Help Choosing Bike

Right - I have 4 options I am considering and would really appreciate
anyone's input!!!

1st: June 2001 Honda CB 500 - looks in mint condition.
15k miles priced at £2000 from a dealer

2nd: 1997 Honda CB 500 - looks in fair condition
22k miles priced at £1500 from dealer (but needs a new front
tyre)

3rd: 1995 Bandit 400 - have not seen it yet, but presume fair
condition (not mint)
16.5k miles priced at £1500 from small dealer

4th: 1997 Kawasaki ZZR 400 - OK condition though slight damage to
front fairing
25k miles (import so clocks in Km etc) price around £1500 -
private

So - what should I get.
2k would have been just outside my budget as this is my first bike -
but might be willing to stretch.

What do people think - are these all good?? This has me torn and I
really want to get one soon now the good weather is in!

Please show me the way - and based on paper, let me know which you
think is the one to go for!

Thanks
A.N Other Newbie Biker!

 

Docs said:

Offer 1750 and close at 1825.

Offer 1200.

Walk away.

Run away.

 

Docs wrote in

This one. I'm assuming you are a cash buyer. Haggle. If you can't get a
cash discount then negotiate in kit. A second pair of boots is always
handy, so are gloves. Waterproofs don't stay waterproof forever.

Avoid the 400s as spares may be troublesome.

 

As a new rider I'd suggest one of these two.

Well within your budget and no plastic to break when you drop it. And
you will drop it.

 

Ben said:

Either one, except the B400.

 

Gixxer thou, of course.

 

Actually on reading again, I missed the age of the first CB500. Mint
and yr old is definitely worth th 500 quid over not mint and 7 yrs
old. Plus the OP'll be able to haggle a hundred or so off the price.

 

Ben said:

Also, I don't imagine that B400 spares are exactly falling off the
trees.

 

Performance Motorcycles in Darwen, Lancs usually have loads of import
fairings etc. Worth a call to see whether ZZR400 stuff is available.

 

You want a nice 1999 Kawasaki ER5. Green, 9800 miles (by the time you read
this) and in very tidy condition. New MOT and Tax last week and I only want
£1450 for it. It's in Mid Wales and is no longer needed because I have
bought an XT600.

John

 

Why would he want a lardy old tourer?

--
Molly
Who am I? http://www.MollyG.net/intro2molly/about-me.htm
http://www.ads-training.co.uk
"Kneesliders Sponsored by Cane"
"Gower School" By Appointment".
GSX-R1000 (a girly bike), Triumph Thunderbird, GS500, GHPOTHUF#27
TGF, UKRMFBC#7, Two#24, BOTAFOF#11, YTC#9, GYASB#1. SbS#23.
DFWAG#2, DS#2, DIAABTCOD#20. remove "thisbit" in the reply
http://www.mollyg.net (our own endurance team) http://Team-ukrm.com
"Nemo repente fuit turpissimus"

 

This one but negotiate down a couple of hundred.

Forget this one purleeeeze.

The first one.
--
Molly
Who am I? http://www.MollyG.net/intro2molly/about-me.htm
http://www.ads-training.co.uk
"Kneesliders Sponsored by Cane"
"Gower School" By Appointment".
GSX-R1000 (a girly bike), Triumph Thunderbird, GS500, GHPOTHUF#27
TGF, UKRMFBC#7, Two#24, BOTAFOF#11, YTC#9, GYASB#1. SbS#23.
DFWAG#2, DS#2, DIAABTCOD#20. remove "thisbit" in the reply
http://www.mollyg.net (our own endurance team) http://Team-ukrm.com
"Nemo repente fuit turpissimus"

 

He's a newbie, so I didn;t think he'd be up for anything scary, like.

 

Cheers Folks!
I had been thinking the 2001 CB500.
This £2000 is already negotiated down from £2400 - so I don't think he
will shift much - but worth a go with cash in hand!

Does anyone know the craic on dealers putting on 33bhp restrictor
kits?
Should the dealer be able to do this for free, or at worst cheaply?

 

<fx: hides until the sound of darsy exploding has ceased>

Phil

--
Phil Launchbury, Network & Infrastructure PHB
Triumph Tiger 955i
"I'm training the bats who live in my cubicle
to juggle mushrooms"
Remove sick person to email me

 

nah, it elicits pity, rather than rage.

 

In the sense of "it's a pity he wasn't put down at birth"?

Phil

--
Phil Launchbury, Network & Infrastructure PHB
Triumph Tiger 955i
"I'm training the bats who live in my cubicle
to juggle mushrooms"
Remove sick person to email me

 

Fair point.

 

It's a good money maker for them. The kit usually comprises a washer
for each carb and it costs about £120.