Detective work

[oracle]

Looking at a bike on trademe that had been resprayed. I assured that this was just due to a low speed drop and even then it was to match what the previous owner had done (as the original colour was different). I had a strange feeling about the bike and after noticing a bike shop sticker on it (and through the suggestion of kiwigraham), gave the shop an email. Got back from them confirmation that they had been maintaining the bike as the seller said but the last time they saw it (sometime after June) was for an insurance repair quote and it was a write off

Whew! Don't want to even touch something that's been written off, especially with my (lack of) experience

Any other sneaky detective work that people have done when buying a bike?

[axdout]

What kind of bike, Insurance companys write bikes off for shit all damage, might not have even been a major.

[FJRider]

So ... you believe "written off" ... is another way of saying ... unrepairable/UNSAFE ... ???

"Written off" value is often a third/half the insured value ...

Fairing replacement costs often result in bikes getting "written off"

SAFETY issues do not apply ... (usually)

[oracle]

It was a zeal so no fairing. I thought of that myself that it may not be really anything to effect the integrity of the bike but as I don't have much experience with bikes I'd rather be safe than sorry

[PeeJay]

Looking at a bike on trademe that had been resprayed. I assured that this was just due to a low speed drop and even then it was to match what the previous owner had done (as the original colour was different). I had a strange feeling about the bike and after noticing a bike shop sticker on it (and through the suggestion of kiwigraham), gave the shop an email. Got back from them confirmation that they had been maintaining the bike as the seller said but the last time they saw it (sometime after June) was for an insurance repair quote and it was a write off

Whew! Don't want to even touch something that's been written off, especially with my (lack of) experience

Any other sneaky detective work that people have done when buying a bike?

Thats good of the bike shop. Freely giving out information pertaining to their customers to a random email.
Regarding a bike being written off, thats insurance speak for its cheaper to pay out than fix it. It doesnt mean the bike is stuffed. When a set of plastics costs $7000 and the bike is worth $5000 you can see their point.
When you did the rego check it would include info regarding deregistration at the insurance companies request.
If they havent deregistered it then highly likely it was expensive cosmetic damage, which ties in with the respray.
At the right price could still be a good buy

[oracle]

Thats good of the bike shop. Freely giving out information pertaining to their customers to a random email.
Regarding a bike being written off, thats insurance speak for its cheaper to pay out than fix it. It doesnt mean the bike is stuffed. When a set of plastics costs $7000 and the bike is worth $5000 you can see their point.
When you did the rego check it would include info regarding deregistration at the insurance companies request.
If they havent deregistered it then highly likely it was expensive cosmetic damage, which ties in with the respray.
At the right price could still be a good buy

That's why I haven't included the bike shop's name incase people don't want to deal with them for that reason, as they are good guys and have helped me on other occasions. Yes I can but as this was a naked bike I am not so confident and don't want to risk it. I am a student so don't exactly have money to risk on anything, I would rather just wait until the right bike comes along

[yungatart]

A few years ago, my son's bike was rear ended. The insurance company wrote it off.
We repaired it and revinned it, for under $700.
It was a naked bike, so no fairing damage, but the front brake disc and caliper was shot, the seat was broken and the foot peg was munted, plus some damage to the side plastics.
It was perfectly safe after its rebuild. What is your issue?

[oneofsix]

Last time my bike was in the workshop it was in for an insurance quote and they (the insurance company) wanted to write it off. As far as the shop was concerned it was an insurance write off returned to the insured after buy back but their parts department know I bought the genuine replacement parts for the broken bits through them. The rest was cosmetic. Less than $500 for broken bits $4000+ for scratches. Same bike re-insured with same broker but now at a reduced value. The only broken bits are required for a WOF so had to be replaced.
Where's the problem?

[imdying]

A nigger doesn't wanna own a pre fucked bike, simple as that, get off her fucking case.

[oneofsix]

A nigger doesn't wanna own a pre fucked bike, simple as that, get off her fucking case.

but what if they are passing up a good bike through a miss perception?

[imdying]

but what if they are passing up a good bike through a miss perception?And, what if? Big deal.... there's hundreds of bikes for sale and no good reason to buy one that has been damaged enough to be written off by an insurance company.

[onearmedbandit]

Exactly. And if may affect her re-sale in the future.

[oracle]

imdying and onearmedbandit get it. I know it could be fine, but I don't want to risk it. It wasn't a one-off dream bike, and there are plenty more 250cc out there, just have to find one that ticks all my boxes. The shoddy respray is what made me look further in the first place so anyone who goes to buy it when I'm done will likely be a bit dubious as well (don't have money or time to redo it myself). All I wanted was to start up a conversation about what people had done when looking to buy there own bike as I thought it would be interesting

[oneofsix]

imdying and onearmedbandit get it. I know it could be fine, but I don't want to risk it. It wasn't a one-off dream bike, and there are plenty more 250cc out there, just have to find one that ticks all my boxes. The shoddy respray is what made me look further in the first place so anyone who goes to buy it when I'm done will likely be a bit dubious as well (don't have money or time to redo it myself). All I wanted was to start up a conversation about what people had done when looking to buy there own bike as I thought it would be interesting

You've done well and made a decision for your own reasons knowing as much as you could.

