I've flipped 6 motorcycles out of the 7 I've owned. This is how I bought my first car at 29. I'm autistic, and have found I rather enjoy working on motorcycles. It's kind of a love/hate thing. I bought a 1981 Yamaha XS850 Special for $200. Put a $40 battery in it to make it run, sold it for $1,200. Another was a 1981 Honda CM400A for $50, only thing wrong with it was the previous owner broke a piece of a carburetor and it fell into the cylinder. Using an endoscope, I looked in there and saw it on top of the piston. After unsuccessfully trying to remove it with a magnet (and remembering aluminum is not magnetic), I put a drinking straw in the end of a shop vac hose, put my hand around that to make a seal, and sucked out that piece with the straw. That bike ran with no problems. Sold it for $1,200 as well. My current project is a '77 BMW R100S that I got for free (it even came with the original toolkit, all the tools are stamped with "Made in West Germany"). Currently dealing with a wiring issue, a bad ground I haven't been able to trace. I think it would be a great subject for one of your videos lol.
Sweet stuff man. That straw and shop vac trick seems like a good idea. I do the same with cars. Got a 05 camery that was sitting for 4 years and needed a battery. Got it for 300 fixing to sell it for 1500
This was my father's bike. If you want the background on it, just contact me or tell me how to contact you. Great to see it running again! I hope you enjoy it
@@uPilotBecause we now already know it was made in Japan in 1987, shipped to the US, purchased by someone's father and ridden for a decade or two with ever-declining intensity. Then the bike sat for 20 years due to farmily reasons until it was eventually sold to some UA-cam guy.
Too many years ago, I learned that by the time you find and buy the bike, chase down the needed parts and then do the work, you end up making about 5 cents an hour profit. You have to love what you are doing
One thing that wasn't included in the cost breakdown was the cost of fuel to drive a truck 3 hours away to pick it up, when you include that profit margins get even smaller. Its definitely something to consider when looking to flip something, sometimes a closer project thats a bit more expensive is worth it.
Awesome explanation of the flip/recondition process. The honesty here is beautiful and thank you. The interwebs make it seem like it's so easy and effortless. You and Dan just explained it perfectly. Well done. Go Craig and Dan, keep moving forward!
I have had many Fj's. My current is a '95 1200 in cocktail blue. They are fantastically capable bikes. Bulletproof engines, Comfort in spades, easy to get to and work on ..and that torque 😍 They really are one of the best bikes Yamaha ever made. The heritage of these engines from the xs1100 right up to the latest XJR's prove their worth. A real belter of a all rounder mile muncher. You are right to keep her.
I agree, the FJ is fantastic. I've just never understood all of those who rave about their comfort. I suppose it is compared to other sport/sport-touring options. I do love my 89 FJ, but when the miles need munched, its the Goldwing Tour all day. To this day, I still can't get over the sound of the FJ firing up. Symphony to the ears.
Had an xs850 for years and picked up a rat of an xj900 that I had for years as well. Loved that thing to pieces and then all back together again. Shaft drive, jet engine sound, tons of torque, only 5 gears😢. I drive a Speed Triple now.
Was freshening a 86 FJ1200 for a friend of mine. Decided not to charge him and in fact, just buy it. Fell in love with it while working on it. Great bikes and great video.
Hi Craig and Dan, I was thinking when you said $600.00 Profit, that I would just keep it. It would be hard to find another one in that nice of condition. My problem is, I would want to keep all the Bikes.
I'm experiencing that now. Picked up a yamaha 1900 v-twin. Some cosmetic issues (mostly chrome, paint is great) but it runs so well and is the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden.
Ha, I had one of these, great bike especially when you get the suspension sorted. Bet you wish you put the decent tyres on it now😂. A thoroughly enjoyable video 👍
The good thing with Evaporust is that it's re-usable. So, if you had enough to FILL the tank completely, (so you don't have to keep sloshing a little bit around in the tank), it can then be re-used, and you would be able to keep it to use on other tanks, or anything with rust that needs submerging.
I got a 1985 rebel that had been sitting for 20 years your videos brought it back to life Love your videos I've learned so much you never give up 🔥🔥 ive worked on all my motorcycles by hand thanks to you.
Hi Craig, I’m from New Zealand, I really enjoyed meeting you the other week in the restaurant with my son in law. Thanks for taking the time. When dealing with fuel tanks that have had water in, for whatever reason, I used to rinse them out, then put methylated spirits in, swish that around as that mixes with the remaining water. Then empty that out and flush with gas, which mixes with the spirits. Love the channel 👍
@@PromethSunrise not surprised at all, because of the time thing, if you just do this just ignore time spend and see it as a hobby that earns some side cash.
When I discovered the original Wheeler Dealers several years ago, it quickly became my favorite show. I also always thought a motorcycle variant would have been fun to watch.
What I really loved about this video is that you guys really start to find your rythm, I mean it was great from the start, but it keeps getting better, especially with how nicely everything Craig is doing is filmed. Great job Dan!
I’ve been working on a few projects here and there in my tiny 16x24’ shop. Just got a lift table and has made my life so much easier! I love your content it’s always a great watch! Cheers
Great video! Dan nailed the editing and Craig gave great info. This should be a must-watch before listing a bike. If everyone followed your advice, things would be much better. I don't blame you for keeping her, Craig. That thing strikes me as right up your alley. She seems strong and full of life. Well done, Beardos!
