A moment of your time..

[Biff]

What Jim said.
In other words buy a Blackbird.
If you're after a relativley new one (05) - I'm open to reasonable offers.

[Blackbird]

What Jim said.
In other words buy a Blackbird.
If you're after a relativley new one (05) - I'm open to reasonable offers.

Discovered that your willy isn't big enough for a 'bird at long last Rhod?

[Big Dave]

A clean and tidy 7-10 year old motorcycle is not brand sensitive.
Service history and how hard it's been flogged are more important than the badge.

Whatever it is if you're talking a 70,000k unit it probably needs a cam chain or tensioner as a matter of course. The rear shock is probably shagged too.

If possible check the compression, look for oil, listen to it, give it a rev and a test ride.
Check your normal service items - pads - hows the wheel and swingarm bearings, steering head all OK etc etc - or need factoring?

Due dilligence and then just buy something you like and suits your needs.

[mikey]

buy what ever is hceapest, wheelies best, an pulls the chics

[Bonez]

Welcome the the jungle.

[TerminalAddict]

+1 for the hornet ...
you get a whole lot of bike for not much dosh

[MD]

Ignore the mileage thingy. My VTR1000 motor seemed to gain more horses as it passed 60,000km ! That's another bike you might want to check out. Nothing wrong with going for a newer bike with high mileage. Bikes keep coming out better every year from the manufacturers so why dwell in the 90s?
Oh and condolences that you had to move from the beautiful Bay to Auckland. Was in Napier yesterday, fantastic warm sunny day- NO WIND.
And welcome back to riding.

[jtzzr]

Welcome Jimmy B , like some of the others have said take some bikes for a test ride and see which one suits you , youve got a good list of bikes you are leaning towards , a sports tourer , Personally (and only personally I bought a bird (1) Its a good looking bike (2) A person on this site told me they were good bikes(blacksomething )or rather was his name,(3)it has everything you need for a tourer,) but thats just my opinion , get what suits you.

[beyond]

Welcome Jimmy B.

Sounds like you are into largish naked bikes mate.

If that's the case, you honestly and sincerely cannot go past a Suzuki GSX1400. Don't let anyone tell you they can't handle. Get away from the factory settings on the shcoks and dial some proper settings in for the bike and your weight and these things can boogie. Grunt? A tad less torque than a Busa but not much in it.

See my ealier review. I've done 35,000kms on my bike in a year and a half and all for fun. It's up to 42,000kms now but she's basically just run in.
This bike is fantastic to ride and you can ride it all day, hard without getting uncomfortable.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=26613

[Clivoris]

Welcome man. I echo the sensible suggestions above. There are some real bargains out there if you have the cash in hand, a bit of patience and a ruthless bargaining style. If you can live with the styling those GS1200's are a lot of bike for the money. They also seem to be hard to sell so should be cheep. A mate of mine bought an RF back in the day. Since then he has owned many bikes including a VTR1000, Ducati S4R monster, XJ1100 (or summit like that). He still rates the RF as the best bang for buck he's had. Good luck.

[Edbear]

Look with your heart.

Test with your bum.

Buy with your head.

All the bikes you mention are as close to bullet proof as one could ask for. Buy on condition, not mileage.

Good quote! I like it! Can I steal it?

[James Deuce]

Be my guest.

[Jimmy B]

Well Guys,

Back from Whitianga Scolly fest, primo weather and a couple of things stick out in my mind:

Thanks to the chick who climbed the rock wall wearing a mini, slipped and gave all and sundry a 3 minute slow, revolving, harness assisted panty flash….nice.

Plenty of bikes out, most turning off to head to Whangamata. If there is a KB member out there in this group, wearing Repsol Leathers who popped a 200 meter mono as I pulled left (to let the group thru) along a straight out of Tairua, please accept my thanks, not my cup of tea but simply awesome to watch, just awesome.

MD – Yes the move was a initially bit tough but got to go where the work is, despite the weather. A big plus with Akl is proximity to the Gulf and up north, I am big on fishing and diving and for that it is hard to beat.

Beyond, yeah I am and yes I have had a look, very cool, but really setting the budget sub 10K. I think I would be lucky to get a good example at that price.

I think I will hop on an RF for a spin given the positive comments. I hadn’t considered an RF cause my main criteria has been Naked or Semi, with plenty of grunt and its been so long since I have ridden that I am sure that I will fall in love with the first bike I hop onto and potentially compromise my initial feelings.

The Blackbird is an exception, I don’t know why, it just is.

So as a result of feed back my list to research is as follows (in no particular order):

Blackbird
GS1200SS
Hornet
RF900
Bandit
GSX1400
XJR1300
ZRX1100 or 1200

Of these, within reason, mileage and vintage will play a smaller part that condition, history and price.

I will let you know how it goes. I am doing a refresher riding class this weekend to get into mode (on a 250!!) and looking forward to that.

I am quite taken back by the warm welcome to this site and the helpful advice put forward. Thanks to everyone and I will look forward to contributing where I can.

Luck

Jimmy B

[TerminalAddict]

BTW: I paid $9300 for a 3 month old hornet with 3000kms .. never been registered (I bought the shop demo)

so well within your budget

[Biff]

Discovered that your willy isn't big enough for a 'bird at long last Rhod?

The problem is my willy Geoff - my willy is too big. I keep getting it caught in the sprockets. Best I ride a bike that'll shrink my willy. Like a Bluebird.