Buying bikes for the hell of it
Discussion
theshrew said:
Rubin215 said:
Not so much for the hell of it, usually with a view to fixing/servicing/polishing then flogging on again.
In the last month I have bought:
Tiger 800xc for a mate of my bro in law in Czech Republic,
Daytona 955 with minor accident damage,
Sprint 955, scruffy but fsh and full luggage,
Vespa LX125 with a bust ignition and steering lock,
Yamaha XJ6s with scrapes down one side.
My garage is overflowing...
I wouldn't mind doing some of this over winter just to give me something to do. Do you just hope you can find parts on ebay etc ? In the last month I have bought:
Tiger 800xc for a mate of my bro in law in Czech Republic,
Daytona 955 with minor accident damage,
Sprint 955, scruffy but fsh and full luggage,
Vespa LX125 with a bust ignition and steering lock,
Yamaha XJ6s with scrapes down one side.
My garage is overflowing...
The panels for the Daytona for instance are expensive on ebay, but some are stupidly cheap brand new from triumph; nose cone and left side fairing panel in racing yellow are under £200 for instance. The cracked one's will go on ebay for £50 each as they are still useable and repairable. A good used exhaust can is about £50 in good condition off ebay, a front indicator £7, oil and filter, air filter and plugs will be about £45; one slightly rough Daytona turned in to a top-notch bike again for around £250 plus time and effort.
Bit's for the Vespa are pennys and it's just time and knowing what to do. The scooter was an attempted theft, but the neds couldn't start it (key chip immobiliser) so they just dumped it. The owner left it sitting in his back garden for a year as he was quoted ridiculous sums to fix it and then finally stuck it on gumtree where I saw it.
Ignition barrel and keys £10, lock surround £5, lock barrel catch £3, front brake lever £8, pattern mirrors £16, new battery £18, oil filter £4, plug £3.
Panels off, lock-body straightened with a length of pipe, ignition replaced, panels straightened and replaced (proper metal panels with a Vespa!), front brake stripped and cleaned, a quick engine service and a £300 non-runner becomes a £750 runaround.
The Sprint is getting the tank replaced as the old one has blisters all over it from spilled fuel; £50 delivered for a good one, I'll change the pump and cap over myself and list the scabby one back on ebay for £30. The rest is just neglect so I will take my time stripping and rebuilding brakes, suspension etc, respray the swingarm and forks, polish the panels etc.
I'll run it over winter then give it a right good clean and polish in spring and hopefully sell it for a profit.
The XJ6 is a ball-ache as 2nd hand fairing panels are rocking horse poop and they're still expensive new; my options are to either bide my time and check ebay every day or sand and paint the originals myself; a good 2nd hand panel will be about £50-60, the paint will be about £30 and a bit of time and hassle.
My daughter will run around on it for the rest of the summer and my wife will probably use it over winter instead of her bandit.
Again, come springtim, clean and polish, sell for a small profit.
The biggest thing is not to be greedy; I fix bikes up properly without cutting corners and sell them with a clear conscience. If anything goes wrong in the first few weeks I will do my best to help the new owner out.
Yes, I would like to make a profit if I can when I sell a bike on but:
A. I'm not a trader (and don't want to become one)
B. I'm selling from my house and don't want my windows bricked at 3am for ripping someone off!
The way you wrote that above Rubin is inspirational. 
Just the sort of thing I'd like to do as a hobby. 
Kind of what I did with my current ZX6R, but this is my keeper.
But would like a few bikes, as you describe, to work on as an interest / bit of sanity / little profit further down the line, come sale time.
Just the sort of thing I'd like to do as a hobby. Kind of what I did with my current ZX6R, but this is my keeper.
But would like a few bikes, as you describe, to work on as an interest / bit of sanity / little profit further down the line, come sale time.
I just bought a Yamaha XJR 1300 to build into a Café Racer as I missed my old Ducati Sport Classic. However the owner told me the bike was mint and he lied. It was immaculate and in far better condition then the shed money I paid for it.
I actually feel a bit guilty for wanting to café racer it. I may sell it and buy another instead. Still deciding.
I actually feel a bit guilty for wanting to café racer it. I may sell it and buy another instead. Still deciding.
I bought an MSX125 in November 2013 and have put 6000 miles on it, mainly commuting.
I paid about £2800 for it, brand new and have just part-exed it and got £1500 for it.
The main downsides are:
1. The chain is like knicker elastic and, in that fairly low mileage, mine stretched itself to the max and has just had a new chain.
2. The headlight is dire and like a small candle, in the dark - something like 35w - I had to slot a piece of plastic pipe between the bars and strap one of thoe battery-powered cycle LED lights on, so I could see.
It has been great though and, if Honda made a 200 or even a 250, I'd have bought another.
The new model is uglier but has an LED headlight and a couple of big lads had bought one each on my last visit.
To your question, the MSX was bought because, even as a commuter, it is great fun. A scooter would have kept me drier but meh...
