Just saw that there is a 2003 vn750 for sale on ebay for a reasonable price. It's in Las Vegas instead of the north east. The guy has a starting price of only 5 grand. What a bargain!

Maybe I should have posted this in the goat's belly...

I'd bet the $5K that his r/r and stator are blown. Who sells a bike in Vegas at the *end* of summer, just when the weather's improving? Shoot, now's his time to get out on the road!