Bad Trade Me purchase

[akkadian]

Hey. Got my learners last Monday and bought a 2008 CBF250 on tard me which arrived on Saturday. Only done 8,000k but unfortunately when I took it in to Honda to be serviced they tell me it has never had an oil change and needs a new chain, new tyre, something with the tappets etc etc. Anyway, $1,000 later the fuel gauge has stopped working and it's idling really rough. Moral of story, don't buy privately unless you actually know something about motorbikes. Anyone want to buy a Honda?

[mattian]

Hey. Got my learners last Monday and bought a 2008 CBF250 on tard me which arrived on Saturday. Only done 8,000k but unfortunately when I took it in to Honda to be serviced they tell me it has never had an oil change and needs a new chain, new tyre, something with the tappets etc etc. Anyway, $1,000 later the fuel gauge has stopped working and it's idling really rough. Moral of story, don't buy privately unless you actually know something about motorbikes. Anyone want to buy a Honda?

the pitfalls of buying online with only photos and the sellers opinion to base your opinion on.
Should have had the bike inspected by a mechanic before buying it. May have saved you a packet.

[Gibbo89]

Hey. Got my learners last Monday and bought a 2008 CBF250 on tard me which arrived on Saturday. Only done 8,000k but unfortunately when I took it in to Honda to be serviced they tell me it has never had an oil change and needs a new chain, new tyre, something with the tappets etc etc. Anyway, $1,000 later the fuel gauge has stopped working and it's idling really rough. Moral of story, don't buy privately unless you actually know something about motorbikes. Anyone want to buy a Honda?

That sucks man. Welcome to KiwiBiker, too bad it is not on a better note. Did you buy the bike from out of town? I assume you never asked about a service history or anything? Is the Honda still under warranty regarding the fuel gauge? Hit the seller up and give him some shit, nothing much will probably come from it but at least you can vent some frustration on a stranger... just make sure he does not know where you live

I assume that the dude did not lube his chain and that's why it's fucked, negligent owner it would seem... Too bad you have learned the hard way. What are you going to do about the rough idle and fuel gauge? For what it's worth, a faulty fuel gauge is not the end of the world.

Good luck.

[The Everlasting]

Hey. Got my learners last Monday and bought a 2008 CBF250 on tard me which arrived on Saturday. Only done 8,000k but unfortunately when I took it in to Honda to be serviced they tell me it has never had an oil change and needs a new chain, new tyre, something with the tappets etc etc. Anyway, $1,000 later the fuel gauge has stopped working and it's idling really rough. Moral of story, don't buy privately unless you actually know something about motorbikes. Anyone want to buy a Honda?

Yeah I know how you feel,I did pretty much the same thing,I sure as hell wouldn't do that now!

[akkadian]

and i guess it's not that bad as all up it's still cheaper than i would have paid from a dealer. I know better for next time but still leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Love riding though! Yes it was from someone out of town and was a late night impulse buy. He's handily gone overseas now so no comeback available. Back to Honda next week and hopefully that I will end up with a decent bike!

[ellipsis]

....sad way to enter the world of bikes...dont bust yer balls over it...mistakes are our way to achieving some kind of wisdom...dont give up on the bike just because there is the odd glitch...keep on rockin'....

[akkadian]

Thanks guys. Will keep at it

[awa355]

Hey. Got my learners last Monday and bought a 2008 CBF250 on tard me which arrived on Saturday. Only done 8,000k but unfortunately when I took it in to Honda to be serviced they tell me it has never had an oil change and needs a new chain, new tyre, something with the tappets etc etc. Anyway, $1,000 later the fuel gauge has stopped working and it's idling really rough. Moral of story, don't buy privately unless you actually know something about motorbikes. Anyone want to buy a Honda?

Hi I bought one with 5000ks 18months ago. I traded it in 4 months ago. It was an absolutely brilliant little bike. Had done 18,000 in my time. The only problem with it was with the backup from Blue wing Honda. They had no parts at all stocked in NZ.

At 12,000 I replaced the tyres and tried to do the chain and sprockets as well. The rear sprocket is a 37t cog and none of the aftermarket crowd stock anything under 40t. local dealers quoted $180 and 3 weeks for one from Japan. I got one from Sidney motorcycles in four days, $90.38 on my plastic card. Half the price.

Mechanically it never put a foot wrong. They have stuff all power under 5,000revs due to the restrictive exhaust but I could get 350k and not reach reserve. You have to ride the gearbox like a two stroke to keep it humming in the corners.
I have a downloaded owners handbook (english) and a workshop manual in spanish.

[jeremysprite]

Yeah I did the same thing with my first bike purchase - bought something thinking it was a 'bargain' that noone else had spotted... Got sent a bike with repainted front end and stuffed forks... Obviously had a head on.
Hello extra $700 for straightening forks.

Next bike I bought I also thought was a 'bargain'... rear suspension was so soft it would almost bottom out from my 65kg frame.

Needless to say, I bought my next two bikes from a dealer. Sometimes the hassle just ain't worth it.

[p.dath]

Hey. Got my learners last Monday and bought a 2008 CBF250 on tard me which arrived on Saturday. Only done 8,000k but unfortunately when I took it in to Honda to be serviced they tell me it has never had an oil change and needs a new chain, new tyre, something with the tappets etc etc. Anyway, $1,000 later the fuel gauge has stopped working and it's idling really rough. Moral of story, don't buy privately unless you actually know something about motorbikes. Anyone want to buy a Honda?

I'm in the same boat - that I don't know enough about bikes to be able to tell a good one from a lemon. I've only bought from a dealer so far as a result.

I would consider buying privately, but would get a pre-purchase inspection done by a company that knows about motorcycles. The problem with an auction is you can't be certain you'll win it, so your pre-purchase inspection cost could be down the drain. But I'd still do it.

[Gibbo89]

The problem with an auction is you can't be certain you'll win it, so your pre-purchase inspection cost could be down the drain. But I'd still do it.

Might as well do it for peace of mind.

[gale_wolf]

Hit the seller up and give him some shit, nothing much will probably come from it...

Welcome to KB akkadian - unfortunately this is probably true. However fellow KBer Wanpo can attest to buying off trademe, flew down to Wgtn and rode back to Akld, only to find the bike needed $800+ of work to get a WOF. The seller's ad said the bike should fly through its WOF etc, so Wanpo went back to the seller with quotes/receipts and the guy actually coughed up some money for the work. So hitting up the seller might be worth a crack, you don't know if you don't try.

[jeremysprite]

So hitting up the seller might be worth a crack, you don't know if you don't try.

This is true - not everyone on trademe is a scam artist. When I sold my bike on TM it needed some work that I didn't know about, so split the cost with the buyer.

Always try words before fists (or courts).

[Toaster]

I'm in the same boat - that I don't know enough about bikes to be able to tell a good one from a lemon. I've only bought from a dealer so far as a result.

I would consider buying privately, but would get a pre-purchase inspection done by a company that knows about motorcycles. The problem with an auction is you can't be certain you'll win it, so your pre-purchase inspection cost could be down the drain. But I'd still do it.

Agreed. To me the main thing with buying a motorcycle is SAFETY. The ramification of mechanical failure are rather painful for the rider, so for me I only ever buy bikes new. Anything less would need to be seriously checked over first by an expert.

[mikemike104]

I did the same

First 250 from trade me $2800

Repairs for first 250 bought off trademe $2200...

I reckon next time I'd buy from a dealer, more money up front for a better bike. Thats the theory right ?