new or used: a question of economy

I've had 3 bikes in the 3 years of my riding life:

97 GPX250 - it had 20K on the clock when I got it - not ridden all that
regularly. It had about 48000 when I wrote it off <blush> several months
later.

2006 GS500F - bought it new. Sold it 15 months later with 48000kms on it.

2008 SV650S - bought it new in April 08. Now has 18000kms on it.

After recent discussions in here about shortarses and seat heights I'm
coming to terms with the fact that European bike manufacturers are far more
cognizant of the (pardon pun) shortcomings of shortarses. HOWEVER - this
comes at a price.

Given the fact that my bike is my only transport (unless I have to take the
germy bus - aaaaaaaaaargh!) and given the kms I do - I generally prefer a
new bike. Because I am a shortarse and Jap bikes are aimed at the mass
market, I have had to do some basic mods on the new bikes I've bought (had
to shorten the bars on the GS500, had to lower the SV650 and then get the
sidestand shortened to fit etc).

Being short, perpetually broke, and having not much of a head for figures
and bugger all mechanical aptitude (I have lots of GOOD attributes, mind you
;-) I'm not a total twit!) I fling myself on the mercy of aus.motians when I
ask this: when the time comes, will I be better off getting a brand new Jap
bike and making some essential mods, or should I buy someone else's
Euro-bike (coz it's the only way a Euro-bike would be affordable for me) and
taking my chances???

All advice gratefully received and thoughtfully considered (unless it's
obscene!)

ta in advance
betty (I like to start thinking about
this stuff well in advance...)

 

There is no simple answer, the only answer to the above is "it depends" !!

There are a number of Jap bikes that will fit with minor mods, given the
generally cheaper running costs of Japs bikes, a mildly modded one MAY
be the go. On the other hand some Euro bikes may fit off the showroom
floor. The lighter weight BMWs should be considered ie R850 and the
Guzzi knockoff, but also the middle weight japs (such as the Bandit 650
and Z750 and etc). The only thing for sure is that supersports and
superbikes (ie R6 R1 etc aren't going to fit without mods, however if
you want a supersports try the GSXR it's not too bad, it's 810mm seat
and not too wide - a little lowering (5-10mm) would make it quick
shortarse friendly - particularly when you consider how damn light it is
(prob 20Kg lighter than the SV betty...)

Fwiw google (off google groups) the list of suggested bikes for
shortarses - I've put my two bobs worth in there many times - but so
have others - it's actually got a pretty good list of suggestions

As for "I don't need more than 650cc" bollocks you can never be too rich
or have too many HP available at the right hand (to misquote JFK's ex)

JL

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:00:20 +1100

Depends...

Most eurobikes that are lowish mileage will be fine.

THe higher mileage ones will be fine if well looked after which means
you ask who worked on it.

I suspect that any eurobike under 5 years old will be OK as long as
it's not 50,000km and been worked on by a gorilla...

Used to be that Guzzis handled any gorilla work, but the newer ones
are less agricultural. That said Brevas are fairly hard to mess up as
long as you keep oil in them...

I'd honestly say that if you bought a Breva with under 30k on it you
should be fine as long as you believe that the owner did frequent oil
changes. And when you get it, you do that too - you change the oil
every 5k (not a difficult job) and it will last you a fair old while.

THe other important thing about Guzzis is that you have to give them
a decent test ride. A good dealer knows this. You need to ride it
for at least an hour, preferably 2.

Zebee

 

Get a Monster. They survive being dropped quite well, and are low.

 

How 'bout something that's almost European, but not quite... And much more
agricultural than practically any other bike on the road?

http://www.ural.com.au/models.html

Eh, comrade? ;-)

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom - "Australia's Web Presence Specialists"
http://www.cognicom.net.au/
telephone (0417) 45-77-66
facsimile (02) 9824-2240

 

True and the 695 (and newer 696) are reasonably priced for Euro bikes.

A friend of mine in town here has a 695 (black with red frame) and it's
a very nice bike, about the only thing I'd say is that it doesn't have
the deep booming sound of the larger V-Twins.



G-S

 

whats wrong with the SV? or is it bent again?

Why not go with a Cruiser, they are all low and high bars..

 

Nah, the SV's lovely - just got the bent bits fixed on Friday...

betty

 

No problems with seat height, Betty, and you can't drop it!
http://www.ural.com.au/workhorse.html
(but I suppose you *could* fall under it if you tried hard enough....

Moike

 

Service costs ?

That's a question not a statement. I've not owned a Duc (except the one
that blew up a week after I bought it many moons ago) but they do have a
reputation for being exxy.

