I'm Ready To Buy: Advice?

spray____

spray____

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I think I'm ready to buy a bike. I think I've got a plan for what I'm going to do, but I'm welcome to anyone's advice or suggestions.


I did the M1 exit course at Humber College, so I just have to hand in my paperwork for an M2. I've got some insurance quotes, and they are frighteningly inconsistent. Looking of bare minimum coverage (to compare with), 28yrs old, older (2004) 250 Ninja, perfect driving record, no previous insurance, M2 in december with training course certificate. I've got quotes for $2100, $1200, and $680 giving all places the same basic information about myself and the bike I'm looking for. WTF? Regardless, I'm convinced that I can find insurance at a reasonable rate that fits within my budget.


I'm going to find a bike in the next few weeks, because from what I've been told the prices are great, and store it so I can get insurance and start riding in the new year. I think I'm ready to start talking to sellers.


I think I can find a 2004 250 Ninja in good shape with a few bumps and scratches for around $2000. I would like the meet the seller first to see the bike and agree on a price, on the condition that it passes a safety. I don't really know what I'm looking for, so unless something is obvious or I can find someone to come along who knows what they're doing, I still won't really know much. I'd then return a second time within a few days with a mechanic (I've got recommendations for Ted Rose) to do a safety on the bike, which I would pay for. By now I should know the bike is in good condition. If everything is still good, I'd return a third time, again within a few days, with a truck/van or mover to pay for the bike, get ownership, and take the bike.


That has me making 3 visits. I'm wondering if that seems excessive, but I don't see how I can lower that unless I have a mechanic come to safety a bike I haven't agreed to buy yet, have a truck ready for a bike that might not pass safety, or both. I know I don't NEED a safety to buy the bike, but I don't think I want to buy one that can't pass one. I'm hoping that with a couple grand on the line the seller will be accommodating for the sake of the sale. Is this reasonable?
 
1st off, good work sourcing insurance...this is the world we live in. Some companies want to rape you and others just want to rape you a little less...

in terms of "safety"
a mechanics safety slip, is really only a brakes/lights/tires check. It is a quick cash grab from the ministry.

What you want is a mechanic or someone who knows about bikes to come with you to check em out and give you advice on the purchase...this is easy...

most bikes will pass safety as long as the lights work, tires arent bald, brake check and some basic look overs all pass.

Safety is not required at this time anyways, you can go register the bike with a Temp sticker for now, until the new season. This will cut 1 of your potential trips down.

Best bet, bring cash, be ready to negotiate. Bring someoen who knows about bikes and just do the deal on the spot.
Maybe have your friend ride the bike home, or truck/trailer it home.

another option!

lookup TOY HAULER
he will come check the bike for you and even deliver it to you.
 
I was your age when I started, and I was paying around 1200-ish when I started three years ago, so 680-1200 for 250 sounds like a reasonable range.

You don't need to go three times. Also actual safety inspection is mostly bs, it doesn't check if the bike is fully functional - it checks if the bike meets certain criteria for the road - good tires, brakes, signals and lights work, has mirrors. But the mechanic who does safety is not going to check if your engine runs properly, etc.

Do your homework and make sure to pick the bike that you really want. Go for the first time, bring a friend who knows motorcycles or a mechanic with you, get the bike checked out and inspected. If everything is good, leave the deposit. Call Toy Hauler or MotoLimo and get them to move the bike for you. When you come to pick up the bike, get the paperwork from the owner (don't forget the UVIP), pay for the bike, take your bike.
 
Thanks for the advice guys.

I guess I'll leave the safety then if, since it's not going to tell me what I want. I'll see if I can find a friend or someone from the forums to come with me. Is this a service that most/any mechanics would perform, or would they think it's a strange request?

ToyHauler sounds like a great option for getting the bike, but getting their opinion/advice seems a little strange. Would I have to pay their full rate if they show up and I decide I don't want the bike? It seems like they would be talking themselves out of business if they told me the bike was bad.
 
except for the fact that toyhauler is a good human being lol!

but yea, you can ask around here.

what area is the bike? i dont mind checking out bikes for a beer
 
raydowe said:
Thanks for the advice guys.

I guess I'll leave the safety then if, since it's not going to tell me what I want. I'll see if I can find a friend or someone from the forums to come with me. Is this a service that most/any mechanics would perform, or would they think it's a strange request?

ToyHauler sounds like a great option for getting the bike, but getting their opinion/advice seems a little strange. Would I have to pay their full rate if they show up and I decide I don't want the bike? It seems like they would be talking themselves out of business if they told me the bike was bad.
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Toy hauler is infernobuster on this forum, just PM him. If you're in the east end, you can also talk to Ken (kneedragger88 on the forum), but he may be very busy nowadays hauling bikes into storage. Ken is an excellent bike mechanic, and also does bike storage.
 
That sounds like a fair deal :)

The one that caught my eye is around DVP and 401. Still checking the classifieds though for other options.
 
raydowe said:
Thanks, I think I will do that.
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I asked him to check out my track bike when we went to go get it because he had the same one, so he knew what to look for.
He gave me great advice and feedback and I will recommend him to anyone who needs the service.
We got the bike from Sutton to Ajax at a VERY reasonable price, can't go wrong.
 
ViperZ said:
Toy hauler is infernobuster on this forum, just PM him. If you're in the east end, you can also talk to Ken (kneedragger88 on the forum), but he may be very busy nowadays hauling bikes into storage. Ken is an excellent bike mechanic, and also does bike storage.
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+1 awesome service from Ken
 
A safety will also look at tire condition, make sure it is not to the wear indicators (personally I'm a fan of just flat out replacing tires and brakes, but it may be extreme). If your buying something > 4 years old, check the date codes on the tires, esp. if its a low-mileage bike (search google on how to do this, its 4-digit code indicating the month/year the tire was made). Tires harden over time, any tire > 4 years old I would throw out. Safety will also check for leaking fork seals. Bounce the bike up and down a few times, does the chrome part of the fork tube have any noticible drops of fluid on it? Safety is bs, as others have said.

IMO, oil change no matter what, lots of different opinions on oil I won't get into it. Air filter inspection, coolant change no matter what, fork oil (beginners usually don't change the fork oil) in particular if your looking at an older model. Get a service manual and a front stand, its not hard to do yourself, just time consuming the first time. Most simple maintenance is not that difficult to learn how to do.

As far as a mechanic, you just need a friend that has ridden for a while, ask around your friends, work, you can probably find someone who will go out with you. Cash in hand, 1 trip, 2 at the most (to arrange a pickup sometimes takes time). I suggest leaving a deposit to secure the sale on the first trip, there are sample forums (get the sale in writing) online.
 
another thing, there is no book value for bikes, so you pay tax on what the bill of sale states.
It can be as low as $1 just make sure the owner will state that if they call and check
 
K24_CM7 said:
another thing, there is no book value for bikes, so you pay tax on what the bill of sale states.
It can be as low as $1 just make sure the owner will state that if they call and check
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Lol really? I'm buying a bike soon, that was good advice! Does that work on insurance too? when they ask "what you paid for it"?
 
Kargo93 said:
Lol really? I'm buying a bike soon, that was good advice! Does that work on insurance too? when they ask "what you paid for it"?
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Yup, If you tell them you only paid $1 for it, that's all they have to cover you for if it's stolen ;)
 
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