Love watching you Dan! As a lifetime fellow enthusiast, a few years ago I spent an entire year doing some motorcycle flips. While I might not have won the lottery, I did make some extra spending money, and at the same time, I enjoyed my hobby and love of taking a forgotten item that has been sitting, and bringing it back to life. I giggle right along with you every time you get that first fire up.
As many old rusty tanks as you deal with, I would suggest setting yourself up with a nice electrolysis system. Seems to be the best way to remove rust, and you researching and designing the setup would make for good youtube content IMO
Love that you kept it Craig. I’m 53 and just about to do my full test here in the uk 🇬🇧 and this is the sorta bike I’m going for, hopefully when I pass. I’m an ex paint and panel tech and wanting to do a relatively easy ish project and watching your videos has inspired me to go for it. Loving the channel, keep up the great work 🤘😎🤘
I've been doing up bikes for years, don't buy a non runner unless it's super cheap, I try and go for things that are cosmetically rough with a minimum of mechanical issues, if you can do your own painting and refinishing you can often get something that looks crap but goes well and will be worth more than you put into it. Fj1200 isn't a bad bike but very old tech and as pointed out in the vid it has 16 inch tyres. Zzr1100 or Honda blackbird are a bit more modern and still cheap enough. Great that you've got the "you're never too old" mentality, enjoy your new hobby sir.
This was a fun episode. That ol' FJ is humming along nicely now! I have considered trying to flip a bike but I am still a newbie mechanic and it seems a bit beyond my skill level right now. Maybe in a year or two. I like these type of videos and I hope you do a few more like it next year.
My new favorite channel, I've been watching all the videos since the day before yesterday. A normal guy doing decent work, funny and educational. This is how UA-cam is supposed to be. Thank you.
Another great video. I've been involved in vintage motorcycle restoration for years, but I don't flip bikes. I've had tons of people ask for my advice on flipping bikes and the first thing I tell them is "you make your money when you buy it".........then I have to explain. If a bike has been sitting for more than a couple years, it will NEED tires (maybe inner tubes), battery, oil change, tuneup, taxes, title transfer and a few other items. Easily 500 bucks if you do it all yourself. And you still don't know if it runs, maybe the tank is rusted or the carbs are completely corroded or worse. If you have to pay someone else to do the work, it's almost always a loser. I'm glad that you made this video, when I'm asked about flipping bikes, I'll just refer him to your explanation, thanks.
I have flipped 60 of the 62 bikes I have owned. 8 of them were new. When selling them, I made money on maybe 4 of them. But my goal was always to buy used creampuffs and after playing with them, sell them for most of what I paid. What a wonderful hobby this has been after 52 years of fun.😊
Best video I’ve seen in long time hope a lot of viewers pay attention. You’re a great guy appreciate how honest you are. Not a common trait anymore. Thanks
I usually lose money or end up even when buying and selling anything, but I always produce something worth keeping forever. That way if I end up keeping it its worth keeping and needs nothing for the future to be complete. It may seem odd but thats the way I operate. I dont sell anything I wouldnt buy, and I am honest. But I also dont sell stuff for a living......I have a job lol
Great video! I flip a lot of bikes and atvs. One thing you forgot was the cost of gas to drive to pick it up. LOve the videos, they are informative. You have some great tips strewn throughout!
I'm 70, & a few years ago I sold my old, broke-down '87 Yamaha FZ600 to a friend, making it the first time in 37 years I'm without a motorcycle. The one thing I get is that it was no longer the type of bike I want. Looking hard at a Royal Enfield (nowadays, who isn't?) Thanks for the engaging & entertaining videos that never fail to showcase your mad repair skills!
Back in the late 80s I was perfectly happy with my 750 Sabre then my friend let me ride his 89 FJ1200. I was instantly addicted to the torque. There was no going back.
Nice job! I’m surprised the fork seals were still good. Flipped bikes when I was younger. Sometimes I made money and sometimes not. Stop flipping when potential buyers became not so great. With the price of new bikes maybe I would get back into. Used bike are crazy expensive on market place and Craigslist. Great video
AH good thing you're keeping it, i had one for years and years, made almost a 100.000 kilometers across all europe, these bikes are bullet-proof , reliable and have a comfortable ride. I am sure this one is going to give you many smiles per gallon 😁
Try using aluminum foil on the exhaust. You can wrap it in a way to direct the oil into the pan and keep the header clean. Have to use it on my 92 CBR 900 otherwise the collector get oil in it and take forever to burn off. Works under the filters too. Changed the oil and filters on my 690 SMC-R last weekend. Used foil held with tape on the cases under the filter housings. No clean up whatever.👍 I work hard on removing all the slack from throttle cables. Once it all dialed in. I get the bike warm so everything is doing what it's going to do. Then with it running. Turn the bars in the direction with the least cable play and adjust it to 0 with the thumb adjuster. It will have the lowest amount of play in normal operation. I spend a lot of time getting everything spot on with the ergos. Been known to turn a few bikes. Always made decent money. I rarely calculate my hours.
it's a lovely bike, and good for many, many more miles but the age and style of the bike means they don't fetch great prices now at least here in the UK, where style and modernity are a bit more important. They do have a certain following though from the people who realise just how good they really are. Great video Craig, lovely to see the FJ fettled back into service.
That bike will be worth 3k when ur done Yes, yes, shown the video of all the work you did to it. It makes people feel better knowing they can just get on and ride
I love watching this channel, I'm a new rider and watching you work gives me the confidence to work on my own stuff. This video in particular has me ready to take apart and clean the 4 carb setup on my bike that has really intimidated me until now 💪
CRAIG Pixies & Elves BRILLIANT you must be one of the FIRST who has included TIME in their calculations and how quickly it runs away from the mechanic!
