The R1 is a beast, I miss mine dearly.......You will love that thing if you get it, it has the same bike as my 2001 R1 that Tdubb had. Post some pics if you end up getting it.

 

That may be an aggressive price. It's ok if the bike is in pristine tip top condition. Have someone good at mechanical work take a close look at it.
dc

 

How many miles does it have?

 

It has 22k miles on it... and an oil light

I've pretty much decided im not gunna buy it. I can buy a newer fuel injected 600CC sport bike thats just as fast and pay MUCH less on insurance.

I was calling a guy about a 2003 ZX6RR today he was selling for $4200 but I was going to try talking him down to at least 4k even. The things looks to be in really good shape, but then I ran into the usual D-bag problems.

First, he doenst have the title right now either, he paid it off recently or some ****... so at first Im like "ok ill just check it out and you can let me know when you get the title".

Then he tells me the local dealership is selling it for him but he will let me test ride it if I leave him a check for the bike while im out.. well theres no F-ing way im doing that. If you want to sell a bike you need to let people ride it withough pulling **** like that...

I keep running into people like this... so far I've only found one person with a lean free title who wasnt a D-bag, he's selling a 2003 (i think) R6, its just that he lives in the country and theres way to much snow out there for me to take it out right now so I told him to call me when it clears up.

Why cant I find a regular non d-bag person who has the f-ing title to the bike they are selling?

I guess I'll just have to keep looking, although Im really getting tired of these people.

 

The R1's are notorious for having faulty oil lights and if you don't have the oil level to the tip top of the sight glass window the light will come on. Happened all the time for me after oil changes. check the sight glass window and see how much oil is in there. 22k for an R1 isn't too much, my friends R1 has 43k and counting. As for the guy wanting a check for the test drive, I would say he is being nice about that, I require cash, or keys to a bike of equal value, the check thing isn't that bad IMO. I wouldn't ever let someone who I didn't know test ride my bike unless I knew they were paying for it if something happened, just too much liability there.

 

Just take your time and do it right. If it doesn't seem or feel right, it probably isn't.
You can get a good bike at a good price with all the paperwork and everything.
Don't take a bum deal.
dc

 

Agreed, buying a bike without a title is a sure way to get screwed

 

Even my Vstar 1300 (24.8K miles) gets an oil light. I think the oil light is about height of oil and not some cool sensor so not so much to worry about unless it's actually low on oil.

Anyway, take your sweet time -- you got the dough and there's a ton of folks selling because they need the dough.

I hate buying from folks who don't have title -- it's too complicated.

Personally, if I look at a bike, it better look pretty nice or it better run really well (from cold and not warmed up before I got there); I can deal with dirt and grease and clean it up myself but if there are leaks, forget it.

I also try to get read on the people selling. I bought my old 1999 CBR F4 from a nice young couple who seemed really honest and frankly I think needed the cash and I wanted to help them out. I knew where they lived and they knew where I lived. If I had a question, they answered and seemed really helpful about if I needed anything. They even took my check and I told them to please come by if there was a problem with it. It worked out well. For who I buy from, I like to get a read for how long they've lived there and an idea if they're going to skip town.

Anyway, when I bought the bike, I put in the P&S that "the seller testifies that he/she believes the bike to be in good working order and they know of no problems not disclosed to me". This kind of language helps to scare folks a bit into telling the truth.

For me, fuel injected bikes only. I understand there are fantastic non fuel injected bikes out there but I really don't like sitting there messing with a manual choke.

I like a few scratches because it devalues the bike -- I will put a few scratches on it of my own anyway.

Dennis

 

I like a few scratches because it devalues the bike -- I will put a few scratches on it of my own anyway.

Dennis

That's how I feel about my ZX6. It's got a couple scratches on it so I don't mind it getting dirty and staying that way for a bit but cleaned up it's pretty presentable.

Never had an injected bike but I don't mind using a manual choke.

 

I know many older bikes have manual choke and some older bikes are cheap yet run really well and are quite reliable -- so for them, it is acceptable.

