bikes for under a grand!?
Discussion
moanthebairns said:
can it be done? by that I mean has anyone ever bought a bike for under £1000 and it's been flawless mechanically, or can be put right for under the grand budget.
damage to fairings etc excluded.
I've seen 4 bikes recently all under a grand with the view to a cheap track bike.
zxr 750
zxr 400
cbr 400
fzr 1000 exup
everyone I've went to see has been a shed apart from the exup, each requiring new rubber, brakes done, bearings here and there, sprockets, dodgy clutches, blown fork seals, pitted forks, chains gone, carbs needing done, flat spots, batteries gone, exhausts blowing the list could go on and that's before fairing damage is taken into account.
3/4 of these bikes had just got brand new mots. but they are un rideable IMO. bags of utter s
t, neglected pieces of tat.
so has anyone ever managed it or am I just going to need raise my budget
on another note I did instantly fall in love with the exup after riding it. the position was great and the engine was just so well balanced and smooth. if it wasn't for pitted forks, head bearing, gone tyres and sticky brakes id be the new owner of it. intact if the forks were just all right I'd have had it in a heartbeat.
I once bought a bike for £495.00 and it was like new. damage to fairings etc excluded.
I've seen 4 bikes recently all under a grand with the view to a cheap track bike.
zxr 750
zxr 400
cbr 400
fzr 1000 exup
everyone I've went to see has been a shed apart from the exup, each requiring new rubber, brakes done, bearings here and there, sprockets, dodgy clutches, blown fork seals, pitted forks, chains gone, carbs needing done, flat spots, batteries gone, exhausts blowing the list could go on and that's before fairing damage is taken into account.
3/4 of these bikes had just got brand new mots. but they are un rideable IMO. bags of utter s
t, neglected pieces of tat. so has anyone ever managed it or am I just going to need raise my budget
on another note I did instantly fall in love with the exup after riding it. the position was great and the engine was just so well balanced and smooth. if it wasn't for pitted forks, head bearing, gone tyres and sticky brakes id be the new owner of it. intact if the forks were just all right I'd have had it in a heartbeat.
It was a GP100
In 1986.
moanthebairns said:
that's exactly my remit.
I've not cared if it's been dropped or looks fked as long as it can stand the track.
each one would be dead after 10 minutes or I would unless I spent hundreds. seriously.
I was looking at a 91 cbr f that had been rebuilt completely for £600.
rebuilt completely meant painted matt black. mind you I've yet to see it so it might be ok
Well maybe Ive been lucky today, but the bike I bought is pretty good I think. ZX6R, 1997 with 40k on the clock. Track fairings, but still got the standard wiring loom. Guy who owned it spanners for a superstock team and has obviously looked after it. Wont know until Thursday when I give it a good run, but so far quiet happy. At the moment I think its a real credit to the previous owner (Hi Rob, if you read this). I've not cared if it's been dropped or looks f
ked as long as it can stand the track. each one would be dead after 10 minutes or I would unless I spent hundreds. seriously.
I was looking at a 91 cbr f that had been rebuilt completely for £600.
rebuilt completely meant painted matt black. mind you I've yet to see it so it might be ok
Just bought a 2003 fireblade for 500 quid. Fairing rash on both sides. Not run for 3 years. Fairing bracket rusty and front brakes soft. Been used for commuting so has 55k on it and head an engine rebuild at 10K. Was advertised in my local parish magazine!
Chucked a battery in and fired up straight away. Smeared some black paint at the bracket.. Cleaned up brakes and bled them, good as gold. Changed oil and filter and Took for MOT all fine.
Just fitted new c&s today and fitting new pads this week.
Tyres are brand new!
All in it wiill have cost me £250 quid on top. Will never be beautiful but awesome value!
Goingi to get rid of the blackbird now and pocket a few quid.
Matt
Chucked a battery in and fired up straight away. Smeared some black paint at the bracket.. Cleaned up brakes and bled them, good as gold. Changed oil and filter and Took for MOT all fine.
Just fitted new c&s today and fitting new pads this week.
Tyres are brand new!
All in it wiill have cost me £250 quid on top. Will never be beautiful but awesome value!
