A favour from a Welly KBer please!

[Deviant Esq]

Could someone in the know please check this bike (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=143475447) out for me? It'd be much appreciated. His number is listed in the questions and answers bit. The auction's listed as closing on Tue March 11, but he's apparently getting into a 675 on Wednesday so will want this gone soon. It'd be a good upgrade bike for me if it's a good bike, so if you can help please let me know! I'm happy to reimburse you for your time and effort / phone calls to his mobile.

Edit: Maybe I should get a bike shop (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1456068#post1456066) to check it out for me. It's in North Wellington according to the seller. Anyone recommend a shop? Ta.

Edit2: Jim2's got it sorted, thanks Jim2! Someone buy him a beer for me, will ya?! :pinch:

[Fatjim]

Just says Wellington. Can you get the suburb, someone might live round the corner.

[Grub]

WOF and care by Richard - J'Ville...


I think that means close to Johnsonville as Richard is the bike shop in those parts. The Kendogs, Skunks and AJTurbo all live close by ... and Skunk rides a Kwakka.

Failing any of them, Cola and I could do the dirty on it for ya.

[James Deuce]

More details please.

Make sure you do a VIR BEFORE you send someone to look at it.

I am more than happy to go and look. Bear in mind that it is an ex-UK bike and they salt their roads in Winter. Be sure to ask what he did to protect it. CRC and Scotoiler have protective sprays for UK bikes and if he mentions these then he's probably alright. Plus he would need to stay on top of chain lubing, bearing condition and suspension linkages more than someone in NZ, as a general rule.

[jrandom]

Deviant, reading this kinda request always gives me the shits. Like it or not, the person who 'checks out' the bike is going to feel responsible for your eventual purchasing decision.

Don't fuck about; if the bike's what you want, book it in to a reputable bike workshop and tell them to spend an hour or two checking everything they can think of and then to send you a report. It'll be worth every penny.

If the seller isn't willing to assist you in getting it there, then a forum member will undoubtedly be available to help out.

But don't ask for pre-purchase checks to be done by amateurs. That way lies only misery for everyone involved.

[Deviant Esq]

Just says Wellington. Can you get the suburb, someone might live round the corner.
Have sent a message requesting this from the seller - will update when I get a response. Good thinking though. :)

[Str8 Jacket]

Deviant, reading this kinda request always gives me the shits. Like it or not, the person who 'checks out' the bike is going to feel responsible for your eventual purchasing decision.

Don't fuck about; if the bike's what you want, book it in to a reputable bike workshop and tell them to spend an hour or two checking everything they can think of and then to send you a report. It'll be worth every penny.

If the seller isn't willing to assist you in getting it there, then a forum member will undoubtedly be available to help out.

But don't ask for pre-purchase checks to be done by amateurs. That way lies only misery for everyone involved.

Yep, and make sure that you actually SEE the report to make sure the person has really got the bike checked properly and is not just lying about getting it done.

[Deviant Esq]

Deviant, reading this kinda request always gives me the shits. Like it or not, the person who 'checks out' the bike is going to feel responsible for your eventual purchasing decision.

Don't fuck about; if the bike's what you want, book it in to a reputable bike workshop and tell them to spend an hour or two checking everything they can think of and then to send you a report. It'll be worth every penny.

If the seller isn't willing to assist you in getting it there, then a forum member will undoubtedly be available to help out.

But don't ask for pre-purchase checks to be done by amateurs. That way lies only misery for everyone involved.
That sounds like a good idea.
According to the seller, it's in North Wellington (wherever that is). Is there anyone that can recommend a good shop to check it over for me?

Good points Jim2, these should be mentioned to the shop I eventually get it booked into.

Appreciate the concerns and thoughts voiced so far. :)

[Mikkel]

Could someone in the know please check this bike (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=143475447) out for me? It'd be much appreciated. His number is listed in the questions and answers bit. The auction's listed as closing on Tue March 11, but he's apparently getting into a 675 on Wednesday so will want this gone soon. It'd be a good upgrade bike for me if it's a good bike, so if you can help please let me know! I'm happy to reimburse you for your time and effort / phone calls to his mobile.

Cheers muchly!

Oh, seems you got your priorities straightened out mate ;)

Good on ya :niceone:

[Fatjim]

Yep, and make sure that you actually SEE the report to make sure the person has really got the bike checked properly and is not just lying about getting it done.

Let it go girl. It'l just make you bitter.



Oooops, too late.

[SVboy]

This is a good sign DE! Hope this bike works out...

