Age of bikes?

[rwh]

I'm wondering how important age of a bike is when looking to buy.

Having been a bit put off by my 86 VT250F dying of a big end (at somewhere around 40,000k), I've been setting my TradeMe searches (for a bigger bike) for a minimum of 1993. On the other hand, some people have said that a bigger bike probably won't have been thrashed as hard (because it didn't need it), and should be ok at an age where a 250 wouldn't.

Bikes of that age (93-98ish) seem to usually have somewhere between 70,000 and 90,000k - is distance travelled more/less important?

I'm interested in both how likely a bike is to break down, and how hard it is to get bits when it does.

Of course newer styling requires a newer bike, and to some extent that's important too ...

Is this post too vague to mean anything at all?

Richard

[NighthawkNZ]

If it has been maintained well, and its what you are looking for, meets your needs and style then age shouldn't be a problem.

Number of k's well, the older and more k's its done it does require more maintainance. When taking for test ride, listen for engine rattles, watch for the smoke, ask for maintaince records (if any were kept)

Do research on the net for the various problems that could occur (on highish k's) on the bikes you look at...

[Black Bandit]

Life's a lottery. Sometimes you luck out, sometimes you win. Definately improved odds with a younger bike - but it's not guaranteed

[kneescraper]

All I can talk about is experence. Ive owned only 4 bikes...all of them elbeit my current one had done over 40,000kms..to some this is a lot, to others not many. They were all a little tatty around the edges...needed new paint..new throttle cables, clutch cables. Engines needed work etc. How ever my current bike is a RF400, '94 model with 30 some thousand kms on the clock..its smooth, tight and has been well looked after.

It comes down to how its been looked after and the build qualilty of the bike. KMs dont matter if the bikes had good owners...if bad owners have owned the bikes...STAY AWAY!.

EDIT- NIGHTHAWKNZ SAID WHAT I WAS TRYING TO :)

[SpinFx]

Although age and kms are an important aspect you really need to determine how well a bike has been looked after during it's life.

If an old bike with average ( 50 - 70 ) thou ks has been well looked after by only a couple of owners and regularily serviced, then it should get at least another 50,000 + with minimal money needing spent. All bikes will still require general maintenance and parts replacing ( brake pads, chain etc ). Most of these are visible on inspection.

Sometimes a bike will spend a while sitting on the showroom floor or in the shed for most of it's life, only ridden on fine weekends..... so age is not so crucial in this case.

Main one is number of owners ( private not LMVD etc ) and condition of bike.
Has it been dropped or worse, modified, re-bored or tampered with.

Hope this helps......Some where on here there is a mean as write up about what to look for when buying a bike.......try a search.

[jtzzr]

I`m guessing your`e a bit of a novice , when go and look at a bike take someone who knows about bikes ,this will lessen your`e chance of getting a lemon.

[James Deuce]

What jtzzr said. You know where to find us :)

Condition is more important than age or mileage. There is nothing worse than an old lady's car. 10,000km in 15 years, it has had one oil change and the acidic condensates in the sump have made the alloy sump pan porous around the top of the oil level. Car doesn't leak oil, but oil certainly seems to vanish once it is running and not out the exhaust either. Every rubber seal and bush has perished and the tyres went hard 6 years ago. The detonation damage to the pistons and head from running stale petrol have created a legacy of a rebore and top end rebuild before 20,000kms.

But someone at Turners Car Auctions can only see a low KM bargain.

Ask for receipts. Find out if it has spent a long time unregistered at some point, check how many owners it has had - real owners, not bike shops.

[johnnyflash]

Yep, I agree with nighthawknz, spinfx and jim2, look at general condition,(should look good for age) check documented (reciepts) for service history from reputable service agent, if in doubt, make the sale on condition of a CHECK by a qualified mechanic, it will be the cheapest insurance you can spend. better to spend $100 up front and find any glaring problems you may not see.

[rwh]

Thanks for all the tips. Sounds like dragging Jim2 along is probably my best bet - especially with the experience of all those reviews.

Jim2: will be in touch.

Richard

[sexychevette]

Having been a bit put off by my 86 VT250F dying of a big end (at somewhere around 40,000k)


lol how do you think i feel! my 1990 fzr250 ran a bearing at 15,500kms:bye: sold by red baron about a year or two ago and then bought by me of some other guy.Sometimes no matter how mint a bike looks and feels it can still end up being a lemon.
I say go tick up a brand spanking R6:Punk:
Nah fuck that, just get an nsr250. Two stroke awesomeness will ease the pain of any problems you'll encounter in the future...

[rwh]

I say go tick up a brand spanking R6:Punk:
Nah fuck that, just get an nsr250. Two stroke awesomeness will ease the pain of any problems you'll encounter in the future...

Hmm ... my budget is around the $5k mark, which I think rules out the R6.

And I don't think a 2stroke would be a good fit with my attitude/riding style.

I'm looking at sports-tourer type things ATM - I want a decent amount of go with smooth delivery and decent comfort.

Richard