[Road kill]

imdying and onearmedbandit get it. I know it could be fine, but I don't want to risk it. It wasn't a one-off dream bike, and there are plenty more 250cc out there, just have to find one that ticks all my boxes. The shoddy respray is what made me look further in the first place so anyone who goes to buy it when I'm done will likely be a bit dubious as well (don't have money or time to redo it myself). All I wanted was to start up a conversation about what people had done when looking to buy there own bike as I thought it would be interesting

Would of been a good idea any other place.
Good luck buying a new bike.:niceone:

[FJRider]

A nigger doesn't wanna own a pre fucked bike, simple as that, get off her fucking case.

If it's "pre-fucked" ... please point out the bits that are STILL fucked ... :yes:

[varminter]

. All I wanted was to start up a conversation about what people had done when looking to buy there own bike as I thought it would be interesting

You should know by now that we don't do conversation, we only do arguements, slagging off, and shit fights.

[vifferman]

My VFR750 was written off, due to cosmetic damage totalling $6800 on a bike insured for $7500, IIRC. I knew it would be relatively cheap to repair, so was keen to buy the 'wreck' back and do it up. My wife vetoed that idea, so I just bought another bike. An ex-KBer bought the wreck and spent a total of less than $2500 for the 'wreck' to restore it. The big ticket items that pushed the bill up (apart from replacement fairing panels were $1800 for a new muffler, and $1500 for a new main fairing bracket.

[imdying]

If it's "pre-fucked" ... please point out the bits that are STILL fucked ... :yes:Without wanting to be tooo sexist, the amount of women that I know that are able to spot things that should've been replaced, but weren't, is a very small number. Far easier to avoid things that may, or may not have, been repaired correctly and/or completely.

Besides which, to even ask me to inspect a vehicle for damage, without providing me with the vehicle, is also fucked.

[Bassmatt]

My VFR750 was written off... and $1500 for a new main fairing bracket.

Gold? (10 char)

[oracle]

My point was don't want a bike that I can't guarantee the quality of. And on that note, went to see the guy at the bike shop today on a different matter, and he talked to me a bit more about the bike apparently came in with completely ruined forks, bent and oil leaking out of them like crazy. I'd say this wasn't just a low speed drop , maybe why he stopped responding when I asked if he had any paperwork about the work done on the bike

[FJRider]

.... Besides which, to even ask me to inspect a vehicle for damage, without providing me with the vehicle, is also fucked.

Excuse me ...

I quoted your statement that it was "pre-fucked" ... so I assumed you knew which bits still were fucked ...

[onearmedbandit]

Who gives a fuck? I wouldn't buy a vehicle that has been flagged as 'written-off' for whatever reason for any reason.

[FJRider]

My point was don't want a bike that I can't guarantee the quality of. And on that note, went to see the guy at the bike shop today on a different matter, and he talked to me a bit more about the bike apparently came in with completely ruined forks, bent and oil leaking out of them like crazy. I'd say this wasn't just a low speed drop , maybe why he stopped responding when I asked if he had any paperwork about the work done on the bike

Unless a bike is BRAND NEW ... quality guranteed is a hard ask ..


If the price seemed agreeable to you at the time ... a comprehensive check by a QUALIFIED person ... could have allayed ... or confirmed your suspicions ...

I've bent forks in a 10 km/hr off ... depends what it is that you hit ...

And as far as I can recall ... NO "paperwork" is required to replace forks ...

You PROBABLY missed out on a cheap, good bike .... hardly a classic ... but good reliable bikes ...

[oracle]

Well considering I have found another with lower mileage, no dodgey respray and guaranteed straight forks for $250 less, just a few scrapes to the muffler and engine side cover I think I'm fine

[FJRider]

Well considering I have found another with lower mileage, no dodgey respray and guaranteed straight forks for $250 less, just a few scrapes to the muffler and engine side cover I think I'm fine

Good for you ... you may well be ...

And I've found due to my vast experience (read age) ... mileage should only be used as a guide ... not biblical testament to it's history ...

Service records, and talking to/finding out about previous owners, and finding out how well/badly it was ridden ...

Local bike shops can be a great help in this ... (bike shops in the area of previous owners)

[oracle]

mileage should only be used as a guide ... not biblical testament to it's history ...

I realise this but as this bike has been in the care of motorcycle mechanics, I may not have it's complete history but it has been well checked out

[jonbuoy]

Maybe only plastics and pegs, maybe a dodgy home frame/fork straightening job done, cracks in frame you can´t see etc.... Can´t blame someone for not wanting a written off bike - unless you buy it written off and can see the damage yourself.

[sleemanj]

If it has actually BEEN written off, as in de-registered, and has subsequently been re-registered, then in theory, it should be all hunky dory, passed certification inspection etc...

In theory.

I'm pretty sure one of my bikes has been de-reg'd and re-reg'd probably as a result of accident damage, and I'm not all together certain of the, shall we say, veracity of the WOF on it when I bought it let alone any certification inspection.

It has a very definite skew-wiffness in the front.

Came from a country town...

[GrayWolf]

A nigger doesn't wanna own a pre fucked bike, simple as that, get off her fucking case.

WOW I'm impressed, really.