I’ve enjoyed your UA-cam presence ever since I began watching you with Shawn many years ago on B&B. I was pretty stoked to see after Shawn moved you launched your own channel! I’ll be here brother! Let’s see where you take us!
I had a 91 FJ 1200. Trust me you won't be looking for 6th gear on the FJ. They use the engine for midget racing cause its a torque monster. Great bike!
I've been watching your videos for a few months now and am amazed at each one. I'm going thru a older Yamaha Kodiak with throttling up response issues, even after getting a new carburetor. The original one kept leaking at the over flow, but the needle and seat and float are working properly. I just listed my Harley Street Bob and am already getting lower offers. I'm only selling because I have a left shoulder tear and feel that anything on 2 wheels will not work for me any longer.
You could have kept that last part to yourself have some respect for the ones who are religious just saying and if you don't like it find another channel
Hi Guys, I really loved this video because of your honest and very professional approach. Listing ALL your costs and time, taking loads of pics to show the good AND not so good. A great tutorial on how to flip vehicles for profit.
Awesome video! My dad, who died 3 years ago, and I spent lots of time doing exactly this work on a 1984 FJ 1100. It brought back so many good memories. I wish We would have had this video to watch! I’d love to see a video on a Honda Interceptor (I have a 1984 1000).
Hi my name is Scott, I'm new to the channel and already a huge fan! First, I appreciate your attitude and personality and the fact that you don't use ANY bad language and you don't have to drink alcohol to be on UA-cam!!! But,the 70s and 80s inline 4s are my favorite bikes ever and seeing how you bring them back to life is the best!! I also love the kz400 and pretty much any other bike😊! Keep up the good work!
I cleaned out my 08 ninja 650 tank after I bought it. It had been sitting for 10 years. Filled with vinegar let it sit for a day then poured it out and filtered the vinegar with cheese cloth. Did that 3 times until it was pretty much clear vinegar. Then flushed it with water and baking soda and then poured half a bottle of magical mystery oil to keep it from flash rusting. Worked great and is completely rust free but you have to act fast between the water/baking soda and oil to make sure it doesn’t flash rust. Wash out oil with a gallon of gas before filling up and it’s good to go.
I really appreciate the part where you explained what to include counting when buying a project. Cause Me and my friend are buying & selling and I'll add up some things to the list to save us some hustle. Thank you! I'm watching your videos almost daily! I'm happy you finally got your own channel xD
Based on how it ran in the first video, I was hoping you’d keep it. This one’s more of a labor of love than profit. Love a vintage Yamaha. Cheers, FZ1 rider.
I can't thank you enough for making your videos. It reminds me of working on bikes with my dad and get that feeling when it finally fires. I'm in Colorado and it's hard to find bikes to work on. Keep up the good work.
Little tip for the evaporust,,heat it to 160 before putting it in,, let it sit 2 -3 days ,,tank will look pretty good ,, may nee a second treatment but the "hot mix' really helps,,also two fuel filers is a good thing for a project like this as recleaning cabs is a pain. Go to TractorSupply and get 2.1 gal. of non ethanol fuel for storage times.
I learned that concept of "You make your money when you buy it" when I was fooling with horses. It was always good to go look at a horse where the owner didn't use good techniques in saddling or other handling of their horse. When the horse acted up the price came way down. Re-training those horses was pretty easy as they generally wanted to please their person. Watching this video makes me miss my FJR-1300. When I moved to the desert I knew I couldn't keep a faired sport touring bike at my place ten miles up a rough dirt road.
Out of the old big 4-stroke bikes I owned in the 80s including a GPX750, GPZ1100, GPZ1000RX, FZ750, XS850, FZR1000, CBR1000, GSXR750H, GT750 and GSX750F, I found the Yamaha FJ1100 in it's red and white colors was my favorite big bike. If I could go back in time (and body) it would be at the top of my list for what I would want to ride again. All the other bikes were great in their own right, but for me the FJs typified the whole meaning of 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts'.
greetings, Great video one thing that I do take the tank off before trying to run it I have a plastic outboard boat tank with the hand bulge pump. I learned a long time ago that once one does that kind of work, the wheel barrel will always be empty in the end. The trick to enjoying working on a bike is to get someone else to pay you to fix their motorcycle. Thank you for creating this video, very informative.
Anytime I do a set of carbs, I always replace the philips head screws with allen screws. No more worries about stripped out heads. For my IV Fuel Tank, I use an actual IV Stand I got from a hospital to hold the bottle, plus it's on wheels so it rolls around nice and easy too. Works great.
Craig..if you still have the fj and haven't done this you need to do it ASAP. The petcocks on the fj's are known for the nipple the fuel line hooks to falling out and dumping gas on a hot engine. I checked the one on my 86 and I could spin the nipple in the petcock. I pulled it and epoxied it back in and safety wired it as well.
Craig, glad to see that you are keeping the big ol' girl. I'm on my 2nd FJ1200 and my son also has one as well. If you do keep looking for 6th gear, swap to a 18 tooth countershaft sprocket and a 38 tooth rear sprocket. Cruising RPMs are greatly relaxed and there's still plenty of torque on tap.
I've been looking for an FJ for years. I would have felt confident buying it from you Craig. You seem to be so patient and methodical when it comes to bikes. I hope you get many satisfying miles from her.
