It's a Hercules K105X from 1972 and needs a LOT of work, but I really couldn't say no to the offer. This will probably be my main project for 2026.
It's pretty much complete aside from the missing battery cover and the engine turns over by hand. I had some trouble getting it into neutral, there's definitely something wrong with the gearbox or the linkage. The tank is completely rusted inside, I'll probably need a new one.
It might be a long shot, but does anyone in this community have experience with these bikes? The K125 is supposedly pretty similar.
if you spend another 4000 it could be worth as much as 1200.
Hard/impossible to find parts. You can try and de-rust the tank, but they usually rust up quickly or if you coat them, the coating eventually flakes off.
My advice: part it out.
I'm located in Germany and surprisingly parts are not hard to find at all. I always check the availability before buying a vehicle and there's still plenty of companies manufacturing spares, from the light switches to the springs and down to the gearbox. I think it helps that Hercules' lineup shared a lot of components in the 70s. I already found the missing battery cover freshly painted for 22 Euros.
This project isn't about selling or making money. I just enjoy the wrenching, as long as it may take :D
This thing will be literally impossible to find parts for. Everyones always fooled by the big stuff, but there's bound to be some random bolt or valve or something that was a problem on these and that you'll never be able to find, and then you'll be like 2k deep into something and shit out of luck. Not to even mention the struggle of finding someone capable that's willing to touch it when you come up against something you can't do yourself. Save yourself the money pit OP, find something else, as I know this sounds harsh, but this ain't it.
I appreciate the concern but I know what I'm getting myself into. My last project was a wrecked classic car with a seized engine and I now use it as my daily driver. I don't have to get it back to museum condition, I just want it safe and drivable. In the worst case I will buy a second one to part it out. These things are still pretty cheap around here. There's even a club for the K105 and K125.
ok, have fun, but these bikes were never good. They made an optomistic 12 hp, had terrible brakes and suspension.
Thanks, I didn't expect much anyways :D