76 Yamaha XS360

Hello all! I'm a newbie to the forum and don't have a bike at the moment. I have owned 6 different crotchrocket style bikes over the past 20 years. The reason I joined this forum is b/c I am probably going to get an XS360 this weekend. I know this is XS400 forum but this is the closest I could find related to the bike.

So I have some questions for anyone that has knowledge of the XS360. The bike that I am thinking about getting is owned by a coworker. He does not know what its worth and neither do I for that matter. It was actually left to him by a former roommate and he just wants it out of his garage. Any ideas on what I should offer him? What are these things worth? The bike is in good condition and has 7xxx miles. I'm not sure what model it is but it has an electric start and front disc brake and spoke wheels. The exhaust pipes look good like its never been down. From what I can tell the bike looks complete.

When I first thought of buying it I was thinking about turning it into a café or bobber style bike. But now I'm not sure if I want to chop it b/c it does look nice original. Any suggestions on which way to take it? I'm open for any comments. Thanks in advance for answers/comments/suggestions.

I don't know anything about your xs360 but I would say its worth at least $500 the mileage is very low, is the whole bike in good shape and does it run

Sounds like an XS360C. There are a few XS360 build threads currently being updated here.

Good, stock, bikes are getting harder to find. Stock condition and only 7000 miles? Running or close to it?
Prices locally are inflated but if it were available here I'd drop $1000(CAD) on it without thinking twice.

Around $500 down there would be a generous offer.

Keep it stock though. It'd be a shame to see another good condition stock bike get butchered because the current fashion trend in the bike builder world calls for it.

Welcome. I have a XS360C. If it's as nice and complete as you say you'd be getting a bargain for $500. That's what I paid for mine and I was really lucky. Still, it took at least another $500 to get it on the road.

You can check out my build thread (in my signature) if you'd like to see mine. Post up some photos of it once you get a chance to see it and we can tell you better.

Good luck.

Thanks for the responses so far!

Lyle, I have been reading through your build thread… good stuff man!

I don’t know if the bikes runs or not. It did before it was parked last but it’s been sitting for a while. And I’m pretty sure it wasn’t properly put into storage but it is garaged. I know I will need to go through the carbs and everything and it’ll probably need new tires. I saw the bike at the end of last summer and it looked good and original but I haven’t seen it since. At the time my coworker did not have the key for it. He now has the key so hopefully this weekend we can get it going.

$500 sounds like a good starting point. If we get the thing running he may want more. Another guy that was with us last summer when we were looking at it said it’s probably worth a couple grand. So now it’s in the owners head that he could at least get a thousand for it. I’ve looked all over the internet and can’t find any prices on these things. I guess I should be saying I can’t find any of these bikes period. I’ve seen on this forum where a few people have them and restored them but that’s the most I’ve found. ebay has a few RT 360s and xs400s that have sold for a couple thousand and more but I don’t know if that’s a good comparison. I’d like to get it cheap enough so I can put some money into it and have some fun with it.

A good running xs360 that need nothing with a title is an easy $1000-$1500. If the tires are old and cracked and it has sat for longer than 6-12 months it will need all the fluids flushed and changed. Lots of little things will add up Take all this into account when you buy it.

Just consider it a XS400 as far as pricing goes.

IMHO, unless it was an absolutely mint, low mileage, running, stock bike it wouldn't be worth $2,000. Others may have different opinions. There are just too many other bikes you could get for that kind of money. Also, it would have to be in good stock shape and running for me to pay $1000.

Maybe I'm sticking my neck out here but, at least in the market where I live, any of these old bikes top out around $1,500 to $1,700 in SAFE roadworthy shape in the spring when prices are highest. That is with serviceable chain, sprockets, tires, brakes (including master cylinder, caliper, brake hose, pads, shoes). Those are all things you should look at before buying and you may need to address before riding it. Believe me, all that stuff really adds up, for example here are some conservative estimates:
-chain $50
-sprockets: $30
-tires $200-$250 (lots of tread does not mean they are safe, they need to be changed every 6 years or so from date of manufacture)
-brake pads & shoes $35
-master cylinder and caliper rebuild kits: $40
-brake hose $50 or more

Then there is the issue of getting it running properly. If someone has tried to start it with old gas in it or it has sat for a while, you will likely need to remove and clean the carbs. In reality, you will need to remove and clean the carbs, period. At least for me, that was not an afternoon project the first time.

