Alright so I’ve been itching to get my hands on a classic Honda XL175 project bike. You know how it is – saw one at a bike meet last month and couldn’t shake that feeling. Figured I’d hunt down the cheapest deal possible before diving in. Here’s exactly how it went down.
The Starting Point
First thing I did was fire up eBay late last night after work. Just typed in “Honda XL175” like any normal person would. Bam! Tons of parts listings popped up immediately. Saw that “derosnopS” seller popping up everywhere – Thailand-based with decent prices.
Noticed right away these bikes got made between ’73-’78 from that cyclechaos reference site. Good to know what years I should target. Started scanning those parts listings hard:
- Gasket sets going for $23-$90 depending on condition
- Weirdly expensive seat covers around $54-$165 – ouch
- A used rear wheel hub at just $14 plus shipping
Cross-checked everything with that “motorcycle exhaust parts for Honda XL175 1974” listing. Exhaust components? Mad expensive. That Photon exhaust muffler sitting at 2,152 Yuan – that’s like $300 bucks! No way I’m paying that.
The Realization Hits
After an hour of digging, something clicked. Started adding up a basic rebuild kit in my head:
- Top end rebuild kit ($89.50)
- Full gasket set ($35)
- Seat cover ($54)
- That cheap wheel hub ($14)
Got excited seeing the total around $200… until I spotted the shipping costs hiding in small print. That $89 top end kit from the States? $420 shipping! Nearly choked on my coffee. Those Thai listings had cheaper shipping but added $20-$50 per item.
Got schooled hard here – always click through to see actual shipping costs before celebrating.
Lesson Learned
Wrapped up around midnight feeling wiser. The real price isn’t just the part cost – it’s:
- Those insane shipping fees from overseas
- Knowing which years interchange parts (’73-78 parts mostly fit)
- Patience to wait for local deals
Ended up saving that $14 wheel hub listing. Might grab it later if shipping stays reasonable. For now? Gotta hunt local salvage yards instead. Sometimes the “cheapest” deal actually costs the most when all’s said and done. Old bike projects ain’t about saving money anyways – it’s about that tinkering life.