Well I popped along this afternoon and gave the bike a look over. I popped on to their website which showed the mileage as 21500 quite a difference to the 3495 shown in the advert, which then occurred to me some plank has put the price as the mileage. Anyway...
The tax is due to run out at the end of July, with an MOT due then too/beginning of August. There was a scratch on the screen about an inch long but nothing too major. There was a couple of marks on the left side of the swing arm which looked like chipped paint but again nothing too major. The shocks seems to be in very good condition, no leaks, no crack or leaks on the rear shock/spring either. The wheels and fairing were in good condition no noticeable defects, the wheels could do with a respray which I plan on doing anyway. Rear sprockets and chain seemed okay, a fair bit of play though it is due a service which will be done. The exhaust/manifold whilst not in perfect condition, to be expected for a 5 year old bike, didn't have any blows that I could hear and whilst tinged an orangey(sp) red/brown it was not flaking.
It started up nicely and idled well. With the same about of play either way on the bars in that the bar ends were almost touching the tank. I couldn't feel any niggles or clicks or bumps in the header bearing though I will get the front end off the ground soon to check this properly.
The rear brake disc looked almost new and the front looked worn with some grooving and the pad had about 3/4mm left, I asked about this and he said when they service it if they have less than 4k miles in them they will change them but that they looked fine to him.
Tyres had plenty of tread on them, no squaring and gripped well on the test passenger ride.
Master key & spare, full service history from the garage it was purchased from which is actually one I visited a few weeks back and is very local to me. Service at 500 miles, and then a couple of thousand later and then every 5/6k after that.
Riding pillion was interesting, kept head butting the chap taking me out as the strap is useless so I had my hands on the tank pretty much most of the time. He said he wasn't really putting it in to corners very hard as I was quite stiff and apparently trying to keep the bike upright but it was fast enough for me. He took it up to 'a rather fast speed' in a matter of seconds on a nice straight country road which put a smile on my face. Goes like the clappers which is to be expected.
I explained that the book price for a tidy example is £3200 which after checking his book admitted isn't far off. I explained the points above at which point he asked what I was looking for. I said as close to £3000 as possible which he said he couldn't do and offered £3300. I then said that it's tax & mot were due and we went for another look around where I pointed everything out.
We settled on £3200 which includes a service & MOT, 3 month warranty, valet and storing the bike for me until I pass in the next couple of weeks. £100 deposit paid and 2 photo's taken to follow shortly
I'm sure most will be shaking their heads. I know that I don't have 1/10th of the confidence to ride how he was which was not dangerous at all, apart from the one occasion where he opened it up, so I won't be trying to ride like that any time soon.
