I am wondering about peoples thoughts on buying a bike 14 years old with such low mileage. On the surface it would seem like a great deal but my concern has to do with a bikes seals, rubber parts and the oil that has been collecting acids from sitting so long. I cant confirm if the owner changed the oil or flushed the radiator regularly or preserved the gas since he has passed and his widow is selling it.
What do you guys owners think ???
Thanks in advance
Kosmo
Yep, those are the risks of buying a "Barn find" type vehicle. You gotta go into it thinking;
It's going to need;
Tires
All fluids changed like fuel, engine oil, brake, clutch, suspension, coolant, etc...
Battery
Check for mice damage in wiring, seat, airbox, exhaust
So you work that into the price as things you are going to have to do to make it road worthy. There's no way I'm buying that and riding it home. It's going to be trailered until new tires get put on it. Seals will be fine. Oil doesn't collect acid, acid comes as a byproduct of combustion so as long as it hasn't been running, there should be no acid. Do not try to start it with that old fuel in the tank. Drain out that crap and see what comes out. Tank may need cleaning, it may not.
Spike nailed it. I bought my 03 with 6,500 miles on it August of last year and I now have about 32,000 miles. All fluids changed, tires and go!
Bring a 5mm Allen to take the air cleaner cover off for a look see. Pull the side covers to check wires. And look in the tank for rust with a good flashlight.
I bought my 03' with 8,000 miles in 2013. An oil and filter change, A new set of tires, new rear wheel flange bearings ( found that when replacing the tires ), and a new FPR and I had myself a great bike which now has 46,000 miles on it.
I put a thin smear of Locktite or CRC aluminum anti-sieze along the length of each of those screws before I put them back in. Same goes for just about any other screw or nut on the bike that I remove that has to go back on, same thing on the rear axle too.
i wouldn't be afraid to buy it.
as long as it has been garaged and not stored in a barn you should be good.
lots of older bikes still running on the streets all stock.
with efi it should start right up and run well.
i hope i can find one in the spring like yours..i wouldn't hesitate.
a barn find is completely different than finding an older bike that gets ridden 4 or 5 hundred miles a year.
those are good deals!!!
I bought my 2006 VTX 1800C on 12/31/2018 with exactly 5,000 miles on it for $5,200. Ran great, guy was 2nd owner, and he rode it once a week to the store. I replaced the rear tire on 02/21, changed oil/filter on 03/07, replaced brake pads, flushed the brake fluid, changed front tire all in August, and had to replace the battery in October. I've got 14,352 on my last fillup. It rides like a champ, and about to change the rear tire again.
I have a 2006 and 2007 with low mileage. They are in excellent shape. It's possible that the one you are considering is also in excellent shape, if it's been ridden occasionally. Fuel, tires, battery, fluids need to be checked for old age.
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