What should I do with my XS400-2E?

I am at a point where I am wanting/needing something different out of my bike. My wife wants to ride more and so a slightly bigger/more comfortable bike would be nice. However, I also have a lot into my XS400 and am considering modding it to suit my needs/wants.

So far, I have about 3k in my bike (paid waaaaaay too much for bike itself)

I really like this:



and this:



So slammed and minimalized pretty much.

And I think I could have a longer seat and a bolt on/off sissy bar for when the wife wants to ride

BUT

If I chop my perfectly good frame and start customizing my XS400, I'm guessing my value goes down, so then I'm out even more money.


My question is this:

Should I cut my losses and sell the bike for what I can and get a bike that is what we need

OR

chop on my bike and customize it since I already know what I have in it and know I will be losing money either way.

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. I am just kind of on the fence on this decision.

Thanks!

G'day Nico,

can you post a pic of your bike?

From the sounds of things you will regret either of the options you listed. Would your wife be interested in riding her own bike and not just be pillion? You could get another xs400 for yourself to customize. I know I enjoyed chasing my wife on her bike before we had our son. Alternatively, if you can find some extra $$ then get a second bike for riding 2 up.

Hey!

I keep bugging my wife to learn to ride but that probably wont happen, especially enough to go on trips with two bikes. Also, financially, we do not want two bikes. But that would definitely be the easiest solution! And you are right I'm afraid I will regret chopping my bike up.

Here's my bike



Looks a whole lot better in pictures. In person, theres some rust, dents dings and scratches and what not.

Maybe keep it the same but do some oversize mods for a few extra hp?

I'm asking the same questions about my 650. There's plenty of power for us (we're both pretty small), but comfort is still an issue. I'm planning on making a sissy bar and re-upholstering the seat with a new cover and padding, and we'll see how far that gets us. If that isn't enough, a suspension upgrade might get the comfort up where she'd be okay on longer rides. Maybe a similar approach would work for you.

it's mainly the sissy bar issue and I'm not feeling the upright stance anymore. I feel like I am sitting up real high like I'm riding a scooter or bicycle. as of right now I'm leaning toward selling it.

and on that note, anybody have pricing suggestions? according to nada, in excellent condition a 1978 xs400-2e is around $1900. mine has some cosmetic issues and I can't sell it for that little. anybody else sell or seen one for sale recently?

You won't get that kind of money unless it is showroom restored. Modified bikes can fetch those prices, but only if the work is top notch.

A running bike that needs nothing whatsoever is worth "about a grand" at a minimum. This is what the owner of a shop told me that specializes in moving hundreds of used bikes. This guy has over 300 for sale at any given time.

The seating position is what it is; the old, small bikes were all setup similarly. The seat is at the same height as the gas tank.

Other than feeling silly do you have any problems while riding it? If you're doing anything more than short or emergency two-up riding you've got the wrong bike. The xs400 will never be a good bike to have a pillion on.

thanks bc. and yea the seating was what initally drew me to the older styled bikes but now my tastes are changing. and the shortest we ride now is 10-15 minute trips but would like to go on longer rides.

thanks for the pricing info. I was afraid of that. I was hoping for around 2, but I dont want to rip someone else off in selling the bike for way more than its worth

I'm with BC, not a good two person bike. I love the tank and wheels on your model bike, lots of options like your pictures show.

I'm always getting n trouble but I think you get a bigger bike with a nice backrest that your wife likes and keep the xs400 for "a hobby that keeps you out of the saloons".

nico said:

thanks for the pricing info. I was afraid of that. I was hoping for around 2, but I dont want to rip someone else off in selling the bike for way more than its worth

Click to expand...

It's worth whatever someone is willing to pay; if you can get 2 go for it. I was just saying that it will be worth 1 at a minimum if it's ready to ride regardless of cosmetic condition.

I always figured that unless you buy a bike with the intention to full out customize, which these bikes are great for, the intention is to keep it in all its glory and maintain it into its vintage years. Price is subjective .... until all but a few originals get chopped. Then the trading power becomes a little more subjective for the owner.

Chop or Mod or Polish the stock back out of the original if its running well $1000 to $2000 maybe more for better work in the Greater Toronto Area.

Consider holding a 50/50 draw ... 50 tickets for $50 each that will net you $2500.
You will also end up with one really really happy person and about 49 leftover people bitching.