who's bought a write-off?

[yankeedoodle]

I've been looking on salvage websites at grade C and D write offs.the reason is because I want a new bike, and I've figured I can get a better bang for my buck if i put a bit of elbow grease in to fixing it back up again. just wondering if anyone else has done this and how recommendable it is.

thanks

[Itchy]

Salvage companies aren't going to lose money, and thus salvage bikes will easily cost MORE to put right than a non damaged bike anyway.

An example is this 2000 CBR

https://www.rsmotorcycles.co.uk/pages/HONDA08.html

needs: (all ebay ball park)

front wheel an easy £80-£150
new forks easy £90 each
new discs £200
new calipers £80
nose cone £100+
indies £20
mirrors £20
clip ons £15
yokes £50
clocks £70
head lamp £40

£855

+ £200 IF the HISS ignition transponder is damaged
+ £50 infill panels
+£10 V piece
+£100 if the fork legs are damaged

=£1200ish

total £2600 ish

THATS IF the radiator is ok , and thus the downpipes aren't damaged also which can add another £200.

Might as well buy a decent one in the first place

Privately is completely different though since you can get them fairly cheap namely as sellers just want shot of the thing, and many don't know how to repair stuff.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[TUG]

Didnt by my bike direct from a breakers but mine was a cat C and its been killed almost.
If you can its a cat D you want. Little damage and buyers are put off meaning lower price.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[Pete.]

[yankeedoodle]

yeah i know what you mean ichy but my approach is like this:

firstly, im keen to get a new bike for the summer and therefore, any cosmetic damage that needs fixing on the bike can be fixed as and when I can afford it.which is ideal because it means I can buy a bike cheaper than it would be normally, and effectively pay any extra in installments.

secondly, bikes i have looked at in particular have had front fairing damage, in which case I intend to remove the fairing all together to make it a naked bike.

thirdly, I am keen to get some experience in "fixing up" a bike and therefore, that in itself is worth a bit to me.

thats just how I view my situation anyway. your opinions are welcome as always.thanks for the reply

[G]

For 'salvage' bikes, best bet is to find an owner that's just paid a paltry sum to have but their written-off bike back. They can still make lots of money by selling it to you way under what a breaker may charge.

[Whosthedaddy]

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/18122007001.jpg

My filthy dirty whore was a Cat C.

Straightened and retested a year or 2 back.
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Tricolor Fan]

Buying from a salvage company who have bought it from an auction is probably not the way to go, since they want to make a profit on it.

It's not hard to find auctioneers who deal with insurance companies directly and it's here that bargains can be found.

I picked up a Cat. D Ducati 748R for less than a third of the (private) book price. It was sold as non-runner, but that was only down to the battery and some block connectors. When I've put it on the road it will have cost me half of book price.

However, I wouldn't have bought it if I didn't tink I could get most of my money back if I decided not to repair it.

It's a bit of a gamble...
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Give me ambiguity or give me something else.

[colin1]

i bought my first bike from a salvage place and i got ripped off and thought i was getting a bargain as it was stolen recovered

it needed a lot of work, and i would have been far better off buying a bike from someone off ebay

my first big bike was a cat D off a guy on ebay, and that has been fine, not necessarily a huge bargain, but had a few extras i wanted, and no more than some others around
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[stinkwheel]

If you aren't fussy about cosmetics, you can make a cracking streetrighter.

Go for a plastics write-off. Throw the plastics in the bin, attach a headlamp and aftermarket clockset, set of drag bars and away you go. "You can't see it when you're riding it."© G
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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.

[yankeedoodle]