Goingi to get rid of the blackbird now and pocket a few quid.
Matt
Iv always bought on condition and how the bike/car has been looked after opposed to mileage and age, iv been to see cars with 130k miles on them that drive and look better than cars with 75k miles on them purely because they have been kept clean and tidy and serviced/looked after.
Same with bikes, i looked at a few before plumping for my zx6r - just keep looking and one will turn up!
Same with bikes, i looked at a few before plumping for my zx6r - just keep looking and one will turn up!
Charger500 said:
1996 ZX7R, 23k miles, £1000, rode it for a year as it was, then put £1k into it the 2nd year, K-Tech front suspension internals, chain sprockets, rebuild brakes etc. change the exhaust, which it didn't really need and repair and paint lower fairing... oh and new tyres, It's all good - but yeah, first year only thing I spent over and above the £1k purchase price was a service kit, plugs filter oil etc. 
Beautiful bike!
Condi said:
moanthebairns said:
that's exactly my remit.
I've not cared if it's been dropped or looks fked as long as it can stand the track.
each one would be dead after 10 minutes or I would unless I spent hundreds. seriously.
I was looking at a 91 cbr f that had been rebuilt completely for £600.
rebuilt completely meant painted matt black. mind you I've yet to see it so it might be ok
Well maybe Ive been lucky today, but the bike I bought is pretty good I think. ZX6R, 1997 with 40k on the clock. Track fairings, but still got the standard wiring loom. Guy who owned it spanners for a superstock team and has obviously looked after it. Wont know until Thursday when I give it a good run, but so far quiet happy. At the moment I think its a real credit to the previous owner (Hi Rob, if you read this). I've not cared if it's been dropped or looks f
ked as long as it can stand the track. each one would be dead after 10 minutes or I would unless I spent hundreds. seriously.
I was looking at a 91 cbr f that had been rebuilt completely for £600.
rebuilt completely meant painted matt black. mind you I've yet to see it so it might be ok
I went to see a cbrf 600 thinking f
k it, he wants £550. tyres gone, (he told me they were 50 per cent worn) forks leaking, brakes gone, and a huge clunking noise from the front over bumps.
id have had to spenda another 400 odd so thought nah, its no really what im after.
Just gonna keep looking but so far everything has been s
te!moanthebairns said:
hope it all goes well. Does depend on your location I suppose, lots more bikes down in ingerland that up here.
I went to see a cbrf 600 thinking fk it, he wants £550.
tyres gone, (he told me they were 50 per cent worn) forks leaking, brakes gone, and a huge clunking noise from the front over bumps.
id have had to spenda another 400 odd so thought nah, its no really what im after.
Just gonna keep looking but so far everything has been ste!
Its a good job you're not adding up all the time and fuel you're going through looking at all these cheapies! I wouldn't worry about soft brakes or tyres slightly over 4 years old as you'll rebuild them and fit some part worn race tyres before a trackday surely? I went to see a cbrf 600 thinking f
k it, he wants £550. tyres gone, (he told me they were 50 per cent worn) forks leaking, brakes gone, and a huge clunking noise from the front over bumps.
id have had to spenda another 400 odd so thought nah, its no really what im after.
Just gonna keep looking but so far everything has been s
te!moto_traxport said:
moanthebairns said:
hope it all goes well. Does depend on your location I suppose, lots more bikes down in ingerland that up here.
I went to see a cbrf 600 thinking fk it, he wants £550.
tyres gone, (he told me they were 50 per cent worn) forks leaking, brakes gone, and a huge clunking noise from the front over bumps.
id have had to spenda another 400 odd so thought nah, its no really what im after.
Just gonna keep looking but so far everything has been ste!
Its a good job you're not adding up all the time and fuel you're going through looking at all these cheapies! I wouldn't worry about soft brakes or tyres slightly over 4 years old as you'll rebuild them and fit some part worn race tyres before a trackday surely? I went to see a cbrf 600 thinking f
k it, he wants £550. tyres gone, (he told me they were 50 per cent worn) forks leaking, brakes gone, and a huge clunking noise from the front over bumps.
id have had to spenda another 400 odd so thought nah, its no really what im after.
