@@ThingsTomLike I've got an 81 440 ltd D all original only 9443 miles on it paid 300 bucks at a garage sale got it running and putting it on the road next week and let the good ole times ROLL!
Thanks for sharing! Years ago I had a same one but red color bought it from an old guy that was having a garage sale for $500 put fresh gas in and a new battery it didn't take long before it fired up for the first time after 20 years! amazingly the tires were like new and still in good condition no cracks! paint like new all original! rode it home like 10 miles no problem later I noticed it had a small oil leak was told by a local motorcycle mechanic that the head bolts needed to be tighten up a little more beyond factory specifications since the 400's were known for oil leak. as time passed I had no choice but to sell it it wasn't easy, and I still miss it a lot!!! although it wasn't a good bike for me to ride on the highway it was perfect around town and great on gas with plenty of power for me. Hope to find one in the future again and it's getting harder and they are getting more expensive as they get older. Good luck with yours have fun with it and enjoy it and ride safely.
My first bike back then. Mine had electric start with the kicker too. Rode on the back of my friends KZ750 to get to the dealer in Fairbanks AK. Bought it new and rode it back over 100 miles. I asked my friend what the gear pattern was (1 down 4 up) because I had never ridden a motorcycle. Piece of cake. Saw so much of Alaska and then New Mexico on that bike. Did about 100 mph on the top end. Never any mechanical issues.Good Nebraska built bike.
I just bought a 74. It's very nice with only 300 miles on it, but its been sitting in a garage for 20 years. Ive yet to get it started, but I love the way yours sounds, so now Im motivated to get it going lol
Well hey, that is both awesome and almost unbelievable! 300 miles?! Sounds like it never had the chance to get ridden. I'm glad I was able to help motivate you. Hopefully it's not too much trouble to get running.
@@ThingsTomLike I agree the milage seemed unbelievable, but I've yet to find anything that contradicts it. The carbs are gummed up of course, and the front brakes are kinda stuck. but the paint is original and in good shape
Currently in the process of rebuilding one, well redoing the wiring coils, stater wheel bearings, fork seals, throttle cable, all the good stuff that will leave you stranded, if not maintained properly.
Gotta say that sounds like a rebuild to me. Best of luck I hope it all goes well for you. When you are all done you wont have to ever worry about getting stranded.
Yeah! A few years back when I was working at the consumer products plant. I got to talking with one of the old timers there. He said we could look it up. I brought him the VIN and he checked the record archives (which were actually kept on microfilm!) He was able to find information on the bike. It rolled off the assembly line in November of 1975.
Nice! 👍 Kool video! Enjoyed watching. I have this exact same bike same year only red. It’s been stored away in the garage a few years now but I plan to get it out this summer. I had four other different motor cycles before at once but this is the only one I have left now. Enjoy! 🏍
Thanks Kenyatta! Mine also tends to live in the garage. I only take it out a few times a year but when I do it's always very enjoyable. Long gone are the days where I use it for commuting, but taking it out for a spin around the lake definitely makes for a nice ride.
You’re welcome! Yes I can agree with you. I would take it a for short cruises with relaxing scenery views like the lake, farms and near by horse ranch. I kept it original but only added neon lights like 13 years ago for more visibility when my wife was pregnant with our first son and we used it on the 4th of July and watched the fire works that night. Thanks again for sharing the great 👍 video.
Seeing this looks so cool. My problem (among many) is I’d need to learn to ride first and then hope I can find one of these for sale. Plus I know nothing of bike maintenance and the Kickstarter makes me believe the bike will never start when I need it to and I’ll be stranded Guess I’m not cut out to be a bike rider
One place you could start would be to see if there are motorcycle classes available in your city. We have a few options in my town. They are designed for people who have never touched a bike before. Good luck!
I'm looking to buy this exact year n model. do you still have it, does it run good, any issues that is constant that always needs addressed? Would u recommend this bike? sounds great is it aftermarket slip one pipe?
I recently sold the bike to a co-worker who is refurbishing the whole bike. If you can get your hands on one I would highly recommend it. I had this bike for about 15 years and I initially bought it for $500. It ran very well that entire time with little normal maintenance. As far as the exhaust I don't know I think it's standard but that's just a guess.
@@ThingsTomLike Wow $500? I'm looking at one now 13K miles for $2000 is that a good buy? It's very clean and valves, new battery, tires, cleaned carbs, spark plugs, new OEM tank these were all done and purchased last and this year.
@@JLozdrummin if it has that low of miles and that much work done to it then yeah that sounds reasonable. You could buy it and have a vintage bike to play with for the rest of your life.
@@JLozdrummin I sold mine for almost nothing. It wasn't so much selling it as gifting it to a friend. He is in the process of doing a full restoration of the bike and to me that was more important than trying to get the best price for it on the open market.
Bummer man. Sometimes I will crank up the idle speed which is a knob in the middle of the engine on the right hand side. It kind of looks like a large plain end screw. If you turn that towards the front of the bike it turns up to idle. You might also try some Seafoam or other gas additive.
