About to buy a '66 305 Dream... and have some questions.

[jaybird]

I am super happy to have found this site. I am hoping to get some opinion here with some beginner questions.

I just rode my friends 66 dream around the city while visiting San Francisco last weekend and I am hooked. I want to purchase one for myself and this will be my first motorcycle, my first project, my first everything with a bike.

I am sure most of you guys and gals probably had to have yours shipped across the country, unless you live in MN, OH, FL or a few other states that seem to have 'em all sitting in garages for 40 years. So, I am thinking of purchasing one that lives across the country...my questions.

1) What is the best way to insure you are getting what you want without flying out there to look at it? I have seen tons of photos of it and the guy told me about all the work he did on it.

2) Is it practical to have a mechanic roll on over to inspect the engine for you, for a fee...or can you assume an engine is going to need some work if the seller tells you...

"The engine seems to be in pretty good shape. It starts up pretty easy.
I was just going up and down the streets around my house a little and
it was going ok then the other day it kind of started bogging down on
me for some reason. I'm no mechanic so I don't really know why...I did
notice the heads leak a little bit of oil, but that can be fixed easy
enough with some washers. "

3) Anything else I should know or ask this seller before purchase? He is asking $3300 for it and it does look super pretty, new paint, and OEM, NOS parts...The only thing that is questionable from the photos is what's going on inside the engine and tranny.

4) Any recommended cycle shipper?

Thanks guys...I hope to be typing with you for years to come.

Jaybird

[305]

you are wise to ask this , it's scary buying something from a long distance away. i always tell people that they should look at the car/bike in person and not rely on the sellers description ..not saying he is dishonest , but there have been too many horror stories

but it doesn't sound like if you looking at a yourself would be a big help..unless i'm reading that wrong? it doesn't sound like the seller is very knowledgable about them either....i'm not sure how any washers would help

so where that leaves you is either you will have to learn about them...or get a trusted friend who does to look at it. can your friend in San Fransisco help? where is it located? it really would be best to buy local if possible

i hope i haven't sacred you off..owning a Honda Dream is a joy....mine has been for 34 years. i just don't want to see anyone get burnt

my opinion..for $3300 it should be VERY nice

BTW , where are all the Honda Dreams in Minnesota that have been sitting in a garage for 40 years?

[jaybird]

The bike is in MN, my friend is in SF. I can't get out there for my 6 month daughter would miss me and me her.

So, I guess that leaves me with either find one in so cal, which is pretty hard...or trust...I think that as long as I am prepared to do some work on the engine, then if I can get a good price, I'll just have to chock it up to an education and a good time.

I laughed out loud when, after reading your question about where in MN are all the dreams in the garages, and I look over to see where you are from and it's...MN...that's what I am saying...check cycle trader, there's a few in there from MN and nearby...I think ebay had some form there too.

Thanks for the reply,

Cheers.

[305]

can you post a link to the ad? where exactly in Minnesota is it? maybe i could go check it out for you

that's weird...whenever i see an old Honda on ebay that i may be interested in , it's always in California or Texas or Florida

[jaybird]

http://www.cycletrader.com/adsearch/cyc ... ocess.html

Try that. There are two dreams there from MN. One for 3300 that looks pretty complete (the one I was thinking of getting, but am still debating getting a cheaper one and doing the work myself) and another one that need a bit of work and has part of the frame cut away...

hope that helps...

[305]

i searched cycle trader for the two Dreams in Minnesota you are interested in....the $3300 one is in Duluth and a long ways from me and i don't get there as often as i would like .... Duluth is a beautiful city on lake superior ..about a 4-1/2 hour drive one way for me

the other is in Apple Valley.....which is on the south side of the Minneapolis/st paul area and wouldn't be too big of an issue for me to go look at sometime in the next couple weeks...if that would help

or are there other members closer that could help him out?

[jaybird]

I found one yesterday about 90 miles away from me...so thanks for your super generous offer to look for me, but I think I might pick that one up. I also found one out of town, but just 20 minutes away from a good friend of mine and that one looks more promising.

I'll let you know what I get a post a pic.

Very kind of you.

Jaybird