Just gonna keep looking but so far everything has been s
te!at the stage now where I ask everything about the bike condition of certain parts.
here it is I've bought a 3rd bike and I dunno why to be honest but fk it
a 1993 zz6r,28,000 miles went to see it today it had only been up a few hours.
ok a few scuffs and light cracks to the fairings cosmetically it's not bad though.
10 months mot, 4 months tax
calipers rebuild, carbs done 600 miles ago, new chain and sprocket, decent life in the tyres, nothing that I could see wrong with it.
mtc exhausts. a nice bike mechanically.
to be honest, I had a shot of it and thought meh, sorta quick, but very long and heavy not the greatest thing to turn in. it's not ideal for the track.
but when he said if you take it today I'll do it for £500 I didn't even need to think about it. it's worth £800 maybe so even if I don't like it I can move it on for what I paid easily.
I'll give it a go, I might track it but what I'm thinking is.
daytona for weekends
ninja - get track fairings and make it a decdicated track bike
the bardge - leave it as it is use it for going to work, lying outside and for winter use.
as Andrew of here said when he seen it, eBay a sunny Sunday and bang £900 to someone who is after a bike for the summer. at £500 it's not to bad a buy.
k ita 1993 zz6r,28,000 miles went to see it today it had only been up a few hours.
ok a few scuffs and light cracks to the fairings cosmetically it's not bad though.
10 months mot, 4 months tax
calipers rebuild, carbs done 600 miles ago, new chain and sprocket, decent life in the tyres, nothing that I could see wrong with it.
mtc exhausts. a nice bike mechanically.
to be honest, I had a shot of it and thought meh, sorta quick, but very long and heavy not the greatest thing to turn in. it's not ideal for the track.
but when he said if you take it today I'll do it for £500 I didn't even need to think about it. it's worth £800 maybe so even if I don't like it I can move it on for what I paid easily.
I'll give it a go, I might track it but what I'm thinking is.
daytona for weekends
ninja - get track fairings and make it a decdicated track bike
the bardge - leave it as it is use it for going to work, lying outside and for winter use.
as Andrew of here said when he seen it, eBay a sunny Sunday and bang £900 to someone who is after a bike for the summer. at £500 it's not to bad a buy.
Thing is, a bike with shot tyres, knackered chain and needing new pads is better than not. I would rather pay £500, spend £500 on it and have a bike I could trust. You can pay a grand and not know when the tyres or brakes were last changed. Everything Ive bought has been cheap and in need of some work, and so far its always been the best way.
Easier done at the end of the riding seasons but perfectly possible.
I paid £1030 for this 600 SRAD, used it 2 Summers flat out , took it on a 3,000+mile European trip on it, from pissing rain to 45 degrees of heat, it was faultless , I confess when i first bought it I had the carbs set up and new oil/filter but sold it 18 months later and made best part of £500 on it!
I paid £1030 for this 600 SRAD, used it 2 Summers flat out , took it on a 3,000+mile European trip on it, from pissing rain to 45 degrees of heat, it was faultless , I confess when i first bought it I had the carbs set up and new oil/filter but sold it 18 months later and made best part of £500 on it!
mrdelmonti said:
ZZR isn't a bad bike but like you say not really track material, still a good laugh though for decent price.
They must have forgotten to tell a young John Reynolds that...I know where your coming from but look around some of the classic meets, if your not racing to put dinner on the table, you can have fun with anything on track..
podman said:
They must have forgotten to tell a young John Reynolds that...
I know where your coming from but look around some of the classic meets, if your not racing to put dinner on the table, you can have fun with anything on track..
I've only really had it for a five minute rideI know where your coming from but look around some of the classic meets, if your not racing to put dinner on the table, you can have fun with anything on track..
I'll see what it's like once I get a blast on it tomorrow. if its ok im using it for the track. get a few outings out of it.
podman said:
mrdelmonti said:
ZZR isn't a bad bike but like you say not really track material, still a good laugh though for decent price.
They must have forgotten to tell a young John Reynolds that...I know where your coming from but look around some of the classic meets, if your not racing to put dinner on the table, you can have fun with anything on track..
