Good Deal? / What to look for when buying an SV

Hiya,

Is the following bike a good deal? I've managed to secure myself first refusal on it.

K4 - 135 miles

Second question, given that unless they have lied on the ad (which I don't think they have) there's unlikely to be anything wrong with the bike. Therefore, what obvious things should be I looking for?

Third question, I can pay by cash or banker's draft. Is there any reason why I should bother with the banker's draft? Either way I'm going to ask them for a hand writen receipt.

It depends on the price of the new K5, i don;t know the price, but i would say you could knock them down to around £3300, they must be expecting to be knocked down, you always do. As for things to look for, a tell tale sign it the down pipes (exhaust headers), if they are imacualte, then it more than likely has been taken care of... i was also told this the other day, check the UNDERSIDE of the swing arm, if it is clean then they take pride in thier machine. Apart from that, look for obvious signs of a drop or as i have just found out, look at the frame (in great detail), check tyre depth, the chain and sprockets, the discs, the pads (all of which should be ok given the milage).. make sure they have the installation forms for the alarm, otherwise your insurers will not recognise the alarm.... and always HPI the bike....

with regard to your cash/bankers draft thing... you will always have more power with cash.... i will be surprised if they say no to £3300 cash....

Hope this helps, and knowing the people on this site, there is more info on the way....

I can't see there being anythin wrong with it at all... If you aren't a mechanically minded person, then ask somone on the site (who's local) to come with you

If you take cash, you might be able to negotiate some discount too

Originally Posted by Cloggsy

I can't see there being anythin wrong with it at all... If you aren't a mechanically minded person, then ask somone on the site (who's local) to come with you

If you take cash, you might be able to negotiate some discount too

i knew i forgot something... yeah take someone 'in the know'

Isn't that one of the bikes I sent you a link to?

No it's a different one. There was a K4 - 2700 miles with lowers and jacket gloves and trousers all for 3800 but that had gone by the time I had rung.

Thanks for the help guys...

Speaking from experience (see dealer rip-off thread), make sure you can tell the difference between the different models, and what you're buying is actually what's being advertised. Might be worth running an HPI check if the deal looks too good to be true - this should bring up any (Serious) crash damage if it's been through the insurance. I'd ask why it's being sold after only 135 miles - it's not even run in - did he win the lottery?

...also get hold of MCN or any decent bike mag - they've all got buying/selling guides. I've paid with a bankers draft in the past, it's no use to a mugger if you get robbed on the way, either that or take them to the bank with you. Make sure you see the v5 - no v5 no sale - no exceptions.

check the heor blobs on the end of the foot rests also the underside of the indicators and end of all the levers for any scratch marks to make sure its not been dropped

backs of the mirrors are tell tale as well.