Brand new vs used sportsbike (600cc)

[EJK]

It's again this time of the year. I was doing a little search and came with this result.

For example lets take a look at the Suzuki GSXR600s. K5, K6, K7, ex-demo/sellout model K8 and the brand new K9.


NEW

Price range of $13,990 to $17,320

Good:

Brand new
Factory Warranty
Comes with latest tech (eg "A-B-C" mode, upgraded ECU)
+2hp if lucky
New paint/decal design
Cheaper but new bike (sellout K8s)
It's brand new!

Bad:

More expensive
Adding accessories will cost more (eg Knobs, paint protector, tail tidy, exhaust etc)
New engine
With the price of a new one, you can get a used GSXR750/1000




USED

Price range of $10,000 to $12,000 +- ($1,000)

Good:

Cheaper
May come with accessories (eg Knobs, aftermarket exhaust, tail tidy, mount etc)
May still have warranty
Tidy owner if lucky
Low kms, depending on the bike.

Bad:

May have big service comming up (12,000km/24,000km)
Bad owner if unlucky
Mid to high kms depening on the bike.
It's used!


The question is, how and when can I score a bargain?
Well I guess it depends on how much cash I have. But is it really worth spending extra $2,000 on a brand new bike? How about keep the $2,000 and get a used bike, then spend the saved money on even more extras (eg big service, radar detector?)

Ok. How did you buy your bike? Your choice and decisions? Please share your experience.

[merv]

It's again this time of the year.

Mate its always this time of the year.

Buy what tickles your fancy :devil2:.

[EJK]

Mate its always this time of the year.

Buy what tickles your fancy :devil2:.

Honestly I'm not expecting to buy one soon. However doing a little research for my "not-to-distant" future ain't going to hurt! :sunny:

[slofox]

I bought new. I got on road costs thrown in, 16% off new price because it was a K7 (bought March 08), it was the last one in the shop and the shop was dropping the franchise at the end of the month....
Paid the same money as for the second hand Duc I was looking at but got warranty (2 year), more ponies, newer technology (4 valves per, FI not carb, etc). I also got to run it in as I wanted to plus the knowledge that the only lunatic riding it was myself.
Was a no brainer for me under the circumstances...

[jaymzw]

The question is, how and when can I score a bargain?
Well I guess it depends on how much cash I have. But is it really worth spending extra $2,000 on a brand new bike? How about keep the $2,000 and get a used bike, then spend the saved money on even more extras (eg big service, radar detector?)

Ok. How did you buy your bike? Your choice and decisions? Please share your experience.

I bought my K6 GSXR600 written off by insurance (see pics in my profile) for $2200:devil2:

Spent abit on front end and afew other bits and pieces, a bit of panel & paint and she'll be done for well less than 10,000-12,000

[gijoe1313]

Oho, the EJK is thinking of the next dream bike! :niceone: Good to see, if you never set a goal or aim towards a target then you will never get there! :yes:

Just remember to get one that you will be willing to get down and dirty with the spannering when required! :msn-wink:

[discotex]

Tough call. You'll get more bike for you $$ if you go 2nd hand. But you'll be getting piece of mind and a warranty for a new bike.

A brand new K7 gixxer 6 that's been stuck on a showroom floor could be the best of both worlds :)

[Morcs]

Why bother with a sportsbike?
No fun on the road unless you like spending your time with cops.
The naked 600's are the way to go IMHO.

[madbikeboy]

I bought my K6 GSXR600 written off by insurance (see pics in my profile) for $2200:devil2:

Spent abit on front end and afew other bits and pieces, a bit of panel & paint and she'll be done for well less than 10,000-12,000

Speaking of which, next weekend set aside some time and lets get the thing bolted together and get it running.

[3umph]

for that sort of $$ you are wanting to spend if you can get a brand new bike for an extra $2k i would go new for it....

if the difference was going to be 4-5k then a good low km 2nd hand would be a better option...

but then I suppose it depends on what extras you get with the bike as well

[EJK]

I think I'll save more :yes:

Mean while still tell us your decisions/experience. :)

[jaymzw]

Speaking of which, next weekend set aside some time and lets get the thing bolted together and get it running.

:Pokey: Are you psychic? Or is it me? Same thought!!! Im on holz now, its a date :hug:

:whistle:

[discotex]

Why bother with a sportsbike?
No fun on the road unless you like spending your time with cops.
The naked 600's are the way to go IMHO.

Morcs has a good point.

If I wasn't doing trackdays I'd probably be trading the 600rr in on a naked of some kind as around town and at legal speeds they just feel more fun.

I personally think a big twin or big IL4 suits a naked so something like a Super Duke would be cool. Or CB1000R. Or Brutale :)

In my biker heaven I'd have one of those for the road and a race bike for the track.

[Okey Dokey]

If you are serious about a GSXR 600, there is a brand new K8 in orange for sale at the Oamaru Suzuki dealer (Young Motor) for only $13995

I think this looks like fantastic value if you are interested!

[Gremlin]

Secondhand is usually the better bargain, but you are often sacrificing warranty and history of the bike in the process.

Ignore mileage to a degree, its not the be all and end all, a low miler completely abused is worse than a high miler looked after and all services done etc.

Usually I buy secondhand, depreciation from new is always a killer. Latest is different, as the new model had major improvements over the old, which I wanted, so I bit the bullet.

[_intense_]

Cons: considering a suzuki
Pros: considering a bike

:Pokey:

[EJK]

How about a 750?
Why would people choose 750 over the 600?

[Gremlin]

Generally speaking, the 750 is overpriced, at least in your comparison of suzukis.