Also, to run properly it will need:
-points set or replaced (replace condenser at the same time as points) -$30
-valves set properly -feeler gauge $5
-carbs balanced (make a manometer yourself) - a few $ for tubing and ATF
-new plugs are a good idea - $10-$15 carrying an extra set is a better idea
-maybe new gas cap gasket - $10
-air filters -$20 or more

Notice I keep saying "run properly". There is running and then there is running properly. Big difference when you are riding as opposed to starting it up in a driveway. It takes time and effort to get it running properly and those are good bargaining points when buying it.

Do you need to get it inspected to license it where you are? Here we need it to pass a safety check. To pass those tests the pipes can have no rust holes. Do you need to buy pipes? Cha-ching, $60- $100. How about the lights and horn, including signal lights? Cha-ching. Oh, and the fork seals? Is there oil on the front fork tubes? Replace the seals and probably the oil wipers above them. $40

See what I mean? Keep in mind I guessed at all the prices above, I didn't look them up just now, but I tried to guess low on all of them. I went back and added them all up. Total so far is $580. Some of those things you may not need but you might. You also need to consider shipping charges and taxes on top of all that so probably $500 anyway.

Bottom line, you need to be the judge of how much it is worth to you, both in terms of time and money. You will need to wrench on it because it is cost prohibitive to take it to a mechanic unless you are made of money. I don't know how mechanically inclined you are but most ppl can learn to work on these, it just takes time. Download a manual here and look over the first chapter on maintenance. That should get you started. There is an excellent resource here somewhere on what to do when you buy a new XS400 but I can't find it right now. Maybe someone can post a link.

Take some detailed photos and post them here so we can help you with more specifics before you agree on a price if you can. Good luck.

Good point XSchris, I didn't include the cost of all the fluids. That is engine oil, fork oil, brake fluid, horizontal converter juice, etc.

Also new tubes for the new tires.

Thanks for all the info Lyle! I actually started making a list yesterday of things I thought it might need. But I didn't come up with all the stuff that you did. That's good information that will help me decide in what I will pay for the bike.

I own a 76 xs360. It's a great bike. Take good care of it and enjoy it. Might require a few places where you do your rewiring.

So I got the XS today! Ended up paying $500 for it. This is what I noticed so far: It's going to need a tune up for sure. Front turn signal lens is missing. Pipes don't have any rash but have a little surface rust towards the front. Rear tire looks like it was replaced not too long ago but front tire will definitely need replaced. No rust in the tank. Seat has tear on it. It looks like somebody did a way with the air cleaner box and it has pods on it now.

Not a bad little bike and it should clean up pretty good.

Oh yea! Good score

Nice one! I'd buy one like it in a heartbeat for a restoration. Too stock to chop or cafe.
That original paint job still looks great!

Good score I would ditch those crappy pods for some uni's. Also put a fuel filter between the tank and carbs.

iamunique127 mentioned tires, he mentioned to replace them 6 years after date of manufacture.
One thing he didn't mention was how to tell when the tire was manufactured.
On the side of the tire is a DOT number. On the end of the DOT number are some digits in an oval, this is a date code, these are the week and year of manufacture. If the date code has just three digits in it, it was manufactured before the year 2000, in 2000 they went to four digits. As in 238, this tire was made in the 23rd week of 1998. Real old tires don't have the date code.
The first two digits are the week, the second two are the year. As in 3407. This means the tire was made in the 34th week of 2007.
So look at your tires for this date code. If that date is 6 years or more old, replace those tires.
Leo

Thanks for that info XSLeo. I already knew where to find the date code on the tire but I did not know about the 3 digit vs. 4 digit. Mine has 3 digits and ends in 6. So that front tire is at least from 1996 or 1986. It is quite worn and cracked. Maybe 76?

Yep, those tires need replacement. It don't really matter if 96, 86 or 76 they are just bad tires.
Leo