Looked a 2004 VTR 1000 yesterday - Opinions?

wasmeneh · 10-22-2008, 9:28 AM

Posted this under the General discussions but I decieded to repost it here.

Ok here goes. My first bike was a new 1971 Kawasaki Mach III. Sold it long ago but I now have a 1972 Kawasaki Mach III and a 1200 Sporster XLH. I've been wanting a more modern bike for a while so I went and looked at a 2004 VTR 1000 with about 7XXX miles on it. Bike is all black and stock with the exception of frame sliders and aftermarket carbon fiber devil Dog mufflers. Couldn't find a scratch on it, rear tire is about 50% but the front is pretty bad with a wavey wear pattern (maybe out of ballance????) The guy is asking $4000 for it and lokks looks a good deal.

Questions

I will need a new front tire, recommendations?

Good deal or no.....?

What else to look out for on this bike?

The bike had not been started in a while and it took several cranks to get her going. But once she started she sounded great.

Thanks in advance

Mike
Wilmington, NC

natey · 10-22-2008, 10:34 PM

mike

sounds like it may be a fair price.

look at the chain/sprockets, service records if he has them, look at fluids for cleanliness, ride it or let him take you for a ride, encourage him to talk about the bike and look over everything with a fine tooth comb to determine if what he is telling you is substantiated by what you see.

I have a 98 superhawk and with 15,000 and it has been great and is fun to ride. the cool things about the hawk and twins in general are the torque and the compression. you don't have to rev the piss out of them and you don't need to overuse the brakes.

nathan

Prix · 10-29-2008, 1:13 AM

Ive owned and riden almost every bike on the market except a Duc 1098/848 and I will say that the superhawk is the BEST bike for the price and the fun factor. Screw the brand new R1 or GSXR 1000 or even the 1098 (because of the price) the superhawk is where its at. I am still going to visit all my SH sites even though mines for sale on ebay right now Im going to mouring the loss of a loved one, but as soon as I can afford it again this WILL be the bike I come back too.

mfbfl · 11-11-2008, 12:28 PM

I bought a 04 this July. Love it! I have had several bikes. Early zx7-R, Honda Hawk 650, 95 VFR and now the VTR. I got it over a newer VFR because it has character. The VFR IS refined, yes. And a smidge more comfortable. But the VTR, with "altered" cans, rumbles and snorts in a beastly manner. That is a good price it the bike is clean.

I found mine with 6k on the odo. And mine has been awesome. No issues. The guy really babied it. Most VTRs I found were molested. I wanted something stock, and well cared for.

I was looking for Red originally, but am glad I ended up with the black w/gold rims. Very unique for the model. More rare than red or yellow.

Look the bike over, check the chain as a good determination of how the rest of the bike was cared for. Look in the oil gauge on the motor. Is it clean? Or take it to a dealership to let them look it over. Make sure you go there prior to set it up. They might see costly issues you might miss.

Change both tires. I did. Mine were like yours. I just wanted to start my relationship with this bike on fresh rubber front and back. I got Pirelli Diablo Rosso's. I do not hot dog so I do not need sticky rubber like the Corsas or Pilots. Have been predictable so far. And should have good tread life compared to racier rubber. If you hot dog, might want something different though.

Check the battery.

Good luck

sumthin_major · 11-11-2008, 1:13 PM

I have owned a few bikes , and nowown a custom 1310 sportster and a superhawk. I LOVE THE HAWK. It is so much fun and handles better than some new bikes, in my opinion. problems to lookout for include regulator rectifier might go out, and if the cct's have not been changed then change them to manual ones.