Buying a new bike (Paging TOG too)

Right then. I've just dropped the GSX off for it's 24000km service and
have asked a few questions about the purchase of a Gixxer thou.

€13,500 for a thou (and €11,500 for the 750)

My bike is worth (book price) €4500 if the shop took it as part-ex. I
was told (although I knew this already) that it'd be better if I sold
it privately. But what I didn't know, is that if I bought the Gixxer
with no part exchange, then I'd get a few things thrown in as extras
(alarm at the very least).

So then. My question to TOG. What would a 4.5 year old (late 2001)
GSX1400, with 26,528 km, in grey ('cos apparently it's not the most
popular colour), fetch for a private sale in the UK (to give me an
indication)? I've seen prices from €5800 to €7500(!) for a 2001 model
over here.

My other question concerns the Gixxer. I've got a choice between the
750 and the 1000. Now considering they're both limited to 106BHP, is it
worth me going for the thou? I'd like to say I *may* eventually get it
de-restricted, but wouldn't immediately. What would the performance be
like for a restricted bike? Anyone with any ideas?

Personally, I prefer the 1000, but at first glance at the insurance
(fully comp) is fucking expensive (with 4 years NCB) - €1,827 for the
1000, €1,542 for the 750. (The R1 is just as horrific, price wise.)

More questions later...

 

I have no idea about insurance rates and used values on the continent,
but over here your bike would be worth about £3000-3250. They've been
very heavily discounted in the UK. So that's about the same as you're
being offered as a trade-in.

As for Q2, I'v ridden the Thou but not the 750. If it were my choice,
I'd go for the 750, but the Power Monkeys[1] will obviously go for the
Thou.

And either bike will probably be exceptionally wet in 106bhp form. In
theory, I suppose you can simply re-chip them for 106bhp and take the
opportunity of giving them a fat mid-range as some compensation, but I
bet it doesn't happen that way. It would be interesting to see a dyno
chart showing restricted and full power readings together.


[1] *Waves* at Champ, Bonwick et al.

 

Why not go to the K and buy a UK-spec 750? My quick maths reckons it'd be
cheaper *and* you get full power with no need to return back to the UK for
an MoT for 3 years.

I checked up on this when I was last in the UK 'cos I quite like the look of
the 750 and I was assured that the Suzuki warranty etc is pan-european and
that a French dealer shouldn't have any problems servicing a full power
version.

I know you've lived over here for longer than me, but can't you do what I'm
doing and keep the bike reg'd/insured in the UK at a friend or relative's
address. If anything untoward *does* happen then, obviously, "the bike's
only been in France for a few days"..... And you can tax them online now so
you'd not need to take it back to the UK until first MoT time...

Dave

 

Because he won't be allowed to register it in France as it's over
106bhp. Do you really think the Frogs haven't tried this one themselves?

 

If I was going to get one in the UK, then I'd go for the 1000. No
poncing around.

I wouldn't have thought this be a problem either.

Are you classed as a resident? I am and I don't know how easy/hard it'd
be for the authorities to figure it out, in the event of a problem. I
need to check things out a bit more.

 

Did you really read the whole post from me?

Dave

 

Thanks. useful info. Now I've got to sort out selling it. I'll need to
check on French private sale prices the be sure, but the geezer in the
shop told me that even if I sold it at trade-in price, I'd still be
quids in on the purchase of a new bike.

Where are they, I'd have appreciated some input from them. Maybe
they've developed a life all of a sudden. ;-)

 

No, I didn't! What you're proposing is fraught with danger, though.

 

<waves>

All I can say is that litre bikes are easier to ride than smaller ones
but the smaller bike is probably more rewarding iyswim.

 

Are you planning on doing this ongoing? Apart from skipping back for an
MOT, any other pitfalls?



--
Dnc

B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

It's a risk that I don't want to take, to be honest. It's a PITA, but
there y'go.

 

I think you'd be ok in Paris, meself. We used to get into trouble [1]
regularly in Frascati, as the same local coppers would get to know us,
and our Foreign registered cars. they'd tell us 'isn't it about time
you re-registered those' [2]

Cheers

Paul.

[1] Well, if you can call a nonplussed shrug 'in trouble'
[2] After about 2 years or so of seeing them around, when the limit is
3 months ;-)

 

A mate of ours about 20km away has a Jag, a Ronart and about 4 bikes, all on
UK plates on top of his French reg'd stuff. He's lived here 6 years and has
had no problems whatsoever from the UK licensing authorities or the
Gendarmes. Maybe it's just the "being in the sticks"ness that helps...

Dave

 

For the next couple of years at least. Possibly with a new bike so no need
for MoTs and insuurance and tax done online - I'm just waiting to see if
there's going to be a Daytona 1050, tbh....

The only big pitfall would be having a prang and getting caught out by the
InsCo.....

Dave

 

My Y model could hold it's own against 2000 model R1s and 'blades, even with
me riding.

I can't see the point in buying a machine that has been castrated. If I
*did* buy a French spec bike it'd be max 600cc and designed/claimed 106bhp
in the Uk too.

Germany is 106bhp too, I fear.

And I think you meant "aren't". And, of course, this is France "UE? En
principe, oui. En pratique, non!" as they (sort of) say here. EU rules
set out maxima/minima, but there's nowt to stop individual countries being
*more* harsh.

Dave

 

I thought Germany had ditched its power restriction?

 

I don't live there, I don't know. It's a minor point and I understood they
had a similar restriction to France.

Not really that relevant anyway, though, as France is not Germany, despite
repeated attempts....

Dave

 

IMO having had both, there ain't much in it below 100mph. OK, the
Thou is faster, but not that much.

 

IIRC France is the *only* country that has the 106 limit.

 

Vehicles still need to go through the import procedures and then have
the certificate, saying that they conform to French road specs. I'm not
sure it's legal in European law, but as long as no-one contests it,
nothing will happen. I wouldn't even know where to start to contest it.