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I've had no problem finding bikes. Picked up a '74 CB750K for $100, cosmetically rough, and non-running, but all it really needs is some electrical work and beauty help. Got a non-running '82 CB650SC for nothing. Cleaned the carbs and it fired right up. Actually paid money for a '92 CB250 so I could have something cheap on gas and something for the wife to ride.
I can find bikes all day long. I just don't have the space for 'em. Hell, I know of a beautiful running '75 CB750 that the owner wants $1200 for. If I had the space (and if my wife wouldn't kill me for buying yet another bike), I'd own it. I want it rather badly too.
Harley's just aren't worth it. Too expensive and you don't get much for it. Heck, you buy a new Sportster for what people want for a used Sportster. Makes no sense. It's one of the big reasons why I like UJM's so much. They're cheaper, by far, easy to work on, and bullet-proof engineering.
I feel sorry for your friend paying that much for a KZ550. It's a dull bike, nothing special, and worth nowhere near that much in general. I have seen KZ900's that I'd pay that much for though.
As an aside, I spent a few enjoyable hours last night tearing apart a seized Yamaha XS650 motor that I picked up for $20. I haven't gotten the side covers off to see what is keeping the trans seized up, but the top-end is rebuildable. I'm not going to as I can find a better example of the breed to build a bike around, but it is right fun to tear it apart just to see how it was made.
Beautiful maching and engineering on those engines, like pretty much all of the Japanese mills.
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