BUYING AND SETTING UP A HARDCORE POSTIE
The best place to pick up a postie is the auctions as these bikes will have less ks and sell for between $900 and $1000. Bikes sold privately will have more k's and sell for a similar or higher price. Ring Aust Post for the time and location of your closest auction.
The stock tyres should be replaced by trials ones. A front knobby is ok but rear ones are prone to flats. Heavy duty tubes should be fitted front and rear.
Wheel bearings, steering head bearings and chain and sprockets should be in good nick.
The front sprocket varies from 12 to 16 tooth.
If your riding hill country, go the 12
For flat high speed roads, go the 16
Cutting the end off the pipe and removing the baffle will help the bike pull taller gearing
Spokes and rims should be in good order.
If the clutch slips, slip in a new one and While the clutch is out, the oil filter at it's centre should be cleaned.
Noisey cam chains should be replaced and smokey bikes should receive a fresh set of rings.
Bikes that have a hesitant throttle response should get a fresh needle kit and don't forget to clean the air filter.


FUEL RANGE
Installing a front tank will help to balance the bike. Most but not all XR tanks fit easily. The XR 350 and 500 tanks work well and should go for around $70 at the wreckers.
To fit, remove the seat and the keyed ignition system and the tank should slip in neatly. A bit of tube between it and the under seat tank will protect it from rubbing.
The 2 eyelets on the underside of tank can be zip tyed to the crash bars.
The original 5.5litre steel tank has two hoses running to the fuel tap... the top hose is reserve and the bottom is "on". Connect the plastic tank too the bottom "on" and leave the steel tank connected to reserve. Both lines should be fitted with filters which are cheap from a mower shop. The key can be relocated to the speedo mount if you have access to a hole cutting saw.


If you run saddlebags, Brackets will need to be made to keep them away from the wheels.
You can get the ex aust post ones from the auctions or pick up some canvas ones like andystrapz

If your indicator beebers sqauk like a sick chook, you probably need a new battery.

Spokes and rims should be in good order:

With careful riding practices a postie will live forever: