Damaged bikes good or not

[bladez]

what do you guys think about buying damaged bikes. I have seen alot of gsxr1000 for sale going cheap. do you think its worth it or just buy undamaged
here are two i was thinking about if fianace comes http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...328&key=299982
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...102&key=300677

[James Deuce]

How much do you know about inspecting a frame for damage?

Including alignment issues that may not show up as surface damage.

[JimO]

if they were cheap to fix the insurance co wouldnt write them off

[McJim]

Difficult question. Structural damage - don't touch with barge pole. Aesthetic damage only...how good are you with a can of spray paint some decals and laquer?

I couldn't afford a brand new VTR 250..so I went shopping only to discover I couldn't afford a used VTR 250...shit...was lucky to find a used VTR 250 with damage to the petrol tank, front mudguard, saddle and tail. The frame, forks and engine were all straight and it had only done 3600 kms.

I could afford it and sanded the damage, filled the dents, replaced the vinyl on the seat and resprayed the bike high gloss black with gold decals.

Only worth it if you can repair cheaply and safely.

But then again these are Gixxers so have probably been crashed at high speed....

[JimO]

is this a jim only thread

[McJim]

is this a jim only thread

Mmmmm there's a lot of it about...

[bladez]

How much do you know about inspecting a frame for damage?

Including alignment issues that may not show up as surface damage.

hmmm not alot so the best bet would buy from a shop and non damaged and thanks to you all jim etc

[Brett]

I have been down this track a bit, and unless you are pretty handy with a the tools, and also the different legislation, you may find that it is a very hard road indeed. If the bike is written off, it is pretty much only good for race or parts...very hard to get it complied again...but it is doable.

[McJim]

.................

[FROSTY:Me]

Im currently rebuilding 2 insurance wright offs. One was only a stolen /recovered the other had frontal damage.
Basicly unless you are able to assess the damage and do an accurate cash up in your head--what its going to cost you to get finished then I wouldnt bother
Youll find the bike actually can cost more than a decent bike

[scracha]

Yep, stick to cosmetic damage only...ie. plastics. Jap imports have them categorised according to damage...google it or summit. If you don't care about having a missing fairing (or using fibreglass) then you can save heaps.

[SuperDave]

Surely if u take a bike for a test ride and it feels straight and rides fine then all is well with regards to the frame and forks being straight?

Of course you would need to have experience riding a bike of this sort before test riding the crashed damaged one so as to be able to make an informed judgement.

[Hoon]

Surely if u take a bike for a test ride and it feels straight and rides fine then all is well with regards to the frame and forks being straight?

Not really. The effects may only show under certain extremes like front wheel hitting the radiator under hard braking or a wobble which only shows when hard on the gas exiting a corner leant over hitting a certain bump or maybe a violent tankslapper when you exceed 240kph.

[Coyote]

I noticed both of them. I'd be crazy enough to get one. Perfect upgrade from a 150. The lack of fairings will keep me down to legal speeds

[McJim]

Surely if u take a bike for a test ride and it feels straight and rides fine then all is well with regards to the frame and forks being straight?

Of course you would need to have experience riding a bike of this sort before test riding the crashed damaged one so as to be able to make an informed judgement.

You might just get away with that on a steel frame but an aluminium frame that's been in a bump could have internal (therefore invisible) fractures and may not even need another bump to fail - could fail under acceleration or on a corner.....shudder.....

personally I wouldn't even trust a steel frame that's been bumped.