Chch Assistance required

[WRT]

Hey guys, hate asking favours of people, but I am in a bit of a conundrum and hopefully someone might be able to help. I'm currently looking for a new bike, and I've got some fairly stringent criteria at the moment. I want me one of those oh-so-sexy new shape Aprilias, in the oh-so-sexy red and silver. And I think I may have found one . Only one small problem, its in Christchurch, and I am in Auckland. Have spoken with the guy, and it sounds pretty good, but I would like a second opinion before I hop on a plane to go check it out.

It was supposed to be serviced at 10,000k, hasnt yet been done but he's prepared to get that sorted before selling. One thing that makes me a little nervous was that he said that the tires are only around 1000k’s old. But the bike was on 10,000k’s when first advertised on Trademe, and now its on 11,500. If he didnt spring around $350 (his estimate) for a service before advertising, would he spring $6-700 odd for a new set of Michelins? Sounds fishy (more worried that it might be alluding to bigger and more costly porkies), unless the old tires were so naffed that he wouldn’t have been able to sell it with them on. But then the pics are the same ones from the original ad, and the tires don’t look too bad, although it is hard to tell at that res. So does that mean he shoved them on 1000k before placing the ad? Which would mean they are now sitting on 2,500ks, so if you add another 1000 or so to run the bike back up to Auckland, and I’m getting close to a new set . . . sucky.

Plus I have to factor in an airfare down, a hotel for the night, gas to ride it home, ferry ticket, etc etc. The plan would be to hop on a plane first thing on a Saturday morning, hopefully sort out the purchase mid morning, then ride up to Picton for the 6:15 (I think) sailing (is this feasable? Only been to Christchurch once, and that was several years ago; on that occasion I stopped in Kaikoura over night before riding up to Picton the next day). Stay the night in Wellington, then hop on the bike again Sunday morning to trundle back up to Auckland. Otherwise, if it didnt all work out, then hope and pray I can get a flight back to Auckland . . .

Apparently the bike is in at Eric Wood M/C’s for sale on their floor on his behalf. Cant see it under their name on Bike Point (mustn’t be making enough to cover the cost of an ad). Is there any chance that someone might be in that area on the weekend, and be able to pop in and have a quick look over it for me? Naturally all advice/info would be taken "without prejudice", and in no way would anyone be held accountable for it. I will naturally enough be doing background checks on the bike before purchase, so all that sort of legal "guff" will rest squarely on my head. I'm just keen to get an opinion from someone who doesnt have a vested interest in the sale . . .

And has anyone got any input on any other aspect of it? Things I should watch out for with the RSV-R's? Even any bright ideas regarding handing over that amount of coin . . . in a timely fashion so that I can hit the road asap. Dont want to turn up with all that cash sat in my back pocket, yet dont want to have a bank transaction take days to process (weekend hours), and I would suspect that a bank cheque would reduce my negotiating ability. And what sort of times should I allow for riding each stage back to Auckland? Bearing in mind that on a new bike, I'm gonna be taking it pretty easy . . .

Thanks guys!

[Sniper]

Just PM'd you mate

[enigma51]

First off looks like awesome bike to me. But you have a valid concern around the service tires etc. but It can be that the wof was due and he need to do that first. I would ask Sniper or someone in Christchurch to have a look at it first before going down.

We are touring the south island (Wife and I) in january and we worked out roughly it will take about 8hrs from Christchurch to picton so you might want to think about staying somewhere between picton and Christchurch espically if you want to take it easy. It will take you about 3 days to get back to auckland with enough rest etc. So have a look at a shipping company maybe it will be cheaper.

Hope everthing works out for you!

[enigma51]

Sniper you are too quick!

[enigma51]

Or if you want you can pay my ticket down and I will ride it up for you

[WRT]

Sniper - cheers mate, have just PM'ed you back

Enigma - thanks for that, 8 hours was more than I figured on. I know the Welly to Auck trip is well within my limits for a days riding, have done it several times on bikes (once did Auck to Welly, over to Picton, across to Takaka in one day, with a pillion and a weeks gear, and it wasnt too much of a stretch), but if I need to allocate more time in the South Island (damn, wouldnt that be a shame!!) then maybe I need to look at taking the Monday off work as well. Otherwise I would have had to hit the road before 10 on Saturday - cutting it all a bit fine!

[Sniper]

We are touring the south island (Wife and I) in january and we worked out roughly it will take about 8hrs from Christchurch to picton so you might want to think about staying somewhere between picton and Christchurch

No no no no no, dont make me beat you on the head. It takes 3.5 hours between here and Picton. 4 if you want to stop In Kiakoura

[**R1**]

I test rode one a while back, nice bikes! its no R1 but nice just the same, i have delt with the guy thats selling it and he seems ok, my mate bought a damaged R1 from him and he went out of his way to sort it all out, and get parts, service, rego etc...if you get stuck for help i could go have a look at it for you, not much point me taking it for a test ride tho i cant stand twins, but at the very least i could start it and have a listen.

[Sniper]

Its Ok Aaron, I said I'll check it all out, but you are welcome to come along if you want. How about a race, hehehe

[HenryDorsetCase]

I will in all likelihood be in Woods tomorrow morning and will also have a look.

It takes 3 hrs and 5 minutes (one speeding ticket and one gas stop) to get from chch to picton if you absolutely haul arse. (I was trying to make that same ferry the night the Clash played in Wellington.... and bloody well missed it....)

its only 300k so you can do it pretty comfortably in 4 hours.

[WRT]

R1Aaron - nice to hear that. Having a listen might not be a bad idea at all! Sniper has generously offered to pop in and have a look over it for me, but anyone who is going to be in the area and can offer an opinion on it, thats going to be hugely appreciated. Thanks heaps guys, especially Sniper for your help!

[Sniper]

I will in all likelihood be in Woods tomorrow morning and will also have a look.

It takes 3 hrs and 5 minutes (one speeding ticket and one gas stop) to get from chch to picton if you absolutely haul arse. (I was trying to make that same ferry the night the Clash played in Wellington.... and bloody well missed it....)

its only 300k so you can do it pretty comfortably in 4 hours.

Took me 2hrs and 25mins 48secs one day on the way back from chch at 1 am in the morning. Also took 3/4 of a tank of petrol. But I wouldnt condone that set of behaviour

EDIT: This was in a car after I had just landed back from Australia and needed to go to bed at home

[WRT]

Damn its hard to keep up with the posts in here, much bigger response than I was expecting! Its really appreciated.

HDC - thanks for that, makes it sound a lot less of a stress . . .

[HenryDorsetCase]

Took me 2hrs and 25mins 48secs one day on the way back from chch at 1 am in the morning. Also took 3/4 of a tank of petrol. But I wouldnt condone that set of behaviour

EDIT: This was in a car after I had just landed back from Australia and needed to go to bed at home

shit! good effort!

the Hundalees and the Kaikoura coast must have passed in a blur!

I, of course, only travel at 90kmh on the open road now. anything faster is simply too dangerous....

[vifferman]

As for paying for it, could you do a combination of cash and an online transfer? Presumably the guy has access to a PC, or you could go to an internet cafe somewhere?

Hey, if this falls through, Kerry @ Motohaus has had some pretty spunky bikes through his workshop at a very reasonable price (ex Japan). Apparently he has a brand-new, in the box, Sprint ST coming soon. Very, very tempting....