New bike due to injury, from Guzzi sport to Jap crusier

[willytheekid]

Spose I should share the new Ride and reasons for sale of the Guzzi.

As some of you know, I was the proud owner of "PhatGirl"...my 95 1100 Guzzi sport...and a fine example she was.

Last winter I was hit OFF the highway by a 4x4 and left with internal bleeding and a shattered shoulder joint.
I have ever since been riding in pain due to the long low drop to the clip-ons on the guzzi...within a 100k and Im on the side of the road damn near crying from the pain.
Well...due to another kid on the way (Girl this time) and requireing a new car and some loans paid off, I bit bullet and sold my baby (To a nice guy up north...and..a KB member!:headbang:)

So after getting a new car and paying off one of the HPs, I had 5-6 grand to find a "comfy" bike to ride to work everyday.....hmmmm...what to get?

I looked everywhere, and at everything!....just couldn't find anything...."different":oi-grr:
Looked at a BMW dual purpose bikes....not with my shoulder!
Looked at a few honda road bikes, bandits etc...nahhh not enough..."character"
Then I looked at cruisers.....CRUISERS!.....hmmmmm
they ARE comfy....I AM getting old:lol:...lets look!

honda shadow VT750...nice bikes, good price, good look....and lots and LOTS of them (good for parts etc)
....nah to damn sensible!

Then I found one of these!
-a 2001 Yamaha XV1600 Midnight Star
...a Yamaharley!

They guy had been advertising this thing for months!...at $5800 and in the wrong section of trademe (so bugger all looks!)
Then I saw it again...for $5500!
Rang him and said I was keen...for $5000 cash! (gotta try ay lol)
...I then saw it advertised for $5100 lol
DONE!...sold I told the guy...will pick it up on friday!

And the nightmare begins :wacko:

I called the seller back a few days later to see if he was still happy with cash on the day and if I could come down a little earlier on the day.
"there is a problem" I was told...I have sold the bike twice!...first here with cash gets it!
But I would have to agree to the purchase of the bike over the phone without seeing it, as the other buying was coming to pick up the next day!, and it would be a case of first there gets the bike, Ohh and I would have to fix up the rego and pay for the WOF and change of ownership etc. (even tho it was advertised as havng WOF & REGO)
As long as its in good nick I said...sure!...fine! I said, infact...Im on my way down RIGHT NOW! (sod the day off I had booked at work)

I made a "mission" down that night!, drove for hours and got there @ nearly 9 at night to beat the other buyer to it.
...then I saw the bike...my Charlotte summed it up lol "My god it looks like shit@!...its filthy!"
she was dead right...the bike OBVIOUSLY hadn't been cleaned for a loooong time...but after a "rub" here, and a scratch there...I had a feeling there was more to this dirty rusty "heap' underneath.

Made the deal, shook hands, paid the cash $5000. (No test ride due to how late it was, had to get pregnant partner home)
Then as I was gearing up and about to leave...the guy says (I shit you not!)

..."Ohhh yeah!"..."I spose I should tell you NOW"..."fourth gear is shot!"..."it makes a horrble sound"

After being forced to accept a sale before viewing, booking a day off work and not needing it, and having the bike sold twice after I had organised a day off and pick up etc with the seller, and finding the bike looking like it was left out on a warf for 2yrs...I nearly friggin lost it!
But I immediatly called my mechanic for a "chat"...."bout $1200-$1500 for that gear to be fixed mate, but do ya need it?"...he had a good point!..the engine sounded tight and showed none of the XV "bad sounds" etc

So (angrily) I accepted the bike as is...but told the guy if he didn't pay the back rego (9months!) and at least put a month of rego on it, not only am I not interested...I'd see him in court for false advertising and would seek compensation for travel and the time I booked off work:mad:....he hastely agreed.

Got the bike home and got told by everyone, what a dirty rusty peice of shit I had bought and that I had been ripped off
...except not by my missus...charlotte just stood there and smiled, asked if I could clean it up? and if I was happy. (gotta love her)

Neadless to say, I locked myself in the shed for 4 days and 4 nights...I scrubbed, scrapped, soaked and cleaned till my fingers were swollen up and sore.

