Buy a bike without even seeing it.

[weescotsman]

Morning everyone. Newbie here.

I have just passed my mod2 and I am looking to buy my first bike. I will be going with the obvious choice of a CBR 600F. I simply like the look of the bike and it just feels right when I sit on it.

Anyway, i am wondering if anyone has ever bought a bike without even seeing it in person. There are a lot of CBR's available but not where i live. Therefore I was thinking about buying one and getting it delivered.

Good idea or bad idea?

Thanks in advance

[Copycat73]

a new bike yes ... some thing some one else has ragged the fcuk out of no ... they are gonna spot you a mile away and stich you up good and proper ..
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[Baffler186]

bad idea
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Rogerborg]

Western Union me the money, I'll go and buy one for you.

You are somewhat on the outer fringes of what passes for civilisation, and limited for choice so you may have to take a gamble.

Purely personally I'd probably take an unseen punt on a cheap private bike rather than a more expensive dealer one that might have been traded in because it was about to fall apart, that will come dripping with meaningless superlatives a warranty that's not worth the paper that it won't be written on.

This is the sort of cheap, unpretentious no-bullshit ad that I'd be looking at:

https://www.gumtree.com/p/honda-motorbikes/red-back-honda-cbr-600-f-2007-/1121333235

Notice that one's already "under offer". You'll need to be quick and decisive to get a remote bargain - personally I don't consider a vehicle sold until the money is in my hand or account.
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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

[stinkwheel]

I would and have.

I've had more bargains than dogs but I HAVE had dogs.

If you go into the enterprise with low expectations, you won't be dissapointed.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[CaNsA]

[petalbriefs]

I bought my first bike without seeing it.
Was from an established trader.

I was in Dunstable and they were in Derby, was exactly the bike I wanted, very low mileage and was in my budget.

I called them and said I couldn't come and test it, he guaranteed me I wouldn't find better, I managed to get free delivery out of him and he was right.

Bike was really clean and was better than anything I had looked at.

Not sure I'd buy one privately again but from a dealer/established trader I probably would
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Proud owner of an R6 + ZXR400
Honda CBR 125 R - Stolen

[thx1138]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

It's not something I've done, but would if the bike was something I particularly wanted - the price would have to reflect the risk though.
____________________
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

[weescotsman]

thanks for everyones replies. I was looking at a few dealer websites.

I think I will hold off until something turns up that is closer than 300+ miles away!

Thanks again
Jim

[CaNsA]

[Rogerborg]

^^^
True story.

Can't hurt to ask.
____________________
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

[blurredman]

I've had the good fortune to see before hand about half of the bikes i've bought because of their close proximity. However, the bikes that I had purchased on e-bay and not looked at before hand were perfectly fine.


My most recent purchase I saw before hand but it didn't run. Later down the line I come accross the fact that it needed a new piston and re-bore.

At the end of the day, even if you look at them and see them running, you have to take that on face value, you can't exactly go dismantling someone's bike infront of them to determine if it has piston slap.

Sometimes you get lemons.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[Baffler186]

[delsol]

I bought one from a dealer 350 miles away and had them deliver it.

I asked a lot of questions and they sent me a lot of pics plus pics of full history details etc.

Talked with the same 'salesman' several times and from that I felt I was getting straight answers .

Turned out to be a very good bike at a very good price, guess dealer was offloading excessive stock at the time.

Was I apprehensive ? too right I was, I would be apprehensive about doing it again even though I was lucky first time around, you takes your chances.

[notbike]

If it's second hand, look at it. In the daytime. Under the fairings. With someone who knows what they're looking at. For longer than 30 seconds.

[Rogerborg]

There's a couple of Fireblades up on Gumtree within a few miles of me.

Just saying.
____________________
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

[instigator.]

[Hefty]

[Wednesday Biker]

You can get dodgy dealers but usually you are pretty safe.The place I bought mine from mended the petrol cap lock even though it wasn't on the warranty list.
Might take a bit of moaning if something's wrong but you can come on here and name and shame them into putting things right like on don't get done get dom.

[Rogerborg]

[struan80]

I've bought two cars and my R6 from ebay without seeing them. Been lucky so far. I find it quite exciting and it opens up purchase options a great deal. Just check feedback, talk to the seller, get HPI check etc.

Wouldn't recommend this however unless it was a Fireblade, they are epic and none will ever have a fault.

[Val]