[Skeleton]

On collection, how many owners did your ride have?

After checking out a few different examples of CBR/VFR/RVF's and most seem to be between 3-8 .

Thanks for the help Firebladers .

[TattooedGQ]

2, me and the guy who traded it in for a harley.

[LoopyLee]

Mine had 7 former keepers prior to me owning it.. During the year before I had her (between MOT'S) she only did 300 miles with the previous owner, so she was barely ridden..

I know from previous MOT's that she started out as as a black bike, then she was blue and then about 2005 she became the Urban Tiger colours she is now.. Judging by the marks on the engine casings I would imagine that the colour changes happened when she was dropped and the fairing were damaged..

When I first got her I removed the fairings to give them a damn good clean and polish and found lavender flowers wedged in between the fasteners so I assume that at some point in the recentish past (the flowers still smelled all lavendery) she had been through a lavender patch..

[Skeleton]

Bloody hell, detective Loopy, that's a good bit of investigation you've been up to! 7 owners to me seems like a considerable number, it makes me wonder what each of the owner's reasons were for selling the bike and what the bike would've been through ><. (Hopefully not a lavender field, for example!)

[LoopyLee]

Originally Posted by Skeleton

Bloody hell, detective Loopy, that's a good bit of investigation you've been up to! 7 owners to me seems like a considerable number, it makes me wonder what each of the owner's reasons were for selling the bike and what the bike would've been through ><. (Hopefully not a lavender field, for example!)

If you think about it 7 isn't that many owners really. 400's are starter bikes and people won't hold on to them for long before selling them on and moving up to a bigger bike. I'm going to be selling her next year for just that reason..

[setanta]

One; limit for me

[skorpia]

Im #9 for my bike...

[setanta]

Originally Posted by skorpia

Im #9 for my bike...

Your trustworthy but I need to know who owned my machine first, if any before me. Then any type of madness can be practiced

[Skeleton]

Yeah, I'd really like to know the type of people who owned the bike, because that's half of the sale. I know that you're buying the bike but it gives you an idea of how it's been treated too. As for the seven owners, that sounds like loads, nevermind 9! I'd want two or three previous owners, tops, to be honest.Admittedly they are smaller bikes which are used to gain experience on (for the most part) but that would suggest that each individual person will have thrashed the bike hard. I know I'm guilty of riding mine pretty savagely!

[roland5color]

2 me and the original owner.

[LoopyLee]

Originally Posted by Skeleton

Yeah, I'd really like to know the type of people who owned the bike, because that's half of the sale. I know that you're buying the bike but it gives you an idea of how it's been treated too. As for the seven owners, that sounds like loads, nevermind 9! I'd want two or three previous owners, tops, to be honest.Admittedly they are smaller bikes which are used to gain experience on (for the most part) but that would suggest that each individual person will have thrashed the bike hard. I know I'm guilty of riding mine pretty savagely!

It would be very rare to pick up an old CBR/VFR/GSXR 400 with only a couple of owners, like I said they are starter bikes and people would sell them on once they have gained some experience on the road. Hence lots of owners..

There is no way of really finding out how the previous owners treated the bikes. All you can do is take someone with you who knows a bit about them when you go looking, and hopefully they can point out any potential problems for you.

As it happens I do know someone who has a VFR up for sale.. I'll try to find out some more details about it..

[Sideshow bob]

..... my gixxer had 7 previous owners, the Blade 2......

the only time I've ever paniced about the number was when I went to see one and the guy selling & had only had it a couple of weeks* but even then it's not always summut to worry about as I've know people who have bought bikes then a few weeks later have decided they don't like riding position, handling even the colour and flogged it on

I always try to get the best i can, but when buying a bike (or Car) I tend to worry more about the overall condition... even a good engine can go bang. you can do all the checks you like and still get caught out...
I usually assume a worst case & check out the price of replacement engines at the same time and if its a reasonable price, everything else is in good(acceptable) condition and replacment engines are readily available.. I do a simple calculation... bike £ + new engine £ = £X. if X is less than I woulda paid from a reputable shop I go for it.....
admitedly I wouldn't be happy if I got a lemon and had to replace/repair the engine.. but everytime you buy you take a slight gamble....


*he also gave some weird reasons for flogging it as I remember??

[davez]

My bike as far as I can tell was registered in Japan on the 31st of December 1993, being one of the first R models, with a very low frame number. It came into the country in April 1999 with approx 20000 somethings on the clock (KM or Miles?) and I am the the Tenth owner... Now then most years according to the MOTs it seems to have done no more 1500 somethings every year apart from 2005 where it has only 40 somethings recorded between MOTs. Looking at my bike it seems to have mostly been used as a summer hack as there is little in the way of corrosion to the alloy, and just seems to have gone from person to person.

I cant see any real problems at why it would have had so many owners, but I feel lucky i got this bike as I see so many going for twice the price I paid, for essentially the same bike.