Does not matter if you read this. But... The counseling advert? Yep... good one for us who've benefited. And it says all the best about you sir! The bike? Had a Honda, loved the bike. Sold it for a song. It was waxed clean for 12 years. Daily rider. Best pro repair shop only and always. Thanks for a great channel to be encouraged by. Current project bike... 1984 Yamaha XV700 free to me. Has not run in 37 years. And hey... I'm 71. Nothing can go wrong. Every day is a great day. Yours... Sam
Glad you're keeping it. I had the XJ 600 Diversion and my Romanian buddy had the FJ 1200. We had a lot of fun on those bikes in the 90's. The only catch was if he got into the throttle I couldn't keep up. So he stayed out of the throttle just enough.
The only thing that I would have done extra would be checking the valve clearances, which is done via swapping shims. Nice to see that the brake lines had already been replaced. I have a 1993 FJ1200 which has anti-locking brakes, and the extra hardware on there makes bleeding or replacing the brake fluid a real bear.
I had an ‘86 FJ1200. Bought it new. Loved the bike but it ran hot here in central Calif. The Lockhart Phillips fairing lower vs the stock chin spoiler looked cool but it made the bike run even hotter . Was told retiming the intake cam helped the temp issue .
Tip from my local mechanic if you put metal bb's and a little bit of diesel in a rusty tank then shake the life out of it. Has worked for me on a few tanks. Its like sandblasting gets the big chunks out
Hello Craig, I got to know you through your collaborations with Bikes & Beards. I found your interventions relevant and I am happy to discover that I can now follow you here too. Your videos help me wait for the next season since here in Canada we have to wait until April-May to ride a motorcycle.
Great Video Craig & Dan. I'm so happy your keeping this bike, I feel in love with & it's such a time capsule. I also love the break down on flipping bike you did a killer job 👏 KEEPUP THE GREAT VLOGS❤🏍🏍
Love the fact that you kept that bike. I know you know you'll be happy with this decision... Thanks for another great video. I'm anxiously awaiting the next installment...
Just started watching your channel and it looks like its really gonna help me on a project I've had sitting in my garage for close to a decade; restoring my 1 owner 1972 DX500 with only 3,477 miles. The only thing not original is the motor oil but I've been hitting dead ends but I think your channel is going to have the info I nee.
We need more videos! I’ve watched all of them and you should make a second channel that does a detailed rebuild of some common engines for guys wanting to learn.
By far the best video yet! I loved this content/subject of flipping bikes, you should consider doing more of these. The whole video content,editing,music was perfect.
Great video once again. One thing though! The car float bowls are handed, you put 2 on facing the wrong way, if you want to open the drain screws (clean out debris etc.) you will struggle reaching them. May never be needed but if you did need to reach them, you would have to take off the entire carbs 😱
This channel is great! I came here for the Turbo Busa and never left. Your content is super informative, super entertaining and your upper midwest accent reminds me of home. Excellent job fellas! Also, (22:2122:40) that's what she said....
I've flipped 6 motorcycles out of the 7 I've owned. This is how I bought my first car at 29. I'm autistic, and have found I rather enjoy working on motorcycles. It's kind of a love/hate thing. I bought a 1981 Yamaha XS850 Special for $200. Put a $40 battery in it to make it run, sold it for $1,200. Another was a 1981 Honda CM400A for $50, only thing wrong with it was the previous owner broke a piece of a carburetor and it fell into the cylinder. Using an endoscope, I looked in there and saw it on top of the piston. After unsuccessfully trying to remove it with a magnet (and remembering aluminum is not magnetic), I put a drinking straw in the end of a shop vac hose, put my hand around that to make a seal, and sucked out that piece with the straw. That bike ran with no problems. Sold it for $1,200 as well.
My current project is a '77 BMW R100S that I got for free (it even came with the original toolkit, all the tools are stamped with "Made in West Germany"). Currently dealing with a wiring issue, a bad ground I haven't been able to trace. I think it would be a great subject for one of your videos lol.
Sweet stuff man. That straw and shop vac trick seems like a good idea. I do the same with cars. Got a 05 camery that was sitting for 4 years and needed a battery. Got it for 300 fixing to sell it for 1500
Look up Snowbum's BMW repair for a good resource for your R100S.
Start slapping grounds on stuff get a wiring schematic
make your own youtube channel we would like to see
@@nik4712 I second this
This was my father's bike. If you want the background on it, just contact me or tell me how to contact you. Great to see it running again! I hope you enjoy it
Why has no one contacted this guy???
@@uPilotBecause we now already know it was made in Japan in 1987, shipped to the US, purchased by someone's father and ridden for a decade or two with ever-declining intensity. Then the bike sat for 20 years due to farmily reasons until it was eventually sold to some UA-cam guy.
okay I see@@schmuhf
Ever declining intensity!? No, it was ridden less.
@@DeagleGamesTVthen "frequency" would be more appropriate. Maybe he rode it like he stole it once a year 😉
Too many years ago, I learned that by the time you find and buy the bike, chase down the needed parts and then do the work, you end up making about 5 cents an hour profit. You have to love what you are doing
One thing that wasn't included in the cost breakdown was the cost of fuel to drive a truck 3 hours away to pick it up, when you include that profit margins get even smaller. Its definitely something to consider when looking to flip something, sometimes a closer project thats a bit more expensive is worth it.
yes, the fuel is definitely something to consider when picking up a bike
He added the hours taken.....
@@sthildas4857 we were talking about the cost of fuel
@@sthildas4857 I wish my vehicles ran on units of time...
@@DenvarShay Easy. Just ride a bicycle, it'll cost you time but nothing else
I had a 1989 FJ1200 for 12 years. Fabulous bike that took me all over the UK & Europe.
