Topic: Buying a well used bike

[eigenvector]

Would you guys consider buying a bike that had a LOT of miles on the clock for what I would consider the price for a nicer bike?

Guy's asking a good amount of money for a bike that has 80k on the clock.  Now I realize plenty of bikes go well over 200k, but it's rare and certainly as you get toward 100k core engine components begin to fail - bearings for one, sleeves for another.

Maybe think of the question this way.
A good condition bike with 20k on the clock goes for $3000 normally (hypothetical here)
So the same bike with the same good body, seat, plastic condition but has 80k on the clock I'm thinking would be about $1000 just because the motor would be extremely suspect.

Am I being too critical here or is engine clock time a real consideration?

Bike's a v65 Sabre if it matters.

[b52bombardier1]

What does NADA or Kelley say for a value at your zip code? This is at least a starting point for a price.

Rick

[Bankerdanny]

I think a mileage discount is certainly warranted, but I don't know that it is 50%.

Bring a compression tester with you. If the compression is good and the transmission shifts clean then I would offer less than what the lower mileage bike would sell for, but again, not 50% less.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

For me, it's not just freshness of the engine, but wear and tear on the bike as a whole too.  Even with a outwardly clean bike, high miles takes it toll.

[BomberMann650]

"It's a rare classic bike certain to increase in value"

- excerpt from Lies PO's say to sell their stuff.

[eigenvector]

For me, it's not just freshness of the engine, but wear and tear on the bike as a whole too.  Even with a outwardly clean bike, high miles takes it toll.

Absolutely.  Head bearings, swingarm bearings, wheel bearings.  All of that wears out.

Sure, 50% is pretty steep for a discount - I was just tossing a number out there (and hey I love a deal just like the rest of you!).  I'm more interested in the overall consensus here.

80k is a lot of miles.

[Desert-SOHC]

80k is a lot of miles.

Yeah it is, I rebuilt almost everything but the engine on my FLHS at 75K...I was AWESOME to ride after that. There was a big difference in it's manners.

[754]

80k is and is not a lot.
On a lot of bikes, I would take the 80 k one if it was toured mostly by an older gent, over 20 K by a 24 year old that never left town on it.

But it's a Sabre, and I have zero idea how they hold up, how hard to get parts..what screws up with them. So on the Sabre no, if it was cb 750. I would say yes.

[70CB750]

Try to reach to Magnaman.  I met him on PZ hand over.  Magna and Saber are like siblings, afaik.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=profile;u=22315

[MoMo]

Sabre was a good bike but has minimal resale value.  I recently sold an 84 700 for a grand and it was in excellent condition with new Pirelli tires and less than 12k on the speedo.  Magnas have a much higher value.

I bought a 1974 CB750 with 75K and had to rebuild the entire bike top to bottom including the frame...Larry

[ekpent]

 I've seem some pretty high miles on the Sabres but they did have a few quirks in the early years especially like poor quality metal in the cams on some and top end weak oiling at low rpm. It was a real image problem for Honda on their roll out for the V4 with that issue. Second gear can be an issue as well as the single rear shock which is expensive to refurbish.
  With so many good used low mileage bikes out there if a person is patient I usually pass on the extreme high miles. Now if it were a Sandcast or a hard to find classic different story. If the price on it was very attractive it may be worth a chance if it was maintained and not beat on. Like Larry mentioned people are not beating the door down to get them.

[MoMo]

I've seem some pretty high miles on the Sabres but they did have a few quirks in the early years especially like poor quality metal in the cams on some and top end weak oiling at low rpm. It was a real image problem for Honda on their roll out for the V4 with that issue. Second gear can be an issue as well as the single rear shock which is expensive to refurbish.
  With so many good used low mileage bikes out there if a person is patient I usually pass on the extreme high miles. Now if it were a Sandcast or a hard to find classic different story. If the price on it was very attractive it may be worth a chance if it was maintained and not beat on. Like Larry mentioned people are not beating the door down to get them.

Eric,  Cam problem was mostly the "little"  700/750 V4's, second gear was a rider induced problem caused by squids blasting off from a stop light at full throttle to show off their big, powerful bike and then missing second gear. Back in the 70's one could say the same thing about a C B750.  Can't tell how many 750 transmissions I redid during that decade...Larry

[ekpent]

Lot of available info out there to read. As a V65 owner and maybe another in the works in the future from a guy I have bought off before its worth learning their quirks. Here is but one read of many for the prospective purchaser.  http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/~rblander/V4_cams.html

[Kevin D]

Mine is not for sale, but I have just turned 80k on my one owner K1 with new wheel bearings, Hondaman swing arm bushings, All Balls tapered steering stem bearings, new BT45s, new AGM batt, new Hagons, nice paint, Diamond chain, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, and you want me to think this bike is worth $1000? Guess I better stop taking care of it.
Sorry, I can't speak to the V65.

[MoMo]

Mine is not for sale, but I have just turned 80k on my one owner K1 with new wheel bearings, Hondaman swing arm bushings, All Balls tapered steering stem bearings, new BT45s, new AGM batt, new Hagons, nice paint, Diamond chain, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, and you want me to think this bike is worth $1000? Guess I better stop taking care of it.
Sorry, I can't speak to the V65.

It is the V45 Sabre that ain't worth squat even though it is one fine bike.  The V65 Sabre commands a bit higher but nothing like the Magnas...Larry

[Duanob]

If you can find a bike with a lost less miles for the same price or less go for it. You're in the portland area aren't you?

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/5624981596.html

Maybe the guy with 80K will realize his bike is worn out and not worth much when no one buys it.