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Sleeper
02-04-14, 06:52 AM
Hi guys, so I think some of you may already know from my past posts that I am looking for an SV650 but having some bad luck as I don't got many here in the state that I live in.

So one day that I get off at work I decide to have a look at this 2004 SV650s that I was interested in. (Keep in mind that I am a very optimistic person, and quite foolish on my part as I was getting desperate to buy a SV650 after weeks of searching.)


So this guy posted a 2004 SV650s for $2700 as a SV650V??? It says right on the side SV650S!!!!!! WTF......Red Flag #1

I talk to him, ask if we can meet up later in the same day at 8pm. He says yes. However, he texts me a couple hours later saying some other guy will give it to him for $2800 if he doesn't let me come look at...... Red Flag # 2

I don't want to seem to interested in the bike so I say, "Well okay, just let me know if he buys it or not, I don't want to get in his way." He responds, "Yea"
Then!! an hour later he calls me and says he's not going to sell it to the other guy because he is driving him up a wall or something and says that I can still come look at it if I want to. So I say Yes.....Red Flag #3

So then we meet up at 8pm at this wierd, cold bike shop and the bike doesn't look like it was in the picture. It was a blue 2004 SV650s not a SV650V!!!! like in the ad LOL. But it looked like it had been through hell and back. The right side of the bike had been laid down and the fairings were busted, the gas tank had a duge dent in the side from when it was laid down and the paint was no longer there, the left side had signs of the bike being dropped by the scrapes on the clutch lever and handle bars. The gear shift was bent a little, the tachometer was cracked, the brake pedal was missing and and top of all the horrible body state, it looked like if someone used this SV650 as a dirt-bike!! There was mud all over the bike!!! It looked like if it had been there for days.....Red Flag #4

But im still interested in the bike so I proceed to ask him maintenance questions.

"How long have you had the bike?"..........."Uh I dunno a lil over a month."

"Why are you selling it."............."Uh my parents said I have to."

"What kind of riding did you do?".........."I only road it up the road a few times."

"Do you know when the last time the oil was changed?".........."No sorry"

"Do you know when the last time brake oil/ coolant was changed."........."Uh no I only had this bike for a lil over a month."

"Do you know if this bike has been winterized"..................."Ummm no LOL"

"Do you know when the last time the valves were adjusted."........"No sorry"
(M********ER do you know anything!!!!?????):mad: Red Flag# 5,6,7,8......

The only thing the bike has good going for it is the exhaust which sounds very nice and the tires are kinda new. (From 2009)

So then after a little more talking I tell him my very very very kind offer of $2400. I tell him I'll need to buy a new gas tank. ($100), new right plastics, ($100-$300) Need to have liquids checked ($30-50) and have some people look at the valves since I don't know how. ($200-$500) Also have a new gear shift lever and brake pedal ($30-$60) And just generally clean the bike from all the mud filth!!! ($5)

He says "No the lowest I can go is $2550, I'll be takin a loss at $2400.

M***********ER!!! I'll be taking a loss even at $2200!!!!!!

I go home sad and upset.... I want a SV650, I guess more waiting for me.

Just wanted to vent out my anger and ask if you guys have any bad experiences with sellers on craigslist or sellers in general.....

Geodude
02-04-14, 06:56 AM
Whats craigslist?

MisterTommyH
02-04-14, 06:59 AM
America classified listings site.

Maybe you could get some help buying off someone on SVRider? Not sure if they have a for sale section?

Sleeper
02-04-14, 07:16 AM
Whats craigslist?

Here is the direct link.


http://centralmich.craigslist.org/mcy/4399602940.html

Sleeper
02-04-14, 07:18 AM
America classified listings site.

Maybe you could get some help buying off someone on SVRider? Not sure if they have a for sale section?

Ill try that thanks.

Biker Biggles
02-04-14, 07:28 AM
No point buying a scapheap which is what that bike is.Where are you based?Sounds like it could be a good export market for us here in UK as there are plenty of cheap old bikes available here.

Sleeper
02-04-14, 07:35 AM
No point buying a scapheap which is what that bike is.Where are you based?Sounds like it could be a good export market for us here in UK as there are plenty of cheap old bikes available here.

I live in Michigan. United States

BTW that would be great :)

Specialone
02-04-14, 08:11 AM
Keep your head up dude, I wouldn't buy that SV if it was the last in the states, sounds like a lemon and looks like a turd, it's very difficult to polish either.

daveyrach
02-04-14, 10:11 AM
I like the way there is no pics of the right hand side where there is all that damage LOL!

Mr Speirs
02-04-14, 11:50 AM
Black aftermarket fairings to give it a sport look!!

Haha translation, the standard blue ones were wrecked in an accident and these mad cheap ones came up on ebay so I put them on.

PyroUK
02-04-14, 12:04 PM
My understanding is that Craigslist is like gumtree. The place that is for **** too bad for eBay.

If go with what biggles said, no point in buying a scrap heap. Plus no idea what else is wrong with it!

Good luck with finding a good one though, they are a cracking bike!

Sleeper
02-04-14, 05:02 PM
I like the way there is no pics of the right hand side where there is all that damage LOL!

I know right!? I go to the appointment only to find out that the seller was hiding major body damage.

Bibio
02-04-14, 05:29 PM
as said head on over to svrider. there is always plenty bikes for sale.

don't be shy coming back here though :-)

Messie
02-04-14, 05:33 PM
Moved to Bike Talk :)

JulesW
02-04-14, 08:16 PM
Hey Sleeper, don't let the fact that buying the right bike is time consuming get you down, I spent about 4 months finding mine. I would imagine the weather is still wintery in Michigan for a little while yet. The SV is a great bike and it is definitely worth waiting for a really good one to show up. Have you spoken to your local dealers yet? Let them know what you're looking for, they might be able to source one for you. As already mentioned, SVrider.com could be very useful. Hang in there, be patient and the right bike will come.

Good luck :)

Sleeper
07-04-14, 02:46 AM
Hey Sleeper, don't let the fact that buying the right bike is time consuming get you down, I spent about 4 months finding mine. I would imagine the weather is still wintery in Michigan for a little while yet. The SV is a great bike and it is definitely worth waiting for a really good one to show up. Have you spoken to your local dealers yet? Let them know what you're looking for, they might be able to source one for you. As already mentioned, SVrider.com could be very useful. Hang in there, be patient and the right bike will come.

Good luck :)

Sorry for the late response, but yeah you are right. I figure the more I wait, the more chance of a good deal will come up, BTW I got offered 3 SV650s' that I really like.

yorkie_chris
07-04-14, 12:16 PM
There are loads of idiots on drugs selling bikes.
There are even more idiots on drugs trying to buy them.

Shrug your shoulders and go have a pint or something. There are loads of idiots about and getting worked up over it will make no difference whatsoever. Treat it as a valuable learning experience.

Or maybe point out that they should expect to take a loss on stuff when they devalue it by crashing it, abusing it and generally trying to sell a heap. They'll probably tell you to p*ss off, and in that case I suggest the earlier advice of shrugging and going for a pint.

ChrisCurvyS
07-04-14, 10:44 PM
Part of the problem is that bikes are in much shorter supply than cars, so if you get your heart set on a certain model there might only be a dozen within a few hundred miles. Bit like that myself currently looking for a Honda Blackbird.

However, you've just got to be patient and wait for the right one. Nearly bought an imported Bird today thinking it made no odds but after a quick call to an enthusiast, discovered it may well be a 100bbc restricted model for the French market! Which isn't a quick fix and would have undermined the bike's whole reison d'etre.