El Dopa
21-06-06, 09:12 AM
evenin'/mornin' all.
Long time lurker, first time poster.
Ex-pat pomgolian living in NZ. Got into bikes since I've been here. Finally got my full and I'm looking to switch up from a 250 v-twin to an SV650.
I love the look of the curvy SV. I want one. I'm going to have one, sooner or later.
Now. A bit of background. Sorry for all the money talk that isn't in sterling. The exchange rate is about 3:1.
Bikes over here are reasonably priced, but do not depreciate in value very quickly at all. As an example, a 2006 CBR600 that a friend was looking at costs new around $16,000. A 2004 version sold here a day or two ago for $12,000.
The cheapest I've seen a road-ready 1999 SV650 is $7,000. Money is an issue and I can't afford that (yet).
However, an ex-race 1999 SV650 has just come up for sale for $6500. It comes with a whole bunch of crap I'm not really interested in - race farings, paddock stands etc etc. The owner also has all the original road bits that he removed to prep the bike for racing.
I am wondering......
If I brought the bike and other gear, I could probably sell off most of the race-specific stuff don't want for around $1000-$1500.
That brings the bike down to a more affordable $5000. The bike has also had a couple of bits of work done that will save me doing them. The ignition has already been retarded, the back shock has been upgraded, and the front shocks have been stiffened.
Sooo.... It's an ex-race bike. Yes, it's been ridden hard (but apparently well-maintained. Regular oil changes, etc).
It would certainly take a bit of work to get it back to a roadworthy condition, but would doing so be more hassle than its worth?
What sort of questions should I be asking myself and the seller? Is this a really bad idea? How much work would be required to get this bike roadworthy?
Opinions please.
Long time lurker, first time poster.
Ex-pat pomgolian living in NZ. Got into bikes since I've been here. Finally got my full and I'm looking to switch up from a 250 v-twin to an SV650.
I love the look of the curvy SV. I want one. I'm going to have one, sooner or later.
Now. A bit of background. Sorry for all the money talk that isn't in sterling. The exchange rate is about 3:1.
Bikes over here are reasonably priced, but do not depreciate in value very quickly at all. As an example, a 2006 CBR600 that a friend was looking at costs new around $16,000. A 2004 version sold here a day or two ago for $12,000.
The cheapest I've seen a road-ready 1999 SV650 is $7,000. Money is an issue and I can't afford that (yet).
However, an ex-race 1999 SV650 has just come up for sale for $6500. It comes with a whole bunch of crap I'm not really interested in - race farings, paddock stands etc etc. The owner also has all the original road bits that he removed to prep the bike for racing.
I am wondering......
If I brought the bike and other gear, I could probably sell off most of the race-specific stuff don't want for around $1000-$1500.
That brings the bike down to a more affordable $5000. The bike has also had a couple of bits of work done that will save me doing them. The ignition has already been retarded, the back shock has been upgraded, and the front shocks have been stiffened.
Sooo.... It's an ex-race bike. Yes, it's been ridden hard (but apparently well-maintained. Regular oil changes, etc).
It would certainly take a bit of work to get it back to a roadworthy condition, but would doing so be more hassle than its worth?
What sort of questions should I be asking myself and the seller? Is this a really bad idea? How much work would be required to get this bike roadworthy?
Opinions please.