JL
(I don't think BB does her own servicing)

 

I think you have to go with you heart. A friend of mine used to ride a
YZF1000R but she had real problems when she pulled up as she was so
short. She only rode it out of town (well, OK she had to get it out of
town) but if there were any awkward parking areas she would be in real
difficulties. But she loved the bike. While it was in motion she was
fine. It was just the stopping bit that was a drama.

But your question regarding Euro bikes, I'd take Zebee's advice on
board. She's a short-arse too and has been there and done that. I've
never had that problem so my advice will only be second-hand.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:05:59 +1100

4 valves aren't that bad I don't think. Vaguely recall they are about
the same as a multi, although that will depend on who you get to do
the work....

8 valves are "if you have to ask you can't afford it" territory
especially the faired ones.

Zebee

 

If you get a nice discrete tatoo you may consider a Harley 883 sportster
they come in "Custom" or "Low" which is quite low and "Standard" my
preferance. Or a 2nd hand 1200 normal style, ie not as cruiser like
These bikes have been around since the dawn of time and are cheap to run,
reliable and in my opinion most attractive in a real motorcycle kind of way.
No pansy fairings just a solid motor and a couple of wheels.
I have a 1200 sport 2003 which can be ridden enthusiastically, has enough
power and ground clearance for most occasions at least untill you want to
chase Ducatis on a mountain road. It lacks the rubber mounting of the post
04 models but I've ridden both and dont find the vibes intrusive on mine.
883s are smoother still. If fact I found the rubber 1200 Roadster a little
sterile. The "custom " models leave me a little cold, not in the sportster
vein I feel, but they're by far the most popular versions today. An 883
standard for around $13000 new while a touch asmathic can easilly be
converted to 1200, a common mod, after you get the urge.

Sometimes it's good to be bad, just a thought.

Capt A. L.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:13:55 +1000

Else you could get a Nevada and have more horses plus keep up with
the Ducatis!

(And not feel that asthmatic either, it's quite a nippy little thing.
Don't need to spend heaps on aftermarket gear either. The small
blocks are revhounds, wring its neck and it boogies. Those who think
smallblocks are slow have never tried to keep up with Hendrik's Monza.)

The days of HD being "bad" are long gone. If they ever existed. It's a
"lifestyle" thing nowadays for people who have a lifestyle instead of
a life. Expensive, slow, poor handling, and needing heaps of dollars
of bits to get the same go a Guzzi has. (That is, not much...)

Somewhere out there are people who have had hogs for years who cry
quietly when they see another pre-distressed leather jacket on a
Hell's Accountant and would line up for a T-shirt that says "It's my
4th Harley, honest!"

But for most people it's bad in that it's a statement saying "I'm a
wanker trying to buy cred, I believe the marketing", and I dunno too
many people want to be bad like that.

Zebee

 

Agreed a Skirtster is a perfect Girls bike.

Boxer

 

Nah, I don't. (a) too chicken that I might forget to screw something
important back on; (b) girly tools (hammer = something heavy and blunt like
half a brick, screwdriver = butterknife - not QUITE that bad, but close -
you get the idea)
(c) zero understanding of how these things actually work (although I learned
a lot about that little fuel thingy from Clem.)

One day I will get around to doing one of those bike maintenance courses
that CIT run... Would certainly be worth my while, coz I seem to be getting
the bike serviced about every 2-3 months - and even on a Jap bike that ends
up exxy!

betty

 

Geez, Johno! <wallop> I keep telling you it wasn't a tatt, it was a bruise!

betty

 

It's 2 valve and air cooled so by Ducati standards the servicing isn't exxy.

He says it costs about the same to service as his previous bike (a
CBR1100XX) but the other running costs (tyres, chains, sprockets) are less.

It isn't a coffee bike he does decent distance on it (ok not quite
bigian ducati distance) and it hasn't given him any trouble.

The new 696 is more powerful and I gather the service intervals are
further apart, but to be honest I prefer the look of the 695.


G-S

 

There are a number of long term Harley owners in town here, several of
which I went to school with and some of which I have regular contact with.

They ride anything from 1200 sportsters to pre evo shovels to modern
fatboys. They ride in plain looking black (mostly) brando stlye jackets
(or plain black vests on hot days) and wear plain looking black helmets.

They tend to get this strained look on their faces when those city based
large group rides of Harleys end up in town of a weekend


G-S

 

Seeing as you have just got used to the SV650 what you need is an
SV1000 and I just happen to have one for sale at a good price

Cheers,
Burnie M