Motorcycle-Journal Forums - View Single Post

omegajim · 02-27-2007, 07:41 PM

For all those reasons above, you make a compelling argument for NOT buying an 1100, at least not for now.

Do your homework, find a smaller bike (max weight 400 lbs at the most) and go from there. There are any number of bikes that are 10 years old in good shape. Being Maryland, there will be quite a few bikes that "got put away and never got around to." Such as the case is here in Wisconsin.

While you are doing your homework (you shouldn't be in a hurry, but sometimes that happens) you will come closer and closer to the bike to get you back into the habit of riding. In the process of doing your homework, you might find say a Yamaha 535 fairly cheap in good condition that runs.

Don't want to admit to the seller you can't drive (or very well)? No problem, ask a friend who knows how to drive to take the bike for a test drive. A veteran rider will know what to expect from any given bike and guesstimate if there are "minor" concerns or the motor is about to blow (like a leaky head gasket, which can be expensive on a bike you just paid $1200 for).

Remember, you will most likely find what you are looking for in the oddest of places. Check the postings at the grocery store, take a different route home each day, take leisurely drives. You want to find someone who doesn't want to put the bike in the paper/internet because they don't want 101 phone calls to get the 1 guy who is going to buy the bike. I have used this method to buy my current ride, an old Yamaha.

Good luck.

02-27-2007, 07:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
omegajim M-J.Com Lifetime Achievement Award Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 1980 Yamaha XS850 Location: Washington County, WI Posts: 6,460	For all those reasons above, you make a compelling argument for NOT buying an 1100, at least not for now. Do your homework, find a smaller bike (max weight 400 lbs at the most) and go from there. There are any number of bikes that are 10 years old in good shape. Being Maryland, there will be quite a few bikes that "got put away and never got around to." Such as the case is here in Wisconsin. While you are doing your homework (you shouldn't be in a hurry, but sometimes that happens) you will come closer and closer to the bike to get you back into the habit of riding. In the process of doing your homework, you might find say a Yamaha 535 fairly cheap in good condition that runs. Don't want to admit to the seller you can't drive (or very well)? No problem, ask a friend who knows how to drive to take the bike for a test drive. A veteran rider will know what to expect from any given bike and guesstimate if there are "minor" concerns or the motor is about to blow (like a leaky head gasket, which can be expensive on a bike you just paid $1200 for). Remember, you will most likely find what you are looking for in the oddest of places. Check the postings at the grocery store, take a different route home each day, take leisurely drives. You want to find someone who doesn't want to put the bike in the paper/internet because they don't want 101 phone calls to get the 1 guy who is going to buy the bike. I have used this method to buy my current ride, an old Yamaha. Good luck.