Buying a bike that has been raced... Warranty problems..

[cat with a hat]

So I've found out that the 100% stock, less than 1 year old 1000cc super sports bike I intended to purchase privately is actually on its second owner and has been used for racing for the past several months from what I gather. (research/online stalking)

Whilst the bike is still technically under warranty, I'm not sure how valid this will be now given that its been in bits and along with full fairings + seat change, its probably had all sorts of non standard parts fitted to it.

Its being privately sold and before finding this out, the price was down 2k from what a fancy dealer would be selling it for.

Would you walk away?

[BigHeartedTone]

Do you feel lucky?

[Wacky Racer]

I think you know what the answer is.

[cat with a hat]

BigHeartedTone said:

Do you feel lucky?

Not that lucky

Wacky Racer said:

I think you know what the answer is.

I will confirm with the owner tomorrow as he hasn't mentioned anything, but I think my internet stalking has saved me.

edit: Cue a number of innocent questions followed by loaded questions depending on the answer.

Edited by cat with a hat on Saturday 28th November 22:35

[srob]

There's no way in a million years the warranty will be valid if it's been raced. And if you've found its history easily online, so will they!

[moto_traxport]

Depends whether it was sold initially as a racebike - i.e. on the cheap with full knowledge / financial help of importer. Usually the initial sales receipt has "for racing purposes, no warranty" or some such scribbled on it.

If it was sold as a road bike, registered in the normal way then the importer doesn't know any different if it's subsequently been converted for racing and if it needs any warranty work then the only person you need on your side is the local dealer, they will hopefully convice the importer to honour the warranty even if it's been on track. Don't forget a quite high percentage of 1000cc sportsbikes see the track so you haven't got to hide all traces.

Also bike might not have been raced itself. What you tend to get in racing is a few spares bikes knocking around in the background so the wheels, forks, tank etc might have been raced but the rest of it sat half dismantled under a dust sheet.

In summary, £2k off normal price and you're still clearly interested, don't dismiss it, just go in with your eyes open. At the end of the day it's a 1000cc (Jap?) sportsbike doing what they're designed to do.

[WaferThinHam]

Depends who's been racing it too. Some racers take excellent care of their machines, other less so.

It's not the fact it's been raced that would put me off. More the fact the seller has tried to hide it. Me? I'd run away, plenty of other bikes etc.

[terry tibbs]

warranties generally exclude racing or related use, but to be sure you would have to get hold of the manufacture's warranty T/C which will be on their web site

[LoonR1]

moto_traxport said:

Depends whether it was sold initially as a racebike - i.e. on the cheap with full knowledge / financial help of importer. Usually the initial sales receipt has "for racing purposes, no warranty" or some such scribbled on it.

If it was sold as a road bike, registered in the normal way then the importer doesn't know any different if it's subsequently been converted for racing and if it needs any warranty work then the only person you need on your side is the local dealer, they will hopefully convice the importer to honour the warranty even if it's been on track. Don't forget a quite high percentage of 1000cc sportsbikes see the track so you haven't got to hide all traces.

Also bike might not have been raced itself. What you tend to get in racing is a few spares bikes knocking around in the background so the wheels, forks, tank etc might have been raced but the rest of it sat half dismantled under a dust sheet.

In summary, £2k off normal price and you're still clearly interested, don't dismiss it, just go in with your eyes open. At the end of the day it's a 1000cc (Jap?) sportsbike doing what they're designed to do.

This and this again

If it's a good price and you're getting more bike than you normally could then what's the problem? The fact you're asking on here as well as still talking to the vendor suggests that you still want it. My HP4 was on track last year. I doubt it's suddenly become a lemon as a result. There are plenty of sports bikes that are used for track then put back in their unused fairings and sold as "never seen rain, or a track". Many of these get looked after very well. My road bike gets serviced once a year, my trackbike gets new oil and filters every other trackday (that will always be a trackbike though)

[StuB]

If the Seller has withheld materially important facts, how can you rely on anything they've said. Also a good chance in my book, it's not 100% genuine.

Walk away!

If it's been sold genuinely, lots of race bikes are well looked after, but lots of lemons too.

As always, buyer beware.

[obscene]

StuB said:

If the Seller has withheld materially important facts, how can you rely on anything they've said. Also a good chance in my book, it's not 100% genuine.

Walk away!

Sums it up for me. If I'm selling a bike I'm 100% honest as you have nothing to lose when you're selling it, unless you have something to hide.

[cat with a hat]

The advert was very bare, which is very strange given the guys background. (I mean he didnt even mention what year the bike was, I guessed that by how it looked).