EX500 project

[oroboros]

Finally going to get back on two wheels...next season. I am not looking forward to a north east winter since moving up from TN.

Found a kid with a neglected EX500. Odometer says 10K miles but the title says 17K. He tried to tell me a story about the previous owner and a typo. The guy he bought it from pressured him into buying it saying it was ready for inspection with a rear tire. He rode it once and then it sat all summer. There are a lot of red flags. The sprockets are absolutely beat, the rear tire shot. It has an aftermarket fairing on it and even it has rash. This thing has been dropped more times than an f bomb during an Ozzy interview. Poor kid bought this thing and had no clue. As I was looking at it the price kept dropping. I got it to run for a few minutes and was satisfied that engine pulled strong, the clutch was solid, the brakes worked and the forks were straight.



This tire kills me. I think the PO did not know how to turn... My problem used to be wearing out the sides of my tires.


We settled on $600.00. It probably does not need that much work honestly. I will clean out the carbs and check the valve clearance while it is apart. I doubt that was ever done. I am thinking the front fairing can be fixed up and painted properly since it is fiberglass. Hell, I will even build in the mounts for the headlight instead of the zip ties that someone thought was a good idea. Then perhaps I'll flip it for something else...

No time like the present. Maybe I will just get on the road now and dodge salt piles



Boy do I miss my two car garage!

[jkv45]

I think you did pretty good for $600.

[Ghostt]

I too did an EX500 awhile ago, here's the link to the evolution of rebuilding a $200 USD special,


https://picasaweb.google.com/1006527...JCB6ffS-973wgE

It was a fun build, and the best part was like the Ninja 250 all the parts are inexpensive and extremely plentiful supply.

If your looking for an excellent forum, I belong to WWW.EX-500.COM it is the best forum for this bike.

[sharky nrk]

keep us up to date on the build

[Finesse]

Not bad! Keep us posted I like the aftermarket fairing

[oroboros]

Originally Posted by Ghostt

I too did an EX500 awhile ago, here's the link to the evolution of rebuilding a $200 USD special,


https://picasaweb.google.com/1006527...JCB6ffS-973wgE

It was a fun build, and the best part was like the Ninja 250 all the parts are inexpensive and extremely plentiful supply.

If your looking for an excellent forum, I belong to WWW.EX-500.COM it is the best forum for this bike.

Hey Ghostt, I saw you in the EX500 forum. There is tons of great information there and I consulted it before even picking up the bike Knowing how many of these are out there and that these twins are proven made the choice easy.

[oroboros]

Originally Posted by Finesse

Not bad! Keep us posted I like the aftermarket fairing

I'm pretty sure that it is an Air Tech fairing. Even though the PO did a poor job of installing it, I was glad to see the fiberglass. I can build the mounting tabs for the headlight.

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by oroboros

Hey Ghostt, I saw you in the EX500 forum. There is tons of great information there and I consulted it before even picking up the bike Knowing how many of these are out there and that these twins are proven made the choice easy.

I'm everywhere LOL, yes these twins are great, and for the most part the 500 & 250 are similar to work on, that was a factor for me when I picked up my 250, a familiar bike to work on makes the rebuilding process easier.

The EX-500.COM forum is the best information resource and if you listen to the pro's you won't go wrong for sure.

If you need anything let me know.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by oroboros

No time like the present. Maybe I will just get on the road now and dodge salt piles

Excellent find !!!

[oroboros]

wow, the temperature warmed up.. a lot! Got into the valves yesterday to check clearance. Everything was pretty close to spec... which is good news. I was not sure if this bike had ever had valves serviced before but it looks like it has. Maybe the first owner actually cared. I have to say that the 500 is easier to adjust than the 250. No shims. Also, on a side note, it is actually made in Japan. Not that I ever had an issue with the 250 coming from Thailand. Is the 250 motor made in Japan with final assembly in Thailand?



did I mention that I miss my garage. This shed is too damn small

Next, carbs...

[Ghostt]

The carburetors are just as easy as the 250, enjoy

[Klondike1020]

Thats a real nice bike for the price. Cant find anything around here for that unless it has no title.

[oroboros]

Originally Posted by Klondike1020

Thats a real nice bike for the price. Cant find anything around here for that unless it has no title.

I thought it was pretty good. It does need some work (which has begun) and I will be in for 3-$400 in parts.

Then I saw this...

http://allentown.craigslist.org/mcy/4746311722.html

"2004 Ninja 500R. Price reduced to $1250!!. Will consider a partial trade for snowblower. Only 9300 original miles, clean title,..."

Looks clean, low mileage, one year older but hell, we all know it is the same bike.

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by Klondike1020

Thats a real nice bike for the price. Cant find anything around here for that unless it has no title.

I find it very weird that people try to sell a running bike, and not a parts one without a title.

I especially dislike it when I waste my time ggoing to look at it, and everything else, just to get to the final step, and then be told " Title, what title? I don't have one, but you could get one. " seriously, WTF !!! now that always my first question.

[oroboros]

Originally Posted by Ghostt

now that always my first question.

Agreed... that is the best first question!

I got nasty little surprise when I had the bike on the back of a pick-up at the notary signing for the title... "Oh ya, the title say 17K but the odometer says 10K. The PO told me it was just a typo" Oh right! sure it was. More like he had to replace it after a get off. I was already in too far to care that much.

The second best question might be "let me SEE the title".

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by oroboros

Agreed... that is the best first question!

I got nasty little surprise when I had the bike on the back of a pick-up at the notary signing for the title... "Oh ya, the title say 17K but the odometer says 10K. The PO told me it was just a typo" Oh right! sure it was. More like he had to replace it after a get off. I was already in too far to care that much.

The second best question might be "let me SEE the title".

You absolutely have to confirm the Title is for the bike you are buying by cross-checking the Title's VIN with the actual bike's VIN, and you also need to confirm there is not Lien on it (money due to a borrower). Then you need to be sure the name on the Title is the actual person that is selling it - and they need to sign it as "Seller".

Sometimes people will buy a bike and not register or Title it, then sell it. If that happens (like it did to a friend of mine), the Title will be signed over to someone other than you as "Buyer". In that case you may need to pay for the taxes due from the previous transaction, PLUS the taxes due for your transaction, in order to get a new Title and registration in your name.

There's a lot that can go wrong, so always be careful.

[oroboros]

Originally Posted by jkv45

There's a lot that can go wrong, so always be careful.

Very good advice!

[Hero Danny]

I'm guessing the story of the back tire has something to do with burn outs. lol

[oroboros]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

I'm guessing the story of the back tire has something to do with burn outs. lol

ha! I think you are right, sadly.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by oroboros

ha! I think you are right, sadly.

No worries, a back tire is only a few bucks. I doubt any real expensive damage was done to the bike.

[oroboros]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

No worries, a back tire is only a few bucks. I doubt any real expensive damage was done to the bike.

I've watched the guys do burn-out competitions at the local dealer. It is cringe worthy. Basically they run through the tire until is burst. The winner gets.... a free tire!

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by oroboros

I've watched the guys do burn-out competitions at the local dealer. It is cringe worthy. Basically they run through the tire until is burst. The winner gets.... a free tire!

Lol, Well, you should take your bike there and enter! Worst case scenario you have to buy another tire, which, let's face it. You're going to need another tire very soon anyway. lol