3 bikes, need opinion

Friend of a friend has 3 old bikes that he has had sitting non-running for a few years, from what he says all three engines turn over, all three also have clean, clear titles, what would you say that they are worth right now sitting, where I could turn around and make a few bucks.

78 kz750




82 yamaha maxim 650


Yamaha Virago 750

If you want to make money from them neglected things, I suggest parting them out. Otherwise, you will be hard pressed to make much as they are miles from clean and will need lots of TLC and parts. And even next to spotless, they are not worth a lot.

JMHO

could be a nice bike in there
just my magination running away with me

I've done similar over the last three years now. Buy something non running but clean looking for 300-500, put 100-200 into them, ride them and sell them at the END of season 900-1000.
This is the first year I haven't done that.
I had a good time, enjoying the wrenching, studying, bringing something back to life that otherwise was going to slip into further decay, etc and when I was done, someone got a GREAT starter bike that all the crap had been gone over.
And it felt good seeing someone getting back into biking.
The best was a guy who got divorced earlier that year, lost everything, used to bike in the 70's she made him get rid of his toys, and he bought it in Dec. in a snow storm and paid for it with cash.......all twenties tens and fives, this dude SAVED up, literally, he was pretty excited. Wound up sending an email months and months later him sitting on it big dumb hillbilly smile and the nighthawk looked much happier.

go for it, old dead jap bikes make the baby jesus cry, fix 'em up, and save a soul.

Everyone seems to be giving very sound advice. I guess the only question left is if time or money is a factor. If it's desperate, you won't make much $. Because you'll end up selling them as a whole bike and as I'm sure you know, in present condition (turning but not running) they'll move for about 200-300 a piece if you're lucky. They might be worth more but to who, ya know? If you have the time and a little scratch, I'd definitely fix'em up. It's not only profitable but spiritually gratifying. If it's all about the $, part out everything that you can. And if the rest has to disappear, do the right thing! Long before sending what may look like garbage to the dump, at least post it on here for pick-up. You may be trashing what someone really needs. Plus, it could save you a trip.

Time really isn't an issue, I do wrench as a living, just not on bikes. My 550 I got in similar shape and had her running within six hours

Guy wants $700 for the three of them, titles in hand, keys etc. some spare parts (dont know what those are yet) I assume that the Virago running and cleaned up alone would be worth what he's asking sold off. I've actually got the carb kits for the 750 in the shed, came in a bunch of parts that the father in law had before he passed (along with cables of all kinds and a set of kz mikuni carbs.)

I'm thinking I may be able to spend the money on all three, clean up the kaw and virago for an easy sale (carb kits, batteries oil and filter, maybe $150 between the two?) and try to get a seat cover for the maxim cuz that things GAWD awful

Or am I just being foolish on this idea?

cafe the kz with a total loss system for drag racing only use the virogo motor to start the kz
use the xs motor to run a genset that makes it all work
purely logical

I have been flipping bikes for the last 10 years or so. I have moved away from the "project" bikes and now only buy very clean or rare bikes. $700 is more than I would have paid when I was buying non runners. I would go $500 max. In order to get the bikes running good you will need the parts you mentioned plus you will likely need carb boots, brake mast cyl rebuilds, tires (not safe to let anyone ride on old rotten tires) and chains.

$500 is about where I'm hoping to get down to. thankfully the kaw is the only one that has a chain, and I got a place where I can buy in bulk (the chain on my bike was only about $11 and going strong for the last 6k miles) thought about tires. have to look into that. paint on these seem alright, maybe time into buffing etc.


Sad thing is, these are the cheapest cleanest bikes I've seen around these parts... theres a chopped to death 750 suzuki by me, butt ugly for $850.. last bike someone tried to sell me a no title, disasembled gs850 for $350.

And jeff, I'll take the running 350 honda motor in my shed and put it in the kz750, a twin is a twin is it not?

$500 it is. 3 bikes complete, a kz1000 frame and forks, three extra sets of wheels, handle bars, cb650 engine and a 50cc suzuki four wheeler.

And the kz750 is sold to a co-worker of mine when it's running for $600