Ie, the new 750 was only a thousand less than the thou, basically, its no contest in that comparison. The thou with the massive torque is the better bang for buck (think this is a couple of years old, not sure what the going rate for those bikes are now)

However, the 750 does have more torque over the 600, the 600 is basically designed for the race track, and oh, its road legal. Peaky, and you can't surf the torque when riding. Has to be kept in the power. Still more than enough for most on the road, if they are honest with themselves (or perhaps the thou can do things the 600 can't... like drift :eek:)

Obviously suzuki isn't the be all anyway, and things like ducatis etc, don't make traditional engine capacities (600, 1000) but can be much more fun.

Stepping from small bikes to a sportsbike, yes, you can ride anything, but for safety, I think a 600 is plenty. Generally, coming from a 250, your right hand isn't highly tuned, and you're used to being hamfisted. Bad approach when attaching it to 150+ rwhp :laugh:

k5/k6 750 vs 04 zx10, we were pretty evenly matched until the low 200's, then I could eat the 750 whenever I felt like...

[Kendog]

Generally speaking, the 750 is overpriced, at least in your comparison of suzukis.

These days the 750 seems to be highly priced if you look at $ per cc compared to the 1000. Surely there is a reason for this, and I think it's the fact the 750 is such a great bike for road riding (not saying the 1000 isn't)
The K7/K8 750s brand new or low k's are a relative bargin.

For something a little different, have a look at this (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-211938934.htm). I have ridden one of these briefly, it's not exactly a round town kind of bike but damn it felt nice.

[Kendog]

Ok. How did you buy your bike? Your choice and decisions? Please share your experience.

The answer is to ride as many different bikes as you can, find one that fits you, your riding style, makes you happy etc. Then hunt down a great deal for that kind of bike.

Good luck :niceone:

[paulmac]

action suzuki in hawera have a gsx-r 600 k8 brand new for 13k plus orc. !

[timetoride]

I bought my daytona 675 second hand.(see profile pic). Had done bugger all k's, is still under warranty and got it for 4k less than a new one. If you hunt around you can find a good deal on what you want. 675 is a great road bike more torque than a 600 but still like to be revved.. :msn-wink:. My wife is jeleous cos it gets more rub downs than she does..:devil2:

[YellowDog]

Secondhand is usually the better bargain, but you are often sacrificing warranty and history of the bike in the process.

Ignore mileage to a degree, its not the be all and end all, a low miler completely abused is worse than a high miler looked after and all services done etc.

Usually I buy secondhand, depreciation from new is always a killer. Latest is different, as the new model had major improvements over the old, which I wanted, so I bit the bullet.
There are some fantasic discounted bargains around for new bikes.

Secondhand bikes seem to be comparatively more expensive and not such good value.

If you are prepared to take last year's model then you can get a fantasitc deal, which is likely to be as cheap as the very same secondhand bike; with the important difference being that it is unused.

Forgetting the money side and the main reason that I bought a new bike is:

The first few 000ks on a new engine are critical. The only way you can ensure that your bike's engine will be properly run in is to do it yourself.

IME - The bargain ex-demonstrators often leak oil when they should not.

The other big issue for me is that I really would not like to gamble as to whether any of the previous owners was a wheelie/stoppie person or not.

Secondhand bikes with low Ks and a full and comprehensive service history are rare and also not cheap: hence it was a new bike for me!

[DEATH_INC.]

The big thing for me (when I could afford new bikes...) was the fact that I would f**k with it anyway. I think I owned the 12 about 3 months before I voided the warranty....
I don't think I'd be all that fussed about buying new now, there's plenty of s/h bikes out there in bloody good nick. Most newer bikes are pretty indestructible, it doesn't really matter what the old owner has done to them (within reason....) they rarely ever f**k up these days.
edit: And ya don't have to run in a s/h one either :)

[Edbear]

..it's not exactly a round town kind of bike but damn it felt nice.

A master of understatement.... :rolleyes:


... My wife is jeleous cos it gets more rub downs than she does..:devil2:

Priorities mate! The bike can't rub you back... :spanking:

[Pussy]

action suzuki in hawera have a gsx-r 600 k8 brand new for 13k plus orc. !

That bike looks swish with that yellow/silver paint scheme too, Paul!
Bargain!

[ynot slow]

action suzuki in hawera have a gsx-r 600 k8 brand new for 13k plus orc. !

They're bloody good bastards eh Paul?Serious they are.

I was set to buy new from the Suzuki fest,then found an ABS bandit with pipe 10000km and still under warranty,$3500 under new price.

[EJK]

So much good advices here. Thanks everyone :)

[SlowHand]

Blah Blah Blah, dribble dribble.

k5/k6 750 vs 04 zx10, we were pretty evenly matched until the low 200's, then I could eat the 750 whenever I felt like...

different models you nutsak. k6/k7.

no disagreement about you eating whenever you feel like tho. :drool:

[Hiflyer]

well if you buy a bike from a dealer, usually new, you can haggle with them quite a bit, especially if you have a good relationship with them, ie have brought more business their way of have taken all your business to them, so yea, brand new can be expensive, but they can be more flexible price wise if you play your card right. and then of course you know its been ridden safely (or not)

[Gremlin]

different models you nutsak. k6/k7.
they're suzukis, no bloody difference, look the same, same performance, trust a fan boy to argue they're different. :sleep:

amazing you found this tho... stalking me again?

[Chrislost]

Why bother with a sportsbike?
No fun on the road unless you like spending your time with cops.
The naked 600's are the way to go IMHO.

Coming from somone who lost $???? and ??? licences on 400s :bash:

At least with a 600 you can run(untill that car pulls out on you because your in front of them 4 times sooner than you should have been).

[Morcs]

Coming from somone who lost $???? and ??? licences on 400s :bash:

At least with a 600 you can run(untill that car pulls out on you because your in front of them 4 times sooner than you should have been).

400s rock.