Second-hand off-road bikes are junk?

**rocketman1** · 23rd April 2007, 21:10

Have bought a couple of off road bikes and looked at plenty of others on trademe etc, people are paying too much for bikes that have not been serviced, ie. if the front shocks are leaking, or the rear shock is stuffed like most are,this is big money,if the there are rattles in the motor,or oil leaks again major $$ . My advise is to buy the bikes that have been serviced, or value the parts or work that has been done on the bike, and pay the extra!
Even gear levers, kick starters, chains, sprockets, are all worth paying the extra for, and generally the bikes that have been looked after visually are the ones that have had the regular oil changes (which to me is the most important thing of all). ie pay extra for the new bits..its worth it in the long run.

**cheese** · 23rd April 2007, 21:23

Yeah I've been looking for a while now and therey is a heap of absolute shit out there.

One guy had a 04 CR250 and he said it's been in storage for 18 months adn hes only used it for 6. well this think was fucked. no other word for it. all plastics were cracked and broken, original piston (compresson was a joke) and it looked so beat up it wasn't funny. He wanted 5500 and you'd have to spend naerly 2k to get it ok again!!

But then you get the opposite end of teh scale

I went to loook at another 04 - now this bike was mint, but the guy wanted $6900 for it!! he said it's only done 15 hours, but that seemed a bit far fetched. All these apparently stored bikes. Who gets a new bike and puts it in storage!!!

Anyway I'm taking my time ans having a good look for a good bike. they are out there!!

**barty5** · 24th April 2007, 08:12

Originally Posted by cheese

Who gets a new bike and puts it in storage!!!

there was a guy few weeks back had from memory an 11 year old cr500 never been out on it only ever started every so oftern bought it then bought a kx500 same week and just stored it in his room it was how else do you say mint

**scott411** · 24th April 2007, 08:23

we had a guy buy a 04 KX500 (last one built) and has never started it, i also know of a 84 RM500 that is the same, it is not that uncomman for people to buy bikes, ride them for a little while, then something changes and it sits in the shed for ages,

**CM2005** · 24th April 2007, 10:19

wow, 04!? thats new as... what a shame they don't make those anymore. i've sold some shit dirt bikes on tardme, but with a low price.

**jimmy 2006** · 24th April 2007, 15:47

scott from Mr motorcycles hooked me up with my rmz250 06 bike, now it must have been one of those bikes that have just sat in the shed as it had done almost no work when i got it. (3-5hrs and $6500 = Bargin in my books)
I would go have a chat with him if i were you CHEESE !!!

**cheese** · 24th April 2007, 16:10

Yeah Scott has been looking for me, but I want a 2 stroke which is where the problem is. Everyone is going 4 stroke now which makes alot of bike shops really rich, but no good for me as I want to work on it myself.

What I was saying was that there is a lot of bikes listed that apparently have been stored then sold. I can understand this if you have an injury, but I think alot of people try to bullshit you to get more money. It's kinda like hours meters, whats stopping you getting 2 when you get a bike and run one for 20 hours then swap it for a new one or even just disconnectiong it to make the hours look better?

Anyway I've got quite a few good options on offer now I just have to wait to see some of them which is really frustrating as I just want to get a bike already!!!!!!

**avgas** · 24th April 2007, 16:38

I bought my 1982 TS185 off a guy for about $100. I spent about $300 doing a complete rebuilt over 3 months. Kept me happy for many years. Then i decided to pull it apart again and failed to put it back together.
I was foolish back then.

**JimO** · 24th April 2007, 17:46

my first bike was a ts 185

**barty5** · 24th April 2007, 20:34

my brother in law had a 82 yz490 his mate bought it new used it a total of about 15 hrs and the clutch basket flew appart was put under hosue were it sat till 4 years ago 21 years it sat hand grip had saged down to the ground spent a year doing it up and new piston to go with clutch basket sold of $4000 to the first person who looked at it. i had the chance to take for a ride 4 speed box was a real blast great bike i think he sold it to cheap hopfully he will get the other one he has up an going soon.

**Lion** · 24th April 2007, 21:02

I bought my bike second hand, and I am really happy with it.

**ArcherWC** · 24th April 2007, 21:28

I buy at least one new bike every year, they dont usually even have enough time on them for a piston change when i sell them, LOL
I dont seem to have any shortage of buyers either

**bart** · 24th April 2007, 22:28

My brother has a 1989 CR125 that he's just reserected after about 17 years of collecting bird shit in a farm shed. He covered the thing in duct tape when it was new to protect the stickers, and now the crap won't come off. He got it going, and it shit the back shock fist ride. The little ring dinger can fly though.