I want something i can use immediately without further expenditure of money or time, unfortunately. I spoke to the seller and asked if it had any history or receipts (esp for a piston replacement) and his reply was the typical "It was a part-ex mate, so we only have the V5 and an MOT certificate". That's the 3rd time I have heard that. Do these guys not bother to ask for documents when they take bikes in PX? I've bought plenty of (road) bikes that have been taken in PX but they all had history and receipts with them. Sorry, typo. It was a 220R. According to the interwebz the 200s don't suffer from the problem.
I don't know that dirtbikes & service history are particularly synonymous? TBH I buy a dirtbike on price & condition & sound. I know its been thrashed endlessly, screamed in all gears, in terrible conditions, through rivers, over rocks, and repeatedly dropped by everyone who has owned it. So, if the price right, it looks reasonable and sounds OK I buy.
Of the few dirt bike riders I know most do their own spannering, the riders that don’t buy new from a dealer and lose a chunk of money when they upgrade. About the only history I’ve had has been receipts for parts purchased . As with any motorcycle owners those that have issues will be the louder voice, not many times will folk post extolling the virtues of a perfectly reliable bike. Any of the bikes I’ve bought for off road I’ve just looked at it’s general condition heard the engine run up and had a quick ride to ensure the gearbox is functioning. Then just hoped nothing went wrong once I’d started riding.
I hear you, but some info is useful when due to work or ending up under house arrest in Tier 4 without warning over the weekend, bikes can't be viewed in person. Do owners not even keep their receipts? Not to mention that the weekend before last I wasted more or less the whole day travelling to view a GG250, only to find the seller didn't even know how to turn the bike's headlights on, or get the speedo to work and because he kept me waiting for almost an hour, the next one I was going to see cancelled. I was also just messaging the seller who has that blue Pampera, described as being in "excellent condition". First question" "I see it has a speedo. How many miles has it done?" Answer: "The speedo is broken". #rolleyes Almost every seller I speak to seems pretty dodgy tbh, save for seller of that Husaberg 300, but I missed out on that due to the guy with the TS250 messing me around.
I hear you too but knowing the thing has been flogged constantly, from the moment its started means I don't care about paperwork. Now its very different when I buy an Italian road bike, or a sports car, as the receipts and FSH shows who has looked after their toys and who hasn't. No one has ever really looked after their dirtbike! Price condition & sound -not always in that order.
Trouble is that finding out the 2nd and 3rd of those 3 factors usually means travelling hundreds of miles, and even aside from the time that takes up and Tier 4 house arrest, there comes a point when it’s not economically viable.
Yes it is a real drag buying them out of season and a bad situation clearly compounded by the Covid rules. Keep looking and talking to everyone. Your bike is there somewhere, its just a matter of time.
If anything I usually find it easier to buy out of season because as it's harder to sell bikes people generally make more effort to shift them. That doesn't seem to apply with these guys though. Earlier this evening I asked the trader selling the Pampera if he can send a walk round and start up video. Unfortunately he can't "because the bike is in another unit" but he assures me "as you can see from the photos it is a really clean bike" (3rd time he has told me that in response to specific questions about mileage and condition).
I was told it’s really easy to tart up an enduro bike. A jet wash and a new set of cheap plastic covers and they pretty much all look good. Pace yourself, if you can’t Tier4 will do it for you. You’ll love it when you get riding one. Great fun.
won't set the world alight but will (hopefully) keep going!:- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUZUKI-D...75&algv=DiscV1&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982
Thanks for that. Unfortunately it’s a bit out of my budget and it’s at the other end of the country in Durham so delivery would add another couple of hundred on top.
Cheers Chris. I think I’ll hold out for a 2T but I might give them a ring and ask them to look out for a bike for me because they (Bill Bunn’s) is my favourite bike shop. I bought my son’s moped from there a couple of years back and the customer service is fantastic. Just really nice people to deal with
Yes, that's 50% of the reason I put it up, plus knew it was roughly "in your direction". Love DR350/400 - shame that hasn't got electric start (later did).
I’m considering this 1972 DT175 (not at this price though) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114564964901 It may seem a silly question but can the the mudguard be moved up to be mounted on the underside of the bottom clamp?
You can mount a front mud guard to the underside of the bottom yoke but you will need to devise a system to attach it, probably drilling and tapping? You will also need a front mud guard with a suitable flat section which will fit flush with the yoke. All easily found on eBay or the Moto X online vendors. If you are going to do that I'd consider a pair for cosmetic reasons, but also because chrome originals in great condition will sell for more than the replacements cost.
I wrapped up a bottle of 2T oil in Xmas paper and when he opened it told him I’d bought us a new chainsaw each so we could go foraging for wood together. Then we went out to the summerhouse/workshop so I could show him his “chainsaw”. I didn’t have time to wash the bike as it only arrived at just before midnight on the 23rd and in typical man fashion, Xmas eve was spent converting the attic to a bedroom by insulating and boarding it out and then doing all the rest of my Xmas shopping before the shops closed at 5 It’s quite a lot scruffier than it looked in the pics and video plus it smokes a fair bit, produces oily black residue from the exhaust (jetting? mix ratio?), and the engine sounds quite rattly despite having a recent rebuild but he absolutely loves it. I’ve put down a deposit on a nice 1980 DT175 for myself which should be delivered before new year. However my spidey senses are tingling so I’m half expecting the seller to pull out. Fingers crossed he won’t though.....
