How far would you go for the perfect bike?

[phantomtek]

So how far would you go for a bike? I have seen a bargain of a bike on BikeTrader but unfortunately it is on the Isle of Skye and I don't think it will be cheap to get up there or indeed back down, or indeed easy to do so, the map of Scotland looks like a maze!

But this bike is a total bargain, Instigator is probably going to physically drag me up there if I don't get it and I am tempted though it's a very long way away (Close to 500 miles, and would take over a day according to Autoroute!) So I'm too sure that adding over 400 miles to both bikes would be a good idea, though it's only about £40 to get there on the ER-5

So how far would you go?

[MRX Steve]

I probably wouldn’t travel much more than 40 miles, wouldn’t want to travel across the country to discovery that what was described as 'mint' is knackerd and falling apart
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Rieju MRX 50 Castrol Edition

[wristjob]

ive gone 200 mile to call some body names for describing a brush painted filler and rust fest as "mint" and even when poking holes in the rust he still maintaned it was mint.
so i stole his jet pack and time machine and left iand then manipulated space and time to get back the hours i had wasted.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Not sure. 300 miles each way is a long way to go. But I have done probably about 180 each way.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[0ddball]

Not that far unless it was a bike worth at least £3K and was a bargain. For the sake of saving a couple of hundred quid i wouldn't.

You say both bikes, so you're planning 2 bikes and 2 people on the trip? If so who's going to ride the new one back?

[stinkwheel]

I'd have to be pretty sure of its condition to go all the way up to Skye to get one. That said, I have gone a fair distance to pick up a bike before now.

Navigating to Skye is not difficult, it is just a hell of a long way (much of it boring). Could be tricky by public transport. It is about a days riding from where I am in the North of England.

[phantomtek]

[Dom_]

I voted before reading the post. By perfect bike i thought you meant a bike that would be perfect for your needs somehow.

Anyway, i'd probably travel up to 200 miles for a goodun.

[ram_doom]

I travelled from Swansea to somewhere in London for my 400, and from here to derby for a mate's bike. Makes a nice trip in my opinion
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TL1000s, KDX200

[Lawnie]

First bike was about 70 miles away.
Second bike was about 90 miles away.
Current bike was just 1.2 miles away (dealer)

[code guru]

for my nsr i did 120 miles each way and not going on motorways for my nsr

[M1ke]

Anywhere in the Uk i would consider if it was a bargain. It helps that im in the midlands so probably 500 miles northwards and 300 miles southwards.

I bought my RR from mid scotland which was a 250 mile journy in winter... 7 hours on the train I think it took! Was well worth it and saved me at least £500 on book price. Its the summer, weathers nice, isle of sky is a beautiful place, why not make a weekend of it?

[Itchy]

if you go there by bike its pissy cheap remember £30ish gets you 300 odd miles , though if you ride there there is the issue of how to get both bikes back , darn just shot meself in the foot there , unless (if its legal) you get one of those fold up trailers and store it in yer top box on the way down and stick the bought bike on that.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[andrea]

Right now i'd travel a billion zillion miles to have a bike to ride

[Bendy]

Skye's got some of the best biking roads in the UK, make a holiday of it.

[phantomtek]

[craigs23]

Depends what the definition of a 'perfect' bike is.

If it's a rarity, in the best possible condition, I had the money waiting, yadda yadda yadda, then I'd be prepared to travel far and wide for it (but we're talking real exotica here.)

If it's just a good example of a bike that can be found pretty much anywhere, and a similar conditioned/priced/etc bike could crop up a few weeks later much closer, than obviously the distance I'd be prepared to travel would be much less.

Or, I'd just get the thing delivered...

[phantomtek]

[craigs23]

I had my Blade delivered to me from Wales as I didn't want to ride it back home at the beginning of November. It was around a 275 mile trip (plus the 100 or so miles for them to pick the bike up in the first place), cost me £160, including insurance plus the transportation of all the goodies that came with the bike.

I'd recomend you going to see the bike in question though.

[G]

I'd work out how much it would 'cost' me - money wise and a day + of my time that could be spent doing other things.

Do I still consider the bike a really good buy after that, if so, then I'd probably go for it.

[Bendy]

Hang on, are was talking about an SV here? You mention that in your ER5 for sale thread.

Wouldn't travel far for an SV, they're as common as muck and you're bound to find a decent one much nearer to you.

[phantomtek]

[Johnny GSX-R]

I bought my Blackbird from Dorset, 240 miles from my house.

I sold it 3 yrs later to a guy in Kent, another 250 miles

Then weeks later i sold my Fireblade to a couple of guys from London..

I bought my BUSA from a place 70 miles away (never again though, what a pain in the ass for warranty stuff)

[sickpup]

GSXR1100 from Market Heaton in Manc.

GSXR750RK from Chippenham Wilts.

[veeeffarr]

Got my CG125 from Penymyndydd and rode it back to Warrington.