Looking at ER5 with High Mileage, is it worth it?

[Taz69]

Hi all,

I have chance of a Kawasaki ER5 for my daughter, it will be her first big bike, doing her Mod 1 & 2 so it will be restricted to 33bhp.

However the bike has done a few miles, 74k to give a rough estimate, it has an engine from a 20k bike, new CDI unit, needs a Battery, has MOT till Oct and a couple of months Tax, I have not seen the bike yet, will do tomorrow though, but have been told the forks could do with a rub down and a lick of paint, all in all its sounds ok,. its just the mileage putting me off a little, it has a Givi rack, crash bungs, heated grips and the guy wants £400 for it!

Is it the right sort of money or should I walk away?

Thanks
Mark
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Honda Firestorm VTR 1000 in Yellow, Lubbly Jubbly

[Willson]

MAKE SURE THERE IS COOLANT IN THE BOTTLE!

I had an ER5 and it kept sinking the coolant into the oil... but mine was fucked.

As for the forks, make sure the stanchions are not pitted below the lower yoke, otherwise it's due a fork replacement. Check for oil leakage on the rear shocks, and check the engine runs properly. The mileage shouldn't really be an issue because these bikes can run forever if they're looked after.

You say she's doing her Mod 1 & 2, so it will be restricted, that kinda makes no sense... as it makes no difference if you do A2 or DAS, there are still two parts to the test.

If you do decide to get it, and it needs a restrictor kit, I MAY have one. Sold my ER5 to the old man and he's got a full bike license so won't be needing the restrictor himself, but I don't know if he wants to keep it. If you're anywhere near Birmingham, I could fit it for you as well.

Willson
____________________
Benson: Wouldn't life be easier if we were all turtles?
Me: Pig on bread = The way forward.
Riding: '00 Suzuki SV650S. Previous: '99 Kawasaki ER5 - sold, '02 Suzuki GZ125 Marauder - sold

[Taz69]

Hi chap, thanks for the reply, reason she will be doing her mod 1 & 2 is down to the fact that she is 19, I forgot to mention that.

could well be interested in the restrictor kit, I live in Bristol but I can fit them myself I would think, does she need a certificate saying its 33bhp for insurance? I know JHS racing in Bristol will do a dyno test with printout for £30.

I am waiting to hear back, but I think the chap said it has FSH.

Mark
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Honda Firestorm VTR 1000 in Yellow, Lubbly Jubbly

[Willson]

Being honest with you dude, certificates, dyno printouts, they're a load of shit. They don't prove that the bike is restricted, just that it HAS been. They're two washers that sit between the carburettors and the intake on the cylinder head, ever so simple to fit and remove.

Read here MCN article clearing up most of the perceived nonsense about restriction certificates. I'm on a restricted license and haven't had to produce a certificate saying that my bike's restricted. The insurance companies don't seem to care if you have an A2 or an A license either... mine asked me if I had a full or provisional. That's it.

Get a quote from wickedquotes.com as well for an ER5, I got my policy for about £180TPFT. I was 19 when I took it out, had just got my license, no NCB and it was parked on a driveway. They might be worth having a look at .

Willson
____________________
Benson: Wouldn't life be easier if we were all turtles?
Me: Pig on bread = The way forward.
Riding: '00 Suzuki SV650S. Previous: '99 Kawasaki ER5 - sold, '02 Suzuki GZ125 Marauder - sold

[Taz69]

Hi mate,

We got a few quotes from comparethemarket and got a price of £365 fully comp, did not try TPFT but will do, I tried wickedquote just now and they will contact me as unable to quote for some reason.

With regard to the restriction certificate, I thought it was needed for the insurance, but no insurance quote has actually asked for it yet, lol.

I'll let you know if I collect the bike, maybe you can see the guy about the restrictors.

Thanks
Mark
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Honda Firestorm VTR 1000 in Yellow, Lubbly Jubbly

[Fifteen15]

Wow, I wish I knew a 19 year old girl that rides. You got something special there.

Sorry I have nothing useful to say lol

[sickpup]

It is probably an ex-courier bike but the price considering the market is considerably lower than I'd expect.

[lozzypop1]

Hey Mark, Wish your daughter all the best for her Mods 1&2 from me please.

@ Sickpup... It may be an ex courier bike.. but so is mine

OK... In my opinion, pricewise it's good... I had a nosey on Ebay and couldn't get a running, on the road ER5 for less than £800 this time last year.

Yes, 74,000 miles is high, but on that note, it really depends on the age of the bike too. A 15 year old bike regardless of mileage is going to have more electrical problems due to corrosion within the wiring loom than a 5 year old one.

Thus said. My 1996 ER5 has 87,000 miles on it, not including the many times it was run without a speedo cable (estimated mileage is around the 120k-130k mark)
Beginning of the year I had to finally replace the engine, that had already been rebuilt twice an now it has a much newer lump, out of a 'C' model with around 17k-18k miles on it.

Consequently, the problems I am coming across now, are all concerning corrosion within the wiring loom, which occurs with age NOT mileage.

For the record, I don't treat my bike with kid gloves, It doesn't get cleaned, it doesn't get polished, it just gets ridden and parked outside in all weathers (including 2.5 foot of snow last christmas!)
I often ride it 330 miles to Sickpup's house and back with no preperation, other than filling the tank and the usual lubing of the chain. I regularly ride with another member off here who has a Ducati 916, and he can testify that I don't exactly "cruise" at 55MPH

Restricted, they are great little bikes, and I would definitely recommend one for any new rider, as they aren't heavy, they aren't scary, they are just like a giant CG.

