New Rider + First Bike = Bad Decision?

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amsterdam · #1 Unread post by **amsterdam** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:26 am

The Good:
I am a younger rider with less than 500 miles experience on my old man's touring bike. I have since moved out and started looking for my own bike. Did not want to spend a lot, just something that I can cruse around in.

The Bad:
After several months of keeping tabs on ebay/craigslist/newspaper for bikes in the area I land on a 1982 CD750SC, (~7,000 miles on it). It appeared to have been kept outdoors all its life as there was surface rust and the frame paint was slightly rusting at the seams. However the body paint was OK, seat was perfect and it seemed to run just fine when I looked at it. It fired right up and everything mechanically seemed good so 675 bucks later its mine.

First day out, it dies with a dead battery. I probably could replace the stator or regulator if that was it but it has since been running on the two left cylinders. Take it in to a local place that only works on older imports.

The Ugly:
There is rust in the gas tank (damn me for not looking in the tank when i picked it up) and the rust got into the carbs which is why they are not firing. So now Im spending 800 bucks for a carb rebuild and cleaning/coating of the tank. Plus a stator if that it bad as well.

I cant help but feel I was riped off. What does the community think?

Fast Eddy B · Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:41 am

Just chuck it all in, and get a gixxer, 750 is best I hear. I think that's what i'll get next.

#3 Unread post by **Wrider** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:51 am

What Fast Eddy is trying to say is that even an older CB750 is a little much for a beginner... Do that though, sell it off for more than you bought it for, and get something smaller... as in a 500 or something like that!
Wrider

DivideOverflow · Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:28 am

I think you sould just learn how to do your own work on it. I did carbs and a kreem tank sealant on my 79 kz650 for under 100 bucks.

800 is a major ripoff. Just buy the haynes or clymer manual and get to work! Don't be a victim, and don't buy an old bike if you aren't willing to get your hands dirty.

A cheap UJM like that isn't bad for a beginner who can handle the weight. Just fix the problems, sand the frame rust and throw on some black paint, and enjoy the bike!

Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:18 pm

Or if the rust isn't that bad put an inline fuel filter between the tank and the carbs.

cb750 is heavy but not the worst bike to learn on.

flynrider · #6 Unread post by **flynrider** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:42 pm

I'm with Divide. When asked, I generally tell newbie buyers that they should not get a 25 yr. old bike unless they're good with a wrench and willing to do their own work. As you've seen, repair costs on an old neglected bike can easily exceed the purchase price.

If you're not going to do your own work, you should get rid of this bike and cut your losses. Even after the shop finishes, your problems will not be over. It's a 26 yr. old bike that was left sitting outside. More problems are looming ahead.

To answer your question, I don't think you were ripped off (although the purchase price was a little on the high end). It's not like you really did much to investigate the suitability of this bike, so it's tough to blame the seller.

Pittance · #7 Unread post by **Pittance** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:46 am

What should a newbie going to buy his first bike to do make sure he doesnt get a lemon? If you cant get a mechanic to go along with you everytime you check out a craigslist ad, then what are some precautions you can take? I know the usual of not going for anything that has been sitting, especially outside. How old is too old? What would be a good year range to look in? Or if you know of a guide that explains exactly these things, point me there? Thank you.

shane-o · #8 Unread post by **shane-o** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:00 am

Pittance wrote:What should a newbie going to buy his first bike to do make sure he doesnt get a lemon? If you cant get a mechanic to go along with you everytime you check out a craigslist ad, then what are some precautions you can take? I know the usual of not going for anything that has been sitting, especially outside. How old is too old? What would be a good year range to look in? Or if you know of a guide that explains exactly these things, point me there? Thank you.

in a word, its gambling, no diff to buying a car.

You cant pull the bike down to have look, no one will let you do that.

Over here, we have a state driver/rider association, that for a fee, will assess a purchase and provide you with a "best guess" report, you got something like that there?

Failing that, do you know some one with mech'/bike skills to take with, only to those serious "intention to buy" bikes?

There are a bagillion sites on the www that give advice about what to look for when buying old or new bikes.

If its any help, i think we all feel like that when buying big ticket items.

I got ripped once on a 1985 sovereign series 3 jaguar, it cost me an absolute fortune to keep on the road and in the end I pretty much gave it away just to see the end of it.

flynrider · #9 Unread post by **flynrider** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:23 pm

shane-o wrote: I got ripped once on a 1985 sovereign series 3 jaguar, it cost me an absolute fortune to keep on the road and in the end I pretty much gave it away just to see the end of it.

Not sure if you got ripped on that one. I know 3 people that owned mid '80s Jags and they had same experience. I think that was pretty standard for that car.

My brother was given an '87 model for free and he couldn't afford to keep it on the road.

amsterdam · Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:03 am

shane-o wrote: Over here, we have a state driver/rider association, that for a fee, will assess a purchase and provide you with a "best guess" report, you got something like that there?

If we do I do not know about it. Thanks everyone for the feedback- I was already committed to the work at time of post so we'll see what happens...

My rationalization for a older/cheaper bike was that the statistics are against you for crashing/laying it down so if I did crash it I would not be out a ton of money.