1st bike: 2-3 / 10+ yr old?

[smoothie]

hi i've decided to get a 2nd hand super 4. i've never owned a bike before and will only keep this one for a yr.

 

my main concern is to minimise depreciation & repair costs during the 1 yr, so i'm not fussy abt price etc. shld i get a cheap 10+ yr old bike or a newer one with less wear/tear?

 

i posted in the s4 forum but got few replies; maybe other bike owners can help me. thanks!

[lutein]

I got an S4 for my first bike. Like you I also don't intend to keep this for long. My main determining factor is budget. Given my budget ($5K including transfer, tyre and parts replacement etc), I could only afford a Spec 1.

 

Old bike doesn't mean expensive to repair; new bike doesn't mean good condition (although depreciation certainly comes in). If you are getting an S4 I won't worry that much about depreciation unless you really paid through the nose for it. S4 is generally very re-sellable.

 

My bike is almost 10 years old. It has some leaks here and there but its engine is good. For me repair cost is not a major issue because I have an in-house mechanic. Parts you can buy from shops like Ever Success. Anyway, it's not difficult to DIY as you can seek help from the forumers here.

 

If you're getting an old bike you also need to consider COE. My bike's COE will be expiring soon (before I can get my Class 2) so I'll need to renew it next year.

[Hydher]

Generally, old more more likely of wear and tear. New one more depreciation. But if you know how to choose a gem for the old one, its a keeper =)

[endlessloop]

Due to extremely limited budget, my very first bike was a 10+++++ year old bike passed down by 5 previous owner! It was CBX125 and I used it for several years

 

Once you get a 2nd hand bike, luck will always play a major factor.

A 1-2 yr old jap bike like Super4 will have low chance of major part spoiling and needing you to pay.

 

 

In my opinion, if you get any bike after 3 years, just prepared to pay extra to fix things up along the way. So in a way, you can say that buy 7 year old bike also depend on luck and need to spend some $ to replace parts. Buy 10+year old bike also depend on luck. So why not 10+++ yr bike?

 

Key component in my opinion is the engine. Everything else is relatively cheaper to replace (eg: brakes, even alternator). And Super4 has quite a bombproof engine

Since you are planning to keep only one year, in my opinion, the risk of a >10 yr super4 engine needing complete replacement is quite low.

One advantage of older generation bike is less electronics and has lower replacement cost.

 

If you are going to try your luck, a way to help you lower your risk is to get a bike from a trust worthy friend who has been riding that 10++ yr bike almost everyday (means that he/she got to keep the bike in running condition).

[smoothie]

wow thanks for all your comments. you all have been really helpful & i'm glad i found this forum!

 

looks like i'll look out for a 10+ yr old s4 then. to min my risk i'm thinking of asking the seller to bring the bike to my mechanic to assess the condition. of course i'll compensate both seller & workshop accordingly.

 

is this a good idea?

[lutein]

I didn't do that because I have a trusted friend who knows bike view the bike for me. In general the following in mind:

 

1) Engine sound - should be smooth not rat-tat-tat and shaking;

2) Get stock bike instead of those with 1,001 modifications;

3) Look for signs of accident - frame bent, fork bent, scratches, rust etc. Stay away from accident bikes in general. Minor drops are not so bad;

4) Look for leaks - this one mostly can repair but you must know where the leak is. However if leaks caused corrosion then the part must be replaced;

5) Things like brake lines, clutch cables are cheap and easy to replace;

6) Things like engine, carburetor, forks etc are very expensive so must make sure these parts are ok.

 

Hope this helps.

[endlessloop]

Visual inspection by mechanic might help,bBut bear in mind that given a 10+yr old bike, there's likely going to be quite a few comments from the mechanic.

And things not visible (eg: unusual heavy fuel consumption) and things that occur randomly (eg: bike engine now and then stall) are going to be hard to detect.

Edited June 26, 2009 by endlessloop

[KeraKing]

6 months ago i've just bought a 19 year old 250cc 2stroke.

engine in good condition and easy to start.

fuel consumption is acceptable.

the only major problem are the brake discs which are quite worn.

but its a 2 stroke so changing everything is cheap and easy.

 

its a proof that cheap and old bike mustn't necessarily be problematic.