New Bike Advice

[Mr_Tickle]

I'm going to buy myself a new bike but before I go and look at any I'd be interested in opinions and experience from previous owners, particularly with regard to maintenance and reliability, and real-life ownership. Ideally I would like to be able to carry out basic maintenance myself, with trips to garages only for bigger maintenance jobs. Whichever one I buy it will only be used for weekend blasts and trackdays, no commuting or road trips. Options are:

- S1000rr, 2012, 38k miles (but fully stamped service book), €10,000
- MV F4 1000, 2006, 6k miles, €9,500
- 1098, 2008, 24k miles, €9,500
- Fireblade, 2006, 13k miles, €5,900

Anything I should look out for or be aware of?

Cheers!

[cbmotorsport]

Are your prices actually in € or £?

[Mr OCD]

cbmotorsport said:

Are your prices actually in € or £?

Euros at those prices I would hope ...

[dibblecorse]

10k for a 6 year old 38k BMW ????? £ or Euro those are all too much money ...... especially the BMW and the Duc ....

[Mr_Tickle]

Prices are euros, unfortunately bikes are more expensive over here than they are in the UK.

[cbmotorsport]

Where abouts are you?

Worth buying in the uk and registering where you are?

A mint 06 blade would be around 4500 here...tops.

Edited by cbmotorsport on Tuesday 17th April 14:37

[Mr_Tickle]

I'm based on the east coast of Spain, so I'm not sure it would work out that economical to buy the bike in the UK and bring it over here, plus the cost to get it registered. It's a nice idea though.

[cbmotorsport]

Mr_Tickle said:

I'm based on the east coast of Spain, so I'm not sure it would work out that economical to buy the bike in the UK and bring it over here, plus the cost to get it registered. It's a nice idea though.

So buy a bike in the UK, save yourself approximately £1500/£2000. Take a few days off and have an epic ride through France, the Pyrenees, and down into Spain to home on your new bike, register it in Spain. Screw Economics. I can't see you being out of pocket.

[Ho Lee Kau]

10k for 38k MILES ....

Honda is probably the safest choice, not as expensive to maintain as MV, Ducati or BMW for sure. Easily modified as well.
Not as "sexy" as the MV and Duc, granted.

[Gavia]

cbmotorsport said:

Where abouts are you?

Worth buying in the uk and registering where you are?

A mint 06 blade would be around 4500 here...tops.

Edited by cbmotorsport on Tuesday 17th April 14:37

But then he’s got the hassle of a right hand drive bike in a left hand drive country.

I’m not convinced that bikes are that much more expensive.

[Jazoli]

Just buy a Spanish bike and ignore the 'buy uk' posts, by the time you have fked about getting the bike there and re-registering it a lot of the savings will be wiped out, when you come to sell you will get more money than you would in the UK anyway so its moot really.

Wouldn't touch a blade and their chocolate engines personally.

[cbmotorsport]

Jazoli said:

Wouldn't touch a blade and their chocolate engines personally.

You've obviously had a problem with a blade engine. Millions haven't though.

[Lee540]

Spanish prices are crazy.. I was helping the father in law to buy himself a new car in Madrid and I was shocked how much used cars cost.. mostly with seriously high miles.

Bikes have higher miles because it rains much less! We're probably moving out to Madrid in a few years just so I can have more sun.

[Sonofabeesting]

I facing a similar situation, I am based in Madrid and the prices are frankly a joke. Also routine servicing is suspect, there are also less choice and usually higher mileage.

I am looking at the buy in UK and bring over, I know it will be a hassle to get it registered but the savings are definitely there!

[Ho Lee Kau]

Jazoli said:

Just buy a Spanish bike and ignore the 'buy uk' posts, by the time you have fked about getting the bike there and re-registering it a lot of the savings will be wiped out, when you come to sell you will get more money than you would in the UK anyway so its moot really.

Wouldn't touch a blade and their chocolate engines personally.

did you have problem with the generator?
I hear 2004-05 in particular, but also 06-07 had problems with "melting" generators (especially when moved slowly in city traffic).
Quite expensive to replace.
I turned down a beautiful 2006 CBR1000RR due to that, did not want potential costs, then my Suzuki "era" has started. :-)

[Mr_Tickle]

It's true that Spanish prices seem crazy next to UK ones, and the same applies to cars. The prices new are higher to start off with and people generally own things for longer, there's not so much buying and then changing after a few years which is common in the UK. I will consider buying in the UK, but undoubtedly it would be much less hassle to buy here, and as stated, the bike is worth more when I sell it, so net cost is probably similar. I'll go and have a look at the BMW and the ´blade I think on Sat.

[Sonofabeesting]

Hi just following up on this. Did you decide to buy in the UK or Spain? I am trying to decide what is best way forward for me. The choice is way better in the UK but the hassle of getting it registered is a concern!