Still love mine, looking forward to getting back from my father in law and I'm tempted to try a track day or two on it when I do get it back.
im back on the case after making £350 profit from my last venture, not bad for 4 days ownership.
so went to see two srads just over £1000, first one was a six hundred, every fairing scuffed or cracked much worse than pictures. Flat spot on it, head bearing gone, brakes need done gear lever rusted to hell. worth £600-700 and only because he put new tyres on it. Guy was ok though, even though he did lie about the mileage by 10,000
next, the classic gumtree seller.
spoke to him and asked for lots of info as it was a 120 mile trip to see it.
how worn are the tyres? 50 percent worn I got out of him. he had part worns as well.
any mechanical or cosmetic problems, no.
carbs when were they last done, dunno.
price? £1050.
ok ill come see it. "aye well if you coming bring the full amount cause it aint going for any less your wasting your time" he then hung up. I should have known then not to go but I was in the area for work.
got there, it had been dropped nose cone scratched, left fairing scratched and seat cowl. Not bad mind you.
tyres flat spotted and beyond wear indicators. his part worns were the same.
sounded rough, it needed the carbs done
slight pitting on the forks (he told me it just got new fork seals as they were gone, made me thing hmmm why did they go)
asked to take it a ride anyway, went to knock it into gear and my foot fell away.
foot rest was loose as hell practically falling off its hanger. "Mate I cant ride that, ill snap it" wtf you talking about its fine, "look its hanging off its unsafe" aw I ride with it all the time like that, "really".
Aye I do wheelies at 120mph and its fine, "You do wheelies at 120mph", aye aw the time, "honestly!", aye.
Thats impressive (im thinking ive met steve hislop here) "aye ive been riding before I was born".
I walked at that point, got home to find he texted asking "You want to make me a offer"
so I mentioned the work that needs done and put an offer in of £750 thinking he wouldnt accept it.
"make it £800 he replied".
No thanks was my reply. I reckon its had a hard, hard life. Probably hiding more.
he just said ok, I reckon ill get a text accepting my £750 later. Even then its not worth it.
so next lined up is a zx6r g2 and a cbr 900
so went to see two srads just over £1000, first one was a six hundred, every fairing scuffed or cracked much worse than pictures. Flat spot on it, head bearing gone, brakes need done gear lever rusted to hell. worth £600-700 and only because he put new tyres on it. Guy was ok though, even though he did lie about the mileage by 10,000
next, the classic gumtree seller.
spoke to him and asked for lots of info as it was a 120 mile trip to see it.
how worn are the tyres? 50 percent worn I got out of him. he had part worns as well.
any mechanical or cosmetic problems, no.
carbs when were they last done, dunno.
price? £1050.
ok ill come see it. "aye well if you coming bring the full amount cause it aint going for any less your wasting your time" he then hung up. I should have known then not to go but I was in the area for work.
got there, it had been dropped nose cone scratched, left fairing scratched and seat cowl. Not bad mind you.
tyres flat spotted and beyond wear indicators. his part worns were the same.
sounded rough, it needed the carbs done
slight pitting on the forks (he told me it just got new fork seals as they were gone, made me thing hmmm why did they go)
asked to take it a ride anyway, went to knock it into gear and my foot fell away.
foot rest was loose as hell practically falling off its hanger. "Mate I cant ride that, ill snap it" wtf you talking about its fine, "look its hanging off its unsafe" aw I ride with it all the time like that, "really".
Aye I do wheelies at 120mph and its fine, "You do wheelies at 120mph", aye aw the time, "honestly!", aye.
Thats impressive (im thinking ive met steve hislop here) "aye ive been riding before I was born".
I walked at that point, got home to find he texted asking "You want to make me a offer"
so I mentioned the work that needs done and put an offer in of £750 thinking he wouldnt accept it.
"make it £800 he replied".
No thanks was my reply. I reckon its had a hard, hard life. Probably hiding more.
he just said ok, I reckon ill get a text accepting my £750 later. Even then its not worth it.
so next lined up is a zx6r g2 and a cbr 900
Edited by moanthebairns on Tuesday 9th July 17:26
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