Which CBR600?

[Mantzy]

As some of you know from IRC, i'm after a CBR600. It'll be my first big bike and I'm keen on getting a good one (especially after the problems I had with a certain ebayer but we won't go into that) so am after your opinions. As as it's a season to be voting (in america at least) I thought I'd add a poll.

Bike 1:
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4500723404

Bike 2:
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2498214784

Bike 3:
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4500495011

Bike 4:
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2497126814

& Bike 5:
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4500397163

You can probably tell now, I like black or black with something. Be honest, what do you think?

Cheers
R
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Current Bikes: 2010 Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Previous Bikes: 2002 Sachs XTC, 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R, 2004 GSX-R 600 K4, 2006 Yamaha XT660X

[mchaggis]

Number 4 looks the nicest in terms of paint jobs imo, though number 2 isn't bad either. Other than that they look like much of a muchness. I don't like it when people don't use upper and lower case letters properly, so that rules out number 3. Depending on how much information they've forgotten to add and on how bad said mark is, I'd be tempted to go for Bike 4. One extra thing to think about is the service interval. Is there one at 15k, or is it at 16k? Tyres, brake pads, hidden rust all that kind of stuff you can't really check without going to look at something is what would make the decision easier I guess.

I'd go for number 4. Whether you were asking for us to tell you which one we would buy or not is a minor detail. I'm sure Bendy and others would be more help than I.

Edit:Number two's cool too though, it's got the second best paint job and is the newer version apparently.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

Get the post 98/99 one (if you have enough ££££), its the best. Lightest, best engine, looks the nicest, best suspension/chasis etc.

no 2 (or another one like that)

[Davo]

Was there something wrong with the one you bid on the otherday?

[Mantzy]

[G]

[Mantzy]

[Bendy]

Come up with a set of questions and ask them to all the sellers.

When was the last service done? Which was it? (Valve clearances are @ 16,000 on a CBR).

Ask about condition of the consumables, cos if it needs new tyres and new c&s then you gotta budget.

You might also get a feel for the seller by the way they reply.

There are three black/silver ones on ebay at the moment - could give you bargaining power.

[instigator]

Yup, I have to agree with that lot, numbers 2 or 3. Plus, I wouldn't limit yourself to CBR's, as G said, but I suppose they are ideal step-up from a 125 IF your heart is set on a 600.

Number 2 is lurverly...depends on what the reserve is though

[Mantzy]

Any other questions I should ask? Writing up a list of questions at the moment.
____________________
Current Bikes: 2010 Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Previous Bikes: 2002 Sachs XTC, 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R, 2004 GSX-R 600 K4, 2006 Yamaha XT660X

[Fire_Eyes]

[CBRPETER]

I would go for either bike 2 or 4. I think 2 is probably the best as far as value for money goes. Take a look at all the bikes BEFORE you bid on them if it's possible, if you find something wrong after you've won and gone to check it out they will give you a bad user rating. As far as i can see it looks as if 2 is the go.
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Shes my life, shes so rad and shes the best ride i ever had!!

[G]

I wouldn't consider the GSXR or the r6 for what you want. I would consider the ZX and the Thundercat.

I don't think they're more liklely to spit you off, better suspension may even mean they are less likely to. But they may have that bit extra when you feel like pushing your bike that bit more at a later date.
(I should warn you that I've never been a fan of the looks of a bike that was designed with a jelly mould though ).

Main questions I ask, though I don't think I would ever buy a bike off ebay without looking at it first unless it was a serious bargain:
Main bits:
Are bearings/bushings ok: (Wheel, Suspension, head etc)
Any known engine problems; any smoke from the engine, rattles or other sounds?
Consumables:
How much tread left on the tyres?
Last service (oil change etc)?
Scratches/cracks on the fairings; one key for all locks?
Chain freeplay, sprocket wear

Make sure you do check it all over before you hand the cash over. That way you can make a fuss if it's not as described.

[mchaggis]

As it's your first big bike, I'd get some crash bobbins on it though. It'll cost you £50-100 to do that, but a slide on both sides and it's going to probably be considerably more (up to a couple of grand) to replace the fairings.
____________________
I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

What about a Thundercat? These are cheap as chips (cheaper than cbr6), and will be reliable. But you can't beat a Honda really.

Those post 98/99 (cant remember), the ones with the nice fairings and the fat rubber on the rear go for a fair amount of money: 2500-3k maybe, but they are great. I'd save up and get one of those, or get one if I had the De Niro...

Yeah check all the parts, and see how much you can knock off, if you want to take the bike.


Whats a "jelly mould" bike?

[Bendy]

[G]

[Villers]

I picked the FX as my first big bike, going up from a RS125. I find it to be forgiving (very), have more than enough power for what I feel I can handle at the moment and is capable of withstanding pretty much everything I can throw at it. I agree that the CBR shouldnt be the first and last word in your choice of a first big bike but having looked at the thundercat with my mate when he wanted one I would be wary, I dont think they age very well at all and cant touch the Honda on reliability. I think in an ideal world we would all love to go from our 125's to something as glamourous as a gixer but perhaps for some thats just not practical!

Anyway check for usual little jobs that need done straight off the bat, just like everyone else said. Especially rubber, because that kind of stuff will throw you over budget and leave you a bit stretched. Another area i would check on the FX is the head stock bearing (although reasonably cheap to replace) and cush drives!

[Danny]

[JonB]

Bike 2 for certain! But thats only my opinion.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Villers]

can't argue then danny, i apologise !!! Just of four we looked at three were dog rough but I guess we were unlucky, the fourth one (and I know this isn't the fault of the thundercat) had been crashed, written off and repaired - god bless the HPI!

[Mantzy]

I'd love to get number 2 as its the newest but I just got an email back from the bloke. The reserve for it is £3600 which is FAR more then i can afford. And yes, i do mean it this time!

Think I'd rather go for one of the other ones (preferably the black and silver ones) as they're a lot cheaper. This way, I can also buy some more kit too, and actually get insurance too, which would be a good idea
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Current Bikes: 2010 Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Previous Bikes: 2002 Sachs XTC, 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R, 2004 GSX-R 600 K4, 2006 Yamaha XT660X

[Mantzy]

Quick question: Why did the two people who voted Bike 1 choose bike 1 over bike 3 or 5?
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Current Bikes: 2010 Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Previous Bikes: 2002 Sachs XTC, 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R, 2004 GSX-R 600 K4, 2006 Yamaha XT660X

[Mantzy]

Quick update. I have the reserve prices of the bikes still available.

Bike 1: Currently £2000, 0 bids, 5 days remaining, reserve/reasonable price £2400

Bike 2: Currently £3000, 0 bids, 4 days remaining, reserve/reasonable price £3650

Bike 3: Currently £1800, 0 bids, 4 days remaining, reserve/reasonable price £2500

Bike 4: No longer available, however Winning Bidder is a scammer

Bike 5: Currently £2500, 0 bids, 3½ days remaining, reserve/reasonable price £2950

I'm tempted by number 3 out of them all. 1 has too many miles, 2 is too expensive, 4 isn't available and 5 is also too expensive. What do you think? Number 3 also said he'd remove it from auction if I wanted it.
____________________
Current Bikes: 2010 Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Previous Bikes: 2002 Sachs XTC, 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R, 2004 GSX-R 600 K4, 2006 Yamaha XT660X

[Villers]

Hi mantzy, not to rub it in but Ive got basically the same bike as the one in the picture. Mines an FX on a W plate with 7000 miles and I payed £2200. It needed some TLC but nothing major. Havent payed too much attention to the advert but is it an imported bike or a respray or something cos ive never seen one like that.