[James Deuce]

But don't ask for pre-purchase checks to be done by amateurs. That way lies only misery for everyone involved.
We're not ALL of us unpleasant losers you know.

[Deviant Esq]

We're not ALL of us unpleasant losers you know.
You offering to do a nitty gritty inspection, Jim? ;) I'm in correspondance with the seller who is happy for me to book it into a shop if it gives me peace of mind - good sign. Hopefully we'll be able to suss something out.

[Meekey_Mouse]

When you book the bike into the shop... Ask them what they do when they do a pre-purchase check. Some bike stores just look at the cosmetic cond of the bike, start it up and listen to it for a minute and then that's it... Others will do the first two + a test ride and some times if they find something a bit suspicious they will spend a few more minutes to be able to tell you what it is.

Just my 2c :)

[James Deuce]

You offering to do a nitty gritty inspection, Jim? ;) I'm in correspondance with the seller who is happy for me to book it into a shop if it gives me peace of mind - good sign. Hopefully we'll be able to suss something out.

I can tell you whether or not it is worth booking it into a shop.

[jrandom]

When you book the bike into the shop... Ask them what they do when they do a pre-purchase check.

This is why, in such situations, I make a point of talking to the appropriate guy at the workshop in question and instructing him specifically to spend at least an hour or two on checking the bike out, and that I will not complain if he finds reason to take longer.

I then list a few things off the top of my head that I want reported on, like:

- brake pad and disc condition
- engine oil level and appearance
- cylinder compression
- valve clearances
- chain and sprocket condition
- tyre wear
- wheel bearings and steering head condition
- suspension condition (any funny noises or leaking seals)
- general appearance of the bike's electrical connections and wiring

before making it clear that I am not a spanner jockey myself, and would he please expand on that list as he sees fit and feel free to include in the bill the time necessary to write up a report detailing the condition of every item he checks.

It's important to make the above explicit, because a lot of tightwad bike shop customers out there expect workshop guys to perform miracles in zero time, and many professional spannerers will tend to be as brief as possible if just asked to "do a prepurchase check" because they don't want any grief from someone who didn't expect to be billed for a reasonable amount of labour.

[T.W.R]

- engine oil level and appearance


looks can be deceiving :pinch: It's the smell of the oil that tells you everything :niceone:

[James Deuce]

If it smells like fish, what do I do?

[Oakie]

Nice bike. I spotted it a couple of nights ago when looking thru Trade Me. Good luck with the bidding.

[Deviant Esq]

If it smells like fish, what do I do?
Something's fishy - quiz the guy on how many bits of crumpet he's had on the pillion seat! :pinch:

T.W.R: What do you think of it as an option, though, mechanical inspection aside?

Oakie: Not bidding as such - if I buy this bike it won't be on a bid... but thanks anyway. Fingers crossed :niceone:

[phoenixgtr]

Hmmm...looks alot like the bike in your profile picture, only, it's the wrong colour!!

[Grub]

That sounds like a good idea.
According to the seller, it's in North Wellington (wherever that is). Is there anyone that can recommend a good shop to check it over for me?

In the ad it mentions that it has been service and looked after by "Richard - j'ville". That's actually a bike shop. Richard is an .. interesting .. character and I'm sure if you gave hime a ring he'd tell you all about it. He's good at telling people about stuff :)

[Nasty]

I rang Richard about a bike previously and he totally put me off buying it even though he had serviced it for several years .... if you ring him ensure that you have full details of the bike otherwise its a waste of time - as he services many.

[T.W.R]

If it smells like fish, what do I do?

:oi-grr: If you need to be told :lol:

Oil should smell sweet, when it gets old or there's something happening that shouldn't be it burns and smells it.


Something's fishy - quiz the guy on how many bits of crumpet he's had on the pillion seat! :pinch:

T.W.R: What do you think of it as an option, though, mechanical inspection aside?



I rang Richard about a bike previously and he totally put me off buying it even though he had serviced it for several years .... if you ring him ensure that you have full details of the bike otherwise its a waste of time - as he services many.

answered :shifty:

you'd have to try one for size anyhow & ditch the double bubble screen

[Deviant Esq]

Progress report - Jim2's had a look at the bike in question and has given me a detailed and thorough report on everything he's looked over... even the condition of the neighbour's driveway (:lol: only joking Jim, but seriously, awesome in your attention to detail, very much appreciated)! I've looked over the report and am in the process of considering my next move.

Watch this space - I'll keep you informed. ;)