Ghost bikes

The Daytona in my avatar was 3k, on a 56 plate, with 3600 miles. Just turn the situation to your advantage when you come to buy, and get yourself a practically new bike, that's been sat in someone's garage and done no mileage, for a fraction of the cost of a new one. If it really bothers you what number is on the reg plate on the back, spend 250 quid on a private plate.

My 06 plate SV with 23500 miles sold for £1500, every other 06 plate SV in autotrader had half the mileage on the clock.

That's the way it is unfortunately, if you want to ride your bike, you have to decide that you have bought it to be ridden, you've paid your money for that purpose, and write off your residual value right from the start.

In my case with the SV, I'd paid 4k for it new, so for 4 1/2 years and 23500 miles of biking to have cost me £2500, or 550 quid a year, for all the places I'd been and all the fun I'd had, it was acceptable. I pay similar every year for two car insurance policies they give me no pleasure at all.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

That's the way it is unfortunately, if you want to ride your bike, you have to decide that you have bought it to be ridden, you've paid your money for that purpose, and write off your residual value right from the start.
.

Isn't that what bikes are supposed to be for.....riding

Suzy won't be going anywhere,partially because of sentimentality, partially because of a different engine( so shes worth scrap to anyone else), and neither will the VRap, but then I bought them both for riding!
Dave was only supposed to be around until Suzy was rebuilt and restored, but earned his stripes and has stayed, hes in his fourth year now.

Sounds awfully familiar... when I was discussing the finer points of this with Express insurance after crashing the GSXR, they didn't seem to think a 12k/year on a bike was possible, never mind typical. Same as some of the quotes I was getting for trade-in at the height of the troubles with the Triumph - I looked at swapping to a Z1000, and I was offered £4k for my 2009 S3 against it with 13k on the clock.

[embee]

Yes but.......

we all know the score on bike ownership, some use them as workhorses, some as everyday transport to and from, some as toys.

Once upon a time I just had one bike, that was transport all year round. Now I have a couple of cars and a few bikes, one car is the everyday box, the rest are essentially toys and hobbies so get very few miles typically. So what, that's the way I live.

If you go to buy a used bike, you basically want the best value deal you can get, and that means not paying more than you want to for the best condition bike you can find, which might well mean low miles because if/when you come to sell it on you know that'll keep the best residual value. If you're going to put lots of miles on it you'll probably opt for a slightly higher mileage one initially because you know you'll not be paying top whack for it so not as much to lose. As others have said, something is only worth what someone else will pay for it regardless of what you or I think "our" pride and joy is worth to us.

If the offer is too low, don't sell. If you need to sell, take the best offer you can get. That's business.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by embee

If you go to buy a used bike, you basically want the best value deal you can get, and that means not paying more than you want to for the best condition bike you can find, .

Thats pretty much what Rictus said when I bought the VRap.
I paid 2.7k for it with 3400 miles on a 2002 plate. It was up for 3k, but theres always room for a barter It had the bellypan on it, had the R&Gs, was pretty much immaculate, and above all, standard. I could have gone to ebay and bought one for much less, but that would have been modded to someone elses taste, and handled like crap!
By the time I added the Leo Vince cans(120 quid and a pro polish), and paid 40 quid for the grab rail I needed I've still got 100 quid of the original asking price for a screen and the seat to be sent to Tony Archer for padding I now have the bike 'I' want.

Again as you say with selling, don't sell if an offer is too low, if you need to sell, get the best offer.
I took Dave off sale last year, due to really not needing to, and from offers that were too low. TBH unless I get an offer I'm happy to sell at, I'm likely to have it sat there in my shed......til MissYC finally caves in

[Littlepeahead]

I could write a similar thread about shoes in reverse. The red ribbon lace high heels that are sexy as hell - an 1198s of footwear - and just as uncomfortable to the user. 3 years ownership and I hardly ever wear them though I get admiring glances when I do. Then there's the knee high leather boots with the sesible heel. Walked miles in them in all weathers. Totally reliable but not going to get me any wolf whistles.

[dizzyblonde]

LOL LPH.
I got some o those shoes. Worn twice, damn impractical, could never ride a bike in em...but they look dammmmmmmmn good!

Ed, 3 months from now will be the perfect time to sell your bike.

My poor Street triple with 16K in 18months has got no chance of selling then,

Ho hum. I'll have to keep it!

You will be able to sell a street triple still in high demand.

Originally Posted by injury_ian

My poor Street triple with 16K in 18months has got no chance of selling then,

Ho hum. I'll have to keep it!