cleaning or replacing carb

[EDT]

can someone tell me about what it costs to have carbs cleaned out, or if necessary replaced?
  It is for a 85 honda magnaV65 1100
I an considering buying this bike but owner claims it has been sitting 6 mos and needs to be cleaned out.

[dt]

The going rate around here (Tampa area) for basic carb cleaning is $50 per carburetor. Parts, like a rebuild kit, and labor for removal, replacement and resync are typically extra although some places price the full service. We also have a few places (e.g. The Carb Doctor out of St. Pete) that do house calls. I have no experience with them, because I do my own cleaning and rebuild.

The Keyster rebuild kit (there are other brands) is around $25-$30 per carburetor for the VF 1100 C. The kit includes the gaskets, jets, valves, springs, etc. Your call on the kit; the place that does the cleaning will usually offer it but not require it. A cleaning may do the job. However, personally, if I have a carb off an older bike, it gets a kit.

As far as replacement, I’d be shocked if that was required. I’ve rebuilt about a dozen Keihin round barrels (popular on earlier Asian bikes) and they always turn out fine. There’s really not much to them and the component parts seem to be readily available through the OEMs even for the bikes dating to the 70s that I’ve worked on. However, if you need them replaced, I note that the carbs and assemblies are available in the OEM section of Bike Bandit. I’ll let you go look at the price.

I think that answers the question.

I’d add that I’m personally not opposed to buying a non-running bike off CL or eBay or where ever because I like to tinker with them, trouble shoot and restore them. However, in doing so, I tend to politely take the seller’s representations as BS and inspect what I can accordingly, and I understand that I might have to junk the bike if the cost of repair exceeds my threshold for what I’m willing to put into it. Bottom line, the thought of a seller representing a non-running bike needs a simple carb cleaning and you’re out cruising greets me with a high level of skepticism and suspicion.

Caveat Emptor…

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[EDT]

Thank you for your reply.  It was a great help to me, which is typical of the topics on this site.  This site is a credit to the biking community. I am proud to be a member.

[dt]

Hey EDT,

I was wondering what you wound up doing with the Magna. Did you get it, or still on the hunt?

[EDT]

I took a gamble on an 86 V65 it needed new fork seals and a choke pin on one of the carbs, but i still need to have the carbs done  which is fine with me, as the bike has great intestinal fortitude as is.  Ill have the carbs cleaned to avoid any issues while on the road.
 Regarding my previous posts about the weight, this bike has a max passenger load of 370 lbs, which is 20 pounds more than the 92 shadow 600vlx.  Seems like Honda puts the weight limits in all of the owners manuals that I have seen so far, which is 2 lol.
Thanks again for all the help and support

[dt]

Excellent! 

Keep us updated and post some photos when you have some.