It's a 50 mile round trip a day so not really tnat long. Another note on the carb backfire, he said it seemed to start after the new air filter was added. He didn't say that's what caused it, I do understand him not knowing either way is the problem. He said he's ridden it a lot, it used to be his commuter but he got a new job and new car. He actually bought it off of someone who owns a shop pretty close to him.

 

Sounds like the carb just needs a rejet and good tuning.

 

[QUOTE=LoneWoolf;16393892]Many better choices for a "commuter bike". But if you are looking for a Harley Davidson that you can use to commute, I would not pick a 18 yr old with 20K miles.
QUOTE]
Ditto
I just bought a 2001 XL for $2800, 8000 miles... the guy was trying to sell it forever, was asking $3500.
My commute is about 6 miles... 14 minutes

 

[QUOTE=arthur6;16395927]That's interesting. A 15 year old bike with 8k miles? And I was worried about 19k being to small an amount of miles for the year. Is it running good for you?

 

This one has some add ons as well.

Forward controls
Le Pera solo and 2up seats
Drag bars
V&H side shots exhaust
Tag and marker lights relocate

 

One thing I like to do on used cars and bikes is have the owner start it cold while I stand behind and watch the exhaust. See how easy it starts, and if I see blue smoke, I won't purchase it. Look under the bike with a flashlight too.

 

The bike is great.
2001 XL - 8000 miles.
I bought it, rode it the 5 miles to my house.
I filled the tires, they had about (5 lbs), I checked the oil, adjusted the bars & levers.
A few days later I changed the oil, all is good.
The tires are still the original, I'll get new tires when summer is over.
I've bought a LOT of motorcycles that have been sitting for a LONG time, they're out there. Most of these "finds" are from friends, friends of friends, etc. Several were from leads my wife hears about from her co-workers, church friends, etc.
It's even better if the bike wont start, that really drives the price down.

 

Hi. . sounds like a nice bike. I would think more about riding the rest of the summer on tires that old though. Even if they look good with no cracks that is a long time and the rubber gets hard.

It would be a shame to suffer a mishap with a blown tire or loss of traction when cornering, wet road, etc. I know. . you just got it and want to ride it so who wants down time for some tires.

It will be worth it.

Ride safe. .. . .

 

18+ yr. old tires.
Should be first maintenance item.

 

I passed on a bike that had 14 year old original tires. I figured that says a lot about the owner and how the bike was taken care of. What the hell is wrong with people? They buy a $10,000 bike, ride it twice a week, and then leave it to rot in their garage for a decade before their wife makes them sell it. Then they try to sell it for way more than it's worth because they were pussies and hardly rode it.