@TwistedRoots1 Craigslist is a scary place! There are some really great deals and some terrible ripoffs on there. Just remember that whoever is selling the bike is lying about something. Try to figure out what it is before you pay. Look for evidence of oil leaks that have been wiped off and marks on the engine that indicate it's been taken apart and put back together. Also check for crash damage that's been repaired.
wow.... how is this not illegal? thanks for the vid. I'm never going to buy a used bike from someone on craigslist. wow... I'm baffled. thanks again for the vid.
@SlowDaddie Just remember, when buying a cheap used bike, there's always a reason they're selling it. They'll say they need the money or they want to buy a different bike, but there is always a mechanical reason.
I've bought used and new. Unfortunately the new ones aren't problem free either. The bikes I've bought used are from a guy I ride with, so I know at least he didn't monkey with them. But I agree with your comments - how can someone intentionally do crappy work and pass it off on somebody else? You can't always trust the people you do business with, Its sad.
But, I'd buy a bike from you. You seem to really know how to fix them and would be upfront about problems you've had.
i totally agree how it seems ridiculous that a person could sell you an unsafe bike and still have a clean conscience. Why can't they just tell you "it needs a new tail light bulb"? you're already there, and going to buy the bike. the price won't go down based one one light bulb. geez
@gemivan I don't get it either. The Honda in the video was the scariest. It would go 7 miles, then the engine would just stop running until it cooled off. I think it's the ignition coil. Plus, the front tire lost all its air one day, and I found that the inner tube was ancient and cracked, and the guy had filled it up with Slime. And the oil drain plug hole was completely threaded, and the plug was glued in place with Permatex. And the kickstand sometimes falls down while I'm riding the bike.
@hoohoohoblin that's pretty messed up. i had the same thing last bike i bought with the drain plug and needed a helicoil. I also had issues with my coils and replaced them, weird huh. If the bike is really seizing up all of a sudden it could be the wrong size piston. A cracked coil should be more of a gradual loss of spark as it heats up (with my experience anyway)
@gemivan Thanks. I wasn't sure how a bad coil would act. My bike does have a high-compression Wiseco piston in it. Right after the bike stalls and I get off of the road, it kicks over fine with no extra resistance, so I don't think the piston is seizing. I replaced the magnetic pickup on the crankshaft and the EFI box with used parts (Honda doesn't sell new replacements) and it doesn't stall as often, but it still happens. I am going to try another EFI box and coil soon and see if it works.
Turn 40 this year and I'm still dreaming of the day I buy a new vehicle. I'm allergic to paying so much money for something that will depreciate 25% the first year.
As my father-in-law says, "Buying a car/motorcycle used or new is just a pig in a poke." Look it up on Wiki if you've never heard the expression because it's true. I once bought a truck that someone used electrical tape to plug a hole in the engine, drove it home the engine sucked the tape in, somehow blocked up the oil and blew the engine. That's what you get when you pay $800 for a truck. Of course at the time it was in the ditch because I hadn't shoveled the snow out of my driveway. oops
@Baggahammers Great story! I wonder how people can do that sort of thing when they know that you know where they live. Still, it's a lot more exciting to drive home than a new truck. I bought one new vehicle in my life, a 1996 Harley Sportster, and I remember riding down the road thinking "Are the brakes ok?" "Yes. They're new." "Is it leaking oil?" "No. It's new." "Does it need a tune up?" "No. It's new." "Are the tires ok?" "Yes. They're new."
I Agree with what you say , Even when the bike you may be buying look's top notch . It may have hidden bodge work that may not surface at first . The only conclusion i can come to is money before safety .
@DarkFlight600 Yeah. It gets worse as the price of the bike goes down, and I'm a bottom feeder. I always assume the seller is hiding something. If I can find out what the problem is while I'm looking at the bike, I can get a great deal, but that rarely happens. Still, I'd rather have 5 old bikes than one new one, for the same money.
im kind of scared now to buy my bike on creigslist.... god i wish i was a motorcycle mechanic....
TwistedRoots1 3 months ago
@TwistedRoots1 Craigslist is a scary place! There are some really great deals and some terrible ripoffs on there. Just remember that whoever is selling the bike is lying about something. Try to figure out what it is before you pay. Look for evidence of oil leaks that have been wiped off and marks on the engine that indicate it's been taken apart and put back together. Also check for crash damage that's been repaired.
hoohoohoblin 3 months ago
wow.... how is this not illegal? thanks for the vid. I'm never going to buy a used bike from someone on craigslist. wow... I'm baffled. thanks again for the vid.
