A test ride should tell you more about the bike than anyone here can. I wouldn't think the bike would have an actual "salvage" title due to fairing damage, so I would think ol' bwoy was holding some info on you. But salvage doesn't mean junk, its worth a look and a test ride. If you are just learning or don't have an "M" take someone that does and have them ride it.

 

What would I be looking for on a test ride? I do have my M license but haven't ridden many bikes.

 

If you are going to test ride it, then check everything out on it. Your best bet would be to take an experienced rider with you, but if one is not available, then I would do the following:

1) Cold start it. How does it start?
2) Rotate the handle bars. Does it feel smooth and even.
3) Roll the bike forward. Does it roll smooth. Do the tires have a wobble?
4) Look at the forks for any krinkles or dinks.
5) Roll and engage the front and rear breaks. Are the smooth? Do they stick?
6) Hold the front brake and rock the bike forward and backward. Does it feel smooth?
7) Start the bike and how does it idle?
8) Ride it, but take it easy. Roll slowly and see if you feel any wobbles.
9) Test the brakes again
10) Ride it and see if it acts right, that is were you need the experience, but you should be able to pick out any bad problems. Be sure to listen to the engine closely.
11) Make sure you get it up to operating temperature. How does it smell? Does it smell like buring oil or an overheated car?
12) Check your lights, blinkers, and brake light before you drive it on the street.

Off the top of my head, that is what I would do. Hope that helps.

 

The guy selling it has had it in storage since 2002 but says it starts right up.

Lots of "stuff" needs to be done to a bike that has been stored that long:
Drain and clean fuel system.
New tires.....regardless of how good they look.
Probably a new chain and sprockets.....certainly a close inspection.
TWO oil changes a few hunderd miles apart.
And then there is the physical damage.

Unless you want a "project" instead of something to ride right away, I'd steer clear. Replacing the damaged body work would cost more than the bike.....maybe twice as much.

 

Salvage title

In insurance language, the bike was a total loss at some point in its history.Typically the damage sustained on the bike would have cost more than two thirds of its book value.The insurance cuts the check for the value of the bike.
The bike now takes on a second life. The totaled bike is bought at very low cost,and cannot be put back on the road because there will be no title issued for it UNTIL it meets a repair and inspection standard issued by the state DOT inspector. Once that title is issued,it will always be a salvage bike.
Now let us suppose that you buy collision coverage and get in a wreck or some bonehead hits your bike[his fault]. The amount that the insurance will pay you for your bike will be a joke, because it has and always will have a salvage title.
In other words,the price that you pay for a bike like this should be way less than a similar bike with a clean title, and buying collision insurance for this bike would be a bad idea

 

In some areas a salvage-title bike can not be licensed for the street. It's meant to be parts-only. Look before you leap, or you could end up with an expensive yard ornament that you can only ride in the driveway.

 

Agreed, call and find out about the laws. In Ohio there are specifics about who can bring a salvage title vehicle back to road spec titling, and it will be noted on the new title that the vehicle came from a salvage vehicle.

As for the bike, the carbs should have the bowls removed and cleaned before attempting to start it. The tank should be drained and inspected for signs of rust.

All the dried gas **** that will plug jets will be in the float bowls waiting to turn into gum when new gas comes into contact with it. Removing and cleaning the float bowl area is the vital trick to try to avoid carb tear down. If he's been running it, if it runs good off choke when warmed up, you're good to go.

I agree on the tires, but not so much on the chain & sprockets. The tires on it will work for a test ride, provided there is no extreme cracking, but they should be replaced virtually immediately. The chain, if not showing signs of rust and difficult or immovable kinking should be fine if there's not much wear evident on the sprockets and with the "3 o'clock" pull test - pull the chain back at 3 o'clock on the back sprocket. If it lifts far enough to see under it, the chain is shot.

As for the refurbishing, the Seca also came in a model without the fairing. A simple headlamp set up can be put on the forks and a set of instruments on the triple clamp if they aren't already there. Make sure the rear subframe isn't bent beyond simple repair. Since it's a mono shock the subframe isn't hypercritical to be perfect.

The Seca is a great standard bike with or without the fairing. There was even a spec series roadracing class back in the 90s for a while, promoted by Yamaha. It sounds like a possibly good buy.

I will say I never recommend a bike that needs serious down time to fix and will not in this case either. Nothing worse than having a bike you can't ride, especially if you're a new rider. I bought my Zephyr with some issues, including really junky paint, but it was ridable almost immediately. I still haven't taken time to do the tank paint yet... still riding.

In other words, if it can't be on the road virtually immediately don't bother. It'll take the fun out of motorcycling for you to have it sitting there not ridable. I've seen it before in my years at the bike shop.

 

The guy said it starts right up. I assumed someone did something or cleaned the fuel system? Hopefully changed the oil? Changed the battery? When I think of storage the vision in my head was a storage building, not a barn or lean to... so as the others have mentioned the clean up process could be much more extensive than I considered at first.

Let us know how it turns out and post some pictures if you can, you got me curious.

 

I'd probably steer clear of it for the simple reason that you are a new rider and a "stored" bike just has WAAAAAAAYYYYY too much potential for hidden problems. Old tires, old fuel, old oil, etc. are just a few of the additional costs above and beyond the initial purchase, title/registration fees and insurance costs.

Might be best to maybe save up a bit more for something in a more "immediately rideable" condition??

Good luck.