Suzuki Across - Opinions Please.

Hi guys, ive been having a look at a Suzuki Across, im not sure what year it
is, but its done 50,000km. It has some fairing damage on one side, so its
been dropped before but i guess that is expected. It is at a reliable dealer
(its where i got my XT), it has $4000 on it and a full years rego.

What do you guys think about these in general and are there any specific
problems i should look for with this model (even though i cant give you a
year yet)?

Thanks for your advice.

Steve

 

Steve

Firstly, I bought one about five years ago for about 6K, less than 10k on
the clock, immaculate, so straight up I think the 4K you mention is well
over the odds.

As a general comment, however, I was very happy with mine. I commuted on it
for about 6 months, did some minor touring with it.

No problems to speak of. Very revvy engine. In straight line performance I
think they are right up there with the baby blade, braking and cornering no,
but still pretty good. They are quite large for a 250 which was good for me.

Summing up, mine was a great bike, but no way would I pay 4k for one with
50k on the clock and damage.

Mike B

 

Steve

Thanks for that Mike. The $4000 is the asking price, i have no idea if they
would take an offer of less. If i do decide to go for it i was going to
offer $3500 and see if they would throw in a dririder jacket or something. I
guess the final price really depends on how old the bike actually is.

Also ive heard people in this NG saying that the range is down a bit due to
the glove box setup on the Across. In your experience do you think the
advantages of the glovebox outweight that problem. I think one of the regs
here went around Australia on an Across, could be wrong, but if that is the
case then limited fuel range couldnt be too much of a problem.

BTW there is also a baby blade at the other dealer in my town (Taree, NSW)
which i have only just had a passing glance at.

Anyway thanks for your advise.
Steve

 

there was one here the other day for $3100 IIRC
with a few more kays though

look around private and you will prob find for the same money a lot less
kays

 

*snigger*
BWWWWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!
*wipes tears from eyes*
Do a google for Matt around last year some time.

 

specific problems

yeh the fuel tank is pissweak in favour of the glovebox which is great

the seat sucks

have you considered the ZZR/GPX

huge fuel range , centrestand on the GPX ,
ZZR ?? dunno

easy to ride and go forever

and can be found cheap in fact Christian is pimping his ATM

 

I got me one of them thar ZZR thingamies. I'm not a
cardigan wearer, but I get the distinct impression that
the ZZR would probably go quite well with a nice pale-
blue cardie!

Uhm... ZZR has full fairing with internal bits as well
as external bits, a glovebox (if you have very small
hands), bigger wheels than a GPX, and an alloy frame
over the GPX.

Also has a longer wheelbase and is allegedly harder
to to the 'u' turn on. ZZR has centrestand and sidestand.

You need to upgrade to 600 or 1100 or 1200 if you want
a clock or a fool gauge tho. I have a fuel gauge on my
ZZR250, but my finger smells funny.

G

 

that was BTH on a GPX

I rode 1 for a day and the fuel range pissed me off to no end having to get
fuel at every stop
as you would not make it to the next one

what sort of riding do you do ???

would it bother you having to fuel every 150kays versus 400 kays ?

if you want luggage get a rack and bag

 

Can you find out the year ? (look on the VIN
badget-- located on the steering shaft). For
4 grand, it sounds like it's probably early/mid
90's.

When you test ride it, make sure you take it to
another workshop and get them to have a look.
Ask them if $4000 is a fair price for it's
condition.

Ask dealer if owner supplied a warranty booklet.
With it, you can check early servicing. Some
bimbo owners decide that their bike/vehicle doesn't
need a 1000km service or put various servicing off
by a couple of k. A warranty booklet will tell you
how well it was looked after in it's early days.

Other stuff to look for with a 10 year old
bike--

- Ask dealer if the timing chain was replaced
(probably at 30000km). Find out when it needs
a new one (50000km ? .

- Check suspension- dinged shafts or leaking
seals.

- Check the wear of the brake shoes and tires.
Somebody selling their bike will probably put
that off.

- Check now badly it smokes. A good check
I like doing is rubbing my finger inside the
exhaust and checking the soot thickness.

All this above with be covered by a mechanic
anyway.

If it's 10 years old, you may have to spend
a bit of money on maintenance. There is nothing
wrong with that (when you buy somebodies bike,
you also buy their problems), but if problems
are identified, then at least you can either
talk down the price, or get the dealer to fix
them.

ha ha ha... no such thing.


-f

 

That's right. Also, if yo join Bikers Anon, you need to
realise that, like ever BA member before you, you're gonna
crash (not drop, crash) that Across.

Acrosses is jinxed, they is!

That was one of those Kawasaki GPX across things. Don't try it on
a Suzuki Across.

You're wrong, and yes, it's a problem.

Eat the wagon wheels! Eat the wagon wheels!

G

 

if you were filling it every 150 you were either a. riding it fairly
hard or it was out of tune. I used to get around 200 out of mine no
worries unless I was riding hard, then it was around 170

and if you want to be able to leave your helmet in the bike nicely
locked away so you don't have to carry it around then get an across

Jase

 

yeh prob a bit more,

maybe it should be a case of having to fuel at every fuel stop
eg up the putty loop as you wont make it to the next fuel stop

but what about the jerry can

 

More info needed. Get the year and come back with history of the bike. How
many owners, servicing, damage behind the fairing, other parts, general
condition, like chain, sprockets, tyres, when is a service due, what can the
dealer tell you about the bike? Ask others at the dealership the same
questions, see if the story holds.

Ride it, and other bikes of same age and compare. Ask a mate (assuming you
have some) to ride it and compare against other models. Then, haggle. $4000
is a laugh, and it wont be you doing it.

Hammo

 

No, start much lower than that, or look at the one that is currently being
advertised here.

Take a cold shower.

Hammo

 

Sure it isn't just your top lip?

Hammo

 

Indeed it was, but I was still fuelling up every 200km or so (where
available).

I'm in Brisbane at the moment, but I'll be heading back to Canberra at
the end of the month. I can drop by Taree if you want me to have a
look at these machines for you?


BTH

 

Well my mate's selling the Across posted earlier so I won't provide
any biased info on that one way or the other.

But...my advice is don't buy from a dealer. As a clueless learner
I know it's easy to think that there's some kind of comfort in
buying from a dealer but the truth is the only thing you get from
a dealer is a lighter wallet. If they do offer a warranty on a used 250
it most likely doesn't cover anything useful and the prices they charge
are high becuase most newbies don't know what they are doing.

The Across you're talking about is too expensive I reckon.

Try as many 250s as you can and buy one you like.

Good luck.

 

$4000 for a damage one....tell he he is dreaming

look at this one
http://www.lab.net.au/~nmr/across/

good bike, bullet proof engine
boot is great...gee I miss it
fuel range is the sore point, but you get use to it
seat is a little on the average side, very narrow.

cant really go wrong with it, but neither can you with a ZZR, GPX, VTR
here is mine http://www.martyh.com/stupidhead/index.htm
in the back shed (fixed) gathering dust waiting for the GF to get her
learners

mh

 

Ouchy !

-f

 

Plastic Jerry can in the boot. Problem solved.
Mike.S