But I ride in the cold a lot (Winter riding season) and that choke takes a while sometimes -- in Summer, it's no problem.

Dennis

 

YEs the oil was low, so that might have been it.

Im not leaving cash with someone to test ride something, I dont owe them ****. If they dont want to let an experienced rider thats serious about buying the bike, has the money on them, and has a trailer in tow ride the **** thing then they shouldn't even be trying to sell it. The last guy wanted me to leave 3 grand cash with them LOL. As for the guy that wanted a check I almost canceled a check ahead of time and handed it to the guy but decided not too.

Who do these people think they are? There insurance covers the **** bike, Im not responsible for it other then being carefull when I ride it, its just a chance you take selling something like that, and if you cant handle it then screw you.

That isnt the right way to do business, and im not going to put up with BS like that. IF I end up having too, I'll just buy a freaking brand new one later on down the road when I have the cash.

And what do these people think I would do if someone ran a stop sign on me or their bike screwed up (axle locked or something) and it went down? I'de just take the cash back by force anyway as would most people.

These people are out of their minds.

 

Have you stopped to think that the reason that they don't have a title is because the Bank still owns it?
Or, that they won't let you ride it because it is NOT insured?
Too many tickets?
These are probable reasons that they are trying to sell it. Before it is repossessed!

Eric :wink:

 

Weebel
You are a total stranger to these people. They are not dealers with blanket policies that cover all their inventory.
They want some security that you are not going to ride off into the sunset with their bike, and never return.
That is all.
What I do, is get a phone number for the prospective buyer. If they call and don't leave a number, suspicious.
If they don't give a full name, suspicious.
If they seem like the are high, or drunk, or even drinking, suspicious.
If they do not take a lot of time to look the bike over, and ask questions, or maybe call several times, suspicious.
Too much suspicion, I don't even show them the bike, let alone let them ride off with it.
I have to get a good feeling that I am dealing with a serious buyer, or I don't have anything to do with them.
Here in Los Angeles, private parties selling vehicles are ripped off somewhat regularly. You are in a vulnerable spot.
So it is best for both sides to use a secure and safe procedure.
dc

 

I get what your saying.

But I've left my number and name with everyone I've contacted, and when I look at the bike, I go over it with a fine toothed comb. I check the level and condition of the oil, coolant, the chain, all the lights work, I actually inspect it.

And im not going to ride away and never come back, either my car or the vehicle we're pulling the trailer with is there when I test ride it. Im not gunna just leave my car outside there house and steal their bike LOL.

I have seriousley wondered about them not having insurance and stuff like 67fire talked about, and in some cases im sure that's the case. But when someone has the clear title for the bike they are selling, and I have the money (and if there not close by I have a motorcycle trailer with me) and they still dont want to let me test it, well that just ****es me off.

I understand the paranoia, I even tell them that. I understand how they are scared to let a stranger ride it, and I tell them I've been riding forever and know what these bikes can do, and that Im not gunna do anything crazy, I just want to warm it up, run it through the gears up to highway speed on the highway quick, make a loop and come right back just to make sure the bike doesnt have any issues.

Whats getting to me is that, I just want to buy a bike, that's it. And people keep treating me like im some kind of criminal. I dont know the seller either, I could come back and he could be gone with my cash too, theres no way I'll let a stranger hold money like that..

THe real problem is that theres enough stupid people out there that do it, and its conditioned these people to think its OK.

 

OK, im checking insurance quotes on a lot of bikes (because Im checking on a lot of them) and why is the insurance on a GSXR750 a hundred bucks more a year then on a YZFR1? That just doesn't make any sense, anyone know why that would be?

 

Because everyone wrecks gsxr's. It is the squid bike of choice!

 

I want a R1 so bad

 

Well I bought a bike, Im gunna start a new thread.

 

so tell us what it is!!!!!!

 

It looks like he bought a Silver Bullet! ...


http://www.motorcycleforum.com/showthread.php?t=99884

Eric

 

^^ what year is yours? I see that it has the under tail exhaust.

Is it true that it heats your butt up nice and toasty?