I would be inclined to replace the forks if they are pitted, and just fit a set of Gaitors which have basically saved mine.
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Funny, I used to hate being spanked as a child!
Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.

[nick.h]

£400 quid for a bike with an MOT is bugger all, even if the engine goes, whats that £100. It will be a cheap year biking if nothing else.
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[Italjet MM5A] ll [Rieju RS1 Evolution] ll [Suzuki GS500e] ll [Suzuki GSX600F] ll [Honda CG125] ll [Pug Elyseo 125] ll [Yamaha YZF750R] ll [Yamaha Thunderace] ll [Yamaha R6] ll [Triumph 955i] ll [Hayabusa RZK3] ll [Suzuki RGV250] ll

[Taz69]

Thanks for the all the replies guys, as I thought it should be ok, I was just a little concerned about the mileage what with it being my daughters money and not mine. She'll get most of it back when she sells her old bike on anyway I would have thought.

Now to see if I can get temp cover so I can ride it back.

Mark
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Honda Firestorm VTR 1000 in Yellow, Lubbly Jubbly

[jjdugen]

Hi
I've just completed a ground up resto on a 50,000 mile GPZ 500 (as good as the same bike).
This one had the usual Kawasaki chassis rot and scuffed plastics but seemed to be all there. It ran up OK when the seller started it up and I thought it would be a simple strip and repaint. Turned out to have broken piston rings causing excessive blow by via the engine breather into the airbox, strangling the engine once up to running temperiture. As a quick check, pull the engine breather from the airbox (rear of the gearboz) and check for crankcase gasses.
Even with this fault, it was repaired for the princley sum of £22 for a S/H piston, rings etc. Now runs srongly, very smooth for a twin, hits 90+ with ease. A very good starter bike, simple to maintain, loads of cheap spares. I have just sold this one for £400, so they are out there if you look.

[whitedevil]

i just sold my streetfightered gpz for £500. apart from not having most of the plastics on and some rash on the zorst from the po falling off, it was in great condition and had half the mileage of that er5. I'd keep looking for one with less miles on it.
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GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[Seb]

Unreal, my gs500 with ~40k Went for 350ish a year or so back, that was with fresh bt45s and a years mot =\
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[sickpup]

[Taz69]

Hi Guys,

We have been and seen the bike, all in all not bad overall, the frame could do with a touch up here and there to make it a little smarter looking, but the guy could not place his hands on the V5 so we are waiting for him to locate it then we will go back for it.

Mark
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Honda Firestorm VTR 1000 in Yellow, Lubbly Jubbly

[jjdugen]

Tyres, chain, sprokets, pads, battery all nearly new. Thats why I bought it. Sum cost of resto:-
£25 piston complete AND water pump outer cover as the pipe was corroded onto the cylinder block.
£30 etch primer and tough black paint.
£10 complete rear wheel with yet another near new back tyre. (the original had water in the drum, rusting it oval).
£28 MOT
£30 road tax.
£180 for the bike.

Not much of a proffit for a good few hours work, but its something I do for the pleasure of it.

[sickpup]

[Seb]

Rotbox or not it, it didn't need painting or rubbing down, even the suspension was fresh and in good shape. The rather deserved god awful finish reputation kind of precedes them I guess, it's not like I even got unlucky with the sale, it got sold on again 6 months down the line for pretty much the same sum again.

Then again, given how bike prices seem to have crept noticeably even given the weather and season that's not a bad deal as long as the stanchions are not going to be a problem come mot time
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[jjdugen]

[quote]That is NOT a ground up restoration.

Hmmm.... Frame stripped bare. Engine, swingarm, forks, rad, all removed. All metal cleaned, primed and painted. Engine stripped to crankcase, replacement piston, head lapped flat, valves lapped and clearances set. All gaskets re-usable on these. Wheels cleaned and re-painted, bearings all good. Exhaust / silencer welded and re-fitted proerly. Rusted fasteners cleaned or replaced.

Seems pretty ground up to me, or do you want me to replace everything with new... which actually would mean buying a new bike.

[Taz69]

Hi all,

little update, still no news on V5 etc, however Daughter has seen a ER5 x reg, 20k, couple of minor dents and light scratches to Tank for £650, its stretching the budget but surely its worth the extra, is that the right sort of money for the year, etc.
____________________
Honda Firestorm VTR 1000 in Yellow, Lubbly Jubbly

[Taz69]

Hi all,

thanks for the advice and tips etc, I have picked up the ER-5 X-reg, lovely condition, the dent in the tank is barely noticeable and its only small, the scratch should polish out, all in all my daughter is very happy, its a very nice bike, I rode it back from Launceston, Cornwall 126miles, rides very nice.

Thanks again
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Honda Firestorm VTR 1000 in Yellow, Lubbly Jubbly

[chris-red]

[quote="jjdugen"]

[FBSF]

[Rogerborg]

GLAD THAT WORKED OUT FOR YOU, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT TO PAY A LITTLE MORE FOR FEWER MILES.

(sorry for the shouting, I'm trying to be heard over the thread hijacking catfight)
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Taz69]

Thanks guys, yeah Roger thats what I thought in the end, like I said, its a totally different bike condition wise, most of all my daughter is very happy indeed, now she needs to get on with her mod 1 & 2.
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Honda Firestorm VTR 1000 in Yellow, Lubbly Jubbly