...But I found a nice shiiny bike under all that crap and rust, a bike that (apart from 4th gear) was mechanically perfect, new tyres, brake pads a K&N big air kit cobra slip on mufflers and a carb that just needed a damn good tune.

As I wheeled it out into the sun, I turned to charlotte and said "Yup...now Im happy!"
she just smiled....my mate was speachless!

...I Love finging the hidden gems" and as for the gearbox...mechanic was right!...short shift!...ya don't need 4th with 1600cc lol (and it only needs $300-$400 in parts...might do a engine split myself at a later date ;))

I have ordered some Big saddlebags and some tuning and performance parts from the states, and my mechanic is giving him the big go over service in a week or two, but in the mean time....Meet my new ride/Lounge-suit!

...Ive named him MAC!

See you on the road...and yes...i DO wave back lol;)

Ohh...and the shoulder feels great after each ride;)

[oneofsix]

Looks nice all cleaned up. After your description it would have been interesting to see a before but guess a comparison wasn't the first thing on your mind, you would have been keener to say what you really had.
Trust you added to the advertises rep :dodge:

[Paul in NZ]

Thats a lot of bike for 5K mate... Well done.

[durp]

Agreed, $5k for that is awesome. Good work mate.

And um, ur wife gotta hot sister? haha. Sounds like a great woman ya got there.

Awesome bike man.

[willytheekid]

Looks nice all cleaned up. After your description it would have been interesting to see a before but guess a comparison wasn't the first thing on your mind, you would have been keener to say what you really had.
Trust you added to the advertises rep :dodge:

Yeah sorry mate...I didnt think of taking the before shots (I do have the blurry advert ones tho)
As for trademe...I reported him!, I felt I had to!...just a shifty mofo that needs to be sorted out...Got a reply from trademe who are currently looking in to it for the false advertising and dual selling (and the fact that he didnt pay his fees!)...seeing as they are interested, I feel I did the right thing.
So glad to have finshed dealing with him, he was dishonest, decieptful and had worst of all...let a bike like that get into THAT bad a state...truly discusted with him!


Thats a lot of bike for 5K mate... Well done.

Cheers Paul, I Think I got a good deal...its certainly a unique bike lol (and Ive got something to work on while the shoulder heals for a year or so)

[willytheekid]

Agreed, $5k for that is awesome. Good work mate.

And um, ur wife gotta hot sister? haha. Sounds like a great woman ya got there.

Awesome bike man.

Cheers durp...and sorry no...shes got three brothers...and all of em ugly! :yes::lol:
Yeah Charlotte is bloody wonderful...it was birthday when I bought the bike....my B-day prezzy...4 days and 4 nights left alone in the shed to tinker tune and clean, with meals and hot drinks delivered etc...she's just the best!

[Zedder]

It's good to hear it all worked out in the end there WTK.

[Paul in NZ]

Still - pretty stink way to sell a bike. Dirty and not fessing up to a mechanical fault.

[willytheekid]

It's good to hear it all worked out in the end there WTK.

Cheers Zedder :)

The shoulder is feeling great now after a ride, and the bike now runs very well (damn loud tho!...gotta repack the mufflers I think)
...I must admit the different riding style is keeping me on my toes :yes:, its a big bugger!, and Im still getting the shocks, brakes and all the personal settings & adjustments sorted out...but so far its doing its job well :scooter: (Just glad to still be on two wheels to be honest) :scooter:

[Rhubarb]

That was not the bike I was expecting to see after your description of its original condition. You have done a phenominal job.

I always wonder why some people let their bike get into such a state when it is so easy to spend a couple of hours every now and then to keep it pristine.
I did the TT2000 last weekend. All types of crap weather, road works and dead bugs in every possible crevice.
The night after I spent 1 1/2 hrs checking the bike mechanically and cleaning it, once again it looks brand new.

I hope the 'piece of crap' that sold you the bike sees those pictures and realises what a gem he really had (and how he deservedly lost out - big time).

A Very Nice Bike

[willytheekid]

That was not the bike I was expecting to see after your description of its original condition. You have done a phenominal job.

I always wonder why some people let their bike get into such a state when it is so easy to spend a couple of hours every now and then to keep it pristine.
I did the TT2000 last weekend. All types of crap weather, road works and dead bugs in every possible crevice.
The night after I spent 1 1/2 hrs checking the bike mechanically and cleaning it, once again it looks brand new.

