#1
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Hey guys, Recently I got my R class motorcycle license, and I've been toying with the idea of buying a motorbike. Because I'm new to riding (on the road), I've been thinking about getting a 650cc V-Twin (like the Suzuki SV650SA or the parallel twin Kawasaki ER-6F). So naturally I've been keeping my eye open for a 2nd hand example. Its my first bike, I'll probably come off it or drop it...so why spend all that good coin on a brand new bike? Anyway...as I've been looking, I've noticed the 2nd hand models aren't that much cheaper than a brand new one. According to the Kawa & Suzuki websites, the bikes I'm looking at can be hand brand new for around $10k. Good 2nd hand ones look to be around $7-$8k. So here I am thinking, wouldn't it just be better to spend the extra $1500-$2000 to get a brand new bike, with warranty, no kilometers, and everything is nice and shiny. I see a lot of bikes with (what I would call) "low kilomoters". Now...I only call these "low kilometers" because I'm comparing it to a car. Bikes that have like 15,000, 20,000, even 40,000km on the clock. If it were a car, it would practically be brand new. So my question is - in motorcyle terms, what are a low and high amount of kilometers? (eg. if a car had 400,000km on the clock, you can expect it to be a pos). What is the equivilant for bikes? And what are your thoughts on buying 2nd hand, vs paying a little extra and getting a brand new bike? -------------------- Need free trance albums? Get them @ DreamensioN .NET
Tracks: http://soundcloud.com/dreamension Doin' it for the love of dance music.... ![]() |
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MYB16
Post #3
I personally wouldn't buy a bike that had over 15,000km. The problem I have with buying second hand bikes is that they cost alot to service and there is a bit of general maintenance that I think alot of people would skimp on. |
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blacky83
Post #4
Engine size also plays a part. 250s are geared down more to make use of the power, and as such will use more rpm to travel a distance. An engine's life is based more upon the number of revolutions, rather than distance. So a 250 with 100k will be fairly trashed, whilst a 1.5L cruiser with 100k could still be in good condition. |
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grandmasterb
Post #8
QUOTE(MYB16 @ Jul 5 2008, 04:46 AM) [snapback]1282566633[/snapback] How many km's on you're RR mate? QUOTE(VU_SS_UTE @ Jul 5 2008, 12:51 PM) [snapback]1282567419[/snapback] Ah its got about 8k on the clock, I dont ride much over winter though down here, have to make the most of the warm months Soft cock, man up already and ride or give the key to me ![]() |
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HYBRID_AE86
Post #10
anything with more than 50,000k's are very high k's in my opinion. average/high k's 30,000 - 50,000k's, low k's are less than 15,000. i personally would not buy a bike (normally) with more than 20,000k's, and i would have gotten rid of it by 30,000k's. |
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VU_SS_UTE
Post #11
QUOTE(HYBRID_AE86 @ Jul 5 2008, 08:28 PM) [snapback]1282569160[/snapback] if you know the history behind the bike, and how it has been treated would depend on the k's aswell. a mate of mine has a K4 GSXR1000 with 45,000k's, most cars would beat him in the traffic light derby, it is just a commuter for him. not to mention he's a qualified mechanic and takes good care of his vehicles, if i were in the market for a used k4 i wouldn't look at any other bike.\ I'd be wary of buying something thats been babied its whole life, as they tend not to like getting a flogging, especially bikes. |
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grandmasterb
Post #13
QUOTE(grandmasterb @ Jul 5 2008, 06:03 PM) [snapback]1282568651[/snapback] Soft cock, man up already and ride or give the key to me ![]() QUOTE(VU_SS_UTE @ Jul 5 2008, 08:11 PM) [snapback]1282569107[/snapback] HAHA, I rode my old bike flat out, but this one I only ride when there's corners involved. Sounds like an ex of mine ![]() |
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reddahaydn
Post #14
i used to think that 50000+ kms was a lot for a bike but I'm not so sure now. I bought my bike 5 months ago with 62000kms, its up over 66000kms now and will start first time, even tho its freezing cold. and mines a 'sports bike'. I knew the history of the bike for the last 2 owners, i bought it off a mate whos real anal about everything he owns and looks after every little detail. the owner before that was a mechanic who was much the same as my mate. |
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Unfinished Project
Post #16
Traditionally, bikes have "low" kilometres on them as they tend to be toys for fair weather and not many people do bulk k's on them... just because they're mostly low k's doesn't mean a 'high' ks bike with say $50k has anything wrong with it as long as it's received oil changes. |
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VU_SS_UTE
Post #18
QUOTE(MYB16 @ Jul 7 2008, 10:22 PM) [snapback]1282578694[/snapback] But when the price difference doesnt reflect the kays then why bother buying one with 20,000 more km for the sake of 2-3 grand? Thats how I see it, bikes are so cheap new it doesnt make sense to buy a second hand one with high Ks unless its really really cheap! |
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VU_SS_UTE
Post #21
QUOTE(DreamensioN @ Jul 8 2008, 12:00 PM) [snapback]1282580115[/snapback] Thanks a lot for the advice guys! Good info in this thread! No worries, always good to see new folks getting into two wheels ![]() In regard to your choice of bike, I cant recommend strongly enough the SV650, I had one as my first bike and it was an absolute blast, had the tough v-twin sound, enough power for a bit of fun (cough, wheelstands/stoppies) and there's plenty of cheap mods to get them looking mighty fine as well. I honestly wish I still had it for a weekday bike it was that much fun to ride! |
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Unfinished Project
Post #24
QUOTE(Unfinished Project @ Jul 7 2008, 10:49 AM) [snapback]1282575272[/snapback] you may not save much by getting one with extra k's on the clock so you might be better off getting a low k bike anyway.... QUOTE(MYB16 @ Jul 7 2008, 10:22 PM) [snapback]1282578694[/snapback] But when the price difference doesnt reflect the kays then why bother buying one with 20,000 more km for the sake of 2-3 grand? Uh... isn't that what I said? ![]() |
