Super Bike Factory - Accurate Descriptions ?

[V8RX7]

I've googled and I see (as with anything) that there are some negative reviews, although the vast majority are positive.

I wanted to know from people WHO HAVE VISITED / BOUGHT do the bikes you have enquired about on the phone match their description ?

I've enquired on this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I'm told there is minor scuffing on mirror / bar end and has had one service (with receipt) at 5k & that they will change chain / sprockets, oil change & MOT

The Agent seemed very open, read that on the receipt it had an overheating issue in '18 which was cured with thermostat / rad cap, it's covered 4500 since.

There is no movement on price - if it's as they say, it's a cheap bike but I don't want to travel 90 miles to find it's a POS and they can't let me test ride as it doesn't have an MOT

They suggest £500 deposit, they will MOT etc and if it's not as described when I visit - full refund

Just wanted to gauge real world experiences with them and whether an old overheating issue was of concern, long term.

[CallorFold]

Bought a Yamaha XJ6 from them in 2018 - didn't enquire over the phone beforehand. We actually went up to look at another bike we'd seen online but it was particularly shabby in the flesh vs. pictures so had a look around at their other stock and picked the XJ.

Easy to deal with, negotiated the Doc fee off the price, they gave the bike a once over in their workshop, slapped a fresh MOT on it and picked it up the following week.

Had a bunch of problems with the aftermarket alarm intefering with the bikes immobilizer a few weeks into ownership causing the bike to cut out but once I stopped setting the alarm on the keyfob it's been great ever since and the bike is otherwise in great condition.

I'd buy from them again if the price was right, personally. Not sure I'd commit to buying anything before seeing it first hand though, their stock quality is definitely mixed.

[V8RX7]

CallorFold said:

We actually went up to look at another bike we'd seen online but it was particularly shabby in the flesh vs. pictures

Did you ask them about it ?

The Agent told me that he had details / pics of any flaws.

[CallorFold]

V8RX7 said:

CallorFold said:

We actually went up to look at another bike we'd seen online but it was particularly shabby in the flesh vs. pictures

Did you ask them about it ?

The Agent told me that he had details / pics of any flaws.

The only conversation I had over the phone was if they still had the bike for sale (it was a Z650 that had obviously been kept outside and was particularly rusty behind any plastics). It was a first "big-bike" purchase after passing Full A Licence so I was keen to go and have a look around their stock in general as I wasn't completely sure what I wanted at that point.

[alant]

Not that it answers your question but there is an article about them in the Dec - Jan edition of BIKE magazine. Visited there last month, not with any particular bike in mind but more as just a general look. They have a massive amount of bikes, according to the article 1000, and they vary in condition. There are usually a number of examples of the same model so as stated previously I would suggest an actual visit rather than settling on one particular bike beforehand

[V8RX7]

CallorFold said:

The only conversation I had over the phone was if they still had the bike for sale (it was a Z650 that had obviously been kept outside and was particularly rusty behind any plastics). It was a first "big-bike" purchase after passing Full A Licence so I was keen to go and have a look around their stock in general as I wasn't completely sure what I wanted at that point.

Thanks

[Krikkit]

Chances are it's pretty much as described - I went looking for a Monster there and everything matched the descriptions that I remembered, and most stuff looked decent.

What put me off was the process from their side about test rides, generally wanting you to put a deposit down etc, as my first bike I wasn't putting a deposit down, or prepared to go back mid-week and hand over a wad of cash just to be able to test anything (despite being told otherwise). But it doesn't sound like any of that's an issue for you.

[Gee68]

I'm pretty sure there has been a couple of threads on this subject already.
Try the search button and you should find all the info you need.

P.s i'm not trying to be a tt, just trying to help.

[hellsbuddha]

I seem to recollect someone off another forum buying a bike that had issues.

