Buying a garage queen?

[maxp]

I've had the opportunity to buy a 2003 Honda with a lowly 3000 miles for a decent price. My first thought was to bite the sellers hand off, but after a wee think, am having second thoughts.

The mileage works out at about 275 a year, and I'd be surprised if it had a few years of non usage if anything had been done to prepare it for this.

So, (in a very round-about way) can there be any pitfalls when buying a very low mileage bike?

[MarJay]

Yes, it'll probably need new tyres and a service, just like any bike of that age. However, the cosmetics will be good. Depends on what you want I guess.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Polarbear]

If it hasn't been stored properly you will have a bit of work to do. Carb cleaning. Checking all the rubber items for perishing. Brakes etc. Nothing too major but all necessary.

Don't let it put you off though
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Carvel]

[Irn-Bru]

When I got my bike it had done an average of 76 miles per year. 690 miles, 9 years old, looked brand new out of the show room. The PO did service it, but it was always garaged and everything seemed ok. Tyres were starting to crack and later on found the brake fluid was black and still on standard brake rubber lines of course. I changed the oil to be safe but it was newish, and the coolant looked new too so left that. I personally see it as a plus when they're never used, especially if the price is right.
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[WULFSTAN]

Had many Deauvilles ?
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Your backside is better enough for you to run again, if need be – bristle up the courage of the cornered rat, put on a bold front, and to hell with them. Bluff my boy – bluff, shift and lie for the sake of your neck and the honour of Old England

[Rogerborg]

Buy it based on its condition.

Oil, filters, coolant, brake fluid, tyres, chain, sprockets, bearings, fork seals, shock. Check them out, budget for replacing anything that's mullered, enjoy.
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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

[mentalboy]

One of the disadvantages with a low mileage older machine is that, unlike a higher mileage used machine, you may well find that all the crappy OEM parts prone to failure on that particular model may well still be on the bike. At least with a reasonable mileage 10 year old machine you can usually sit back and think that some other poor sod has copped it for the upgrades/replacement parts.
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Make mine a Corona.

[Rogerborg]

Tru dat. I got a 10 year old 4,000 mile GPZ500S with the original E-Z-Rot exhausts that were only being held together with bandage and gun-gum. It was still a bargain, but do budget for some fettling.
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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

[WD Forte]

I've been to bike shows and places where some geezer has some umpteen year old bike and proudly stated it's done little mileage.
I like to piss em off by asking
"Why? what's wrong with it?"
I just don't understand folk who will do anything and everything
to a bike but get on and ride the fucking thing.
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bikers smell of wee

[Wonko The Sane]

[mentalboy]

[Polarbear]

[MCN.]

[rideslikean00...]

And of course there are those that are 50% riding, 50% doing all their own maintenance. I like those sorts of riders, they usually have impeccable machines and more importantly know how to make use of the things on the road.
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Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[Motorhate]

[P.addy]

[sickpup]

[P.addy]

[WULFSTAN]

So paddy how long did you ride a Deauville for ? I found mine to be a good all round bike was fun scraping the pegs on just about every bend.
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Your backside is better enough for you to run again, if need be – bristle up the courage of the cornered rat, put on a bold front, and to hell with them. Bluff my boy – bluff, shift and lie for the sake of your neck and the honour of Old England

[fatjames]

[Rogerborg]

[P.addy]