Bought a rebel 450 Monday. $500 including a charger and a new battery. PO said it was running last September. Sat outside this winter. Just over 12 k miles Tires are date coded 11th week 08 so they should be decent.
I ordered a new petcock, after the PO told me his was leaking after an attempted repair by a local shop. Probably why he stopped riding the bike.
Drained the raunchy old gas, took a pump oil can, opened the float bowl drains and flushed them out with fresh gas. I couldn't believe it, the bike cranked right up and ran just fine. Put the petcock in the tank put the tank back on the bike and fired her up and drove it around the neighborhood. Everything works fine, but she needs some love cosmetically.
Since it was made 9-86 she qualifies for antique tags in Va. This will be my 3rd bike on antique tags. Permanent plates, no property taxes, annual insurance is about $80 per bike.
I also found a 1987 Yamaha SRX 250 barn find that had not been on the road in 22 years. I worked out a deal with the seller to get every piece I need to bring mine back to original as manufactured condition. It's been a good week for me as far as luck goes. Thought I would be cussing that Rebel trying to get it running. Now all I need to do is get the putrid smell of rotten gas out of my garage and off of my hands
.
On the trip to Fredericksburg to pick up the SRX parts the Fiesta averaged 49.3 MPG even with some AC use when temps hit the high 90s.
regards
Mech