Thing of beauty. This takes me back :)
I had one. Great bikes torky, fast (for its time) and seating position is spot on.
I still have mine with 120,000 mi. that has never been apart with the original clutch.
@@micksterboone4517 well served sir
I've still got mine and its a fantastic machine!!
Awesome explanation of the flip/recondition process. The honesty here is beautiful and thank you. The interwebs make it seem like it's so easy and effortless. You and Dan just explained it perfectly. Well done. Go Craig and Dan, keep moving forward!
Kudos to Dan, he doesn't get enough credit for his creative input & editing skills. And thumbs up 👍 to the Fuel Tank shimmy & music!
For real! Ita a God-given talent. It's not too muc,h, not too little, and just at the right times.
The edit is really jarring with a tiny cut every five seconds.
Yeah he’s gotten good at editing.
Sure the editing is definitely good but i honestly cannot stand it when Dan inserts his extremely inexperienced opinions into things all the time
I have had many Fj's. My current is a '95 1200 in cocktail blue. They are fantastically capable bikes. Bulletproof engines, Comfort in spades, easy to get to and work on ..and that torque 😍 They really are one of the best bikes Yamaha ever made. The heritage of these engines from the xs1100 right up to the latest XJR's prove their worth. A real belter of a all rounder mile muncher. You are right to keep her.
I agree, the FJ is fantastic. I've just never understood all of those who rave about their comfort. I suppose it is compared to other sport/sport-touring options. I do love my 89 FJ, but when the miles need munched, its the Goldwing Tour all day. To this day, I still can't get over the sound of the FJ firing up. Symphony to the ears.
Had an xs850 for years and picked up a rat of an xj900 that I had for years as well. Loved that thing to pieces and then all back together again.
Shaft drive, jet engine sound, tons of torque, only 5 gears😢.
I drive a Speed Triple now.
This is great. Other UA-camrs never mention things like time spent on fixing it up and other costs like transporting wheels to the shop etc.
Was freshening a 86 FJ1200 for a friend of mine. Decided not to charge him and in fact, just buy it. Fell in love with it while working on it. Great bikes and great video.
Be careful.... They're addictive! Far worse than Lays potato chips. One will never be enough!
Hi Craig and Dan, I was thinking when you said $600.00 Profit, that I would just keep it. It would be hard to find another one in that nice of condition. My problem is, I would want to keep all the Bikes.
I'm experiencing that now. Picked up a yamaha 1900 v-twin. Some cosmetic issues (mostly chrome, paint is great) but it runs so well and is the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden.
at the end of the video he said he is keeping it :)
Ha, I had one of these, great bike especially when you get the suspension sorted. Bet you wish you put the decent tyres on it now😂. A thoroughly enjoyable video 👍
Luckily 'You make your money when you buy it' so you never have to sell 😉
The good thing with Evaporust is that it's re-usable. So, if you had enough to FILL the tank completely, (so you don't have to keep sloshing a little bit around in the tank), it can then be re-used, and you would be able to keep it to use on other tanks, or anything with rust that needs submerging.
I got a 1985 rebel that had been sitting for 20 years your videos brought it back to life Love your videos I've learned so much you never give up 🔥🔥 ive worked on all my motorcycles by hand thanks to you.
Was it the 450
Ive got a 1982 Honda cm250 and boy am I glad it was my first, so easy to work on and learn.
Hi Craig, I’m from New Zealand, I really enjoyed meeting you the other week in the restaurant with my son in law.
Thanks for taking the time.
When dealing with fuel tanks that have had water in, for whatever reason, I used to rinse them out, then put methylated spirits in, swish that around as that mixes with the remaining water. Then empty that out and flush with gas, which mixes with the spirits.
Love the channel 👍
Wheelier dealers Craig Edition, I hope this could become a series would be nice to see the math of profit more often :3
You'd be surprised at how low the profit margin is if u consider the time you put in as cost. Most time you dont make any money
@@PromethSunrise not surprised at all, because of the time thing, if you just do this just ignore time spend and see it as a hobby that earns some side cash.
When I discovered the original Wheeler Dealers several years ago, it quickly became my favorite show. I also always thought a motorcycle variant would have been fun to watch.
What I really loved about this video is that you guys really start to find your rythm, I mean it was great from the start, but it keeps getting better, especially with how nicely everything Craig is doing is filmed. Great job Dan!
Literally what i asked for last video, a flip/restoration lol. And twice as long video, love it Greg.
I’ve been working on a few projects here and there in my tiny 16x24’ shop. Just got a lift table and has made my life so much easier! I love your content it’s always a great watch! Cheers
Great video! Dan nailed the editing and Craig gave great info. This should be a must-watch before listing a bike. If everyone followed your advice, things would be much better.
I don't blame you for keeping her, Craig. That thing strikes me as right up your alley. She seems strong and full of life.
Well done, Beardos!
Love watching you Dan! As a lifetime fellow enthusiast, a few years ago I spent an entire year doing some motorcycle flips. While I might not have won the lottery, I did make some extra spending money, and at the same time, I enjoyed my hobby and love of taking a forgotten item that has been sitting, and bringing it back to life. I giggle right along with you every time you get that first fire up.
The editing is so much better in this video, nice work! Really liked those 30 minutes of the video
Get the full decal kit. That always increases the value
Allen heads are an upgrade on the float bowl in my opinion.
They probably started out as JIS screws that got stripped by a philips driver. Allens are definitely an upgrade!