[LITTLE-ONE]

i am the 7th owner of the bike

its a nc23

and i will be the last , yes its my summer toy

[Destructo]

My bike has 2 previous owners, + me - low for an 11 year old bike.

Bikes tend to pass through several owners hands as for some people they are just playthings - they use them for a year or 2, then fancy something else and sell / trade them. And yes, smaller capacity / "first big bikes" probably have more owners as the majority use them to get some experience (and NCB) before getting a bigger bike.

[setanta]

Originally Posted by Destructo

My bike has 2 previous owners, + me - low for an 11 year old bike.

Bikes tend to pass through several owners hands as for some people they are just playthings - they use them for a year or 2, then fancy something else and sell / trade them. And yes, smaller capacity / "first big bikes" probably have more owners as the majority use them to get some experience (and NCB) before getting a bigger bike.

True but theres no way would I trust an old bike that had many owners

[LoopyLee]

I've just checked my Z paperwork and she has had previous 12 owners.. Which, considering she is 29 years old, really isn't bad at all...

[Skeleton]

Hmm, thanks for the replies Bladers.

I think there's a lot of fluctuation in the number of owners and I can see the reasoning behind having so many owners, but gettin over 10 owners is just phenomenal. I'm not going to labour the point because I understand the sort of reasoning behind it, but I wouldn't feel very connected with my bike with that many owners . Not that I'm disputing the bike or anything!

I know that it will be a rare example to find one with few owners, but it'd be something I'd want to look for. Although, saying that, the prices can be ridiculously high anyway despite their age and milage. . Little disappointing .

[roland5color]

Originally Posted by Skeleton

Hmm, thanks for the replies Bladers.

I think there's a lot of fluctuation in the number of owners and I can see the reasoning behind having so many owners, but gettin over 10 owners is just phenomenal. I'm not going to labour the point because I understand the sort of reasoning behind it, but I wouldn't feel very connected with my bike with that many owners . Not that I'm disputing the bike or anything!

I know that it will be a rare example to find one with few owners, but it'd be something I'd want to look for. Although, saying that, the prices can be ridiculously high anyway despite their age and milage. . Little disappointing .

If you want a bike with few owners keep looking they are out there. I just got my 97 CBR900 from the original owner. It only had 7700 miles on the clock and was in excellent condition. Good luck.

[ghbzorro]

Originally Posted by setanta

... I need to know who owned my machine first, if any before me.

Originally Posted by setanta

...theres no way would I trust an old bike that had many owners ...

Originally Posted by Skeleton

... I wouldn't feel very connected with my bike with that many owners ...

What are your real concerns? Worried that the previous owners was bigger, stronger or was a more skilled rider and your bike will not repect you?

I think you should forget its past and enjoy it for what it is. After all, it doesn't ask how many bikes you have owned or have ridden before selecting it.

[setanta]

Originally Posted by ghbzorro

What are your real concerns? Worried that the previous owners was bigger, stronger or was a more skilled rider and your bike will not repect you?

I think you should forget its past and enjoy it for what it is. After all, it doesn't ask how many bikes you have owned or have ridden before selecting it.

Oh my, now we are moving away from the normal reasoning, think Im not going to go there

[Destructo]

Whereabouts you are placed in the bike market is probably the key point that has been missed in this thread. If you are spending £7-8k on a 1 year old bike, then you probably will find a 1 owner, showroom condition, low mileage bike on the original tyres with 2" chicken strips either side. In this case, 2 owners might be considered high.

However when you are looking at the cheaper end of the market, current condition is more important than number of owners. Any older bike that's covered a few miles will have some sort of history, especially bikes typically owned by inexperienced riders. If an older bike has one owner that has not looked after it from day 1, it could be in far worse condition than a 12 owner bike where half of them have. For older / cheaper bikes, current condition is, to me, far more important than the number of owners. If you can find a bike who's current owner is one of the fanatical types who fixes anything as soon as it goes wrong, maintains a strict service schedule and keeps the bike clean and tidy, it should be a good sign of a decent bike.

Of course, there are always the hidden gems around, old one owner bikes in excellent condition, but these are rare finds.

[Cbrfrenzie]

Just purchased a 2000 929RR with 10,300 miles. There was no previous title, just a certificate of origin. The bike was Freddie Spencer's demo bike from when he used to own and operate his racing school in the States. Factory plastics came bubble wrapped in a crate too, with zero miles on them . So not including myself, 1 previous owner.... THE LEGEND!

[Walshman]

I'm the third owner that I KNOW of... can you do a carfax on a bike?

[Skeleton]

Originally Posted by Destructo

Whereabouts you are placed in the bike market is probably the key point that has been missed in this thread. If you are spending £7-8k on a 1 year old bike, then you probably will find a 1 owner, showroom condition, low mileage bike on the original tyres with 2" chicken strips either side. In this case, 2 owners might be considered high.

