number of owners?

[ocatoro]

is 13 owners too many for a 1997 bike?
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[Tungtvann]

Mine has had more owners than it has years, albeit it's only 4 years old, but you don't necessarily have to worry too much.

[Irn-Bru]

That is quite a lot of owners but if the price is right and it runs ok don't take any notice of it. I had an old Fiesta of that age with 15 or 16 PO's.
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[The Shaggy D.A.]

What's the bike?

If it's a 125, then it's probably just been bought, got the owner through the test and sold on, so I wouldn't be surprised. Otherwise it's getting close to an owner change every year, so you have to wonder why no-one's stuck with it.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[tomh]

What millage is the bike on? I know quite a few people who have only done a few hundred miles and then sold it on. I'm owner number 12 on my 125 which is a 2004 reg, yet its only done about 6000 miles.

[Turkish]

You've recently passed your test so I presume (perhaps incorrectly) that it's a typical 'first big bike' bike.

With that in mind, I would say YES that is too many. Too many newbies likely to mash through the gears, burn out the clutch, drop it, etc. Mitigating would be comprehensive service history throughout the life of the machine - at least showing the owners took care of it.

If it's something like a supersport, it's more likely to have been a 'summer bike', given roughly one owner per year, so while it may have seen mostly dry miles, they have probably been 'spirited' dry miles, with all the risks of above but also newbie wheelie and stoppie attempts thrown in.

Went through the same thing when I was looking for my bike. On a budget, it was a compromise between condition, low mileage, low owners. I got a reasonably well looked after bike, reasonable mileage (30k) and 5 previous owners.

It's your call, bike could be a minter? Ride it and find out!
____________________
ZX-6R G2
CBR125R RW6

[ocatoro]

it's an er-5 with 17k on it
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[Rogerborg]

1,300 miles per owner, for a commuter bike?

Could be legit, but I'd be verrrrry careful.
____________________
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

[ocatoro]

mot history as follows....

23/10/2006 - 9,032

28/08/2008 - 11,677

01/09/2009 - 13,654

30/07/2010 - 17,201

10/01/2012 - 17,201

01/03/2013 - 17,896


seems odd it wasn't mot'd til it was 9 years old

i've done one of those text check things, it's not been an insurance loss or been stolen or anything on there...
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[SQL]

IF you ever have to ask yourself, then walk away imo.

[ocatoro]

well i've had vans with more owners and been fine...

could be import? first digit on vin is J, but then is that jdm... or just made in japan? (british code is S)

could be 2006 was when computerised mot's came into force?

could dealers be part of those 13 owners?
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[Turkish]

Yeah 2006 is the oldest that shows up.

I raised an eyebrow at this, though

[Tungtvann]

I'm guessing the bike isn't going to cost a lot, so at the price you'd be getting it for, as long as it seemed mechanically sound, just go for it. No more or less chance of it spontaneously combusting than any other 16 year old bike.

[ocatoro]

no not been to see it... going tomorrow.

i've put the vin through 3 vin decoders and it comes up as model year 2010 on each of them... despite c+p vin number from the 2006 mot...
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[reed]

I think a lot of owners can, in some situations, be a good thing, it means that it has been bought, had an excited owner that wants to look after it, then been through the same process of being very well cared for, for a while, by other new owners.
____________________
Generic XOR 50, Gilera SMT 50, GSXR 400 GK73A, Ducati Monster 600, Honda Hornet 600.
Sold. Stolen. Written off. Sold. Current.

[Sako]

When I check the previous history I like to see fewer owners with longer periods of ownership.

[ocatoro]

going to go see it anyway. booked train tickets, for the price i think it's worth a punt.. it's hpi clear, nice nick, etc
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[keggyhander]

There's a very good condition 1993 plate XV535 in my dad's garage with 14 previous owners on the V5.

[Clutchy]

The thing with having lots of owners is that it tends to (not always) indicate that because the owners haven't had it for that long they are constantly relying on the fact that the previous owner recently did the oil changes/services etc when truthfully only they first person ever did!

Of course this isn't always the case, I always fully service my bikes as soon as I buy them regardless of what the owner said has been done.

More so with most of the owners more than likely being new to bikes and possibly more prone to neglect servicing. I would leave it unless you know what your doing when it comes buying/looking at bikes.
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Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[henry hoover]

It may have had so many owners because people soon realise how bloody awful a ride they are.... I did my test on one. I think I would be more inclined to look for a cb5/600 of that sort of year. Can't be a great deal of price difference.
____________________
Cbr600rr 2010 Sold
Zx6r 636 2006 sold
Gsxr 750 L1 current

[reed]

I think I'm the 11th owner of my 99 hornet
____________________
Generic XOR 50, Gilera SMT 50, GSXR 400 GK73A, Ducati Monster 600, Honda Hornet 600.
Sold. Stolen. Written off. Sold. Current.

[cretin box]

Depends on the bike.

Years ago, at a local classic car meeting where I was showing off my latest acquisition, there was a moment where six previous owners were gathered round sharing stories of the big accidents they'd had in my car, and which major bits of it they'd replaced.

I reckon the roof was the only original bit left.

Didn't bother me a jot - I still liked the car, and I was still happy with the price I'd paid for it.

Do you like the bike, does it fit you, does it work, and is it in decent condition for the price you're paying?

[ocatoro]

So, i went to see lastnight... It looked as good as the photos, nothing appeared bent. Engine sounds alright as far as i can tell. It has obviously been loved by someone, it's virtually spotless.

Gearbox is a bit clunky, mainly into second, but i read this is common? And also i think it's 50% me as my instructor used to tell me off changing into 2nd as he could hear it through his helmet. I still don't know what i'm doing wrong.

Chain could be tightened. Not much slack, but i think its a tad loose.

Thats it really. It's got some uprated rear shocks which tallies with mot as it failed on rear shocks a few year ago. And due to grips overhanging the original bars, which for some reason had been sawn narrower, owner showed me the old ones, it failed on those shortly after he bought it last year, so his mot guy gave him a set of renthals.

the rest is standard gear. I'm a little worried by the box, but i have a mate whos an instructor and he assures me his is clunky too. So we'll see.

but for £550 i think it is a steal. It's got 10 months tax and mot so i figured it's throw away if i get 10 months fun and trouble free riding out of her.

Pics later long as she gets me home... Stopped with the mrs on way home in leicester. About to head off home... Only 190 miles to go!
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600