Everyone has an opinion...

**Colapop** · 20th February 2006, 07:46

... Which I suppose sums up Kiwibiker and it's inhabitants. So I have a question for you;
A lot of new riders want the best bang for their buck - I have $1000 - $1200 to spend (maybe a touch more) and have had a look on Tardme. I think that's a good amount to start off with and have come up with the following options. Whattaya reckon?

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Anyone got any other options?
Cheers
Col

**lia** · 20th February 2006, 08:05

i think the best summary of the majority would be:

taking that money putting down a deposit and financing a 6-10k bike ...

then binning it, getting insurance getting another and losing the equalivalent of the actual cash at the beginning in the process.

am i close??

[edit] ok, just noticed the 'new rider' ... however not much difference here as 250's are damn expensive (but drop the finance option to $4-6k and then just loop the 'process' above a couple more times.

**Colapop** · 20th February 2006, 08:10

Sorry I should have been clearer. That is the budget I intend to spend on a bike at this time, cicumstances do now allow for anythiung more than that right now.

Ideally, if I had the money, I'd look at either a VFR, TL/SV or a Firestorm. I'm not so stuck on one brand or another just yet.

**MSTRS:Me** · 20th February 2006, 08:12

Possibly Option 1, but really they are all a bit...well you know....yuck.
Better to stretch a bit and get something that is fully roadworthy etc. Deals that state 'just needs.....' are generally well understated.
Try this one http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...5656&key=20526

**R1madness** · 20th February 2006, 08:29

Ok. Here are a few facts about the bikes.
Gpz600 were a good bike when new. A muffler may cost you a fair bit.
The suzuki 400 impules is a 1986 model not a 1990. They had lots of electrical problems. Bits are hard to get now.
GPX600 Good bikes but dont be fooled by the mileage. It will have heaps more than that on it. Still not too bad a buy tho.
FZR400. Its a 1988 not a 1992. It has an earlier (like 1986-87) motor. Looks like its missing heaps.
My vote goes for the :
GPX600.

**marty** · 20th February 2006, 08:37

i'd be for the gpz. at least it's running. and there's plenty of mufflers out there - i've even seen one with a coby!

**sefer** · 20th February 2006, 10:45

Sorry mate, but I have to say I wouldn't go for any of those.

They all sound a bit dodge to me, and geting a bike re-registrated could be a right pain in the arse, not just because of the cost, but because they check them MUCH more throughly than a normal wof and if anything is missing or not up to standard you could be looking at $$$

My advice would be not to rush it, winter is coming fast and there are likely to be those who find having a bike for commuting suddenly isn't such a great idea for them. There are deals to be had, you just need to wait for them. (and in my opinion Trademe is probably not the place to find them)

**Karma** · 20th February 2006, 11:09

Yeh, what he said...

They're all shitters, put some money away over winter and get something better in time for next summer.

**Colapop** · 20th February 2006, 12:43

I'm thinking about the GPz. So if anyone wants to have a nosey and report back..

Yeah I understand what you guys are saying about putting the money away and waiting for a while. I know what'll happen though, something will come up and it'll be "moan,whinge, what about your "bike" money? You'll never get a decent bike anyway... blah blah blah" She'll be a pain in the arse. I've already decided to get a newer bike towards the end of next year anyway. I'm happy with the amount in the budget this time round.

**TygerTung** · 20th February 2006, 13:11

I'd go for the GPZ, they are a solid bike and a good performer.

I mean if stuff does go wrong with one of these older bikes, you get the fun of fixing it and doing it yourself.

It's great fun, much better than going to the pub, getting wasted then getting in fights, or watching some shit reality TV program, better do somthing constructive.

**kiwifruit** · 20th February 2006, 16:15

impluse IMHO

**Colapop** · 21st February 2006, 11:54

I like the impulse too - but the thought of having to spend money and time on it before getting it going... not sure about that.

The two front runners are the GPz600r and the GPX600.

GPz plusses, Good solid bikes from what I've found out. $1000 seems to be an ok price. It's clean, tidy WOF without too many problems (couple of tyres and a couple of holes in the can that can be bogged for the time being)

GPz minusses, I'm not sure that the seller is all that believable. I've checked out his feedback and purchases. Spoke to him on the phone. Seems a dodgy character, gives me cause to question true ownship of the bike. It's in Auckland.

GPx plusses, seems to be in ok condition for it's age. Good solid bike. In my price range.

GPx minusses, not much feedback, k's are probably 60,000 not 06483 unles it's got a 1 in front (106483) don't know what it needs, to get WOF. It needs to be re-registered.

Anybody want to check out the Coromandel one for me?

**Karma** · 21st February 2006, 12:02

Ok... few reasons why I wouldn't touch the GPX...

> Bike is de-registered and has been for some time

Why was it de-registered? Could it be because it's not warrentable? Whatever reason, it doesn't do a bike any good to sit around for a few years without even being turned over once in a while.

> The seller hasn't owned the bike for long

This I'd take as the biggest clue to the fact it's a shitter... he obviously brought the bike in a similar situation to you, hoping to fix it up, but if he hasn't been able to do it, what makes you think you can?

> Speedo reading is way out but the seller doesn't know by how much

Chances are the old motor did a high number of Ks and died, then the speedo wasn't reset to match the new motor, either way it's obviously not been looked after otherwise you'd have service / wof records of what the tacho said on each inspection.

> Original motor blew up and was replaced

Firstly it shows the bike was either A. Not looked after/oiled etc... or B. Ragged to shit before it blew up... you have no idea what the Ks were on the current engine before it was put in, or even what the state of it was...

It's clear you really want a bike, but I'd value my life enough not to ride this shitter unless I really had to.

**Maha** · 21st February 2006, 12:50

I give my vote to option one Poppy.............NICE COLOUR .........

at first glance i thought there was sheep skip on the seat but..... NAH

**Colapop** · 21st February 2006, 13:48

Having spoken to the 'owner' and seen his previous purchases on tardme - I think he's a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic! If the bike isn't stolen I don't care though...