They advised getting a franchised dealer to fix the issue and send them the bill or send the bike back. Seemed fair to me

[pessimal]

bought my triumph tiger from them without seeing it first.

bike was as described and is still a good bike.

had a number of problems with my old bike as a trade in that they only realised on the day of delivery, which ended up with a number of frought calls, and alot of arsing around (my bike had replacement clocks on at some point, told them when we put the deposit down with no issues, only on day of delivery did a manager check the paper work and say they would not take mine as a trade in due to the clocks being changed)

I'd buy from them again, but with a little more care on my side.

[V8RX7]

Gee68 said:

I'm pretty sure there has been a couple of threads on this subject already.
Try the search button and you should find all the info you need.

P.s i'm not trying to be a tt, just trying to help.

Yes I googled and found a couple but not on this issue.

The PH search isn't working yet again as it won't select forums / relevance etc

[podman]

I wouldnt buy anything of that value without putting the time into viewing it myself, one mans "minter" is another mans "munter" .

A good friend of mine runs a bike transportation business , probably 50% of his business is delivering bikes which has been bought unseen via the web from various dealers , once a week minimum he'll deliver a bike which the new owner will complain about the condition of it vs the online advert. Some dealers will take the bike back, some refuse...Not a gamble id be willing to participate in no matter what the interweb may say.

[jjones]

Yep, sight unseen. Asked on the phone they gave a brief description which was quite accurate. Turned up and took it away, they say they will refund the deposit if you are not happy. Another bloke was doing exactly the same as me at the time and he was happy with his also. They will drain all the fuel out and leave barely enough to reach the nearest petrol station which is a few miles away. Mine conked out while i was gearing up out the front and they put a couple of litres in it (one they had checked it had actually ran out).

Overall experience was a bit rubbish, they were crap at answering the phone, and when I pitched up to collect it at a nominated time had to wait around for 30 minutes. But the bike was cheap and was as described.

[CousinDupree]

Ask for some high resolutions pictures. There's no reason why they shouldn't be supplied.

You won't spot everything from them, but anything helps when there is distance involved.

[V8RX7]

Thanks

I've now found an identical bike, in mint condition with a really friendly local dealer

But it's white

[Krikkit]

V8RX7 said:

Thanks

I've now found an identical bike, in mint condition with a really friendly local dealer

But it's white

The orange bits are about £320 to buy replacements - you could swap them and flog the white bits?

I'd much rather have a decent local dealer than have to travel miles.

ETA: Added it up on Fowlers - some bits are back-order but whether that means unavailable or just long lead time I'm not sure.



£315

Edited by Krikkit on Friday 17th January 09:23

[V8RX7]

Krikkit said:

The orange bits are about £320 to buy replacements - you could swap them and flog the white bits?

That's surprisingly reasonable (individually at least)

I was thinking of wrapping / plastidip

[7w7]

Krikkit said:

The orange bits are about £320 to buy replacements - you could swap them and flog the white bits?

I'd much rather have a decent local dealer than have to travel miles.

ETA: Added it up on Fowlers - some bits are back-order but whether that means unavailable or just long lead time I'm not sure.



£315

Edited by Krikkit on Friday 17th January 09:23

I regularly ordered backorder parts for my 690, they were usually delivered within 5 days. A lot of stock is held in Europe mainland.

[7w7]

V8RX7 said:

The Agent seemed very open, read that on the receipt it had an overheating issue in '18 which was cured with thermostat / rad cap, it's covered 4500 since.

If you have a chance to test ride, ride it hard with high revs. If coolant drips from the overflow (left side of radiator), the head gasket has a small leak. Eventually leads to overheating. The main dealer which I bought mine from 'fixed' this several times, without actually identifying the fault.

Stock fan switches do not trigger the fan quickly enough, although might have been fixed by this model year.

[V8RX7]

7w7 said:

If you have a chance to test ride, ride it hard with high revs.

Thanks but if I did that it would have scuffs and scrapes too, after I crashed it.

Very new to road riding