WTB Bike.. Reccomendations?

**Lias** · 13th January 2006, 23:07

Well I've passed the waiting period and can go sit my full any day I choose (which will be soon) and ANZ have agreed to lend me 10 large in exchange for my soul for more years than I care to count, so my days of riding my GN250 are numbered.

What I'm looking for is input on what to buy.

I'd prefer to buy a BEARs suitable bike, but will settle for a japper. I like big cruiser looks, sprotsbikes do very little for me except for the ones I cannae afford like ducatis.

My criteria are as follows:
1. H-D/Cruiser style. For reference my dream bikes are a Rocket III, H-D Wideglide, and MotoGuzzi California EV, but pretty much all are out of my price range. In the vaguely can afford price range my preference is definity a bonnieville america.
2. Under 10 grand, preferrably lots under so I'm not still repaying the loan when I'm old enough to join Ulysses.
3. Insurable at a non insane amount of money for an over 25 with a full license.
4. I'd really like a bike thats known to be reliable, and will require relatively little owner maintenance as I'm not a mechanic. Good parts availability is definitly a plus here.

Some of the Tardme auctions i've been looking at.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/a...sp?id=44619884
http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/a...sp?id=44737772
http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/a...sp?id=44819710

What I'm really looking for is Input from those who know what sort of good reliable bike I can get, of the type I like, at the price I can afford (well the bank can afford)

Comments por favor?

**Waylander** · 13th January 2006, 23:13

Dude, the steed may be too small for you and the 883 definately will.

If you look carefully you can find a Ducati for under $10K but you're definately too big for them anyway lol.

Don;t know about the other one cause I've never seen one in person, but you're probably gonna want something bigger than 790cc.

**Waylander** · 13th January 2006, 23:16

Have a glance through these mate,

http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/a...119&key=311910 (ick, nevermind. Just read the description...)
http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/a...504&key=311910
http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/a...143&key=311910
http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/a...503&key=311910

**gman** · 13th January 2006, 23:20

dude youd need another ten k to insure the first one,the seconds too small and the third youll need ten again for the parts....

my opinion?.....fing something around 700 to 11oo cc.

for a cruiser try a virago,intruder,thers prob others around.

btw if youre gona try insurance maybe you should ring around before you buy a bike.you mite get some ideas then.

**Waylander** · 13th January 2006, 23:29

**Sniper** · 14th January 2006, 07:22

Good luck with getting a bike mate.

**Mental Trousers** · 14th January 2006, 10:29

You really need a couple of grand on top to take care of certain expenses after you've bought it. For instance, insurance companies take a huge chunk of money up front before they'll insure you. Also, a new bike is the best time to get a new helmet. Although it hasn't been that long since you wrote off the 1st GN (making a huge assumption that you replaced your helmet after that). There's sundry other crap that comes up too. Like I get a full service done on a bike after I've bought it to make sure everything is as it should be and I'm not going to get any nasty surprises.

Besides which, when you get a new bike you go through about $200 in petrol/oil in the first month of ownership lol

**inlinefour** · 14th January 2006, 15:21

Also plenty of people who will tell you what you should buy. Do what I did. I went around the bike shops stating that I was going to buy a new bike. They was more than obliging(sp) when it came to demo rides. Got to try so many bikes and when I said I needed another ride on my short list, they still gave me the keys. Take ya time and try before you buy, worked for me.