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yoshi1000
Post #27
I cannot believe some of the stuff(i'll be polite) i'm reading on mileage on bikes. I've been riding for 20 years and have owned a LOT of bikes. In the last 10-12 years the metals and tolerances in motorcycle engines have become some of the best in the business. Throw in the fact that oil has improved viscosity and now prevents major wear issues during cold start up and you have a recipe for good, reliable, longevity. It's true a lot of ppl are shying away from bikes with over 50K klms on them - but in all reality, you shouldn't be. Maintenance is the key though and oil changes are the best thing you can do for any IT engine. I'ev seen 4 cylinder 600's with over 200,K klms on them with nothing more than a top end freshen up. I'even had a 250 road trail singe that got 80,k klms and was only then starting to lose performance, compression.... |
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VU_SS_UTE
Post #28
I do everything myself also, including fitting anything aftermarket. The only thing I wont do on this bike is tune the PC when the time comes simply because I cant. |
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yoshi1000
Post #29
I used to get invited to track days from several manufacturers when new model bikes would be released. It was amazing how many ppl would sign up for the new model bike because it "felt" so much better..Of course, everyone was invited to bring there old bikes along for comparisons....It's amazing what a set of tyres, fresh suspension, new brakes can do to the feel of a motorcycle....Then again, there are a lot of vain ppl out there that just have to have all the "new" stuff....there the ppl that keep the bike shops afloat though! |
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VU_SS_UTE
Post #30
QUOTE(yoshi1000 @ Jul 30 2008, 09:46 AM) [snapback]1282672946[/snapback] I used to get invited to track days from several manufacturers when new model bikes would be released. It was amazing how many ppl would sign up for the new model bike because it "felt" so much better..Of course, everyone was invited to bring there old bikes along for comparisons....It's amazing what a set of tyres, fresh suspension, new brakes can do to the feel of a motorcycle....Then again, there are a lot of vain ppl out there that just have to have all the "new" stuff....there the ppl that keep the bike shops afloat though! Si. I dont have to have all the new stuff, I happily rode my trusty old SV650 for years and would still have it now if I could affort 2 bikes! Bikes are that cheap that it's easy to upgrade when the old ones have a few k's on them. Thats all I was saying, doesnt cost much more to trade in on a new bike against spending a bit on the old one... |
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yoshi1000
Post #31
Nah, not having a shot at all mate - if you can afford to do that all well and good. I;ve been down that path previously and now, too me, ownership is about keeping the bike in good cond, spending some time in the shed, fixing things up, improving on stuff as it wears out. Getting to know the bike inside out is almost as much fun as flogging the puppies...must be gettign old. |
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MYB16
Post #32
You sound quite knowledgeable on the topic of motorbikes! I did hear about Honda running those kinds of tests. I know a lot of car manufactures will test their engines to the limit for days and kilometres on end, it does go to show you how over engineered they are. |
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VU_SS_UTE
Post #33
QUOTE(yoshi1000 @ Jul 30 2008, 04:58 PM) [snapback]1282674394[/snapback] Nah, not having a shot at all mate - if you can afford to do that all well and good. I;ve been down that path previously and now, too me, ownership is about keeping the bike in good cond, spending some time in the shed, fixing things up, improving on stuff as it wears out. Getting to know the bike inside out is almost as much fun as flogging the puppies...must be gettign old. PS - not sure how many ppl know this but for back in 2002 - for a longevity test, Honda held the 954 fireblade at 500 rpms below redline for a 24 hour period then pulled the engine down to see how bad it was....you can guess the result - perfect internals. Can you imagine that - 24 hours, at 11,000rpm ????!!!! Who knows twat they do these days to test components. One other thing "a bit silly really" in mileage's favour....The GSXR1000's that were raced by the late David Jefferies in 02 or 03 (not sure which year now) made 6 horsepower more after the 240 mile race than b4. The idea was that the head carboned up around and it sought of ported itself to streamline intake / exhuast gases....there's a bit of useless info 4 ya cause it aint that far, and aint real world....Anyways, Cheers, Later... Si I can afford to for now, but things may change when it comes to paying off a house in the very near future, im sure that will limit the money I throw around at the moment, I get bored easily with things and if you change before bikes are too old it doesnt cost that much! I sorta change bikes as well cause I dont know what I wanna ride, i've had a naked twin, now a screaming 600 sports bike. Might be time for a triple next lol A few of my old mans mates change every year, but they leave their bikes stock except for a pipe. Thats some cool info there! |
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yoshi1000
Post #34
The old blokse are right - I have found in the past that heavily modified bikes lose money over something stock or just with a pipe. A classic recent example - I was trying to sell a nitrous injected gsxr1000 for past few months without success, i removed all the gear and sold the bike almost immediately for same price....strange..... |
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VU_SS_UTE
Post #35
QUOTE(yoshi1000 @ Aug 5 2008, 12:50 PM) [snapback]1282699132[/snapback] We just had this same argument at work re high klms - cept with cars. I really like listening to people talk about shit they have no ideas on - but I heard some classics today...."Subaru WRX's - absolutely stuffed after 80-90k klms because they are turbo....V6 commodores - 150K klms - throw them away as they are not balanced engines...."or my fav "" V8's last longer than any other engine because they have more pistons..." HAHAHAHA dunno how you kept it in, I would have been on the floor laughing at some of those |
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