As many old rusty tanks as you deal with, I would suggest setting yourself up with a nice electrolysis system. Seems to be the best way to remove rust, and you researching and designing the setup would make for good youtube content IMO
Love that you kept it Craig. I’m 53 and just about to do my full test here in the uk 🇬🇧 and this is the sorta bike I’m going for, hopefully when I pass. I’m an ex paint and panel tech and wanting to do a relatively easy ish project and watching your videos has inspired me to go for it. Loving the channel, keep up the great work 🤘😎🤘
I've been doing up bikes for years, don't buy a non runner unless it's super cheap, I try and go for things that are cosmetically rough with a minimum of mechanical issues, if you can do your own painting and refinishing you can often get something that looks crap but goes well and will be worth more than you put into it.
Fj1200 isn't a bad bike but very old tech and as pointed out in the vid it has 16 inch tyres. Zzr1100 or Honda blackbird are a bit more modern and still cheap enough.
Great that you've got the "you're never too old" mentality, enjoy your new hobby sir.
Yamaha diversion
This was a fun episode. That ol' FJ is humming along nicely now! I have considered trying to flip a bike but I am still a newbie mechanic and it seems a bit beyond my skill level right now. Maybe in a year or two. I like these type of videos and I hope you do a few more like it next year.
Satisfying, and very well edited. Speaking as a former camera- guy, currently recovering from a stroke, I am impressed.😊
My new favorite channel, I've been watching all the videos since the day before yesterday. A normal guy doing decent work, funny and educational. This is how UA-cam is supposed to be. Thank you.
Look forward to these videos every week - thanks Craig! FJ is such a cool old bike.
Another great video. I've been involved in vintage motorcycle restoration for years, but I don't flip bikes. I've had tons of people ask for my advice on flipping bikes and the first thing I tell them is "you make your money when you buy it".........then I have to explain. If a bike has been sitting for more than a couple years, it will NEED tires (maybe inner tubes), battery, oil change, tuneup, taxes, title transfer and a few other items. Easily 500 bucks if you do it all yourself. And you still don't know if it runs, maybe the tank is rusted or the carbs are completely corroded or worse. If you have to pay someone else to do the work, it's almost always a loser. I'm glad that you made this video, when I'm asked about flipping bikes, I'll just refer him to your explanation, thanks.
I have flipped 60 of the 62 bikes I have owned. 8 of them were new. When selling them, I made money on maybe 4 of them. But my goal was always to buy used creampuffs and after playing with them, sell them for most of what I paid. What a wonderful hobby this has been after 52 years of fun.😊
This^. Don't flip to make money, flip to have fun for basically free.
Best video I’ve seen in long time hope a lot of viewers pay attention. You’re a great guy appreciate how honest you are. Not a common trait anymore. Thanks
I usually lose money or end up even when buying and selling anything, but I always produce something worth keeping forever. That way if I end up keeping it its worth keeping and needs nothing for the future to be complete. It may seem odd but thats the way I operate. I dont sell anything I wouldnt buy, and I am honest. But I also dont sell stuff for a living......I have a job lol
This is starting to become my favorite channel. Content quality constantly stepping up. Great work.
Great video! I flip a lot of bikes and atvs. One thing you forgot was the cost of gas to drive to pick it up. LOve the videos, they are informative. You have some great tips strewn throughout!
What a treat seeing you twice today this morning with Sean on his channel with the electric pit bikes
I was literally yelling my lungs off "why you want to sell it, keep it" and in the end he kept it. Great
#spoilers
I'm 70, & a few years ago I sold my old, broke-down '87 Yamaha FZ600 to a friend, making it the first time in 37 years I'm without a motorcycle. The one thing I get is that it was no longer the type of bike I want. Looking hard at a Royal Enfield (nowadays, who isn't?) Thanks for the engaging & entertaining videos that never fail to showcase your mad repair skills!
Back in the late 80s I was perfectly happy with my 750 Sabre then my friend let me ride his 89 FJ1200. I was instantly addicted to the torque. There was no going back.
One of the best parts of Friday is watching the new Bearded Mechanic video. Great as always - love that bike.
Very cool bike, I don't blame you for keeping it after all the work. Love what you guys are doing, keep it going!
Thumbs up from me every video
Really enjoy the channel. Old YT vibes, of people showing you their lives. Not huge production companies throwing out luke warm content
Nice job! I’m surprised the fork seals were still good. Flipped bikes when I was younger. Sometimes I made money and sometimes not. Stop flipping when potential buyers became not so great. With the price of new bikes maybe I would get back into. Used bike are crazy expensive on market place and Craigslist. Great video
AH good thing you're keeping it, i had one for years and years, made almost a 100.000 kilometers across all europe, these bikes are bullet-proof , reliable and have a comfortable ride. I am sure this one is going to give you many smiles per gallon 😁
So cool!!! Craig and Dan make another banger! It is really inspiring and makes me want a shop of my own.
Try using aluminum foil on the exhaust.
You can wrap it in a way to direct the oil into the pan and keep the header clean.
Have to use it on my 92 CBR 900 otherwise the collector get oil in it and take forever to burn off. Works under the filters too.
Changed the oil and filters on my 690 SMC-R last weekend. Used foil held with tape on the cases under the filter housings.
No clean up whatever.👍
I work hard on removing all the slack from throttle cables.
Once it all dialed in.
I get the bike warm so everything is doing what it's going to do.
Then with it running. Turn the bars in the direction with the least cable play and adjust it to 0 with the thumb adjuster.
It will have the lowest amount of play in normal operation.
I spend a lot of time getting everything spot on with the ergos.
Been known to turn a few bikes. Always made decent money.