I hope the 'piece of crap' that sold you the bike sees those pictures and realises what a gem he really had (and how he deservedly lost out - big time).

A Very Nice Bike

Totally agree!, I always keep my bikes clean and very well maintained...it just makes sense to do so.
This was a monster clean up job (honest...my fingers are STILL a bit stiff from it...was over a week ago)
I went through a whole bottle of air filter cleaner, half a tube of Autosol, two bottles of simple green max degreaser, half a can of CRC, five coats of turtle wax (It just kept sucking the polish up..poor thing) and I used every rag and brush I own...NOT in any hurry to do that big a job again lol.

I truly did think of emailing the previous owner with some pics...but I really don't want to see or hear from him ever again :oi-grr:
But yeah... I think he would be pissed to see what was REALLY underneath all the rust, dirt and mess :yes:...his loss!, and the poor bike is now getting the service, maintenance and treatment it deserves...cos all bikes deserve to be looked after properly

[awa355]

You came close to learning the hard way, about buying unseen. I hope it goes well for you. I've got a xvs650. After a sports bike, they take a lot of re learning to ride.

[Big Dave]

You know the Yamaharleys are some of the best balanced and handling vehicles in the class. Due to the fact that Yam gets over 50% of the weight on the front wheel.

[willytheekid]

You came close to learning the hard way, about buying unseen. I hope it goes well for you. I've got a xvs650. After a sports bike, they take a lot of re learning to ride.

Yup, very true!

I have this bad habit of trusting people and believing what they say is the truth :yes:
...this seller on the other hand :pinch:...has made me a little sad in regards to the above.

[willytheekid]

You know the Yamaharleys are some of the best balanced and handling vehicles in the class. Due to the fact that Yam gets over 50% of the weight on the front wheel.

Gidday BD

I don't have that much experiance with crusiers to be honest dave (Ive ridden a few harleys AND a mighty GN125 when i was kid lol)
I have found this big bugger is very well balanced as you say, great road presence and once moving it hides its weight and size very well....except when stopping (Im getting the front brakes and shocks done soon...bit spongy! and lacking in power...will sort that tho)
Its certainly alot different to the guzzi, but its growing on me...and the build quality is much better than I thought it would be...I can understand why the yanks rave about these models (roadstarclinic.com etc)

she aint no harley dave (love your reviews by the way)...but for 5 grand I aint complaining ;) (and so glad to still be riding...told the doc I wasn't givin up just cos the shoulder wasn't healing!..."drive a car 4 a while"...pffft! please!)

Later dave, Ride safe mate

[BEAMER89]

WTK good to see PhatGirl hidden in the shadows there, you'll be sad when she moves on after all the work you did on her when you got her:cool:

Have to agree with everyone else, Mac look pretty staunch all cleaned up

[willytheekid]

WTK good to see PhatGirl hidden in the shadows there, you'll be sad when she moves on after all the work you did on her when you got her:cool:

Have to agree with everyone else, Mac look pretty staunch all cleaned up

Good spotting mate :clap:

Yup, the new (very excited) owner arrives on thursday night to pick up his new guzzi (were picking him up from airport and hes staying in the spare room over night before heading off north in the morning)
Dragged PhatGirl out on sunday to fire her up as she's been sitting for a few weeks now(Not mine to ride anymore)...she fired straight up! (And sounded sooooo good...I nearly cried lol)
So glad she is going to a good home, new owner is a guzzi fanatic as well as a KB member...couldn't have asked for a better result (I was REALLY worried some animal would buy her and destroy all that hard work rebuilding her)

...will be so sad to see her go tho...damn fine bike that one

[Tigadee]

Beautiful story, like a biker's fairy tale! Love it! :drinknsin

[JimO]

if i were you i would email the old owner the pics and tell him that you got the 4th gear problem sorted for $50, and thank him for the cheap bike....that will fakk him off

[shafty]

Congrats WTK, Nice Yam there all right, great buying, - see ya on-the-road

Shafty

[willytheekid]

