About to purchase first bike (XJ6N) - need advice please!

Mr. Peri Peri

Mr. Peri Peri

Mr. Peri Peri

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Joined
23 May 2011
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355
Location
Surrey
Hi all,

Looking for some advice.

I have been doing my DAS training on a Yamaha XJ6 and I really like the bikes.

I have found one for sale and agreed a price with the seller, however I have a few concerns. Here are the details:

2009 Yamaha XJ6N
No damage at all - described as mint
1 owner from new
Just under 10k miles
Only has 1 service stamp at 4500 miles
Since then has covered 5000 miles in the last 4 years (it seems he purchased another bike and kept the XJ6 which was the lesser used)
Owner has (apparently) changed the oil and filter every year, but doesn't have any supporting receipts
I understand it would be due a major service this year (or at 12k miles) where all fluids will be changed
All 3 keys present
V5 present
5 months tax remaining
MOT until May 2015 - but does not have any of the old MOT certificates. Isn't it possible for me to look these up online to verify the mileage of the bike?
Brand new front tyre
Rear tyre has about 2mm left

I asked if he would agree to a mechanics inspection when I viewed the bike and he was not reluctant, so I assume he's not knowingly hiding anything.

Price agreed is £2,500 which seems very reasonable, including delivery to Surrey from Sussex by the owner.

So my concerns are the lack of previous MOT certificates to verify the mileage (although if I can check this online then no problem) and the lack of service history. I understand the XJ6 service interval is every 6k miles so I am not hugely concerned, but admittedly I don't know a huge amount about bikes.

Hence asking for advice here.

What do you think of this given the details? Would you take a punt on it for what seems like a bit of a bargain?

Obviously I would HPI check it before purchasing.

Thanks,

Phil
 
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It does seem pretty low. It was put up on ebay but didn't sell with a starting bid of £2,900 so I have contacted the seller and agreed on £2,500 - haggled down from his initial offer to drop to £2,700.

No, this isn''t the ABS model.

I have checked using that which shows only the last MOT - but that does tally up with the mileage I have been told.

Thanks for the reply.
 
I don't know if this helpful and maybe a bit late in the day, but I bought an XJ6F from Chiswick Honda about 4 months ago, same as the "N "versh without the fairing. Its a 2009 model, had 7000 miles on the clock, full history, only one MOT though, 1 female owner (thats true believe it or not, its in the log book). Not a mark on the bike, Thatcham alarm fitted, new front tyre, plenty left in the rear, paid £3,300 for it, dealer price obviously with 3 month warranty for what its worth.
Well happy with it, a bit slow for me but the engine is VERY smooth, budget suspension but does the job adequately providing you're not pushing too hard, I'd suggest adjusting the rear shock to the hardest setting if you're anything over 2 stone! economical, 140 miles tank range plus at least 25 miles reserve, (165 miles total) easy, stable handling ( a 4 year old could ride this thing). Brakes reasonable but I'd suggest fitting EBC pads for a bit more initial bite and power.
First thing I'd do is HPI it (which you've said you're gonna do), it could be summat like a Cat D (damaged/repaired but not by an insurance company) so an inspection is adviseable
 
Mr. Peri Peri said:
Only has 1 service stamp at 4500 miles
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From new, your 1st service should be at 600 miles and then 6, 12, 18 and 24,000 thereafter. So sayeth Yammie's official '09 XJ6N Manuell...

Mr. Peri Peri said:
Owner has (apparently) changed the oil and filter every year, but doesn't have any supporting receipts
Click to expand...
Not if he did it himself, no. People don't keep receipts half as often as they should (myself included).

Mr. Peri Peri said:
Rear tyre has about 2mm left
Click to expand...
Add another £100-150 for a new rear tyre.

Mr. Peri Peri said:
Price agreed is £2,500 which seems very reasonable, including delivery to Surrey from Sussex by the owner.
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Including delivery? Pretty reasonable.
Mechanic friend of mine sold an XJ6N for about £3200 collected, just last month.

Assuming it passed HPI and your mechanic's inspection, I see nothing wrong with it.
 
Just to add an update to this.

I ended up purchasing the bike after a HPI and inspecting the bike myself. Obviously owned by an enthusiast through talking with the guy and had clearly been well looked after.

I serviced the bike this weekend, and passed my Mod 2 yesterday so got to take it out for the first time and it rides great, very happy with it.

All I need to do now is get the rear tyre replaced in the next week or 2 and make the most of the rest of summer.

Thanks for all the advice.
 
Mr. Peri Peri said:
Just to add an update to this.

I ended up purchasing the bike after a HPI and inspecting the bike myself. Obviously owned by an enthusiast through talking with the guy and had clearly been well looked after.

I serviced the bike this weekend, and passed my Mod 2 yesterday so got to take it out for the first time and it rides great, very happy with it.

All I need to do now is get the rear tyre replaced in the next week or 2 and make the most of the rest of summer.

Thanks for all the advice.
Click to expand...

Congratulations on passing your test. Nice bike to start off with. I was considering a diversion for a run around a few years ago but after an FZS 600 Fazer (thundercat lump) all the yams felt a bit wrong to me, lol :p

What sort of rubber are you going to get?

Anyways, happy riding!! I am jealous. I dont get to ride mine anywhere near as much now. Even considered selling it but can't bring myself to do it! :p
 
Thanks :)

It has a pretty much brand new Bridgestone Battlax BT-023 on the front so I think I will stick one of those on the rear too.

A bit pricey but they seem to have good reviews and bound to be cheaper than buying a new front too as want to keep the tyres matched.
 
the Pirelli angel are good long lasting tyres,can recommend those,they have very good grip also

and personally I woulnt worry bout mixing tyres,ive always done it
 
Congrats dude. It's a great little bike that can outride a lot of others if you ride it well. Should see you through every rideable day of Winter, too. Just take good care of it and the favour will be returned!

TBH, I've never once known a decent bike from a clued-up enthusiast actually come with much service history, anyway. These things are not like cars.
Most 'enthus' know the bits that even dealers don't get told about by the Mfrs... or are too lazy to bother doing (FJR suspension linkages, for example). An 'Enthoo' bike has usually fared far better than it would with a book stamped to say a dealer drank some tea while staring at it!!
 
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