Quick question: Reason to avoid a bike (2008, dropped) with 50km? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Quick question: Reason to avoid a bike (2008, dropped) with 50km?

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BMWWW

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Hi folks,

Any particular reason to avoid a (used) 2008 bike with less than 50km on it?
Would be purchasing from original owner, who fell into health complications shortly after buying the bike from the dealership. (I can relate)

Was dropped before, looks to be a slow down with cosmetic flaws isolated to one side.
Hasn't been started in a 2 years.

Fresh gas, oil change, a bit of carb cleaner, new battery, check tire pressures... safe to assume the bike won't start without fresh gas at the very least?
Slight concern that the bike hasn't been broken in yet..

Penny for your thoughts?
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Reason to avoid it: THE PRICE. If it is the wrong price, do not buy.
Inversely, if it is the right price, buy it.

As simple as that!

When was the last time the owner try to start it up and what was the result?
I am assuming the bike is fuel injected and was not properly stored, but please post some details.
 
Make sure the bike has a clean title! I saw one a few weeks back that looked like a great deal but ended up having non salvage title and he never stated why and the first 50km determine how the piston rings are properly seated. He may have ****ed that up and its getting blow by. If you are that worried, take it in to get compression testing. Also not a big deal but check the inside of the gas tank for rust. If it hasn't been kept topped up they corrode quickly at least that's what happened to my CBR125R, sat for two years while previous owner was serving duty over seas.
 
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Most bikes are dropped, whether the owner admits it or not.

The issue is the two years of sitting.
Check tires for cracks.
Check brakes for seized pistons.
Check forks and shocks for sticking or leaking.
Assume the battery is toast.
If it doesn't start, the carbs are likely gummed up. This can be minor, or a whole carb removal and cleaning.
Check the compression on all cylinders with a tester.
Check the tank for rust if he used ethanol gas. If you see rust, clean the tank and the lines before running or that crap will get into the carbs.
Change the coolant.

What model and year is the bike?
 
So according to math he put 50km on in 3 years. Sounds fishy to me.
 
I personally know a guy who's running 2011 Honda CBR600RR with 7700km that was on it before he disconnected the cluster. He's probably at 10-11k.
 
nikiter said:
I personally know a guy who's running 2011 Honda CBR600RR with 7700km that was on it before he disconnected the cluster. He's probably at 10-11k.
Click to expand...

This is pretty common. The ways to tell real mileage are to look at things like brake disc wear, footpeg wear and wear of the plastics on the controls, sprockets, etc..
 
nikiter said:
I personally know a guy who's running 2011 Honda CBR600RR with 7700km that was on it before he disconnected the cluster. He's probably at 10-11k.
Click to expand...

My old cars trip odometer would stick at the half way point, you could hear it clicking as the gear skipped.
Had it like that forever as "I didn't know" Except I took it to one mechanic about 6 months after the first visit to him and he was wondering why I added 0 kms since the last visit lol.
 
Hi folks,

Thanks for all of your input. I'm flying out tomorrow so time was limited--paid for a mechanic to go check it out for me and it was indeed, indicative of only being ridden 35km with a down. Nubbies still on the tires, brakes and all other mechanical components were mint. Required the usual rebuild of carbs/lines/tank-liner/tires/fuel lines, and pricing was a bit off what would have made it worth it.

It was a 2008 Ninja 500, and it seems to have been sold. (It was on kijiji in oakville for $2000)
 
jeffjones said:
My old cars trip odometer would stick at the half way point, you could hear it clicking as the gear skipped.
Had it like that forever as "I didn't know" Except I took it to one mechanic about 6 months after the first visit to him and he was wondering why I added 0 kms since the last visit lol.
Click to expand...

hahaha, that happened to my parents car when I was a kid... took my parents quite a while to figure out that I was breaking the "don't leave town" rule :)
 
BMWWW said:
Hi folks,

Thanks for all of your input. I'm flying out tomorrow so time was limited--paid for a mechanic to go check it out for me and it was indeed, indicative of only being ridden 35km with a down. Nubbies still on the tires, brakes and all other mechanical components were mint. Required the usual rebuild of carbs/lines/tank-liner/tires/fuel lines, and pricing was a bit off what would have made it worth it.

It was a 2008 Ninja 500, and it seems to have been sold. (It was on kijiji in oakville for $2000)
Click to expand...

My old EX500 was like that. Very low Kms, one static down..gummed up carbs/low battery from sitting idle. Apparently a few outright beginners buy these bikes and then get a bit of a scare from them/drop them and they sit unused after that. Their loss is your gain.
 
nikiter said:
I personally know a guy who's running 2011 Honda CBR600RR with 7700km that was on it before he disconnected the cluster. He's probably at 10-11k.
Click to expand...

Hate to say it, but you know some ****** people. One day he's gonna sell that bike to someone for more than it's worth.

OP; all of these vague questions can be answered by visiting the bike and inspecting it for 15 minutes while you talk to the seller. Take a battery with you if (you have a bike, or can find one for cheap) and you're serious about buying it.

Edit: ... which it sounds like you've done! LOL... good on ya. For reference, long term non-use poses less of a problem with fuel injected bikes (although, leave it long enough and it can be much worse) #carbssuck
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