However when you are looking at the cheaper end of the market, current condition is more important than number of owners. Any older bike that's covered a few miles will have some sort of history, especially bikes typically owned by inexperienced riders. If an older bike has one owner that has not looked after it from day 1, it could be in far worse condition than a 12 owner bike where half of them have. For older / cheaper bikes, current condition is, to me, far more important than the number of owners. If you can find a bike who's current owner is one of the fanatical types who fixes anything as soon as it goes wrong, maintains a strict service schedule and keeps the bike clean and tidy, it should be a good sign of a decent bike.

Of course, there are always the hidden gems around, old one owner bikes in excellent condition, but these are rare finds.

I think that's a fair point you're making there Destructo, I see where you're coming from when you look for quality of the bike rather than how many people have had it. Makes a lot of sense really and it's probably a thinking style I should adopt especially considering looking at this type of bike. Maybe it's just because I'm used to looking at bikes with few owners rather than with this many?

[Destructo]

Originally Posted by Skeleton

I think that's a fair point you're making there Destructo, I see where you're coming from when you look for quality of the bike rather than how many people have had it. Makes a lot of sense really and it's probably a thinking style I should adopt especially considering looking at this type of bike. Maybe it's just because I'm used to looking at bikes with few owners rather than with this many?

Well, perhaps... personally I'm a head over heart kind of person, if I was in your situation I would come up with a Plan B and Plan C. If the 400's available are not what you really want, how about considering:

B) - a Kawasaki 250 sports bike (sorry don't know the exact name) - I assume they are pretty much designed for the restricted licence market, & should be pretty much as good as a restricted 400. When your restriction is over, sell it & move on.

c) - Buy a CBR600F and restrict that (I assume it's possible ) - that way you can spend the restricted period getting used to the bike, and when it's over whip out the restrictors and you'll have a really good bike that'll last you for as long as you want it to. There are thousands of them to choose from, so you'll probably get a much better bike for the same money as the 400's you've been looking at, with fewer owners! Plus you will save the hassle of changing your bike at the end of the restriction.

Personally, I would be looking in to Plan C.... but as I said, I'm head over heart, if your heart is set on a 400 then maybe you'll just have to keep on searching for that perfect bike....

[spina220]

Bought my blade brand new only1 owner there, my crf had a previous owner who was a horrible mechanic, missing bolts, about 8 teeth missing on the rear sprocket, and just the other day I found out he over tightened on of the clutch plate bolts and broke the inner hub, parts in the mail, but the last time I ever buy a dirt bike bike with a previous owner trying to save a few bucks.

[Skeleton]

Originally Posted by Destructo

Well, perhaps... personally I'm a head over heart kind of person, if I was in your situation I would come up with a Plan B and Plan C. If the 400's available are not what you really want, how about considering:

B) - a Kawasaki 250 sports bike (sorry don't know the exact name) - I assume they are pretty much designed for the restricted licence market, & should be pretty much as good as a restricted 400. When your restriction is over, sell it & move on.

c) - Buy a CBR600F and restrict that (I assume it's possible ) - that way you can spend the restricted period getting used to the bike, and when it's over whip out the restrictors and you'll have a really good bike that'll last you for as long as you want it to. There are thousands of them to choose from, so you'll probably get a much better bike for the same money as the 400's you've been looking at, with fewer owners! Plus you will save the hassle of changing your bike at the end of the restriction.

Personally, I would be looking in to Plan C.... but as I said, I'm head over heart, if your heart is set on a 400 then maybe you'll just have to keep on searching for that perfect bike....

Yeah, those are two other options I've had in mind. So far I've don my research on the Kawasaki 250R (baby ninja) and the only problem is price - they're often round £3000 which is too steep for me considering I'll need to buy some new kit too. They're great bikes in theory - 250cc, 32.5bhp - but little things have me put off them. For example, I have thicker tyres on my Sumo .

As for the 600F's - it's something I'm going to look into now. I've heard a few people mention them on forums but never got round to looking. I just don't want a bike that'll desrestrict to over 100 bhp when the time comes. Hence the 400's .

Great suggestions though Destructo, thanks for the help as always.

[Destructo]

Originally Posted by Skeleton

Yeah, those are two other options I've had in mind. So far I've don my research on the Kawasaki 250R (baby ninja) and the only problem is price - they're often round £3000 which is too steep for me considering I'll need to buy some new kit too. They're great bikes in theory - 250cc, 32.5bhp - but little things have me put off them. For example, I have thicker tyres on my Sumo .

As for the 600F's - it's something I'm going to look into now. I've heard a few people mention them on forums but never got round to looking. I just don't want a bike that'll desrestrict to over 100 bhp when the time comes. Hence the 400's .

Great suggestions though Destructo, thanks for the help as always.

You're almost too sensible! My first bike was an unrestricted 600 (ZZR) - it felt mega-fast to begin with, but you get used to it fairly quickly. Remember, bikes only go as fast as your right wrist allows it to. I think after your restricted period you'll be ready for the full-fat 600 and the CBR is probably the best one, known for being user-friendly yet can go like stink when ridden by an experienced rider. You may never need another bike!

[setanta]

Has anyone mentioned the sv650s, brill bike oh I just loved mine