Hello, it's my first time on this forum. I am 17 and I got started with bikes through a AT3 which I bought about 2 months ago. However, it isn't in as good of condition as I'd want and so I am selling it (hopefully for a profit, I'll see tomorrow). I have some money I can use for my next bike in addition to what I might make off this AT3, so I was looking at this bike for $1500.



There is also available for $1000 this bike, which seems to have possibly valuable parts on it such as the decompression valve which is not visible on the nice bike. I'm trying to get as nice of and as original of a bike as possible, so everything counts.



To get to the questions, is the parts bike worth it if I can get it for about $500?
Or should I just get the nice one and cut my losses on the decompression piece?
Is the nice one a good deal at $1500 and will I lose money in the event of a sale?

I haven't been able to negotiate with the guy yet but if I asked him to take the decomp. valve off the other bike I wouldn't trust that he'd get all the right parts and I think I'd get screwed anyway. I'd go and do it myself if possible, but if this deal works out it'll be delivered.

My absolute maximum budget is about 2k.

I'm kinda hellbent on these old enduros, so that's why I'm so interested in this deal.

Pics were supposed to be in the original post but didn't show up. Also I know it is an RT2 not RT3.

If you could get both bikes in a deal from the vendor, get exactly what you want and sell the rest.
360s have a ready sale ,certainly here in the UK and without doubt in the US, so don't dismantle it.
Take what you need for one bike to be original sell the other for what you got it for.
Winner !
Hello by the way.
Unusual and good to have a young lad here. Where you from in the US ?

Ok, that's what I'll do if I can set this deal up right, kinda worrisome cause the guy hasn't responded to my messages and they were sent this morning, hope it isn't sold.

Do you think even the beat up one could fetch $500 after pulling important parts off it? I suppose I might want to keep it around if I end up keeping the RT2 for a couple years (through college possibly) as spare parts if stuff breaks or wears out. I don't plan to be hard on it but you never know. Both the bikes have some new parts so that would be the most intriguing from the parts bike. Like a new top end for example. I wouldn't part out the parts bike though cause it feels wrong to do to something that has potential.

I am in Oregon. IDK why there wouldn't be more kids on this forum, this is where I've gotten all my service manuals from and surely some kids like classic bikes...

If it were me ,i would keep both.
The one your classing as beat up is a good starting point for the likes of me in the UK . Most incomplete RTs go for around £1500 for a rough bike and that's not to say it's a runner either. That's because there's not many come for sale hear. You do find the odd decent bike at decent money but it's mainly dealers bringing them in at hi profit so that kind of dictates the market.
As regarding young people on bikes. Especially old bikes like these. Ask any young guy if he knows what a KTM enduro is and id bet most would know. Ask them what an RT1 is and most wouldn't.
Motor cycle exposure in the US is bigger than in the UK.
If i go to a bike meet,i would say you might see 2 or 3 lads under the age of 21 out of a crowd of 200.
It's great to know young lads are interested in bikes like this .
Take my three sons.
The eldest crashed a scooter when he was your age .He had a tee shirt on despite me warning him what would happen if he fell off.
Motor cycle interest now nil.
My middle son is frightened of dirt and sweat and likes cars. Interest in bikes is there but you wouldn't see him chapping at my workshop door begging to come in.
My youngest has the most interest. Unfortunately he will never ride a bike due to other reasons beyond his control.
I would say , it's to do with era as well.
I wish you could go back to when i was your age . It was like being outlaws . My mates had DT 175 MXs , i had an XL 250 at the time and my best mate had an XT 500. The cops hated us as did the local scooter riders, known as 2nd gen Mods ( watch the film Quadrafinia then you'll understand) . It was mayhem . Saturday and Sunday was spent up to the eyeballs in mud or dust on the very bikes you like.
That's why it's good to see,for me anyway ,lads like you keeping the bikes like ours alive.
If the guy don't get back to you ,find someone that will. There's mountains of bikes in your neck 'o' the woods.
Regards Ted

Welcome. Good to see a young guy enter this arena. All of us old guys are going to need to pass this on.

Be careful about maximum budget numbers, they usually get exceeded. Don't be afraid to spend money on good, complete bikes with a clear title. They are a better value in my experience.

Lots of help on this forum. Don't hesitate to ask questions.

Shyted,

Thanks for the advice about the bikes, think they're a lost cause because the guy still hasn't gotten back to me. Don't understand why people even post ads just to fail to keep up with them in any way. I can't believe the young kids in the UK are so uninterested in motorcycles. I only discovered them by chance cause I do robotics for school and wanted a mechanical project to do during this time when I won't really be able to participate in robotics to the fullest extent.

About your kids, that's too bad. One of my friends recently got thrown over a tree he hit on an ATV going 60 or so. Surprised he only got a broken collarbone and that it doesn't seem to have scared him (or his parents) into quitting riding. All I know is that's definitely his only chance, he WILL die if he does it again. Just so lucky the first time. Time for him to get smarter.

I am beyond glad that I discovered riding now. I've barely started obviously but I know this will be a great hobby. There certainly are mountains of bikes in Oregon, to a degree. I gotta be careful especially because of my limited budget and the fact that the good deals go so fast. Plus, I don't have the budget to restore so I literally just have to pick up a nice bike for a great deal.

Good news though, today I sold off my AT3 for way more than I think it was worth. This May, the previous owner bought it for $900, from which point he managed to blow the top end and then rebuild it. After that, he couldn't get it to run. So, I bought it off of him for $700 and put $70 into it for a battery, air filter, and exhaust gasket. It's unbelievable that he couldn't get it running because he didn't realize the battery was giving 3v instead of 12v. Also the needle valve seat was loose... Otherwise nothing terribly wrong, just a rough bike in general. Anyway sold it for $1100 today to some guy who runs a bike shop. Honestly I don't think he'll get good value on it, it needs like 2k in work.

Here's my newest prospect though (I know it is sacrilegious because it isn't a Yam enduro) :
I know I'm breaking my allegiance, but with my budget anything good is worth going for. I could get this for 1.5k, and it's a perfect road ready supermoto. Still vintage, that's a criteria I won't break, I'd rather pass than buy a late model plastic bike. 1985 Honda XL250. Hope I don't get screwed this time cause this guy isn't responding yet either. Still good stuff should come up later cause winter.

I swear there must be like a million bikes in the hands of collectors... I wish I could find an estate sale or something, or some other amazing way to get a pristine bike. I might have to pass on my dream of a yamaha enduro for a few years until I am able to muster a few grand and just bite the bullet on one that's like $3000. I feel like they're all gonna be gone by the time a "few" years passes though. Also, no I cannot exceed a maximum budget because that would be every cent I have. I don't work, so I have little disposable money except what I've saved for years.

I will certainly apply your ideas to whatever good things come my way on Craigslist and Marketplace this winter. So happy to have turned a profit and have a bit of cash just for the metaphorical killing season. If I am hellishly lucky I might get another Enduro, I'll have plenty of questions then...

from the UK.
As KJB said you're in a great position, you've got the cash and the skills to work on these great bikes.
There will definitely be bikes coming up for sale, you just need to have a little patience.
A lot of the members here post links to bikes they see for sale on this thread www.yamaha-enduros.com/index.php/forums/...aha-enduro-sightings.
Keep your eyes peeled and wait for that Badge Bike, good luck!