Maybe I should have kept it but the lure of a bargain pre reg Suzuki SV650S has led me to upgrade when I really don't need to...
I paid about £2800 for it, brand new and have just part-exed it and got £1500 for it.
The main downsides are:
1. The chain is like knicker elastic and, in that fairly low mileage, mine stretched itself to the max and has just had a new chain.
2. The headlight is dire and like a small candle, in the dark - something like 35w - I had to slot a piece of plastic pipe between the bars and strap one of thoe battery-powered cycle LED lights on, so I could see.
It has been great though and, if Honda made a 200 or even a 250, I'd have bought another.
The new model is uglier but has an LED headlight and a couple of big lads had bought one each on my last visit.
To your question, the MSX was bought because, even as a commuter, it is great fun. A scooter would have kept me drier but meh...
Maybe I should have kept it but the lure of a bargain pre reg Suzuki SV650S has led me to upgrade when I really don't need to...
LuS1fer said:
I bought an MSX125 in November 2013 and have put 6000 miles on it, mainly commuting.
I paid about £2800 for it, brand new and have just part-exed it and got £1500 for it.
The main downsides are:
1. The chain is like knicker elastic and, in that fairly low mileage, mine stretched itself to the max and has just had a new chain.
2. The headlight is dire and like a small candle, in the dark - something like 35w - I had to slot a piece of plastic pipe between the bars and strap one of thoe battery-powered cycle LED lights on, so I could see.
It has been great though and, if Honda made a 200 or even a 250, I'd have bought another.
The new model is uglier but has an LED headlight and a couple of big lads had bought one each on my last visit.
To your question, the MSX was bought because, even as a commuter, it is great fun. A scooter would have kept me drier but meh...
Maybe I should have kept it but the lure of a bargain pre reg Suzuki SV650S has led me to upgrade when I really don't need to...
If the grom came in something around the 300cc mark I'd quite fancy one as a little 2nd bike to go alongside my SV but never mind how much fun they are I just couldn't go all the way back to a 125.I paid about £2800 for it, brand new and have just part-exed it and got £1500 for it.
The main downsides are:
1. The chain is like knicker elastic and, in that fairly low mileage, mine stretched itself to the max and has just had a new chain.
2. The headlight is dire and like a small candle, in the dark - something like 35w - I had to slot a piece of plastic pipe between the bars and strap one of thoe battery-powered cycle LED lights on, so I could see.
It has been great though and, if Honda made a 200 or even a 250, I'd have bought another.
The new model is uglier but has an LED headlight and a couple of big lads had bought one each on my last visit.
To your question, the MSX was bought because, even as a commuter, it is great fun. A scooter would have kept me drier but meh...
Maybe I should have kept it but the lure of a bargain pre reg Suzuki SV650S has led me to upgrade when I really don't need to...
tom_e said:
If the grom came in something around the 300cc mark I'd quite fancy one as a little 2nd bike to go alongside my SV but never mind how much fun they are I just couldn't go all the way back to a 125.
Well, to be fair, my commute is only 10 miles each way and through rural and residential areas, no fast roads. In fact, one of the reasons I decided to change was having to ride 20 miles to get it serviced and 20 miles back, using only B roads. It's perfectly capable of it but it's not a grand tourer.Rubin215 said:
Some things are ebay, some things I just buy new.
The panels for the Daytona for instance are expensive on ebay, but some are stupidly cheap brand new from triumph; nose cone and left side fairing panel in racing yellow are under £200 for instance. The cracked one's will go on ebay for £50 each as they are still useable and repairable. A good used exhaust can is about £50 in good condition off ebay, a front indicator £7, oil and filter, air filter and plugs will be about £45; one slightly rough Daytona turned in to a top-notch bike again for around £250 plus time and effort.
Bit's for the Vespa are pennys and it's just time and knowing what to do. The scooter was an attempted theft, but the neds couldn't start it (key chip immobiliser) so they just dumped it. The owner left it sitting in his back garden for a year as he was quoted ridiculous sums to fix it and then finally stuck it on gumtree where I saw it.
Ignition barrel and keys £10, lock surround £5, lock barrel catch £3, front brake lever £8, pattern mirrors £16, new battery £18, oil filter £4, plug £3.
Panels off, lock-body straightened with a length of pipe, ignition replaced, panels straightened and replaced (proper metal panels with a Vespa!), front brake stripped and cleaned, a quick engine service and a £300 non-runner becomes a £750 runaround.
The Sprint is getting the tank replaced as the old one has blisters all over it from spilled fuel; £50 delivered for a good one, I'll change the pump and cap over myself and list the scabby one back on ebay for £30. The rest is just neglect so I will take my time stripping and rebuilding brakes, suspension etc, respray the swingarm and forks, polish the panels etc.
I'll run it over winter then give it a right good clean and polish in spring and hopefully sell it for a profit.
The XJ6 is a ball-ache as 2nd hand fairing panels are rocking horse poop and they're still expensive new; my options are to either bide my time and check ebay every day or sand and paint the originals myself; a good 2nd hand panel will be about £50-60, the paint will be about £30 and a bit of time and hassle.