I rarely calculate my hours.
it's a lovely bike, and good for many, many more miles but the age and style of the bike means they don't fetch great prices now at least here in the UK, where style and modernity are a bit more important. They do have a certain following though from the people who realise just how good they really are. Great video Craig, lovely to see the FJ fettled back into service.
By far one of the best sales tutorial videos I've seen. That bike turned out so beautiful.
That bike will be worth 3k when ur done
Yes, yes, shown the video of all the work you did to it. It makes people feel better knowing they can just get on and ride
It may get that low miles...< this is mine the tank being machine polished.
I love watching this channel, I'm a new rider and watching you work gives me the confidence to work on my own stuff. This video in particular has me ready to take apart and clean the 4 carb setup on my bike that has really intimidated me until now 💪
I had the 1100 version , great bike with tons of torque along with a good top speed . Very well balanced and stable
CRAIG Pixies & Elves BRILLIANT you must be one of the FIRST who has included TIME in their calculations and how quickly it runs away from the mechanic!
Should've named it "how to go broke flipping motorcycles"
I’ve enjoyed your UA-cam presence ever since I began watching you with Shawn many years ago on B&B. I was pretty stoked to see after Shawn moved you launched your own channel! I’ll be here brother! Let’s see where you take us!
I had a 91 FJ 1200. Trust me you won't be looking for 6th gear on the FJ. They use the engine for midget racing cause its a torque monster. Great bike!
I've been watching your videos for a few months now and am amazed at each one. I'm going thru a older Yamaha Kodiak with throttling up response issues, even after getting a new carburetor. The original one kept leaking at the over flow, but the needle and seat and float are working properly. I just listed my Harley Street Bob and am already getting lower offers. I'm only selling because I have a left shoulder tear and feel that anything on 2 wheels will not work for me any longer.
Good job dude.. No bibles verses either.
😂
@@SwimmingBird846What a shame,I was looking forward to some.
You could have kept that last part to yourself have some respect for the ones who are religious just saying and if you don't like it find another channel
There isn't anything wrong with Bible verses, real men know their creater..
@@lancewashington7942 If i wanted bible school blabber i would tune in to 700 club. Oh wait no Motorcycle channels there....
Hi Guys, I really loved this video because of your honest and very professional approach. Listing ALL your costs and time, taking loads of pics to show the good AND not so good. A great tutorial on how to flip vehicles for profit.
Awesome video! My dad, who died 3 years ago, and I spent lots of time doing exactly this work on a 1984 FJ 1100. It brought back so many good memories. I wish We would have had this video to watch! I’d love to see a video on a Honda Interceptor (I have a 1984 1000).
Hi my name is Scott, I'm new to the channel and already a huge fan! First, I appreciate your attitude and personality and the fact that you don't use ANY bad language and you don't have to drink alcohol to be on UA-cam!!! But,the 70s and 80s inline 4s are my favorite bikes ever and seeing how you bring them back to life is the best!! I also love the kz400 and pretty much any other bike😊! Keep up the good work!
I cleaned out my 08 ninja 650 tank after I bought it. It had been sitting for 10 years. Filled with vinegar let it sit for a day then poured it out and filtered the vinegar with cheese cloth. Did that 3 times until it was pretty much clear vinegar. Then flushed it with water and baking soda and then poured half a bottle of magical mystery oil to keep it from flash rusting. Worked great and is completely rust free but you have to act fast between the water/baking soda and oil to make sure it doesn’t flash rust. Wash out oil with a gallon of gas before filling up and it’s good to go.
Craig does a great job of explaining COGS. It’s not always the easiest thing to figure out, especially if there is shipping involved.
I really appreciate the part where you explained what to include counting when buying a project. Cause Me and my friend are buying & selling and I'll add up some things to the list to save us some hustle.
Thank you! I'm watching your videos almost daily!
I'm happy you finally got your own channel xD
Based on how it ran in the first video, I was hoping you’d keep it. This one’s more of a labor of love than profit. Love a vintage Yamaha. Cheers, FZ1 rider.
I can't thank you enough for making your videos. It reminds me of working on bikes with my dad and get that feeling when it finally fires. I'm in Colorado and it's hard to find bikes to work on. Keep up the good work.
Little tip for the evaporust,,heat it to 160 before putting it in,, let it sit 2 -3 days ,,tank will look pretty good ,, may nee a second treatment but the "hot mix' really helps,,also two fuel filers is a good thing for a project like this as recleaning cabs is a pain. Go to TractorSupply and get 2.1 gal. of non ethanol fuel for storage times.
I learned that concept of "You make your money when you buy it" when I was fooling with horses. It was always good to go look at a horse where the owner didn't use good techniques in saddling or other handling of their horse. When the horse acted up the price came way down. Re-training those horses was pretty easy as they generally wanted to please their person.
Watching this video makes me miss my FJR-1300. When I moved to the desert I knew I couldn't keep a faired sport touring bike at my place ten miles up a rough dirt road.
Really like your restoration videos from start to finish ready to sell! I’m learning so much! Great job!🤓
Keeping it? Best decision ever. These were, and still are, legendary sports-tourers. Happy days!
Chain does work well for rusted tanks in combination with something lie Evapo-Rust 👍
I love when you follow up on your projects like this! Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much. I'm getting into flipping some stuff and just the saying was worth watching the whole video... Thanks for taking the effort!
