Help needed with an article "Why 2nd hand is not 2nd best"

[Blakamin]

I rate this as the biggest plus. I bought my 'old' VFR750 because a good mate recommended it and I could trawl the web for info on what the bike was really like. I bought it when it was already ten years old - everything that will ever go wrong with this bike is well known and all figured out. You CANNOT say that about ANY new bike.

Totally valid point... I looked up all the cbr400 quirks before i said "GIMME"

all you get for new bikes is some journalist's (who may or may not have been plied with booze) review of what it was like for 30 mins to a week... doesnt mean in 4000k the wheels wont fall off!

[pete376403]

Popular bikes which still exist in large numbers (eg GS Suzukis) have good supplies of parts available, both factory and aftermarket.
With new bikes you're generally stuck with factory (= expensive) bits

[Pwalo]

Second hand bikes are great. As my esteemed colleagues have already intimated you can get a much better of what a bike is really like after it's been out for at least a couple of years.

Before I bought the GS I spent a lot of time trawling through the net reading owners reviews etc. This certainly semed to give a more realistic view of a bike's ability and also any weaknesses. Also gives you an idea of what owners consider are good upgrades/fixes. This in itself can save you a whole heap of cash.

Also from the accountants view depreciation has taken it's major bite, and any initial recalls etc (not on a GS) have been done. If you choose carefully you can get a bike that's been treated well, maintained properly etc so you get the best of all worlds.(No one crashes GS' though).

Besides always parts available in the wreckers etc for the more popular used bikes.

It's a bit of a bugger it's so nice today and I'm stuck in the office.

[Ms Piggy]

Well for me I have never regretted buying my bike 2nd hand. In fact I wouldn't have a bike if I had try to buy brand new.

My bike only cost $1000- and I have ridden it miles! It has so far cost me very little in maintenance and upkeep - I think that's partly luck & partly b/c I have tried to take care of it as much as possible - lubing the chain once a week, getting the oil change every 6 months & checking all the other little bits and having friends who have been able to help me too. Thanks KBers

I think also b/c I am a new rider it is a great little learner bike and I've also learnt a little bit about maintenance. I think if I had a new bike I may not have been so adventurous as a new rider, I may have been a lot more concerned about the amount of money I spend and trying to keep it looking good. I don't think I'd buy a new bike (one I'm a rich social worker raking in the $$$) until I've been riding a bit longer.

I hope that helps Bob - Cheers Cathy

[Blakamin]

It's a bit of a bugger it's so nice today and I'm stuck in the office.

Yup... and my office window looks out over the factory

but tonite i'll have a 6 pack of VB, sit in the sun and pull the can off... for a look and a polish.
wouldnt do that to a new bike!

[Skyryder]

Good luck on the article. Use to write the odd story for a now defunct fishing mag. Just make sure you get paid for the story. Wont be much but do not write for nothing.

Skyryder

[TwoSeven]

Well, I have a 1991 cbr 250 rr. Its worth more now (trade in) than when I brought it - simply because I keep fixing the bits that go bang and its gradually improved - they tend to go for about $5.5 in the shops, so trade in price - slightly less.

What that kinda means is that for an extra grand I can trade for a '92 400, 600 and even a 954 was within range (but someone else beat me to it).

Then there is the pick the bike up from japanese auctions and bring it back. You get later models for a little more - maybe the 7-10k range.

Considering there isnt much performance difference between bikes that are a few years old and new ones - that cant be sorted out by a bit of tuning.

As the insurance people pointed out to me the other day. There is a point at which the bike no longer depreciates and considering they only do replacement value - you generally wont lose on it. It kinda means you're most likely to get a $10k replacement for a $10k bike than you are $20k replacement for a two year old $20k bike.

Oh, you dont cry so much when you crash a second hand bike.


Just my thoughts.

[Jackrat]

I bought my old GS850G second hand with 12000 kms on the clock.it had a new BMW puncture repair kit under the seat.
The cop from Tuakau that I bought it from rang me about three months later wanting it back as he'd taken it from his work bike an the boss?? wanted it back.

[Bob]

Both here and PM'd messages. It always helps to have some genuine 'case notes' - proves what is being said.

Good luck on the article. Use to write the odd story for a now defunct fishing mag. Just make sure you get paid for the story. Wont be much but do not write for nothing.

Skyryder

Thanks for the words of advice, but I've been writing for this magazine for some time now - so I even know the rate of pay! This is nice as it is a commission from them (Bob, please write an article on this), so not even a case of submit and hope for the best.

Once this is written up, submitted, inevitably edited to fit the space and published, I'll work out some way of letting you all see it.

Just one thing - I think I'll need some 'real names' to accompany the advice you've all given (I'm not 100% sure my editor will go for KB names). So if you want to PM me, I'll happily note them all down from there.

Thanks again,

Bob