Beautiful story, like a biker's fairy tale! Love it! :drinknsin
LOL, yeah but it started off like a bloody nightmare! cheers Tig


if i were you i would email the old owner the pics and tell him that you got the 4th gear problem sorted for $50, and thank him for the cheap bike....that will fakk him off
ROFLAO...your an evil bugger...love it...won't do that..but love the thought


Congrats WTK, Nice Yam there all right, great buying, - see ya on-the-road
Shafty
Cheers shafty :2thumbsup
Hope to see ya...Im the crusier that waves back! lol

[98tls]

Hell of a good read mate,showed my Mrs the pics after we read the thread and she said "aww makes you feel all mushy"...:scratch:Love a happy ending,the bike looks primo mate it really does,good on ya.Happy travels eh,your Mrs sounds a keeper for sure.

[Rhubarb]

Hell of a good read mate,showed my Mrs the pics after we read the thread and she said "aww makes you feel all mushy"....

It's like rescuing a puppy from the pound just before the fatal injection.

Thats enought soppy talk ..............

BIG BLACK MOTORBIKE........... GOOD............UGH UGH UGH

[willytheekid]

Hell of a good read mate,showed my Mrs the pics after we read the thread and she said "aww makes you feel all mushy"...:scratch:Love a happy ending,the bike looks primo mate it really does,good on ya.Happy travels eh,your Mrs sounds a keeper for sure.

Gidday mate...first off...OMG THOSE PIPES LOOK AMAZING!!!! :killingme

...dear god that bike of yours getting RIDICULOUSLY georgeous :drool:

Yeah very happy with MAC...still needs ALOT of work done tho, but just doing the usual basics and "settling" the big bugger in(shocking handling presently...can't have that;) ), but at this stage I'm stuck on a chopper for at least a year to help give the shoulder time to heal...dunno what I'll do next year to be honest....kinda like this Kenworth/loungeSuite riding style :lol:

...or it could be back to a guzzi:devil2:....(:weep:....god Im gonna miss that bike man)
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=222047&d=1287978597

[98tls]

Gidday mate...first off...OMG THOSE PIPES LOOK AMAZING!!!! :killingme

...dear god that bike of yours getting RIDICULOUSLY georgeous :drool:

Yeah very happy with MAC...still needs ALOT of work done tho, but just doing the usual basics and "settling" the big bugger in(shocking handling presently...can't have that;) ), but at this stage I'm stuck on a chopper for at least a year to help give the shoulder time to heal...dunno what I'll do next year to be honest....kinda like this Kenworth/loungeSuite riding style :lol:

...or it could be back to a guzzi:devil2:....(:weep:....god Im gonna miss that bike man)


Going to cut 80mm off those cans in the morning mate,there just tooo long.Saw a Daytona at the March Hare Rally last weekend,not a patch on yours though.Aint it fun having a new bike eh,one that needs TLC is better than one that doesnt i reckon,plenty of time in the man cave etc:banana:Saw this at the March Hare as well,spent ages drooling over it,sure is a pretty thing and sounded wonderful.

[GrayWolf]

nice bike WTK,
oh as for spares? remember the MT-01 is based on the same motor, and the 1900cc Stratoliner. I have to admit I am a bit amazed about the issue with 4thn gear But from all the reading I have done on these motors, they seem pretty tough, in fact on the MT it is the clutch that has tended to 'slip/let go' before anything else under high power usage. I did look at the Warrior that appeared on tardme at the same time as my MT.... these are huge motors and I think once you've gotten the gears sorted out, you should get many years of happy motoring, there is one MT owner with almost 200,000km's with no issues i have had a 'natter with' elsewhere.

I did find this on the internet, i wonder if there was a recall done by yamaha here??

quote: "While riding m y 2003 yamaha roadstar i had problems getting it to shift into 4th gear. i checked the internet for any recalls on the bike. when i found that there is a recall i took the bike to my local dealer, the ran the vin# and said that it had already been done. the recall states that after the modifications are complete stamp a "*" above the a on the vin#. my bike does not have the stamp, the dealer said that don't matter because he knows it was done. i do not feel safe riding the bike since the recall states do not ride serious injury or death will result. if the bike shifted properly i would feel more confident that the work was completed."

[Oblivion]

Thats a very nice diamond in the rough that you found there :2thumbsup

Few steps away from disaster, but worth it all in the end.

