Just got my learners!

**BaldingEagle** · 20th November 2009, 15:56

Originally Posted by sil3ntwar

Much better on gas. That's about it i guess!

and only have two pistons to replace, as well as a less valves to bend etc.
but if you look after them you should have any problems. modern engines are nice like that

In my car days V (4, 6 & 8) enigne where always smoother in the drive. But I hated repairing them for cilents as basically there is two bank of pistons so you had two do the head gaskets you had to do two. instead of one.

so one each way I guess, but above is right if you have the same cc rating but more cyclinders you will use more gas.

Balding eagle

PS if you where wondering what car had the v4 engine it was a early ford van from the 1970 and it was rubbish

**The Everlasting** · 20th November 2009, 18:43

Ah right,yeah i will stick with the inline 4..

I looked at a 97 GSF250 Bandit today,I'm rather keen on it,the guy that's selling it hasn't used it much,it was a little noisy on startup,he had not started it for around 3-4 weeks..

Looks good,no scratches,the kms is 10952.

The only thing i picked up on is that it was a little noisy,but I guess that's normal due to non use.

Was imported in 2007,only done around 2000km since then.

What do you guys think?

**Dirty Heathen** · 20th November 2009, 19:02

My FZR is noisy it is the clutch once you pull in the lever it goes away got to get my mech to look at he said noting major.

IL4 are pretty fun to ride man there amazing for a 250 you certainly wont get bored with one in a hurry.

If your not sure about the bike man and that noise get a mechanic to check it out its the only way to be really safe.

Had a few dramas with my bike already had a crack in the rocket cover had to get it welded and my front right fork seal has got a leak but apart from that bike got the thumbs up from the mechanic.

**atothek** · 20th November 2009, 19:07

Originally Posted by The Everlasting

Ah right,yeah i will stick with the inline 4..

I looked at a 97 GSF250 Bandit today,I'm rather keen on it,the guy that's selling it hasn't used it much,it was a little noisy on startup,he had not started it for around 3-4 weeks..

Looks good,no scratches,the kms is 10952.

The only thing i picked up on is that it was a little noisy,but I guess that's normal due to non use.

Was imported in 2007,only done around 2000km since then.

What do you guys think?

I think if you don't really know what you're talking about then you should get a professional to check it out. Although I was keen on getting a bike asap and my heart believed everything the guy wrote on trademe I followed my head and got it checked by someone who knew what they were looking at. Had a couple of issues I would never had picked up and got 800 off the asking price (which paid for the extra work it needed). 100 bucks isn't much to pay for piece of mind. It was a bandit as well (96) cool bikes and great for the taller learner.

**The Everlasting** · 20th November 2009, 19:09

Oh nah it's not that bad,I think it was just due to non-use.

I think i will buy it,i did take it for a quick ride earlier,it was fun,and blimin quick!! Put's a

on yer face fast!

**The Everlasting** · 20th November 2009, 19:12

Originally Posted by atothek

I think if you don't really know what you're talking about then you should get a professional to check it out. Although I was keen on getting a bike asap and my heart believed everything the guy wrote on trademe I followed my head and got it checked by someone who knew what they were looking at. Had a couple of issues I would never had picked up and got 800 off the asking price (which paid for the extra work it needed). 100 bucks isn't much to pay for piece of mind. It was a bandit as well (96) cool bikes and great for the taller learner.

Yeah,I do know a bit about engines,and it seems ok...

Is $4500 a good price? It's low kms,and no scratches at all really,plus it's an older guy that owns it.

**IdunBrokdItAgin** · 20th November 2009, 19:44

I'd be a bit dubious about a 12 year old bike that had done less than 1,000ks a year.

My first thought would be is the odo accurate. If so then my second thought would be about rubber degradation.

Rubber wear is not just about tyres but about all the seals etc that are used in and around an engine and suspension etc, but to put it in the context of tyres - would you ride around on 12 year old tyres? Think about the seals etc in the same way. Modern engines are better than older ones but plastic and rubber still degrade over time.

I did read that Japanese manufacturers can use virgin plastic/ rubber where as european manufacturers have to use recycled plastic/ rubber. Virgin plastic lasts upto about 10 to 15 years from what I've heard. Recycled lasts about half that.

Anyway, some may shout me down on the above points but this was my thinking when I decided that a new or near new learners was best for my first bike experience.

Last thing I would say is to have a look at Hornets, as powerful as the later CBRs (which were reduced to 40 bhp) but with a less extreme riding position. Not trying to sell you mine - just trying to give you a heads up when buying a 250 of the different types out there. Competitors to the hornet are the yamaha zeal and the suziki bandit.

Regardless of what you buy, riding bikes rocks - you'll love whatever you get, the only question that you need to ask yourself is how long you will hold onto your first bike.

Enjoy trying the different types.

**The Everlasting** · 20th November 2009, 19:54

Yeah,thanks for the above post,I do believe the odo to be correct,as it's only been in the country since 07,and the guy only bought it to re-take his learners licence(he had lost his licence when he was young).

**IdunBrokdItAgin** · 20th November 2009, 20:06

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying the current owner is lying about how much he has riden it. All I am saying that any bike riden for such a small distance each year may develop other problems if not stored correctly.

Engines are finicky things and require oil. If oil not on an engine then metal vs metal occurs (I think I'm telling you how to suck eggs here but anyway). With any bike of that age with such low Ks then you must assume that it has been stored at some point. Storage is not a good thing for engines.

Look, it is your choice in the end and the guy may well be a saint. All I am saying is that I wouldn't spend $4k plus on a 12 year old bike. Just to many unknowns and being an import there is a huge grey area of unknown about its history.

By all means buy it but drive down the price somewhat, or look elsewhere.\

**The Everlasting** · 20th November 2009, 20:25

I already drove the price down,he had it at $4800.

But yeah,will take your advice and keep looking,must resist the urge to rush into buying one,it's easy to get too excited...

**The Everlasting** · 21st November 2009, 17:48

Another Bandit,this one is a 1999,21200km..Limited Edition....negotiated $3500.

Seems ok,there is a bit of oil around the chain area,the idle wasn't 100 percent smooth,the needle went up and down a tiny bit.

Otherwise seems mint.

**The Everlasting** · 21st November 2009, 20:22

I just bought it..:dance:

Just did a check on carjam,and it wasn't registered overseas,which is extremely rare,so there is no grey area.

Picking it up on Monday,can't wait!!

**IdunBrokdItAgin** · 21st November 2009, 20:37

Congrats - glad you found one that suited you. Only heard good things about the Bandit.

You got a later year model for less money - all good. Save that $1000 you saved just in case anything needs doing.

Oil around the chain area very common. I thought my bike had an oil leak but it was just me being a bit overzealous lubricating the chain (damn stuff flies everywhere), Mechanic must have thought I was a right prat.

A bit of needle movement is not much to worry about at idle - most bikes move around somewhat.

**The Everlasting** · 21st November 2009, 20:43

Yeah I'm happy with it,considering it's a 99,NZ New and Limited Edition.

I must thank you for your posts above,because I was going to buy the 97 model,but then I read your comments,and changed my mind.

Now I got a later model for less money..

Have some rep!