Looking for a used bike is tough

GothicGhost · 8 Jul 2018 at 01:09

I sold my Honley 100cc scooter the other day as it was a bit small for me and want a big bike again.

Had a XJ600 before that so maybe get another one if I can see one that's not bad condition.

I have about £900 but it seems right now £900 does not get you much like it did a few years back

Snaggle · 8 Jul 2018 at 01:26

£900 wont get you much in the summer... and a hack in the winter

BUDFORCE · 8 Jul 2018 at 06:01

Yeah it wont.

Couple of grand will buy you a decent bike though.

GothicGhost · 8 Jul 2018 at 09:49

Yea not after anything special.
I have seen lots of CBR 500/600 or similar design.

But I wanted a more sitting upright bike with wider handle bars
I think I will be getting another xj600 for my price range.

Looking in 45 miles range from Luton.

Karl · 9 Jul 2018 at 15:03

Finding stuff close-by was always an issue for me, as if I spotted a bargain, it was always 300 miles north, much like this one: https://www.gumtree.com/p/suzuki-motorbikes/suzuki-rf600r/1305701635 (not saying this is a bargain!)

You might have more luck around Xmas if you wanted to save the pennies?

ttaskmaster · 9 Jul 2018 at 15:34

Snaggle said:
£900 wont get you much in the summer... and a hack in the winter

It got me an FJ1200... Several decent ones around for under £900, even now.

GothicGhost · 9 Jul 2018 at 23:19

Seen this XJ900.
Has new mot and look alright from the pictures.
https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/117808319/yamaha-xj900-diversion.html?link=/search?keyword=motor&sectionId=2147&location=LU2+9AS&distance=50&orderBy=distance

Luke · 10 Jul 2018 at 07:32

Accept having to travel a distance for a bike and you'll open up far more examples.
I've travelled 250+ miles for cars and bikes.

Philz0r · 10 Jul 2018 at 11:04

I passed my test in December and wanted the cheapest piece of scrap i could find, just to get me going.

I couldnt find anything worthy for under £1000. In the end my buddy sold me his fazer fzs600 which he was using as a winter bike.

Been fantastic, dont think i would have found anything anywhere near as good for what i paid.

BUDFORCE · 10 Jul 2018 at 18:40

Fazer is an excellent first bike. It'll last forever if you look after it also, cheap as chips to run.

SPG · 11 Jul 2018 at 10:00

Gone are the days when biking was a cheap hobby

ttaskmaster · 11 Jul 2018 at 10:28

There's a fair few bikes around, at roughly £1 per cc. Few Hornets, couple of Fazers, a 'loverly' yellow Daytona... even a Bandit, if you're that way inclined!!

IC3 · 11 Jul 2018 at 13:29

GothicGhost said:
I have seen lots of CBR 500/600

Completely two different bikes, one is a sports bike and the other is pretending to be one.

Tefal · 13 Jul 2018 at 18:31

GothicGhost said:
I sold my Honley 100cc scooter the other day as it was a bit small for me and want a big bike again.

Had a XJ600 before that so maybe get another one if I can see one that's not bad condition.

I have about £900 but it seems right now £900 does not get you much like it did a few years back

900 cpuld net you a fairly ratty but solid older vfr 750 or vfr 800

Tefal · 13 Jul 2018 at 18:32

SPG said:
Gone are the days when biking was a cheap hobby

I dunno a brand new too of the range bike is still cheaper than a polo or cleo lol

GothicGhost · 14 Jul 2018 at 17:57

I bought something but having buyers remorse lol.
It's a CBF600 2004 66000 miles

Mostly the fairings need work and to be bolted on better.
I should have thought about better.

Diddums · 14 Jul 2018 at 18:03

It's a bike for less than a grand, you can't expect too much tbh.

That said, that bike looks fine, a bit of elbow grease will change it completely, and it even has heated grips. Start off with the blacks around the clocks as that's what you look at whilst riding. She'll clean up just fine, don't you worry

GothicGhost · 14 Jul 2018 at 19:06

Yeah true, I guess because my mate was not there to give a proper look over.
I know some stuff but not a lot.

Should be ok I only paid £700 so I can also sell it on later if I don't like it.
Going to get insured and go for a proper test ride tomorrow.

BUDFORCE · 15 Jul 2018 at 17:19

Those bikes are very well made, I had one for, hmm 6 months or so but was in the family from new.

Bit heavy, bit boring, but very well made. Honestly it ain't a bad bike to have, and as above it'll clean up nice.

The one I had I did:

1. Rebuilt front calipers with new pistons and seals
2. New rear disc
3. Chain and sprockets
4. New plugs
5. Oil, oil filter, air filter
6. Clutch cable
7. New tyres (didn't do those myself)

Completely sanded/repainted all of the lower engine section, used black heat proof spray, came out really nice. Back to black plastics, thorough clean. Managed to unsieze the centre stand and got that nice a free. Also had to repaint some other parts.

I did learn one thing though don't completely drained the brake fluid if that's the abs version. It's fixable, but takes a while.

But yea anyway, once I had done everything it came out really nice, like new.

So don't have too much remorse mate, you can do far, far worse, especially for what you paid it's a decent bike mate.

Edit: oh yea put a new battery also

GothicGhost · 16 Jul 2018 at 23:18

Well, I was not happy with the CBF600 and someone wanted it for what I paid

Got me a nice Yamaha XJ900 1997 today for £700 with a nice tank bag, spare parts and colour correct paint.
And not long ago had a full new Motad exhaust system.
It's been well looked after and I would be the 3rd owner.