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I'm bike shopping and looking specifically for one as close as possible to the one I lost, an '02-'06 750 in black. E-bay, cycletrader and local dealerships have nothing, but Craigslist had several (except color).
But to the point: I've only gotten one response from CL. Everythings right except for the older egg-shaped taillights not the wide oval ones such as I like on the later models, but no biggie.
This guy sounds like he's seen Biker Boys too many times. He says it's been bored out, he thinks to about a 1000. He's got a jet kit and a yoshimura exhaust (slip-on I'm sure). Originally he asked $2700 in the ad; on our phone call he voluntarily dropped to 2300 then quickly to two grand even. Said a local dealership offered him 2k even as trade in value, so that's all he wants for it (trade for a 'Busa, the Kat was his 1st bike).
Also he said that the front fork(s) is/are bent. Said it seems to ride just fine, except that "the radiator is warping the front plastics" - meaning I think the oil-cooler is melting the front tire hugger. This tells me (1) the bike may have been wrecked, and (2) might not be safe to ride home.
We meet Sunday. For two grand I'll have money left over for a new set of forks if that's all it needs. I'm mostly worried that this guy just did random stuff to the engine to make it faster but didn't do things as a "package" where the additions work in harmony. He's offered to give me the information for the mechanic that's done all the work. Oh and he said the neutral sensor fades in and out, and won't start with the kickstand down especially when the engine's cold.
In as long as I've been on this site, I've rarely or never heard of boring the engine for more power; although I hear it all the time from ghetto people. Am I on the verge of buying a faster bike, or are there problems with this that are more likely to screw things up?
Way I see it, I've got 3 options and the first two are simple and straightforward.
(1) be glad that I'm getting a good deal, especially since the bike I want is hard to find and it's practically sitting in my lap. Just know that I'll have some maintenance expenses, which I would anyway.
(2) don't put my life at risk if it doesn't seem safe to ride.
Option (3) is to let him trade it in, then buy it from the dealership after they've done what it takes it get it in a safe, rideable condition. I'll pay more for it, but probably less than what I would having to pay his 2-grand + retail prices for the same maintenance.
Thoughts / suggestions?
But to the point: I've only gotten one response from CL. Everythings right except for the older egg-shaped taillights not the wide oval ones such as I like on the later models, but no biggie.
This guy sounds like he's seen Biker Boys too many times. He says it's been bored out, he thinks to about a 1000. He's got a jet kit and a yoshimura exhaust (slip-on I'm sure). Originally he asked $2700 in the ad; on our phone call he voluntarily dropped to 2300 then quickly to two grand even. Said a local dealership offered him 2k even as trade in value, so that's all he wants for it (trade for a 'Busa, the Kat was his 1st bike).
Also he said that the front fork(s) is/are bent. Said it seems to ride just fine, except that "the radiator is warping the front plastics" - meaning I think the oil-cooler is melting the front tire hugger. This tells me (1) the bike may have been wrecked, and (2) might not be safe to ride home.
We meet Sunday. For two grand I'll have money left over for a new set of forks if that's all it needs. I'm mostly worried that this guy just did random stuff to the engine to make it faster but didn't do things as a "package" where the additions work in harmony. He's offered to give me the information for the mechanic that's done all the work. Oh and he said the neutral sensor fades in and out, and won't start with the kickstand down especially when the engine's cold.
In as long as I've been on this site, I've rarely or never heard of boring the engine for more power; although I hear it all the time from ghetto people. Am I on the verge of buying a faster bike, or are there problems with this that are more likely to screw things up?
Way I see it, I've got 3 options and the first two are simple and straightforward.
(1) be glad that I'm getting a good deal, especially since the bike I want is hard to find and it's practically sitting in my lap. Just know that I'll have some maintenance expenses, which I would anyway.
(2) don't put my life at risk if it doesn't seem safe to ride.
Option (3) is to let him trade it in, then buy it from the dealership after they've done what it takes it get it in a safe, rideable condition. I'll pay more for it, but probably less than what I would having to pay his 2-grand + retail prices for the same maintenance.
Thoughts / suggestions?
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