CR 500 1982: Worth to buy or not?

There is a guy here in Sweden who is selling a Husky CR 500 1982 model with only about 60 hours on it. His father bought it newand used it for a few years in South Africa where he worked. After that he took it home, and it´s been in the garage for the last 15-20 years. The bike looks good and has all standard parts except plastic number plates and carb intake boot. He has changed the rear tyre two times in 28 years! The MADE IN SWEDEN decal is still on the triple clamp too! My question is if it´s any idea to buy this bike? Is it a pain in the a.. to start for example? It´s a left kicker too. Is there parts available for it? Thinking of pistons, ignition/engineparts, plastics for example. What do you think is a fair price? He´s asking for 3500 dollars. He said he thought that only 200 were made. he also had registrationpapers for it!

Johnny

Free advice so take it for what it cost you. I bought one of those perhaps in the mid nineties a parts bike with starter gears worn out and the nut snapped off which holds on the ignition cost $250. I am currently running the cylinder and piston which were fine. I might ask you these questions, #1 can you start it? not that they are hard to start if you can, seems not everyone can and if you can't just move on. For that kind of money you sure should pull the clutch cover and the clutch and make sure all the starter parts especially the one on the back of the clutch are in top shape. #2 where can you ride it? do they have sound tests where you might ride? There may well be more taxes and fees in your country so $3500 is a lower percentage of a new left over model but around here you are perhaps getting close to 80% of one of them. If you really believe the 60 hour part perhaps you could take your chances on the insides. As for the parts yes pistons are available depends on what you get chances are it won't be exactly like the origional and might need bored looser than the spec. I have my theories about the air cleaner and not riding in dust, the upper ends can go about as far as the lower ends in the right conditions in my estimation. Seems the guys here are having problems finding rod kits but probably someone will make one by the time you need it.

Fran