Out of the old big 4-stroke bikes I owned in the 80s including a GPX750, GPZ1100, GPZ1000RX, FZ750, XS850, FZR1000, CBR1000, GSXR750H, GT750 and GSX750F, I found the Yamaha FJ1100 in it's red and white colors was my favorite big bike. If I could go back in time (and body) it would be at the top of my list for what I would want to ride again. All the other bikes were great in their own right, but for me the FJs typified the whole meaning of 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts'.
greetings, Great video one thing that I do take the tank off before trying to run it I have a plastic outboard boat tank with the hand bulge pump. I learned a long time ago that once one does that kind of work, the wheel barrel will always be empty in the end. The trick to enjoying working on a bike is to get someone else to pay you to fix their motorcycle. Thank you for creating this video, very informative.
Anytime I do a set of carbs, I always replace the philips head screws with allen screws. No more worries about stripped out heads. For my IV Fuel Tank, I use an actual IV Stand I got from a hospital to hold the bottle, plus it's on wheels so it rolls around nice and easy too. Works great.
Craig..if you still have the fj and haven't done this you need to do it ASAP. The petcocks on the fj's are known for the nipple the fuel line hooks to falling out and dumping gas on a hot engine. I checked the one on my 86 and I could spin the nipple in the petcock. I pulled it and epoxied it back in and safety wired it as well.
Craig, glad to see that you are keeping the big ol' girl. I'm on my 2nd FJ1200 and my son also has one as well. If you do keep looking for 6th gear, swap to a 18 tooth countershaft sprocket and a 38 tooth rear sprocket. Cruising RPMs are greatly relaxed and there's still plenty of torque on tap.
I've been looking for an FJ for years. I would have felt confident buying it from you Craig. You seem to be so patient and methodical when it comes to bikes. I hope you get many satisfying miles from her.
Does not matter if you read this. But... The counseling advert? Yep... good one for us who've benefited. And it says all the best about you sir! The bike? Had a Honda, loved the bike. Sold it for a song. It was waxed clean for 12 years. Daily rider. Best pro repair shop only and always. Thanks for a great channel to be encouraged by. Current project bike... 1984 Yamaha XV700 free to me. Has not run in 37 years. And hey... I'm 71. Nothing can go wrong. Every day is a great day. Yours... Sam
Very comprehensive video! Excellent work Craig!
Good decision 👌 A nice bike 👏👏👏 A good tutorial for the fixer upper and just a great watch, thank you !
Another pro tip. If your ad becomes stale and over 2 weeks old. Delete the listing, relist it. Always be fresh on top of newly listed
Just bought my first bike today :). I was watching you since day one but I finally got my own bike to enjoy along with the video content
Glad you're keeping it. I had the XJ 600 Diversion and my Romanian buddy had the FJ 1200. We had a lot of fun on those bikes in the 90's. The only catch was if he got into the throttle I couldn't keep up. So he stayed out of the throttle just enough.
I don't blame you for keeping it. I think mine was an 1989 pearl white and grey, excellent all around bike! Loved that FJ!
The only thing that I would have done extra would be checking the valve clearances, which is done via swapping shims. Nice to see that the brake lines had already been replaced. I have a 1993 FJ1200 which has anti-locking brakes, and the extra hardware on there makes bleeding or replacing the brake fluid a real bear.
I had an ‘86 FJ1200. Bought it new.
Loved the bike but it ran hot here in central Calif.
The Lockhart Phillips fairing lower vs the stock chin spoiler looked cool but it made the bike run even hotter .
Was told retiming the intake cam helped the temp issue .
Tip from my local mechanic if you put metal bb's and a little bit of diesel in a rusty tank then shake the life out of it. Has worked for me on a few tanks. Its like sandblasting gets the big chunks out
Hello Craig, I got to know you through your collaborations with Bikes & Beards. I found your interventions relevant and I am happy to discover that I can now follow you here too. Your videos help me wait for the next season since here in Canada we have to wait until April-May to ride a motorcycle.
Great Video Craig & Dan. I'm so happy your keeping this bike, I feel in love with & it's such a time capsule.
I also love the break down on flipping bike you did a killer job 👏
KEEPUP THE GREAT VLOGS❤🏍🏍
Love the fact that you kept that bike. I know you know you'll be happy with this decision... Thanks for another great video. I'm anxiously awaiting the next installment...
Just started watching your channel and it looks like its really gonna help me on a project I've had sitting in my garage for close to a decade; restoring my 1 owner 1972 DX500 with only 3,477 miles. The only thing not original is the motor oil but I've been hitting dead ends but I think your channel is going to have the info I nee.
We need more videos! I’ve watched all of them and you should make a second channel that does a detailed rebuild of some common engines for guys wanting to learn.
By far the best video yet! I loved this content/subject of flipping bikes, you should consider doing more of these. The whole video content,editing,music was perfect.
Great video once again.
One thing though! The car float bowls are handed, you put 2 on facing the wrong way, if you want to open the drain screws (clean out debris etc.) you will struggle reaching them. May never be needed but if you did need to reach them, you would have to take off the entire carbs 😱
Sound of that Kerker on fire-up was worth the watch! Keep up the great work guys!
There will never be a movie like Borat ever again and there will never be another youtube channel like the bearded mechanic. VERY NICE
Through the whole of this video and the first when you picked it up, I have been thinking: KEEP IT, KEEP IT. Those XJ's are awesome.
This channel is great! I came here for the Turbo Busa and never left. Your content is super informative, super entertaining and your upper midwest accent reminds me of home. Excellent job fellas!
Also, (22:21 22:40) that's what she said....
The gas tank kit from kbs is about the best I've ever seen, the acid it comes with really cleans rust out of the tank and their sealer holds up great