Hey guys, brand new here, so go easy on me.
I'm not a 'Berg owner yet but have been thinking for a couple years now that when I do get back to my single cylinder roots, this is the brand I want. Signed up because I have a few questions, this one I figured was specific to either this, or the SM sub-forum (mods feel free to move if you think I'm in the wrong section).
Basically, a 1998 FC501 has come up for sale locally, guy is asking $2100 for it, and I got a small back story:
He said he bought it from a little asian lady who worked with his had, and apparently it had been sitting in her garage in peices for years (he thinks, essentially since '98), he said her husband bought it - as far as he knows - brand new in '98, took it home and took the plastics off and started doing some work on it, then died of a heart attack and it's been sitting there every since. He bought it from here, put it back together (lights, etc. - said the engine was intact) and isn't planning on riding dirt anymore since he hurt his back recently.
It's plated for the street already and comes on knobbies - I'd be looking to supermoto it out, mostly for in town commuting and street use.
Question is basically this: What are my options for wheels, and what is the conversion going to cost me? From the small amount I was able to find using the search (again, forgive me, I'm new) this model has a 17mm front axle, correct? Are there street bikes that use a wheel with 17mm axle that's compatible?
I came across I think one thread here and one on supermotojunkie with a 501 of this year for sale in SM trim, but no details on how it was done.
I also found a couple mentions of different ideas/workarounds while consulting Mr. Google ( they involved swapping forks, machining fork lowers to accept 20mm axles, and some sort of 17mm-to-20mm spacer/adaptor?
What are my options guys?
PS - any advise in general is also appreciated if you have info on this year/model.
Other questions include: How hard is it to retrofit an electric start to the FC? I know the FE had an electric start option, is this doable?
- and -
Will I need new/different suspension for the SM duty, assuming I can find wheels?
- as well as -
Is this a fair price for a nearly new (hours/miles) FC501, and what should I look out for?
How much am I really getting myself into? Is this going to be one of those "more wrenching than riding" bikes?
I figured most of these were better suited to other specific areas though, so I'll post them up there, but if you have info, I'm all ears.
I'm not a 'Berg owner yet but have been thinking for a couple years now that when I do get back to my single cylinder roots, this is the brand I want. Signed up because I have a few questions, this one I figured was specific to either this, or the SM sub-forum (mods feel free to move if you think I'm in the wrong section).
Basically, a 1998 FC501 has come up for sale locally, guy is asking $2100 for it, and I got a small back story:
He said he bought it from a little asian lady who worked with his had, and apparently it had been sitting in her garage in peices for years (he thinks, essentially since '98), he said her husband bought it - as far as he knows - brand new in '98, took it home and took the plastics off and started doing some work on it, then died of a heart attack and it's been sitting there every since. He bought it from here, put it back together (lights, etc. - said the engine was intact) and isn't planning on riding dirt anymore since he hurt his back recently.
It's plated for the street already and comes on knobbies - I'd be looking to supermoto it out, mostly for in town commuting and street use.
Question is basically this: What are my options for wheels, and what is the conversion going to cost me? From the small amount I was able to find using the search (again, forgive me, I'm new) this model has a 17mm front axle, correct? Are there street bikes that use a wheel with 17mm axle that's compatible?
I came across I think one thread here and one on supermotojunkie with a 501 of this year for sale in SM trim, but no details on how it was done.
I also found a couple mentions of different ideas/workarounds while consulting Mr. Google ( they involved swapping forks, machining fork lowers to accept 20mm axles, and some sort of 17mm-to-20mm spacer/adaptor?
What are my options guys?
PS - any advise in general is also appreciated if you have info on this year/model.
Other questions include: How hard is it to retrofit an electric start to the FC? I know the FE had an electric start option, is this doable?
- and -
Will I need new/different suspension for the SM duty, assuming I can find wheels?
- as well as -
Is this a fair price for a nearly new (hours/miles) FC501, and what should I look out for?
How much am I really getting myself into? Is this going to be one of those "more wrenching than riding" bikes?
I figured most of these were better suited to other specific areas though, so I'll post them up there, but if you have info, I'm all ears.