 

Nice and toasty I doubt it, but with any undertail exhaust at stop lights you will feel it.

 

Two quick points I wanted to note that were mentioned above. When I bought my CBR 1000rr recently the bike is pretty much perfect no scratches and less than 6k miles. When the guy showed up he was very hesitant to hand over the keys so I could ride it (who in their right mind would buy a bike without riding it no matter how new it was!!??) Of course he gave them over with a quiet "you wreck it you buy it" kind of joking, hmm sort of. The bike turned out to be a “10”, but I wasn’t going to give him squat without a test run.

The under the seat exhaust by the way gives off no noticeable heat on my CBR and prefer it big time over the side exhaust, just looks a lot better IMHO.

 

... Of course he gave them over with a quiet "you wreck it you buy it" kind of joking, hmm sort of. The bike turned out to be a “10”, but I wasn’t going to give him squat without a test run.

The under the seat exhaust by the way gives off no noticeable heat on my CBR and prefer it big time over the side exhaust, just looks a lot better IMHO.

I think it's fair if you wreck it, you bought it. I remember buying a used bike from a dealer and they wouldn't let me test ride it -- I insisted that he at least start up the bike and ride it around so I can listen to the exhaust. I had to rely on youtube and forum reviews to know it was the bike for me (also sitting on the bike, etc). When I bought used from a private seller (my first sport bike), I was afraid to test ride it (I didn't want to drop the bike) so I had the seller ride it up and down the street in front of me.

I like undertail exhaust because it's one less thing to ding/scratch up if your bike falls over. I think it takes some good hard riding followed by a stop light on a hot day to really feel the heat on the seat of an undertail exhaust. In Winter, it's nice.

Dennis

 

in winter its nice LOL

Ya theres not gunna be any sport bike riding in the winter here LOL

But when its cold as hell out, I cant wait for the bike to get up to full operating temperature so I can get that little bit of warm air on my legs as it exits the fairing.

 

I heard that ice tires are pretty popular up your way -- the ones with the spikes. Anyway, if Winter was that bad (I'm sure it is up there), I might buy a set and try some dirt bike on the ice.

Maybe there're folks selling them and you can test ride.

Dennis

 

2 things..

Whatever you heard about that was lies LOL No one actually rides bikes in the snow (actual snow on the road) up here although I have seen a bike with a side car and a trike in the dead of winter before, and 2, studded or spiked tires on the road are illegal.

Although... I have thought about looking for a dual purpse and doing that anyway but I'de have to keep it inside so it would start (and I cant) and I'm really not sure if I want to go through the hell of trying to ride in 25 below weather anyway.

 

Oooh. I meant on an ice track.

At a trackday last week, that's what we were joking about because it was about 40F in the morning and someone brought up spiked tires on a special ice track.

Dennis

 

One foot of fresh powder...

Eric :biggrin:

 

One foot of fresh powder...

Eric :biggrin:

With the right warm or heated gear, that looks like a lot of fun.

Imagine the skills you could learn -- power slides, drifting, etc.

Dennis

 

I've ridden a dirt bike with really nubby tires in snow before, you just have to know what your doing and be carfull, but once you hit a solid spot, or a patch of ice without spikes... you loose traction and fall over LOL

I've tried thinking of ways to ride to work when theres snow like that on the street, but not having a heated garage has kept me from bothering to think something up.

Basically, if it handles OK on ice, it wont on the asphalt and vice versa.

Regular car tire studs "might" work if you keep the speeds down.

 

Hello all, I'm new here, started on sportbikes then went to Harley's. Since I can't afford maintenance anymore I have went back to sportbikes. ANYWAY, I was all set to buy a R1 for a decent price when I found a RVT1000R for a little more money, but with a 2 year warranty. Maybe it's just me and I hope I don't **** anyone off, but the RC51 feels like it has more power, is heavier in the corners.

 

Having owned both, R1= better top end and more comfortable, RC= R1 killer in the corners but still is a pig and struggles to get above 155ish. R1 easily goes 170+ but the RC is one of the coolest bikes on earth!