What motorcycle to buy?

[Gbourdon]

I am going to buy another motorcycle very soon. I would like to buy a softail harley or an FXR but too much money for me right now. I am going to buy a new 600 from the big four (thinking 8K no matter what one i get) or something used for like 5K.

I would like to get a used 900RR but they seem to be kind of high priced unless they are over 12k miles.

My question is this: For anyone who has owned a rocket how many miles is too many? I don't know what to look for in a bike that has 12K miles or higher. Any suggestions?

 

[ViksMSP]

I've seen some cbr600's with over 25k miles, valvetrain is probably the first to go, so you have listen the engine when it idles if it makes rattling noise or not. Hard to explain. Ask a mechanic.
If a bike is raced often you probably will need to rebuild the motor and tranny.
I'd say used with under 8k miles is ok.

Thanks,
Vik.

 

[blackp5ca]

Where are you located?? I'll be selling my 99 CBR 900RR anytime now. Only has about 8000kms (dont knowhow many Miles that is)
Anyway..I'm in London Ontario (Canada) not sure if you want to drive but this bike is mint.
As for mileage..check for orig. plastics, has it been re-painted? Look close at everything to see if it's been dropped before. check the oil color/level, brake fluid color (Should look like Tea) Usually a good indication of how well the bike has been maintained bythe color of the fluids. check the sprockets, look at how the teeth are worn, same goes for the chain...It's pretty easy to tell if a bike has been beat to s*** or not...just use common sense..same as looking for a new car.

Some bike pics are here..if your interested. PM me if you want details.
Cheers.
http://ca.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph...f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/blackp5ca/my_photos

 

[kevducridr]

Buying used bikes is sometimes a crapshoot. Depends on if the owner was a squid or not. If they were a squid, abusing the thing all the time, I would steer clear regardless of mileage. I would always recommend buying a Ducati but you can pick up a 600cc bike pretty reasonably and have some fun on it. Valve trains on bikes are reliable, but need to be maintained at the factory recommended intervals. I had a 92 900ss Duc with 36,000 miles on it and it still had the cross hatching on the cylinder walls when I took it apart to re-lap the valves and freshen up the rings. Hondas are particularly reliable. I have raced and owned several and they are top-notch. Ducatis are great but are for an enthusiast not for the weekend warrior. Have fun and good luck.

 

[kevducridr]

Hey blackp5ca is that your normal riding attire in this pic :

(lol) j/k nice bikes

 

[blackp5ca]

Yeah..whatta ya think...cant beat the safety footwear! LOL! No...someone snapped a pic while I was moving it out of the driveway..very old pic..I loved that old 92 zx-7, fun bike.
I never leave the house without gloves and a jacket, seen too many road rashed palms and forearms...I figure it's best to learn from others mistakes!

 

[Gbourdon]

I think I'll try and find a leftover 600RR or something. Only thing is I may want something bigger. Right now I just ride an old ass GS750 cruiser. And have ridden a few harleys including my fathers softail. I rode a 2002 GSXR 600 and an 03 that were both my friends bikes and they were fast enough. I just dont want to regret not getting a bigger bike after a year or so. I'm like 6'3" and 220 lbs.

 

[kevducridr]

Gbourdon: I find it interesting that you want a Harley and are looking to buy a sportbike as an alternative. Modern 600's are pretty damn fast brother. The will kick the crap out of most of our cars on this board with little to no mod's. I don't think that if you are considering a Harley that you will grow out of a 600 or 750 sportbike all that fast. IMHO



blackp5ca: Yeah, sure I understand. lol Me too, I have crashed at the track and feel it is cheaper to replace a leather suit than to get some body-wide skin grafts.

 

[midnightracr]

How about a Ducati sport bike. if u like the sound of a Harley then u would love the sound of a Ducati.

 

[kevducridr]

I would always recommend buying a Ducati but you can pick up a 600cc bike pretty reasonably and have some fun on it.

Hey thats what I said. lol

 

[Gbourdon]

I like harley for the look and sound. My uncle builds custom bikes down in VA beach and I've always been around them. I know that sport bikes are not even close to anything like a harley. Ideally I would like to have both.
Sport bikes are a lot of fun and I know I'll be riding wheelies and what not. I know that I had to clutch both of the 600s I rode to get them to stand up. Would rather just have abusable roll on power

 

[kevducridr]

Ha, then you will want a V-twin my friend like my RC-51 or the Ducati equivalent. Torque is king. Thats cool, ideally I would like 1 of everything in my garage, sportbike (street), sportbike (track), cruiser, sport-tourer. lol

 

[Gbourdon]

Thats why I was looking at even like the SV650 (i think thats what it is) or I guess something like the monster. But I like the full fairing.

 

[kevducridr]

yep, those are a blast to ride. Any of the naked bikes wheelie like mad. They put short gearing in them on purpose. SV650 is a great deal new for god's sake.

 

[Gbourdon]

My buddy has an old FZR600 that he geared down he wheelies that thing all day long. Wreckless op. tickets here I come

 

[midnightracr]

Ah ok I can tell where this is going. Screw a Harley everybody & there brother has one now go buy u a chopper. U can always buy a kit bike & build it yourself. Not only that but u can have a bigger motor and a huge ass big tire in the back

 

[Gbourdon]

I agree. Custom is the way to go. I would love to have a big V-twin stroker motor shaking the s*** out of me but they can be big money.

Brand new 2004 SV650S $6,300 bones. I think I'm going shopping this weekend

 

[midnightracr]

If u do decide to go the chopper route "DO NOT" get a rigid frame. Will beat your kidney's to death and the bike itself. Shop around & u can find a chopper that looks like a rigid but will have the shocks hidden. Or even better put air bags on it... That just looks sick when u have a fat ass tire and the frame litterally sitting on the ground cause of the bags

 

[xelderx]

You can buy my bike. Best bike on the planet for wheelies and stoppies (and,jumping over sidewalks,railroad tracks, small flights of stairs). 0-100mph is just as fast as my 900ss sp. Less stuff to tear up when you fall (and you will fall). Weighs less than any modern 600cc sportbike and the exhaust scares the s*** out of just about everyone.

 

[Gbourdon]

I went on a ride with my uncle and my father and I rode a 77 Sportster that was all done up with new paint and mild motor work. We rode fo like an hour and I was already hurting just from the solid motor mounts. Plus it's before the Evo engine which runs a lot smoother. My uncle built a real nice custom from a police special. he was beating guys with 113 ci motors all day long and he was just running a 80 inch stroker motor. Real high compression, ported, polished, real nice bike. i'll post a pic when I get home.