Advice Needed: What can I do with an XR750?

Can anyone help?

I am lucky enough to own a genuine XR750 flat-tracker, but have absolutely no idea what to do with it. At present, it's a very expensive ornament.

The original idea was to find someone who could help me convert it to a road bike. Many people I've spoken to have suggested this would be sacrilege and I should keep it as a museum piece, which strikes me as being a shame.

The trick, is finding someone who is capable of tackling such a bike, restoring it sensitively and well - who actually wants to do it.

Any suggestions or advice would be welcome...

[Batman]

Originally Posted by Johnny No Stars

Can anyone help?

I am lucky enough to own a genuine XR750 flat-tracker, but have absolutely no idea what to do with it. At present, it's a very expensive ornament.

The original idea was to find someone who could help me convert it to a road bike. Many people I've spoken to have suggested this would be sacrilege and I should keep it as a museum piece, which strikes me as being a shame.

The trick, is finding someone who is capable of tackling such a bike, restoring it sensitively and well - who actually wants to do it.

Any suggestions or advice would be welcome...

Well,,,,,if you REALLY have no idea what to do with her,
You could always give her to me and I will look after her.
She will sit very nicely next to the XLCH, and I will pet her
and start her and annoy the neighbours with her, and ride her,
and take her to the 50th Rally, and you can come and visit her
anytime you like.

Just a thought........................


Ray

[Borg]

why not just do it up and then decide, you can alwats stick a daylight MOT on it. No lights needed, then ride it and see how you feel. Either way Do it up first

[BaZa®]

Where are you in the country? Maybe it could become a project between you and an independent?

Lucky you, photo from a NZ web site click on picture:

[kiwidave]

Sell it. Buy a road bike with the money.

Ornaments are for non-bikers.

(I have a degree of scepticism about your post. Something doesn't add up.....)

Ray, many thanks for the kind offer, I didn't realise that finding a solution could be that easy. Certainly, I'll give it some thought!

Borg; sorry, maybe I wasn't clear; I'm basically looking for a recommendation of a mechanic who would reliably rebuild it for me. My mechanical skills are zero and I just don't have any spare time.

BaZa; I'm in the South East and yes, I could do this jointly with someone, but again, feel sure that the best thing is just to pay someone to do the work - am I missing something?

Kiwidave; I've tried selling it but it doesn't attract healthy enough offers because:

A) It hasn't run in years and needs fettling first.

B) The market for XR's seems slim in the UK (I could start advertising it overseas and get involved in shipping I suppose, but I'm after an easier fix).

C) It appears that I can't find an interested buyer until it's either in full race trim and tune - or is a fully registered road bike. In other words, the only sniffs of buyers this bike gets, is from people who seems about as lazy or mechanically backward as me. They just want a bike that's ready to go...

...all of which brings me back to the point: If I get someone to help me finish it, I will end up with something saleable, useable or with a value. I'm specifically trying to turn it from a non-ornament into a bike to ride... And I want an XR on the road - no other bike does it for me! The XR lookie-likey bikes come nowhere near the real thing.

I assure you there's no need for scepticism, this is a genuine request for advice - or pointers to good mechanics who have worked on XR race bikes. Anybody I've found - even within HD dealerships, seems unwilling to take on the task.

Hope that's cleared things up a little. Thanks for the replies all.

[lambo]

If you can get hold of the book 'Illustrated Harley Davidson Buyer's Guide ' it's written by Allan Girdler the bike he rides is a XR750 it's fully street legal with lights and all

he says about it ' About my bike it's an XR750 a 1970 engine in a 1973 frame.took me 3 years to collect and assemblethe parts,install the street equiptment and persuade the state motor vehicle department to issue a licence. Not for sale,but I prdict you'll have as much fun finding ,and working on your own'

Well I reckon you should get your bike street legal and get it out on the road

[kiwidave]

My apologies. I was rather thinking a Nigerian-style ''rare bike for sale'' scam was looming.

I would heartily recommend Mark at

Southern Speed Services - Custom Harleys - Custom Bikes - Performance Bikes

Mark is a highly respected Harley mechanic (tho he works on all brands) who loves old and unusual Milwaukee iron. He is in Sutton, Surrey.

He is honest and takes pride in his work. Give him a call.

And no mate, 99% of the dealerships in the UK would not even know what an XR750 is....

If you need parts, google. These bikes were in production for yonks, it should not be as hard as it may appear.

[BaZa®]

Also ask Full-Bore Motorcycles in Watford. Ask for Roger tell him you got the link from BaZa.

Ah, totally understood KD.

I wondered what you were taking issue with for a minute, but I get it now. That's precisely the type of buyer my bike attracts by email when I advertise it: “I am God speed honourable to do business with you kind sir. As religious soul, I happy give you £5,000 more for the bike than you advertise it for. I pay by Western Union money transfer, and desire to trust that you will extract the shipping monies from the transaction and send the balance back in non-sequential kruggerands...” etc. etc. Funny at first, frustrating after the tenth one.

That's exactly what I'm looking for - a good, solid recommendation. Thanks for your help, I'll call Mark tomorrow.

Same to you too BaZa, nice one.

A great help, thanks for your replies.