First Bike and need answers for my questions!!

Hello guys,
so i am about to purchase my first bike and make it a cafe racer but i have a few questions on what to look for when buying. attached will be the pics of the bike im looking at i can get it for $400 but he said it needs a new carb other than that it looks like its good condition. im just wondering what i should be looking for when i go to look at it and if its a good deal. Any input will help me! hopfully these pics can help yall out.

Thank you!

oh BTW its a 1980 KZ400

Do you have a friend who is an experienced rider/wrench? Take them with you to look at the bike...

Does it start and run?
Any weird noises?
Do all the controls work okay?
How old are the tires?

Do you have proper safety gear?
If you haven't already, take the MSF rider training course!

Don't be in a hurry to cafe the bike, just learn how to ride it and care for it for a while. Caffeinating is a good winter project...

Yeah im not going cafe till i get the feel for the bike for sure. and i ride dirt bikes with my friends but i have never drove a motorcycle and i dont have anyone that knows anything about them to go with me. I know it doesnt start due to the fact he said it needs a new carburator. but i figure if i can get it for 350-400 that i can just buy one for it and get it installed. I already planned on putting new tires and wheels asap after i got it.

I agree with Guitargeek. Do yourself a favor and have an experienced mechanic go over it. You may or may not need a new carb. It may just need to be rebuilt. Once you have the bike in good safe running condition, live with it for awhile. You can then take your time planning the cafe build out if you still wish to do so.

Welcome to KZ Rider and enjoy the new to you bike. AND, keep the pictures coming.

The carbs likely just need to be rebuilt, unless somebody stripped out the jets, or broke off a float post. Other than that the parts inside are mostly replaceable.

I would make sure it turns over and has spark, and make sure the engine oil is black.

Check to make sure the brakes are free, and not leaking.

For a $400 motorcycle your gonna have some repairs to make, buy it is a bargaining chip if there is no spark. Personally I would walk if the engine didn't turn over freely, but that's mostly because other examples can be had for the money.

On last piece of advice, try to stay away from Any modifications that can't be reversed. You will find there is almost always more value in a stock running bike than even a well done cafe.

I do like this bike for a cafe though, it is what they are supposed to be, a smaller nimble bike. I think 900's and 1000's look ridiculous when cafe'd, they are huge, and heavy...not cafe material.

okay thank you so much! i am currently looking into the course right now to take. I will be going to look at it this weekend so i will be sure to let you know how everything goes! I saw online that a rebuilt carb was only like $300 or something like that so hopefully thats all that i will need to do to get it running.

Yes, chances are that you don't need to replace the carburetors (it has two), just clean them out, install gaskets and synchronize.

You also shouldn't need new wheels, just tires (depending on their condition)... but you might also need new wheel bearings... or you might not.

This site is mostly for people who like to do their own work, very few of us are willing to pay a mechanic to do work that we enjoy... Stick around, read everything, you'll soon be wrenching with confidence!

Yes i plan on doing everything i can myself i have been trying to read every thing on the internet to become more knowledgable about the parts and how they work. I still have a long way to go but i am very excited about my new found love(vintage motorcycles) haha. I will try to get a video or more pics when i actually go and look at it this weekend for yall. Please keep the comments coming anything you think will help me! Like i said i am still really new to this all!

Just remember, and this is important...

You don't buy an old bike to ride, you buy it to work on.
If you do everything right, the bike might let you ride it.

guitargeek, I have never heard that one before! It is on my office wall now! Truer word were never written! LOL!

guitargeek wrote: Just remember, and this is important...

You don't buy an old bike to ride, you buy it to work on.

I'm gonna use that one when they ask me when I will be riding my ST to work so they can see it!