Buy the best bike; in best condition

[rocketman1]

I am surprised at the number of people that seem to shell out good money for crap bikes, compared to those that won't pay that bit more for bikes that are in better condition and consequently cost a bit more.- Ignorant tightarses??
For those newbies that don't know the real cost of parts and labour to fix a second hand bike that has not been looked after, the cost is considerable.

It is not the motor and gearbox that is the only costly items to repair it is ie. fairings cost thousands, front disc rotors can easily cost $800 a pair, worn shocks and front forks can be hideously expensive to repair, if the bike has worn tyres and chains add $600 to the price before you can get a w.o.f.

If you spend the extra on a better bike you will get all these things in good order, the end cost will be much cheaper for you. I know from experience.
Buy the best bike in the best condition, you wont regret it.

[mashman]

Seconded... I bought my first bike from the guys at my training centre... ZXR400.. luckily i had a good job. She rode well for about 8 months then... gearbox, 200 quid for circlips and gears (had to do the repair myself as noone would do the job... penny dropped there)... Head gasket, radiator, reg-rec, thermostat, tyres, blown up engine, 3 sets of steering head bearings, 2 fork seals and likely there was more over the following 4 years. the time spent stripping it all back to derust it, chuck in a PITA brake rebuild etc... I did most of the fixing myself, shredded several alu bolts (including oil pan because i was too lazy to remove the fuckin exhaust ) (lesson learned) in places i didn't really want to, learned shit loads along the way. I paid what seemed to be the going rate, even asked the guys at the training centre if the bike was value for money (CUNTS)...

2000 quid to buy

Estimated costs: another 1400 quid maybe... and essentially close to the value of a near new one as my wife loved to point out at the time... But after years and years of nagging and cursing at me and that bloody bike and whilst she and the kids hadn't arrived in NZ, I went out and bought my dream bike...

Take someone with you that you know and trust, who knows about the things that you need to know about or save for a new one...

[Pedrostt500]

Very early in my riding hobbie I learned how to fix things, I also think I am fortunate to have got into Motorcycles when alot of the accesories for bikes were either hidiously exspensive or just not available, so if I needed an accesorie, I had to figure out how to addapt some thing for myself, an example is I want a set of paniers for my bike, but don,t want to shell out $300 for a set, but I am looking at useing a pair of zip up tool bags for about $60 each.
I would suggest to Newbies to learn how to do some of the basics for them selves, ie adjust chain tensions, lube chains, check tyre presures, even learn how to do oil and oil filter changes for them selves, clean air filters, change fuel filters, competently remove and put back on either the front or rear wheel to get either a puncture fixed or a tyre changed.
Learning some basic mechanical practical can save alot of dollars, one of the best tools for any bike is a work shop manual for the bike, and study the manual from cover to cover, you may never do 90% of the tasks in the manual, but the knoledge gained is invaluble. Also don't be scared to ask questions, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

[rocketman1]

Seconded... I bought my first bike from the guys at my training centre... ZXR400.. luckily i had a good job. She rode well for about 8 months then... gearbox, 200 quid for circlips and gears (had

Yeah I bought a heap of shit once, on trade me unseen, an XR200 it was cheap but when I got it home I realised what a heap of crap it was, everything on it needed replacing, cost me $1200, SPENT $800 on it, used it heaps and sold it for $1800, it was good when i sold it, I guess it taught me a lesson.
If I had not done all the work myself it would have cost about $2000 extra to fix.
You live and learn aye? you hope!!

[bogan]

depends on the person i spose, and note how much mechanical learning has been going on on the cheaper bikes. Got me a cheap GN250 for 1k, year later sold it and ended up making a few dollars, replaced with a 84 vt250 for 2100, another 500 on a parts bike 18 months later to repair the engine, pretty much the only cost, other than tyres rego all the other essentials.

I suppose what youre getting at is its a safer option to get the more expensive bike, less chance of it shitting out, but the kiwi way is to keep thing going with zip ties and bits of string for as long as possible. Ill stick to my cheapies for a few years yet, well till i finish uni and get a job at least

[Motu]

Buy the worst bike for the lowest giveawy price - and fix it yourself.That's what I always do.....and I end up with the bike I want,learn heaps,and save money.

[ducatilover]

What if the bike happens to be in very good condition, running gear, chassis and engine wise? But people assume differently because they cannot see that. I think if somebody has little or no knowledge they should bring somebody to view the bike who has a vast amount of knowledge. I myself welcome people to do that with my bikes, that way they know it has been taken care of, new chain, sprockets, seals, oil, coolant, pads and spare pads may be an indication of a well looked after bike?

[YellowDog]

Good post Rocketman1.

That is the precise reason why I would rather save up for longer and buy a new bike.

I am always amazed how someone would pay $5500 for a 10 year old bike that only costs $7000 new.

[Subike]

My only requirement is that the engine is running and the grabox works. The rest can be repaired or modified.
Its great to have several bikes of the same model. that cost you SFA, that you can play with and build a bike thats yours.
Moyu knows what I mean, a frame from here, forks from there, engine unit out of this, wheels off of that, tank adapted from up here, gaurds from down over there. And a seat made from the head rest out of moms cage.

An example here in CHCH is a chopper that owes the owner $1000 on the road legal.

[Boob Johnson]

Buy the worst bike for the lowest giveawy price - and fix it yourself.That's what I always do.....and I end up with the bike I want,learn heaps,and save money.

he he, did that with my RF900R. Bought it for $2950, put new front pads on, new sprockets & chain, new tyres, fresh fluids & did a basic service or two while I owned it. Rode it for 15,000 odd km's in the 6 months I owned it then sold it for $4200


But in principal I agree with the OP, it's just not always that black n white. Human beings are the same all over. I've seen clowns drive around shopping for a $1 difference when petrol is $160 a litre, I shit you not. Also seen them turning down a discount card that they agree will save them literally hundreds yet can't seem to go past the $40 price tag

A lack of higher thought obviously

[1wheel riot]

if its a honda you cant go wrong

[James Deuce]

if its a honda you cant go wrong

Oh, so Hondas are immune to being owned by idiots. I didn't know that.

[ducatilover]

Oh, so Hondas are immune to being owned by idiots. I didn't know that.

It's true you know. The Honda owns the idiot, kinda like a cat owns it's feeding person wot loves them

[hayd3n]

It's true you know. The Honda owns the idiot, kinda like a cat owns it's feeding person wot loves them

nice!!!!!:P

[jimbo_on_travels]

I wouldn't ride a 20 year old bike - in case the suspension crapped out mid corner or metal fatigue meant that some other critical part on the bike failed. Put it this way.. you wouldn't fly in a 20 year old Jumbo so why ride a bike that old?