead ends. I’ve got the Maine registration on hold and titled it in my name here in Florida yesterday, which I had to do anyway.

[dt]

Here’s a cool and rare dirt bike on Craigslist today. It’s a 1977 Suzuki PE-250B. PE stands for “Pure Enduro.” The B was the first year production for this bike in 1977. I couldn’t find any PEs for sale to compare pricing, but it looks in pretty good shape, runs and I know for sure it would be a hot item. I would have put it on eBay though for a broader audience. I think he's got an attractive price on it.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/mcy/1441098809.html

_________________________________________

Vintage Enduro Suzuki PE-250 (1977) - $900 (Centrl, FL)
Date: 2009-10-28, 9:33AM EDT
Reply to: sale-f8t5s-1441098809@craigslist.org
http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/mcy/1441098809.html

Rare all original 1977 Suzuki PE 250 Enduro (this was the only PE model that had the aluminum tank the others were plastic and prone to cracking/fading).

I posted this bike a few weeks back and pulled the ad off CL because I could not get it started. I installed a brand new 36 mm Mikuni carb (140.00) and she fires right up on the first kick and idles perfectly. I also installed a brand new carb intake manifold (55.00) and a new rear tire (65.00).

The bike is in very nice shape for being 32 yrs old and the engine has excellent compression. I had originally planned on selling this bike on ebay for 1,300 (the last 2 on ebay were over 1,500-1,600 – I saved those auctions in pdf format if you would like to see them) but have decided to list on CL locally first. The only things that are missing on the bike are the tail light and headlight but other than that it’s all there (these can be picked up on ebay). This is a very dependable bike and would be excellent for trail riding, hare scramble, enduro or a very easy restoration if you are into that. If you plan on racing it in vintage events you might want to rebuild the shocks which are the original KYB’s.

** The asking price is 900.00. If you grew up during this era of motorcycles this would make a great trail bike.