SlowDaddie 7 months ago
@SlowDaddie Just remember, when buying a cheap used bike, there's always a reason they're selling it. They'll say they need the money or they want to buy a different bike, but there is always a mechanical reason.
hoohoohoblin 7 months ago
I've bought used and new. Unfortunately the new ones aren't problem free either. The bikes I've bought used are from a guy I ride with, so I know at least he didn't monkey with them. But I agree with your comments - how can someone intentionally do crappy work and pass it off on somebody else? You can't always trust the people you do business with, Its sad.
But, I'd buy a bike from you. You seem to really know how to fix them and would be upfront about problems you've had.
dahveed284 11 months ago
i totally agree how it seems ridiculous that a person could sell you an unsafe bike and still have a clean conscience. Why can't they just tell you "it needs a new tail light bulb"? you're already there, and going to buy the bike. the price won't go down based one one light bulb. geez
gemivan 1 year ago
@gemivan I don't get it either. The Honda in the video was the scariest. It would go 7 miles, then the engine would just stop running until it cooled off. I think it's the ignition coil. Plus, the front tire lost all its air one day, and I found that the inner tube was ancient and cracked, and the guy had filled it up with Slime. And the oil drain plug hole was completely threaded, and the plug was glued in place with Permatex. And the kickstand sometimes falls down while I'm riding the bike.
hoohoohoblin 1 year ago
@hoohoohoblin that's pretty messed up. i had the same thing last bike i bought with the drain plug and needed a helicoil. I also had issues with my coils and replaced them, weird huh. If the bike is really seizing up all of a sudden it could be the wrong size piston. A cracked coil should be more of a gradual loss of spark as it heats up (with my experience anyway)
gemivan 11 months ago
@gemivan Thanks. I wasn't sure how a bad coil would act. My bike does have a high-compression Wiseco piston in it. Right after the bike stalls and I get off of the road, it kicks over fine with no extra resistance, so I don't think the piston is seizing. I replaced the magnetic pickup on the crankshaft and the EFI box with used parts (Honda doesn't sell new replacements) and it doesn't stall as often, but it still happens. I am going to try another EFI box and coil soon and see if it works.
hoohoohoblin 11 months ago
Turn 40 this year and I'm still dreaming of the day I buy a new vehicle. I'm allergic to paying so much money for something that will depreciate 25% the first year.
Baggahammers 1 year ago
As my father-in-law says, "Buying a car/motorcycle used or new is just a pig in a poke." Look it up on Wiki if you've never heard the expression because it's true. I once bought a truck that someone used electrical tape to plug a hole in the engine, drove it home the engine sucked the tape in, somehow blocked up the oil and blew the engine. That's what you get when you pay $800 for a truck. Of course at the time it was in the ditch because I hadn't shoveled the snow out of my driveway. oops
Baggahammers 1 year ago
@Baggahammers Great story! I wonder how people can do that sort of thing when they know that you know where they live. Still, it's a lot more exciting to drive home than a new truck. I bought one new vehicle in my life, a 1996 Harley Sportster, and I remember riding down the road thinking "Are the brakes ok?" "Yes. They're new." "Is it leaking oil?" "No. It's new." "Does it need a tune up?" "No. It's new." "Are the tires ok?" "Yes. They're new."
hoohoohoblin 1 year ago
I Agree with what you say , Even when the bike you may be buying look's top notch . It may have hidden bodge work that may not surface at first . The only conclusion i can come to is money before safety .
terence20001 1 year ago
It's always "buyer beware" with "as is" purchases, what you see isn't always what you get!! :)
TheBikerZito 1 year ago
Great rant! All good points. And I'm jealous of all the 2 wheel toys you have there.
gogodre 1 year ago
@DarkFlight600 Yeah. It gets worse as the price of the bike goes down, and I'm a bottom feeder. I always assume the seller is hiding something. If I can find out what the problem is while I'm looking at the bike, I can get a great deal, but that rarely happens. Still, I'd rather have 5 old bikes than one new one, for the same money.
hoohoohoblin 1 year ago