Buying a Bike with no Service History
Discussion
Chaps,
Seen a bike I am very interested in. It is old (2000), high mileage (48k) and cheap (c1.5k). Sort of price that you can take a punt on I suppose.
However, it has no service book (apparently a receipt for the last service). MoT history is impeccable (rear tire tread depth being the only blot aside from what appears to be 4 years off the road 2017-2021).
The bike in question is a VFR800 which I understand to be very reliable but also quite complicated so wondering whether the lack of history is a concern or not? I must admit I do like MoT history as a good indicator of condition and in this regard it is spot on.
So what say you? Stop fannying about for a 1.5k bike or grounds to be wary?
Seen a bike I am very interested in. It is old (2000), high mileage (48k) and cheap (c1.5k). Sort of price that you can take a punt on I suppose.
However, it has no service book (apparently a receipt for the last service). MoT history is impeccable (rear tire tread depth being the only blot aside from what appears to be 4 years off the road 2017-2021).
The bike in question is a VFR800 which I understand to be very reliable but also quite complicated so wondering whether the lack of history is a concern or not? I must admit I do like MoT history as a good indicator of condition and in this regard it is spot on.
So what say you? Stop fannying about for a 1.5k bike or grounds to be wary?
tter you'll get a grand back in ebaying the main bits Thanks all.
So it would be a distance sale and the first I would see of it would be on delivery. Not sure how much scope there is for getting the price down as it has a reserve and an auction fee which is the sum of the advertised price on AT.
There is a video of it running and it sounds good. Tell you what, here is the link and you can give me an opinion:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/20211129...
Cheers!
So it would be a distance sale and the first I would see of it would be on delivery. Not sure how much scope there is for getting the price down as it has a reserve and an auction fee which is the sum of the advertised price on AT.
There is a video of it running and it sounds good. Tell you what, here is the link and you can give me an opinion:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/20211129...
Cheers!
Check the condition of the downpipes also.
It's been about 15 years since I had a VFR, from memory the reg/rec and downpipes are the main common issues. I would expect most bikes have been swapped out. Delkavic do downpipes for about £250. It is handy if you have seven elbows to fit, but they aren't that bad to do.
It's been about 15 years since I had a VFR, from memory the reg/rec and downpipes are the main common issues. I would expect most bikes have been swapped out. Delkavic do downpipes for about £250. It is handy if you have seven elbows to fit, but they aren't that bad to do.
Thanks all.
I've messaged about the reg/rec but not had a response yet. Exhaust looks in very good condition although appreciate the downpipes are hidden. Can't see that they'd be worse than the exposed stuff though.
Seems hard to go wrong at this money unless once you add tyres and service it puts it up against some better stuff... hmmmm.
I've messaged about the reg/rec but not had a response yet. Exhaust looks in very good condition although appreciate the downpipes are hidden. Can't see that they'd be worse than the exposed stuff though.
Seems hard to go wrong at this money unless once you add tyres and service it puts it up against some better stuff... hmmmm.
I'd be wondering when the last valve check was
I agree that you can't be fussy with a £1500 bike but if you can stretch £500 more there tends to be VFRs with lower miles and / or history
No history and the wrong wheel - I'd find another bike, for every bodge you can see there are 10 you can't
Edit just clicked the link - any seller with the words "Auction" or "Trade" in their name I wouldn't be buying from unless I viewed the bike and knew exactly what I was looking at
I agree that you can't be fussy with a £1500 bike but if you can stretch £500 more there tends to be VFRs with lower miles and / or history
No history and the wrong wheel - I'd find another bike, for every bodge you can see there are 10 you can't
Edit just clicked the link - any seller with the words "Auction" or "Trade" in their name I wouldn't be buying from unless I viewed the bike and knew exactly what I was looking at
Edited by KTMsm on Thursday 9th December 16:30
WhisperingWasp said:
Seems hard to go wrong at this money unless once you add tyres and service it puts it up against some better stuff... hmmmm.
You're not as daft as me, I service every bike I buy including all fluids and change the tyres! 
Do it with cars too, and I always need to change the window wipers...
WhisperingWasp said:
Thanks all.
I've messaged about the reg/rec but not had a response yet. Exhaust looks in very good condition although appreciate the downpipes are hidden. Can't see that they'd be worse than the exposed stuff though.
Seems hard to go wrong at this money unless once you add tyres and service it puts it up against some better stuff... hmmmm.
From the video, it looks to have the downpipes changed to stainless already - black mild steel as standard, obviously stainless in the video.I've messaged about the reg/rec but not had a response yet. Exhaust looks in very good condition although appreciate the downpipes are hidden. Can't see that they'd be worse than the exposed stuff though.
Seems hard to go wrong at this money unless once you add tyres and service it puts it up against some better stuff... hmmmm.
Unusual for the older rear wheel to be fitted though, can't think of any reason for this.
The bike itself doesn't look too bad, but I wouldn't buy one of these if you haven't ridden one. They're a bit of a "marmite" bike. I absolutely hated mine. The linked brakes aren't nice, the build quality is nowhere near that of a 750, the low rev fueling can be iffy, they lack the mid-range of the 750, etc. etc. Lots of people like them, but I note a similar late 750 costs more which tells you something. Maybe that was the problem with mine, it had to try to live up to the 750 it replaced......and it failed......
stang65 said:
The bike itself doesn't look too bad, but I wouldn't buy one of these if you haven't ridden one. They're a bit of a "marmite" bike. I absolutely hated mine. The linked brakes aren't nice, the build quality is nowhere near that of a 750, the low rev fueling can be iffy, they lack the mid-range of the 750, etc. etc. Lots of people like them, but I note a similar late 750 costs more which tells you something. Maybe that was the problem with mine, it had to try to live up to the 750 it replaced......and it failed......
I am not averse to the 750, I just have the horn for a V4 with gear-driven cams at the moment!This for example:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114270622942?hash=item1...
Although the previous MoT maybe looks concerning?
Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
Rear Valve stem seriously damaged (5.2.3 (j))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))
Edited by WhisperingWasp on Thursday 9th December 22:29
Edited by WhisperingWasp on Thursday 9th December 22:29
WhisperingWasp said:
I am not averse to the 750, I just have the horn for a V4 with gear-driven cams at the moment!
This for example:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114270622942?hash=item1...
Although the previous MoT maybe looks concerning?
Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
Rear Valve stem seriously damaged (5.2.3 (j))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))
You realise they are talking about the tyre valve ?This for example:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114270622942?hash=item1...
Although the previous MoT maybe looks concerning?
Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
Rear Valve stem seriously damaged (5.2.3 (j))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))
Edited by WhisperingWasp on Thursday 9th December 22:29
Edited by WhisperingWasp on Thursday 9th December 22:29
£2 and an hour to replace them
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