Bike shopping here

[glib]

Did a little bike shopping yesterday. Did you know that in the 600 class, all damage to the bodywork is done by the previous owner? I guess it's a rule. If there is no previous owner, then "someone backed into my bike." One ad said "my bike fell over in the driveway" but looking at the picture of the damage, the driveway must have been a quarter mile long and the bike fell over doing at least 30 mph. One bike we looked at had clearly been repainted though the owner denied it and the radiator was connected only by the coolant hoses and the horn was dangling by it's wire connector. No doubt the class is loaded with stunt riders and nitwits so it will take a while to find a bike that has had the rubber down at all times. Fun hanging out with my son though. All worth it.

[Nessism]

Stop by the "Craigslist funnies" thread if you want a good laugh. Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes.

[Jedz123]

Yeah but you can spot some gems out, plastic damage is nominal, it's engine cases and forks to keep an eye out for. I grabbed the FZ6 for cheap which is now under deposit, selling for $2750... If your willing to work past some of the minor nicks and fix them you can get a nice bike for a cheap price! Flip it for a profit!

I'm on the prowl myself, currently have 3 Kawasaki dealers fighting for my business... After the "nightmares" (Yes there were several) in Daytona Beach... I can't drop this Harley fast enough, I got good equity in it and with some capital down I got folks bending back backwards to seal a "winter" deal up here in the North East.

Bike shopping is fun, it's more fun when your getting something that you have no intention on letting go. If my HD didn't let me down every other day I was down there this past 2 weeks I would definitely keep it... I just can't trust the dang thing!

[earlfor]

Did a little bike shopping yesterday. Did you know that in the 600 class, all damage to the bodywork is done by the previous owner? I guess it's a rule. If there is no previous owner, then "someone backed into my bike." One ad said "my bike fell over in the driveway" but looking at the picture of the damage, the driveway must have been a quarter mile long and the bike fell over doing at least 30 mph. One bike we looked at had clearly been repainted though the owner denied it and the radiator was connected only by the coolant hoses and the horn was dangling by it's wire connector. No doubt the class is loaded with stunt riders and nitwits so it will take a while to find a bike that has had the rubber down at all times. Fun hanging out with my son though. All worth it.

Yeah, 600's are the novice rider bikes. Expect zero maintenance, run it until it dies mentality and rash and drops if not crashes. LOL Hard to find one that hasn't been abused.

[earlfor]

Yeah but you can spot some gems out, plastic damage is nominal, it's engine cases and forks to keep an eye out for. I grabbed the FZ6 for cheap which is now under deposit, selling for $2750... If your willing to work past some of the minor nicks and fix them you can get a nice bike for a cheap price! Flip it for a profit!

I'm on the prowl myself, currently have 3 Kawasaki dealers fighting for my business... After the "nightmares" (Yes there were several) in Daytona Beach... I can't drop this Harley fast enough, I got good equity in it and with some capital down I got folks bending back backwards to seal a "winter" deal up here in the North East.

Bike shopping is fun, it's more fun when your getting something that you have no intention on letting go. If my HD didn't let me down every other day I was down there this past 2 weeks I would definitely keep it... I just can't trust the dang thing!

If you wanted absolute dependability, you should have taken the B12. She don't break! They ain't strong on farkles and glitz, but they are a battleship for durability. heh

[Jedz123]

If you wanted absolute dependability, you should have taken the B12. She don't break! They ain't strong on farkles and glitz, but they are a battleship for durability. heh

I know but I have friends in media that wanted to test ride it... I let them sway me and in truth I'm glad to have discovered these mishaps with my truck handy... Can't imagine what I would have done (or who I'd kill) if the break downs happened thousands a miles away from my truck...
Not upset (anymore), the XR-12 is buried in the back of the shop and the B-12 is primed and ready to be my daily, once winter finally decides to leave... I maybe on a brandy new Kawasaki by the time this weather subsides!

