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Post by mike500 on Dec 29, 2012 12:10:23 GMT -5
did anyone on here buy the non running parts missing re5 on ebay from dk motorcycles,nearly £2800 is a hell of a lot of money for a non runner which they listed as turns over nicely on kickstart showing compression but no attempt been made to start it,big oppsss as we all know re5s do not kick over nicely
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Post by Jess on Dec 29, 2012 16:38:13 GMT -5
I recently had a fellow bring a bike to the shop for service that was purchased as "ran when parked" It too, kicked though nicely... Compression would not even register on the factory Suzuki tester. I felt very bad for the fellow...  Ran when parked is the worst sales signal there is... Just my humble opinion. Best, |
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ap951
2nd Gear
Posts: 282
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Post by ap951 on Dec 29, 2012 20:48:03 GMT -5
Amen
at least when it comes to an RE5
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Post by ziggystardust on Dec 31, 2012 5:38:43 GMT -5
I get many emails from potental owners seeking buying advice, I tell them to buy the best they can afford, preferbly running and with history.
I have to admit most falls on deaf ears.
Z
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Post by Jess on Dec 31, 2012 18:14:40 GMT -5
Lee...
You have been reading my mind...
Together we would sound like a broken record... In stereo
Cheers mate.
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t140v
3rd Gear
Posts: 427
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Post by t140v on Dec 31, 2012 19:48:29 GMT -5
Happy new year to everyone, the debate goes on, buy the best running machine you can etc.etc. However when you want one, have been looking for 25 years for one, this is the one!, how hard can it be to fix ?. I've done dozens of other bikes so I'll do an RE5, the man on the street buys one then thinks "nuts" wtf have I got here (including me) when something as simple as a spark plug will stop it from running even though there is a good spark at the plug the carb has been overhauled with a hammer and punch to clear the jets, I have been lucky and have a runner, that is the chance you take to arrive at the meet on the only bike of its kind ( unless you organise a mass meeting) and as long as that factor remains people will buy the bike to get the "I've not seen one of those before" feeling. The fact that the difference between buying a runner and a pile of nuts can't be easily seen does not put people off buying the pile of nuts. (and there is Jess at RR who can sort most peoples mistakes out)
Dont criticise us who buy "ran when parked" "used to start" "will go witha new battery" we dont find the forum untill after we have parted with our hard earned cash and need answers, we are your new forum members and customers. Untill you can get sellers to put a ticket on the bike stating that it kicks over easily and the engine is F***kd people are going to but dodgy bikes.
Its up to the forum to offer the best advice to get their machine back on the road.
My whinge for the year, lets see some positive posts not nuts about some unfortunate thingy buying a non runner.
I hope you offered the guy that bought bike with the shot motor a cheap replacement Jess
Regards Stuart
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Post by snowrench on Dec 31, 2012 20:09:52 GMT -5
I live in relatively barren part of the world, where old and obscure motorcycles are concerned, the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and I haven't observed that RE5's are all that rare. At least not so much that anyone should pay a lot of money for a sketchy bike. It seems that once I became aware of the first one, which I got for about $400, then through this forum I found a bundle of 3 more which I bought for $2500, I flipped 2 of those, found another heap for $300, and have let 4 more slide by that were within a few hours drive, and only one of those was priced absurdly. I have a lot of bikes, some of them very nice, and PATIENCE is the key. Well and cash. But I can't imagine shelling out $2500 for a bike that didn't run. And when I see those ads saying "only needs a battery to run" I offer to bring a battery! The story usually gets more complicated at that point....
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Post by mike500 on Dec 31, 2012 20:53:35 GMT -5
snowrench the bike we are on about fetched nearly £2800 which is about $4200 in your money as a non runner
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Post by wayne on Jan 1, 2013 22:48:27 GMT -5
I have a slightly different opinion to others re "buy the best you can afford".
If you are fastidious, like Ziggy and a few others, then I can't see why you'd buy the best. You're going to end up refurbishing every bit anyway. And it costs just as much to rechrome slighlty dodgy chrome as it does chrome that is nearly, but not quite, perfect (as an example).
Similarly, a nearly perfect seat is not good enough for a first class restoration. So why bother paying extra for one when you're going to refurbish the base anyway, cut new foam and track down an AM seat cover. You might as well pay less for a torn seat with a crack in the base.
HOWEVER, I'll qualify this belief with the RE5. Unfortunately, given the near impossibility of rebuilding the engine, it is critical that you buy a runner or something that can be demonstrated to have good compression.
My only other rider is that while I wouldn't steer away from a shabby looking bike over a "best you can afford", I would steer away from something that has had significant time in the weather (having said that, look at Ziggy's before and after shots- see what can be achieved). My last ground up revealed all sorts of hidden horrors from years in the weather, such as a frame full of water that smelt like a fetid swamp when released.
If you want a rider with minimal intent to restore, then buy the best you can afford.
BUT IN ALL CASES WITH AN RE5, I'LL GO WITH JESS, RAN WHEN PARKED IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
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