Thanks Blackbird

[James Deuce]

Blackbird checked out the 900SS in Tokoroa for me and emailed me a 6 page report including photos and detailed descriptions of the bike's general condition!

An astounding job done at short notice, which hugely exceeded my expections. Give him some rep people.

Long story short, the chap selling was an Internet incompetent, so I missed out. Apologies if you visit this site, but telling me at 6:30pm when I've received an email telling me that the fixed price offer has been accepted by another bidder, that, "I haven't checked my email since 2:30pm so I don't know if it's been bought or not", is not good form. Neither is letting someone check over the bike on behalf of a distant potential buyer AFTER it has been sold. Sorry about that Blackbird.

If you are going to use Trademe to sell stuff, stay on top of the deal folks.

I'm "bikesitting" a '99 GSX600F until a good friend can confirm her overseas posting on Feb 8, and then I am buying it. I test rode it last weekend, and despite the dubious reactions of some on here it is a better bike than it's specification would suggest. It is comfortable, fast enough, handles well enough that using all the tyre isn't a drama, and it's a Suzuki, so that will stop that whining salesman from the scooter centre (WMCC) from bleating at me about buying a proper brand.

Interestingly enough, there is very little between the '99 600, and the '98 750 I tried. The '98 750 and subsequent models lost 12 HP and 1 full Kg-M of torque over the '97 model, leaving only 6HP and 0.5 Kg-M ahead of the 600. The 600 is 6kg lighter, and a very reasonable price. It is also bright yellow and has the headlights of doom, so anyone who pipes up and says I didn't see him is going to get their eyes ventilated with my bike key.

[Joni]

Replaced by a bike within my budget to buy and own. That will still be going strong when the Ducati is on it's 2nd frame and third engine.

Seriously, is that really the case....
I know a few people who own Ducs. They love them...reliability has never been an issue, now maybe I dont see the entire picture, and I might be a tad biased... but are they really as unreliable as everyone says? I dont know? :spudwhat:

[James Deuce]

Seriously, is that really the case....
I know a few people who own Ducs. They love them...reliability has never been an issue, now maybe I dont see the entire picture, and I might be a tad biased... but are they really as unreliable as everyone says? I dont know? :spudwhat:

It isn't that they are unreliable, but total cost of ownership is higher with a Ducati. They require more frequent major services than a comparable Japanese bike, and Ducati qualified mechanics and shops can justifiably charge a premium for their time. I am not mechanically inclined, so I have to pay someone to service it. Desmo Ducatis need regular belt replacements to avoid catastrophic engine failure, and me being anal and all, would mean that I would follow the manufacturers reccommendations religiously, and looking at the service manual for a 900SS, I would have had a couple of $2k services coming up.

I was looking at an older 900SS, so I could afford to insure it and overhaul the suspension.

Ducatis also, despite arguments to the contrary cost more to insure.

I want to be able to ride year round, we are on a single income, and my bike needs to able to do more than just be pleasure to ride on a well surfaced winding road.

Also, a bike is a bike!! I've looked at heaps of bikes in the last mont, including Yamaha XTZ 750s, TRX850s, GSX750F, Africa Twin, CBR600s, and the Gsx600 is the best value for money. 1 careful lady owner (I'm not kidding, I know her well), the best service record I've seen in ages, and it's just had a major service including replacing the chain, and a valve adjustment.

[Blakamin]

Glad to hear you found something! and top job to Blackbird!!!!

[Blackbird]

Thanks Jim and Blakamin, just pleased to have been in the right place at the right time. KBers so freely give help to each other that it's really nice to be able to give something back. Last time I needed help (copying a protected music CD I bought which wouldn't play on my car stereo), it was Blakamin who started me off on the road to overcoming that problem!

Cheers

Geoff

[Riff Raff]

Yay for Blackbird. :

[Skunk]

Good on ya Blackbird.

Edit: Excellent job. Top marks

[James Deuce]

Just to give a more complete picture of precisely the trouble Blackbird went to, check the attached PDF out.

[crashe]

Wow Blackbird.... what a comprehensive report with photo's.......

What a shame Jim2 that you missed out on the buy..... :disapint:

[James Deuce]

Wow Blackbird.... what a comprehensive report with photo's.......

What a shame Jim2 that you missed out on the buy..... :disapint:

Yes, isn't it. The chap rang me on Saturday afternoon to tell me it had been sold. Like I didn't already know, and hadn't already told him.

At least he was honourable enough to let me know over the phone.

The very best things that came out of it, were that I got to find out what a top chap Blackbird is, and I bought a "new" bike locally that I'm having a ball on.

[Blakamin]

WOW!!!!
AMAZING job, Blackbird!!!!!

[Pwalo]

Bad luck about the Duke Jim. I know the GSXF may be a bit of a come down, but they're better bikes than their specs (much like Bandits, or anything other than their Gixxers), or some reviews in the Brit mags suggest. Gotta love Suzukis.

Shame that Blackbird produced such an amazing report for nothing!!!

[James Deuce]

Bad luck about the Duke Jim. I know the GSXF may be a bit of a come down, but they're better bikes than their specs (much like Bandits, or anything other than their Gixxers), or some reviews in the Brit mags suggest. Gotta love Suzukis.

Shame that Blackbird produced such an amazing report for nothing!!!

The GSX isn't a comedown at all. I don't suffer from bike snobbery at all and I'm an eyes wide open kind of chap when it comes to having to live with a bike. They aren't all created equal

I feel a bit embarrassed after Blackbird having gone to such lengths!

[crashe]

Yes, isn't it. The chap rang me on Saturday afternoon to tell me it had been sold. Like I didn't already know, and hadn't already told him.

At least he was honourable enough to let me know over the phone.

The very best things that came out of it, were that I got to find out what a top chap Blackbird is, and I bought a "new" bike locally that I'm having a ball on.

Good onya Jim2 for finding another bike.... and to find it locally as well..
Please ride safe out there, and please do be careful on certain corners....

[LB]

I'm impressed with Blackbird's thoroughness.

I am though, BITTERLY disappointed Jim2 that I won't have another Ducati protoge (sp?) to teach the-ways-of-buying-expensive-Ducati-accessories to....