[nudemetalz]

Nice machine there, Willy.

Sad I never got a chance to experience Phatty but nay mind sounds like she went to a good home.

Don't tell anyone but I've been considering selling my Guzzi lately too. My arthritis in my wrist is becoming an issue and like yourself I need something a little more upright.
V-Rods have my interest at present.......

[willytheekid]

Nice machine there, Willy.

Sad I never got a chance to experience Phatty but nay mind sounds like she went to a good home.

Don't tell anyone but I've been considering selling my Guzzi lately too. My arthritis in my wrist is becoming an issue and like yourself I need something a little more upright.
V-Rods have my interest at present.......

Gidday Nude ;)

Yeah sorry mate, was hoping you would get a ride one day, but if you ever want a go on my lounge-suit/kenworth your more than welcome mate:yes::killingme

I like V-Rods!...they look good! (heard they go like stink to...with a little "fettling")
Not good to hear about the arthritis tho....god were getting old lol
I must admit, the shoulder is so much better after just a couple of weeks being off the "torture rack" (those clipons where killing me!)...Im giving it a year, then I may look at another Guzzi (shoulder permitting)...once ya got that Guzzi bug ;)

Take care mate, always good to hear from ya and hope the family is well

...and gimmie a yell when ya down next eh :2thumbsup

[Zedder]

Nice machine there, Willy.

Sad I never got a chance to experience Phatty but nay mind sounds like she went to a good home.

Don't tell anyone but I've been considering selling my Guzzi lately too. My arthritis in my wrist is becoming an issue and like yourself I need something a little more upright.
V-Rods have my interest at present.......

Have you tried glucosasmine for the arthritis? I've got a knee problem from a while back and this stuff seems to do the trick as far a mobility goes.

[nudemetalz]

Cheers Zedder. I should do that.

My broken wrist was caused by highsiding a Honda RS-125 on the main sweeper at Ruapuna back in '97.
Now when commuting on the Guzzi it starts hurting like crazy, especially braking downhill.
So, something like Willy's new ride my be the answer.

Yup Willy we're getting old !!

[willytheekid]

Cheers Zedder. I should do that.

My broken wrist was caused by highsiding a Honda RS-125 on the main sweeper at Ruapuna back in '97.
Now when commuting on the Guzzi it starts hurting like crazy, especially braking downhill.
So, something like Willy's new ride my be the answer.

Yup Willy we're getting old !!

Yup...don't I know it...rebuilt knees & ankle, broken back, collapsed neck, shattered shoulder and so many head injuries my Charlotte's not allowed to leave me alone in a supermarket etc (Just in case I wander!)
http://files.sharenator.com/drooling_homer_bcLbIGCQbPaE_Tell_Me_Something_Good _quotuprate_partyquot-s314x360-240619-535.gif
So Ive ordered us BOTH a copy of this:killingme
http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1182604602l/1300121.jpg

[nudemetalz]

Yup...don't I know it...rebuilt knees & ankle, broken back, collapsed neck, shattered shoulder and so many head injuries my Charlotte's not allowed to leave me alone in a supermarket etc (Just in case I wander!)
http://files.sharenator.com/drooling_homer_bcLbIGCQbPaE_Tell_Me_Something_Good _quotuprate_partyquot-s314x360-240619-535.gif
So Ive ordered us BOTH a copy of this:killingme
http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1182604602l/1300121.jpg


HAHAHAHAHA...love it !!!

2 close friends of mine have just bought Harleys (a Street Bob and a Fat Bob) so they "may" be influencing my decision..... ;)

[98tls]

What about a Griso guys,comfortable riding position...

[willytheekid]

What about a Griso guys,comfortable riding position...

Hay...sensible talk like that will get a copy of the book ordered for you to mate :killingme

...but yes...good call (nude said he would get me one for my birthday next year!...if I behave...aint he nice;))

[nudemetalz]

I'll even make sure it's the 8V SE version too.....just waiting for those lotto numbers to come in.

Yes, I do like the Griso. Lovely machine to ride.

[scumdog]

if i were you i would email the old owner the pics and tell him that you got the 4th gear problem sorted for $50, and thank him for the cheap bike....that will fakk him off

And put it on Tardeme for $6,500!!:lol: