98 Valk left un atended for years

[Rowdy]

I ran accros a 98 Valk with 17,000 miles on the odometer, however it has been left outside in the Ohio elements for years and has not been started for years.  As you would expect a lot of weather wear !! 
  Gas tank dent, trailer incident I hear !!

What would you expect it would take to get a project like this off the ground ?

I'm sure the old gas has caused some damage     Any thing else I should consider to replace ?

It's selling for half of what a normal used Valk would go for - thinking it might worth looking in to ? Any thoughts ? 

I'm hoping it will only take some cleaning, battery, and clean out the old fuel  to get her back to running order - then rest will be just for fun 

[PharmBoy]

Suit yourself, but I had rather pay the other half.  Even when you get in running condition, you will still have cosmetic issues, many of which will be expensive to repair.  Some of the cosmetic issues such a corrosion on the aluminum parts like wheels and possible rust in the gas tank and on the steel parts of the bike will be expensive or impossible to repair.  Also, I suspect that all the bolts and nuts will be rusty and all the rubber (tires and hoses) will have deteriorated and need replacing.  And paint jobs are expensive unless you can do it yourself.  No one that I know of likes to work on their bike much more than I do.  However, I want to expect that it will perform and look respectable when I get through.  It is your money and your time and I do not in any way pretend to tell you what to do with either.  Just trying to point out what I suspect will be the short falls in a project such as this...JTL

[KCvalk]

As much as i love the valk take a pass...  you will run into issues like new hoses, brake lines, tires almost anything rubber will need replacing.
cosmetic issues, carb rebuild for sure mice and other creatures living in the inner parts, all new fluids prob frozen brake calipers, pitted forks and handle bars and a whole slew of electrical problems.    Unless you can get this for $5oo or a grand its just not worth the effort unless you really have the knowledge/desire to rebuild everything....cause thats what you will end up doing  is my guess.

My first was a v65 magna basically given to me by a co worker that sat for 8 years in a garage.  I had to do all the above and send parts out to be professionally repaired by a guy in NC.  Almost had to rebuild the fuel lines and brake lines, new tires  etc.  It was worth it because i got a chance to learn how to work on bikes and bring back a fun cycle to ride.  For what i put into the bike i could have bought two off ebay and not had the crap.  But the learning was the real reason i went the rebuild route.

2cents

[Patrick]

as though you've picked yourself up a parts bike.. If the bike is in really rough shape and you don't feel like doing all that work on it,, let it sit in the corner..

[Rowdy]

  Thanks - for the feed back

I suspected as much - he's asking $4,000 -   I plan to look at it today - a quick estimate I supect I would need at least another $3,000 to get her back into runing order.   Not to show room condition  

I have purchased other smaller bikes and brought them back from the grave, never made any money on any of those projects.    But it was fun tinkering

I see the Trade in value in Blue Book is 4345     Not looking good

I gues if he wants to give it away it might be a good deal  

[Ricky-D]

Yup, 4 grand is way out of line!  More like fifteen hundred and even that would make me pause. 

[franco6]

 :cooldude:ROWDY.he s not gonna sell it in that condition so, offer 2 k ,tell him the whole bike should be taken apart ,call him back in a few days. only part resellerswill be interested and will offer less. good luck ,it could be an interesting project albeit not cheap.

[bigvalkriefan]

NO way $4000.00. $1000 -$1500 tops. It's a parts bike now.

[Ghillie]

I saw one sell in Shreveport yesterday for $4600 that just needed some paint, fairing, and bag and rail on the left side. Bike ran fine with 44k miles. I saw two sell in the last month for 2500-2900 not running but cosmetically ok.

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Probably worth $5000 as a parts bike,if you sell the parts seperately.
Wheels $200 x2
Forks $1000
carbs $200
Engine $1000
Alternator $200
Starter $100
Side covers $150 (pair)
Fenders $100 each x2
Brake calipers and master cylinders $100
Exhaust $300
chrome engine covers ?

I would pay $1500 for a valk parts bike,but $5000 can get you a standard with less than 10,000 miles and running.

[Rowdy]

   Oh my - way worse than I expected 

I did not think the rust & corrosion could be that bad    The wheels all the chrome 

Partially disassembled    Big crease in the tank  ???  Not sure  it would pay for itself even if it was parted out 

Felt sorry for the kid, he inherited the bike, hoping to trade for a shadow 

He asked what I'd give for it - after looking at it, I'm not sure I would have taken it even if he offered to give it to me    I told him  it was bit more than what I wanted to tackle, and good luck hope to see you out on the highway one of these days 

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Thanks for the info.
How was the frame and forks?
Straight?
How dissassembled was the bike?
Bodywork straight?
I have enough parts to build another valk,as long as the frame and engine are all there.
I like basket cases.