[glib]

Yeah but you can spot some gems out, plastic damage is nominal, it's engine cases and forks to keep an eye out for. I grabbed the FZ6 for cheap which is now under deposit, selling for $2750... If your willing to work past some of the minor nicks and fix them you can get a nice bike for a cheap price! Flip it for a profit!

I'm on the prowl myself, currently have 3 Kawasaki dealers fighting for my business... After the "nightmares" (Yes there were several) in Daytona Beach... I can't drop this Harley fast enough, I got good equity in it and with some capital down I got folks bending back backwards to seal a "winter" deal up here in the North East.

Bike shopping is fun, it's more fun when your getting something that you have no intention on letting go. If my HD didn't let me down every other day I was down there this past 2 weeks I would definitely keep it... I just can't trust the dang thing!

Good points. I think the bike that had been repainted was someone doing a sloppy job of flipping. I'll look a little closer for opportunities. Buying right is the key. My neighbor is a good partner--emotionless negotiator. Sorry about the HD. We stopped by the local HD dealer (open on Sunday) yesterday because my son is going to take his safety course there. Some beautiful bikes but I couldn't find one that really got me excited.

[Jedz123]

Good points. I think the bike that had been repainted was someone doing a sloppy job of flipping. I'll look a little closer for opportunities. Buying right is the key. My neighbor is a good partner--emotionless negotiator. Sorry about the HD. We stopped by the local HD dealer (open on Sunday) yesterday because my son is going to take his safety course there. Some beautiful bikes but I couldn't find one that really got me excited.

I think it's great that HD is trying to get more riders (on their side) with the riding academy. I 'm going to the classes in April. I just hope I have my new bike by then... Experienced rider talking to the Noobs about all the fallacies of HD, while riding HDs at my HD dealer... They can't boot me! I paid!

Good on you for embracing the passion with your son! I was partially responsible on why my Dad got into MCs...

Having a hard negotiator is pinnacle to landing a good deal. I have walked from deals and man they start singing their low offers once you come across as IDGAF and if you don't want my money than fine, someone else will.

Best of luck my friend!!

[glib]

I think it's great that HD is trying to get more riders (on their side) with the riding academy. I 'm going to the classes in April. I just hope I have my new bike by then... Experienced rider talking to the Noobs about all the fallacies of HD, while riding HDs at my HD dealer... They can't boot me! I paid!

Good on you for embracing the passion with your son! I was partially responsible on why my Dad got into MCs...

Having a hard negotiator is pinnacle to landing a good deal. I have walked from deals and man they start singing their low offers once you come across as IDGAF and if you don't want my money than fine, someone else will.

Best of luck my friend!!

Thank you--so funny too, as IDGAF should be my neighbor's middle name!

[wymple]

When my GS850 was brought in, the PO advertised it as "showroom ready". Carbs were crap, air filter shot from old age, wasn't charging, wiring connectors were age corroded and fused. Needed tires and brakes. It was not even close, but the price was right.

[johnod]

I always thought that 600s were notorious for being squid's bikes.

[Big T]

I always thought that 600s were notorious for being squid's bikes.

Oh yeah, when my son wanted a bike,he drug me all over town looking at horribly crashed 600s. It was just painful listening to the owners. I got to the point where I'd walk around it, say "thanks" and walk off.

once we looked at the VFR, he knew what a good used bike should look like

[ddaniels]

My nephew just bought a 600 class sport bike...with rash on the fairing. I expect him to wind up on the ground eventually. I showed him a picture of my new-to-me ZX11. He said, "Wow that's an old bike!" I said, "Yeah, but look how nice and clean it is with no marks or rash's!"

[glib]

I've actually seen a couple 600s that were well cared for and had not been down--really beautiful. I fall in love with those. Any bike can go down, but 600 owners can't afford insurance to repair them so they get sold as is. And they are too cool to admit their error so they blame the previous owner.

[GS1150Pilot]

600 is a class that is either best bought new or best avoided unless all paperwork is available.