My daughter will run around on it for the rest of the summer and my wife will probably use it over winter instead of her bandit.
Again, come springtim, clean and polish, sell for a small profit.
The biggest thing is not to be greedy; I fix bikes up properly without cutting corners and sell them with a clear conscience. If anything goes wrong in the first few weeks I will do my best to help the new owner out.
Yes, I would like to make a profit if I can when I sell a bike on but:
A. I'm not a trader (and don't want to become one)
B. I'm selling from my house and don't want my windows bricked at 3am for ripping someone off!
Excellent, I suppose the hard part is finding the bikes in the first place. The panels for the Daytona for instance are expensive on ebay, but some are stupidly cheap brand new from triumph; nose cone and left side fairing panel in racing yellow are under £200 for instance. The cracked one's will go on ebay for £50 each as they are still useable and repairable. A good used exhaust can is about £50 in good condition off ebay, a front indicator £7, oil and filter, air filter and plugs will be about £45; one slightly rough Daytona turned in to a top-notch bike again for around £250 plus time and effort.
Bit's for the Vespa are pennys and it's just time and knowing what to do. The scooter was an attempted theft, but the neds couldn't start it (key chip immobiliser) so they just dumped it. The owner left it sitting in his back garden for a year as he was quoted ridiculous sums to fix it and then finally stuck it on gumtree where I saw it.
Ignition barrel and keys £10, lock surround £5, lock barrel catch £3, front brake lever £8, pattern mirrors £16, new battery £18, oil filter £4, plug £3.
Panels off, lock-body straightened with a length of pipe, ignition replaced, panels straightened and replaced (proper metal panels with a Vespa!), front brake stripped and cleaned, a quick engine service and a £300 non-runner becomes a £750 runaround.
The Sprint is getting the tank replaced as the old one has blisters all over it from spilled fuel; £50 delivered for a good one, I'll change the pump and cap over myself and list the scabby one back on ebay for £30. The rest is just neglect so I will take my time stripping and rebuilding brakes, suspension etc, respray the swingarm and forks, polish the panels etc.
I'll run it over winter then give it a right good clean and polish in spring and hopefully sell it for a profit.
The XJ6 is a ball-ache as 2nd hand fairing panels are rocking horse poop and they're still expensive new; my options are to either bide my time and check ebay every day or sand and paint the originals myself; a good 2nd hand panel will be about £50-60, the paint will be about £30 and a bit of time and hassle.
My daughter will run around on it for the rest of the summer and my wife will probably use it over winter instead of her bandit.
Again, come springtim, clean and polish, sell for a small profit.
The biggest thing is not to be greedy; I fix bikes up properly without cutting corners and sell them with a clear conscience. If anything goes wrong in the first few weeks I will do my best to help the new owner out.
Yes, I would like to make a profit if I can when I sell a bike on but:
A. I'm not a trader (and don't want to become one)
B. I'm selling from my house and don't want my windows bricked at 3am for ripping someone off!
tom_e said:
LuS1fer said:
I bought an MSX125 in November 2013 and have put 6000 miles on it, mainly commuting.
I paid about £2800 for it, brand new and have just part-exed it and got £1500 for it.
The main downsides are:
1. The chain is like knicker elastic and, in that fairly low mileage, mine stretched itself to the max and has just had a new chain.
2. The headlight is dire and like a small candle, in the dark - something like 35w - I had to slot a piece of plastic pipe between the bars and strap one of thoe battery-powered cycle LED lights on, so I could see.
It has been great though and, if Honda made a 200 or even a 250, I'd have bought another.
The new model is uglier but has an LED headlight and a couple of big lads had bought one each on my last visit.
To your question, the MSX was bought because, even as a commuter, it is great fun. A scooter would have kept me drier but meh...
Maybe I should have kept it but the lure of a bargain pre reg Suzuki SV650S has led me to upgrade when I really don't need to...
If the grom came in something around the 300cc mark I'd quite fancy one as a little 2nd bike to go alongside my SV but never mind how much fun they are I just couldn't go all the way back to a 125.I paid about £2800 for it, brand new and have just part-exed it and got £1500 for it.
The main downsides are:
1. The chain is like knicker elastic and, in that fairly low mileage, mine stretched itself to the max and has just had a new chain.
2. The headlight is dire and like a small candle, in the dark - something like 35w - I had to slot a piece of plastic pipe between the bars and strap one of thoe battery-powered cycle LED lights on, so I could see.
It has been great though and, if Honda made a 200 or even a 250, I'd have bought another.
The new model is uglier but has an LED headlight and a couple of big lads had bought one each on my last visit.
To your question, the MSX was bought because, even as a commuter, it is great fun. A scooter would have kept me drier but meh...
Maybe I should have kept it but the lure of a bargain pre reg Suzuki SV650S has led me to upgrade when I really don't need to...
As for only being a 125 there's always the big bore option...
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