Posts
1305
Joined
2/18/2010
Location
collinsville, OK, USA
Edited Date/Time
4/9/2025 12:00pm
Question for the bike build group:
I have an '83 XR100 sitting in my garage in pieces. It was running when it was taken apart about 15 years ago, and I have owned it since new. I'll never ride it again, and I want to sell it. Would it be more profitable to restore it, or just put it back together, get it running, and sell it as a running project?
Poll
If you do a proper restoration you’ll never get your money out of it. Only half asses restorations can be profitable.
In all honesty- what are we talking..a few hundred bucks here? Does it really matter what you sell it for ?
Me personally- I’d restore it and keep it hanging in the garage..
I'm not hanging it in the garage, it's not that important to me where it holds sentimental value.
It sounds like what you are saying is spend enough to clean it up and function properly to get the most out of it. It needs bearings/seals, some parts here and there, the engine cover around the kick starter is bent, so I need to look for a used one of those, forks are blown, shocks are not rebuildable, needs some plastic and a seat cover...
When I've sold bikes from my past, I said the same thing. I said, "Yeah I'll sell this, it's not sentimental to me at all and I won't miss it."
Years later, I now wish I had kept them. The money changed nothing about my life, but that bike did!
Alright...I bought a few parts to throw it back together and see where it's at. I'll post pictures as I go. It's not the most exciting bike build, but it's a cool bike none the less. At least I'll have something to cruise the neighborhood with.
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Here is a pic of my 1981 XR100
This was the first year for the xr100
Thanks for the motivation. What did you do for the rear shocks? Mine are blown and slightly bent, which I think is common for all of these. I was looking on Ebay for some replacements, but wondering if there is a better option. I'm not looking to restore it, just rebuild and enjoy.
I traded some stuff to a buddy for these, but I think they are the same shocks you see all over ebay.
I'm with Brad460 on this one. You won't get too much for that bike as a basic runner, and you'd have to drop BEAUCOUP dollars into it to restore, most likely. I doubt you'd recoup your money with a restore.
A bike like that is worth way more as a kick around, at least to a guy like me. It's a mail getter or a "what's going on in the neighborhood?" bike.
Is it possible for you to get a part number or mfg off of one of those? That's exactly what I'm looking for.
Yeah, not doing a full resto, but I do want it to look good.
Here's my starting point. It's not bad, just need to baseline it.
Here’s a pic of an’84 I did a while back. The ‘78 style side panels fit perfectly. These are “Honda Orange” Maeier side panels. I’ll look for a number on the shocks.
Thank you! Much Appreciated!
Something like this on ebay. Measure the length of what you have now The shocks with the resevoirs will fit if you mount them upside down. You can get a cool pipe from xrminiracer.com
You just ruined my life with the xrminiracer website...
I know. Ruined me too!
I'm a little further along. I got a Clymer Manual in the mail yesterday, so that should help answer my questions. Everything looks pretty good. I took the stem off and all the bearings fell all over the floor, but I already planned to replace the stem bearings, so I have tapered bearings on-hand for that. The right side engine case was damaged where the kick starter goes, so I found a used case on Ebay. I have new fork seals, but wondering if I should buy the heavy springs from BBR, what do you guys think? I didn't order shocks yet. Also have new chain and sprockets, pretty sure it was all original. Does anyone have an opinion on the 120cc big bore kit? Seems like it would replace a lot of worn parts. Other than that, I need to give it a good clean and start putting it back together.
What gearing are y'all running for the XR100?
Pit Row
Whatever stock is.
I've finally started the rebuild. The forks got new seals and fresh oil, the chassis got cleaned up, new head tube bearings and wheel bearings, new rear sprocket (had to find the right one on Ebay), and spent some time trying to clean out the gas tank. I had fuel in there for probably 15 years, so I dumped that and have been doing the vinegar trick for the last 2 days to clean it out. It seems to work so far. No more rust, but there is "gunk" at the bottom of the tank that I should be able to get with a pressure washer today.
Careful with the pressure washer. You may blow a hole through the bottom of the tank. Just use a garden hose.
And follow it up with a Caswell epoxy tank seal...Got a 1977 Kawasaki tank repainted and it started leaking gas through a pinhole that was not detected. Caswell sealant fixed it up perfectly!
Looks like I'm missing the rear chain guide. I have the big chain cover, but looking for the lower, rear guide. Does anyone have a picture of what it should look like, and maybe a lead on one?
So there's no roller above the foot peg, and there's no plastic slider on the rear lower chain guide?
Correct
Thanks! Do you have any spare parts laying around that you want to sell? I doubt you have chain guides, but I may be interested in other parts if they're available.
I'm close now. It's all back together, gassed up, fresh oil, fresh plug. I kicked it once, half assed, and it almost started. Went back, re-checked everything, and tried to start it again, and now it's not starting. It looks like a weak spark to me, so I'm going to put a new coil in it and see if that works. It's the original coil from 1983. If it doesn't start after that, then maybe it's the stator, but I'm not sure. My electrical skills suck, it's one of those things that I just don't like to do.
Try roll starting it.
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