tobeerortobike
new rider
Hi Everyone, new here.
TLDR: Mechanical masochist eyeing a cheap and non-running Vitplien on Craigslist. Possible easy fix or RUN?
For context, I was dumb enough to purchase a project bike as a first bike. I picked up a non-running 1985 Kawasaki ZN1100 and nursed it back to health, eventually getting it back on the road. It was a bit of a headache, but I love the bike and loved the experience of wrenching on it. If you're familiar with the bikes, they are on the heavier side with a bucket load of power and a shaft drive. All in all, a great touring/crusier bike but not as engaging on the twisties or on the small town back roads that I usually ride. So I've been looking at getting something smaller, more nimble, and lower on power. Those three factors brought me to looking at the Vitplien 401. Seems to have everything I am looking for, and are pretty reasonable on Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist near me.
I was browsing Craigslist when I came across a Vitplien listed for just $1000. Of course, being the cheapsake I am I gravitated right to the listing. The pictures looked fine, but the listing was full of every used car/motorcycle read flag I could imagine:
"FS 2020 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401. Not running. Cranks but does not start. Salvage title. $1200 OBO."
Of course, I e-mailed the seller with a few questions and here is what he responded with:
"It has a salvage title because I bought it at an auction. I'm not sure when it last ran but I bought it about a year and a half ago.
I'm not sure why it isnnt running but it does have spark and the engine does turn over. I got it to idle for 15 seconds, so it might not be getting fuel? It has not had a compression test. No warranty. It has a salvage title in my name.
vin- md2juj408lc263908"
I looked up the VIN, and weirdly enough the title came back clean. The bike only has 2845 miles on it.
What I am really here to ask is, just how bad of an idea is this bike? I am very mechanically inclined, have done all my own car work my whole life and have gotten pretty good at piecing motorcycles back together. Is there a simple/common fix that could be stopping the bike from running? I've done some research and seen a lot of initial quality complaints with these bikes. Are these as bad as they seem or are they overblown? Is this bike just a total lemon?
Let me know what y'all think, I'm thinking I could talk the seller down pretty significantly but I am not going to bother if this bike is just going to be a total basket case.
TLDR: Mechanical masochist eyeing a cheap and non-running Vitplien on Craigslist. Possible easy fix or RUN?
For context, I was dumb enough to purchase a project bike as a first bike. I picked up a non-running 1985 Kawasaki ZN1100 and nursed it back to health, eventually getting it back on the road. It was a bit of a headache, but I love the bike and loved the experience of wrenching on it. If you're familiar with the bikes, they are on the heavier side with a bucket load of power and a shaft drive. All in all, a great touring/crusier bike but not as engaging on the twisties or on the small town back roads that I usually ride. So I've been looking at getting something smaller, more nimble, and lower on power. Those three factors brought me to looking at the Vitplien 401. Seems to have everything I am looking for, and are pretty reasonable on Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist near me.
I was browsing Craigslist when I came across a Vitplien listed for just $1000. Of course, being the cheapsake I am I gravitated right to the listing. The pictures looked fine, but the listing was full of every used car/motorcycle read flag I could imagine:
"FS 2020 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401. Not running. Cranks but does not start. Salvage title. $1200 OBO."
Of course, I e-mailed the seller with a few questions and here is what he responded with:
"It has a salvage title because I bought it at an auction. I'm not sure when it last ran but I bought it about a year and a half ago.
I'm not sure why it isnnt running but it does have spark and the engine does turn over. I got it to idle for 15 seconds, so it might not be getting fuel? It has not had a compression test. No warranty. It has a salvage title in my name.
vin- md2juj408lc263908"
I looked up the VIN, and weirdly enough the title came back clean. The bike only has 2845 miles on it.
What I am really here to ask is, just how bad of an idea is this bike? I am very mechanically inclined, have done all my own car work my whole life and have gotten pretty good at piecing motorcycles back together. Is there a simple/common fix that could be stopping the bike from running? I've done some research and seen a lot of initial quality complaints with these bikes. Are these as bad as they seem or are they overblown? Is this bike just a total lemon?
Let me know what y'all think, I'm thinking I could talk the seller down pretty significantly but I am not going to bother if this bike is just going to be a total basket case.
