2 year old bike with 100 miles - avoid?
2 year old bike with 100 miles - avoid?
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Original Poster:

4,835 posts

293 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
After years in cars I'm buying a 125 which is like rocking horse poop at the moment.

After missing out on two, I've again found the type and colour I want but it's only got 100 miles on it despite the age.

Story is the first owner decided he was too old for biking now, then this guy bought it for his wife to do CBT but she wasn't confident enough to do it. Hence a 23 month old bike with no miles.

How fishy is this? I am concerned there's a major mechanical fault that is really the reason it can't be driven. What are the major things to check - smoke? I'd normally move on but there are few of these around.

Also, Surrey, will consider if anyone's selling ..............

Steve Bass

10,753 posts

263 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
if you can see the bike in person you'll know in an instant if it's a scam.

Otherwise, ask for lots of pictures, especially areas where road grime accumulates like rear axle spaces and sprockets, under the swingarm and under the rear mudguard. Tyres as well.

if it's genuine, why not, the story sounds feasible

FunkyNige

9,842 posts

305 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
I've known of a few similar bikes, bought brand new, barely used for whatever reason (too fast, sudden change in circumstances, etc.) and just sit around for a couple of years before being sold.

V8RX7

28,982 posts

293 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
There are a huge amount of bikes around with ridiculously low miles.

A 5 minute conversation usually tells you all you need to know about the person and consequently the bike - I always insist on a test ride anyway - no private seller has refused once I'm there with cash in hand.

Krikkit

27,938 posts

211 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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Where's the one you're looking at buying? Someone local might be able to nip round for a nose at it.

BobSaunders

3,110 posts

185 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
My S1000RR. 14 plate. Quite frankly i don't have the time to ride it with two kids, two adults who work, and a whole bunch of other excuses. Plus i have other bikes. You need to go and see it to believe it. It does happen.


CAPP0

20,881 posts

233 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
Some years ago I tried to entice MrsC into bikes by buying her a Vespa 50. Had I not used it myself for shop trips etc, it would have covered less than 10 miles in 18 months!

So yes, the story could be true.

Piersman2

6,676 posts

229 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
Entirely possible.

I took my bike out of the shed after two years earlier this summer to get it MOT'd. I've done about about 25 miles on it since.

I've just checked my MOT history on line, it's done less than 3.5K miles since the earliest online MOT in 2006!

So I did about 25k miles in the first 8 years, then 3.5k since! Fair to say I've turned into a fair weather rider! biggrin

Check the bike, check the seller, and go for it! smile

Ho Lee Kau

2,278 posts

155 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
Reads like a plausible story, imho.

I bought an absolutely mint, less than 2000 miles CBR954RR which was 13 years old.
Owner kept it in garage but lived abroad most of the time, so never rode it, then he decided that he is too old for a sportsbike and sold it.

Women give up on getting licence all the time. They cannot be bothered with sweating in those heavy clothes and destroy hair in those helmets.

warch

2,941 posts

184 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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My bike’s only done a few hundred miles this year, as others have said this is by no means unusual. How much less is the purchase price than it would be new OP?

Lukas239

463 posts

126 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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I'd snap it up and, unless frame is damaged, nothing can be 'that' expensive to replace surely? Also, welcome to biking!

NS400R

507 posts

189 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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We bought a 1 year old bike with 21 miles on it. A bike bought for a wife that didn't ride it. It has been a great bike.

ClaphamGT3

12,247 posts

273 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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Back in 2003 I bought a 1998 Ducati Monster with 893 miles on the clock. It was like getting a brand new bike for less than half price

HairyMaclary

3,777 posts

225 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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I picked up a Cbf125 when I was learning with just 6000 miles from new. Was 5 years old and had 4 owners. The guy I bought it off bought it for his wife to learn on but it wasn't for her so sat in his garage for 3 years under a cover.

The bike is now sat in my mates garage having only been used twice since he purchased it off me in the new year.

Some bikes don't see much use.

Prof Prolapse

16,163 posts

220 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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Ho Lee Kau said:
Women give up on getting licence all the time. They cannot be bothered with sweating in those heavy clothes and destroy hair in those helmets.
Well they are smarter than us when it comes to bikes...




Ho Lee Kau

2,278 posts

155 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
Prof Prolapse said:
Ho Lee Kau said:
Women give up on getting licence all the time. They cannot be bothered with sweating in those heavy clothes and destroy hair in those helmets.
Well they are smarter than us when it comes to bikes...
I say they are lazy. ;-)

But I rather have a non-biker chick which smells roses and has beautiful hair than biker chick that is dripping sweat and has stty hair. yum

Triaguar

928 posts

243 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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Controversial......pass the popcorn please

podman

9,084 posts

270 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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My Dad has done 165 miles on 2 years on his 310...We go out yesterday for his first ride on it in over a year...!

Of course, being a BMW, it's been to the dealership twice for recalls and is about to go back again for a....waterpump!

leighz

473 posts

162 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
Ho Lee Kau said:
But I rather have a non-biker chick which smells roses and has beautiful hair than biker chick that is dripping sweat and has stty hair. yum
I'll go for the biker chick dripping with sweat and stty hair thanks

PurpleTurtle

8,876 posts

174 months

Monday 21st September 2020
quotequote all
This has happened with two mates of mine OP.

Mate 1: Bought a new style Kawasaki Z900 as he liked the looks in the dealer. Has had ongoing back pain for 10yrs, bike purchase coincided with him having disc surgery which laid him up for ages, never rode, sold it back to the dealer at 2yrs old, hadn't even had its running in service

Mate 2: my most timid friend, bought a 125 to commute on, had a bit of a front end slide on an icy corner, didn't crash but put the willies up him, sold if with < 500 miles on it as he was too scared to ride again.

I bought my Speed Triple at 10yrs old and 3495 miles, bloke fessed up to loving it but never riding it so his wife was making him sell it!