Quake3World

so here is what I'm thinking of getting:

SUZUKI 2001 SV650 (naked style from factory) with 34,000 miles on it!

more info on this model : http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/suzuki_sv_650_2001.php

he has agreed on a $1700 price.

rode the bike today, and it sounds , and rides well... no gear change issues that I could tell, but I'm still hesitant as the mileage seems a bit high. As long as it looks good, rides well, should I let the mileage bother me at this price range?

Tires have been recently changed, brake pads look to have plenty left on them, and the fork and seals, look clean.
One more bit of important info is that the dude was racing it... has a fuel mod that you can see above the real wheel.

What is that fuel thing exactly? It doesn't necessarily mean he raced, I'd look for drilled out bolts for that.

The mileage isn't too scary provided that they've kept up on the maintenance. If it runs well and looks clean and the guy seems legit it should be a good starter bike. A bit bigger than I recommend people, personally, but not bad. The extra bit of power postpones the 'got used to it' factor that new riders get when they want to move up to a new bike too soon.

Ride it for a season then sell it and I doubt you'll have big issues. Any other info on the bike or an ad or something?

not sure what that thing does exactly, and this is the best info on it as the actual ad has wrong info anyway, he posted it with a 0 missing from the mileage...lol. anyway, it is a fairly light bike and I'll just have to stay off the throttle

also, he actually told me that he's been racing it. I didn't ask how often.

That's pretty high mileage. Does it have service history? If he's been racing it then it's been thrashed pretty hard - something to consider.

he is second owner, and from what i gather he does all the work on it himself.

if I can get about two years out of it, I'd be good with that.

So it's got no service history and it's been thrashed. All depends how much you're willing to risk for the low price.

how much to rebuild the engine on something like this, if it comes to that?

or you saying everything could be thrashed?

It's the only bike of its kind that's on sale around here. I know it's not good enough excuse, but it's a factor for me.

If I pass on this, I'll prolly end up with a heavy 650 -750 cruiser. Or I'll have to step down to a 250cc or something.

Yeah if he said he raced it I'd be more hesitant, I thought you were assuming based on whatever that phantom fuel gizmo he has on there.

Did he mean that he took it on some track days? Not much about it looks 'raced' from the pic but it's hard to tell. I wouldn't be too scared of a few track days but if it was his track bike and he just put the street parts back on it that's different.

Don't get a cruiser for a first bike, wait for a decent standard. Where are you looking?

Are you sure that's connected to the gas tank and isn't an aftermarket shock's reservoir? Did he give you a mod list?

ed: no sliders, no paddock stand spools, pillion pegs on, turn signals on, what looks like an aftermarket rear shock, but stock brake lines and front suspension....I don't know what to make of it without more info.

He didn't mention anything about exchanging any parts.
also, he definitely mentioned that it was for a fuel relate mod, that's all I could make out.

I'm looking on craigslist. the only place i know and I want to buy from owner not dealer.

I mean location, so that I could look too.

If the PO said that I'm pretty sure he's a dummy so take that as you will. I'm almost certain that's a reservoir for an aftermarket shock. If not, it's a gimmick.

new orleans area. or anything around there.

don't forget some riding pants, etool can help ya there

Looked like the reservoir said 'FOX' so I did a bit of googling, look similar?




Also SOM is right, here are some good pants I just got: http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/cl ... pants.html

If he thought that was fuel related tho you can pretty much assume anything else he told you could be wrong.

ed: That doesn't mean that it's a write off completely, the bike could still be okay, but I wouldn't buy without an experienced person taking a look at it and a ride. Chances are if he called that a fuel thing he might have never raced it.

A couple 250s to look at but not much else in a standard... hmm

Cheap new gen 250 ninjette
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/mcy/4170895402.html

last year of the old gen, worth more like 1500-1700 but I saw the seller started at 2500 so good luck there
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/mcy/4175607926.html

yeah, i was really hoping not to have to settle for a 250. that canister sure looks alot like it. maybe I misunderstood him.

and the bike market here for standards is so small, cause I'm surrounded by rednecks and crotch rocket stunnah's

also, is there any normal casual clothing that would do for normal 5 minute non-freeway commutes, or do I have to look like robocop every time I use the bike?

Tsakali wrote:yeah, i was really hoping not to have to settle for a 250.

Then don't. 250's are for faggots. If you have a small amount of experience and don't ride like a fuckwit you'll be fine on a mid-range powered bike. Get a 250 and you'll seriously regret it after about 3 months of riding.

Alternatives to SV650 in your price range:

Suzuki GSF600 Bandit (this would be my choice)
Honda CB600F Hornet
Honda NTV 600/650
Yamaha Fazer 600

And plenty more.

Tsakali wrote:also, is there any normal casual clothing that would do for normal 5 minute non-freeway commutes, or do I have to look like robocop every time I use the bike?

Jeans, riding jacket and whatever shoes you want. Just tuck your laces in so they don't get caught on the peg when you try to put your foot down at a set of lights, causing you to drop it.

All nices bikes.. just haven't seen them available in the last 3 months of creeping on craigslist.

there are a few sweet hornet options but they are from the 80's. I would love to own one of the classics but I might reserve that purchase for when I'm a little more experienced with working on bikes and hunting down rare parts.

http://www.cycletrader.com/Suzuki-Bandi ... &newsort=1

nice site, will look around in my area

edit
nothing within 75 miles worth mentioning

So with gear you're looking for 2 things, impact protection and slide protection. A lot of people forego the first one. If you're super concerned about looks, they make jeans that are re-enforced with kevlar patches where you slide, but you're still hitting the ground and potentially sliding on other parts. Jeans are pretty much worthless as slide protection, they wear a hole thru almost immediately. I'd go with overpants, personally.

Jacket wise you can definitely find something that looks good and give some slide protection. Same goes for boots and gloves.

Basically, you have a sliding scale of gear from absolutely nothing - full race setup. What you gotta do is figure out what level you feel alright with and go for that. Obviously it'd be safest to wear a full race set up, with chest and back protectors, and an airbag, but it's not practical for most riding. So long as you have some kind of gear, you're doing alright.

I started with a helmet, thin jacket with no armor in it, jeans, and sneakers. I managed to not hurt myself somehow. First big crash was wearing that jacket with some overpants with no armor and the sliding took out a hunk of the ass of my pants and my jacket's arm, but nothing of me except bruises.

Now I've been riding for like 7 or 8 years and about 30k miles, and every time I go out my gear is:

Full Face helmet (Scorpion exo 1000 i think)
Perforated leather Jacket w/ shoulder and elbow armor (cortech latigo jacket)
Full gauntlet leather gloves (not sure tbh)
Textile overpants with knee armor (linked above)
Full size road 'race' boot (Cortech Latigo boots)

Take from that what you will. I've gotten better at riding and have had less incidents, but I wear more gear. My last helmet, gloves, boots and riding pants wore out before i crashed in them.

Now, all that bullshit said, for you a new rider I would say look at a textile jacket and textile overpants. They aren't pretty but they aren't too ugly either. Gloves that go over the wrist are better. Riding boots with shin and ankle protection are better than ones without, that said most new riders don't buy good boots.