Replacing the Duc w/ a Triumph

[SprintRSrider]

I may know of another option for you.  Let me get hold of my riding buddy.  He's got a 2002(?) 955 Daytona in his garage that's pretty well done.  I think he's been considering moving it because he bought a KTM sport bike.  Low miles, aftermarket exhaust, some accessories, etc.

That is a pair of beautiful Daytona's.  for what it's worth, the red one is a '98.  

[Stripes]

At this point it looks like I'm going to Detroit tomorrow to check out the '04 600... I'll let you guys know what pans out. Cheers

[Stripes]

for what it's worth, the red one is a '98.  

Yeah but it still looks great!

[Stripes]

It's a no go on the 600. More details later...

[Stripes]

So TheRedOnesAreFaster & I drive to Detroit to check out this bike: http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/mcy/3330229980.html

After talking to the owner on the phone 3 separate times & asking the typical buyer questions I feel pretty confident about buying this machine. I take $3000 out of the safe, drive to Battle Creek to p/u TheRedOnesAreFaster & his gear, grab a couple of Mountain Dews, waters & a couple of Whatchamacallits & we are on our way. I just have to make a quick out of the way stop in Lansing & then we head for New Baltimore where the Daytona is. The forecast for the day is 71 degrees & a 90% chance of rain. Unbelievably, we managed to dodge the rain all day & never see a drop!

Alright, we get to New Baltimore & call the guy & his girlfriend says he had to run but he'll be back within the hour. No big deal, we're both hungry so we figure we might as well eat so that way if it starts raining we won't have to stop & get dry then head back out in the rain for the rest of the journey home. We finish our Texas Roadhouse steaks, I pay the tab & I call the guy & he happens to be available so we head right over. It only took us 3 minutes to get there from the restaurant. We get there & he's got the bike outside parked next to his buddies 883 Sportster & it is looking great gleaming in the sun! Prior to the trip out I asked him if there was anything wrong w/ it & has it ever been down & he said no to both except that there was a couple of small bubbles in the paint on the gas tank. TheRedOnes & I get out of the car & introduce ourselves & shake hands w/ the guy & his buddy. The guy said he just got back from taking it for a ride to make sure there was nothing wrong w/ it for our test ride.

Now it's inspection time. 1st thing I look for is signs of a crash, & what do you know... There is scraping & grindage on the right mirror, right front turn signal, hand brake lever, right foot peg, left rear turn signal, rear passenger peg, muffler & a little on the right side fairing. It wasn't too bad, it almost looked like it had been dropped in a driveway or something while stopped. it definitely didn't look like there was any sort of crash. I ask him about it & he says he doesn't know how it got there & never noticed it before. Okay, moving on. I notice oil on the side of the lower part of the motor just under the clutch cover & on the right side fairing where it is vented. TheRedOnes peeps it out & says it looks like the valve cover is leaking. I ask the owner about that & he seems surprised & didn't know about it or notice it before. Alright, still not too bad. We keep looking & notice some kind of a leak on the shifter lever. TheRedOnes asks him for a 8mm socket & pulls the sprocket cover off & notices the counter shaft is leaking. The chain looks okay, but is apparently the original & looks like it will need to be changed soon. We check the oil & coolant levels even though the bike is still warm from his 10 mile ride & everything appears to be up to par there. We then check the tires that he says were on it 2 1/2 years & 2500 miles ago when he bought it & both the front & rear are worn past the wear bars & looking on the verge of dangerous. At this point I call SprintRSrider(our Ducati & Triumph expert mechanic) & talk to him about what we found out so far. He tells me that the countershaft & valve cover gasket are no big deal to replace & can probably get both things done, parts & labor for about  $300ish. I already know that I want to put Pirellis on it so there's another $300ish if TheRedOnes &/or SprintRSrider help me put them on & avoid a dealer or shop. So right now we're looking at $600-$700 just to get it up to snuff. At this point TheRedOnesAreFaster is just itching to take it for a test ride to see what happens. He's worried about something being wrong w/ the shifting due to the counter shaft issue. I want to settle on a price before he lets TheRedOnes take it for a spin just in case. The owner makes sure that I have cash in hand & I make sure that he has a clean title & then we start to negotiate.

Now keep in mind that I know that this is not a new bike & I'm not expecting it to be perfect & for all I know all kinds of things could start to go wrong w/ it after I purchase it. I ask him now that he knows about these issues that we've found what the least he would take for it was. He then asks what my offer is. I'm not expecting him to accept my offer, but I tell him based on what I know for sure what I need to do w/ it before I can start riding it(tires, valve cover, counter shaft) I offer him $2200. He says no as I expect & counters w/ $2500. I tell him that the most I will pay for it as is, I will only pay $2300 & he declines again. His buddy suggests that he take it in to have the valve cover gasket replaced & fix the countershaft & then I pay $2500 for it. The owner agrees that he thinks that that is fair & would I agree to that. I tell him if he gets those 2 things fixed & doesn't put new tires on it that I will give him $2400. He says the least he will take right now is $2500. I tell him that I don't want to pay that much & to go ahead & try to sell it to someone else but to keep my number & to call me if he needs to move it & hasn't found a buyer. He asks me if I'll give him $2400 for it as is & I tell him $2300 is the most I will pay for it as is. He asks me if he gets the 2 mechanical issues fixed if I will give him $2500 & I say maybe, give me a call if it comes down to that. We all shake hands, say our goodbyes & he apologizes & we tell him no worries. As we are pulling away he stops me & asks why I am stuck at $2300 & I explain to him that I didn't want to pay more than $2800-$3000 for that bike & w/ the repairs & tires it needs I will be right at that mark or over & he says okay & take care & that he is going to keep my number. TheRedOnes & I head out, stop at the 1st gas station we see, take a piss, grab a couple of Dews & hit the road for Battle Creek. All in all it was a pleasant experience & the seller was a pretty cool cat.

I had every intention of leaving Detroit w/ that motorcycle. I am a little bummed that we couldn't make a deal, but I'll just keep searching for the right one. I have $3450 coming from the insurance company burning a hole in my pocket! Maybe sleazy rider's buddy & I can make a deal or maybe I'll find something else, but for now, the search continues...

Cheers

[Stripes]

Still no word from Scott about the 955...

[sleazy rider]

I'll stop and see him tomorrow at his workplace.

[Stripes]

I'll stop and see him tomorrow at his workplace.

That would be nice of you... thanks!

[Stripes]

Fuck it. Done searching.

[davenay67]

How about an S3..??

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/mcy/3318706965.html


I agree with the others that the triple motors have so much more sould than the I4's. The 1200 is much better than the 600, but the triples are glorious.

[falconati]

Wait for a few months until the prices plummet  

[Stripes]

The saga continues... I received a text from the seller of the '04 Daytona that TheRedOnesAreSlower & I went to look at a few days ago & he said if I was still interested he would let it go for $2400. I responded that I was still interested but that I had already been up there once so would he consider $2300. He sent me a text this morning accepting my offer!  Now I'm not sure if that's what I want or not... It seems like a good deal & from what we found upon inspection it really seems to be okay, just a few hundred dollars to get it in tip-top shape. Please advise oh wise STNers. Cheers

[HipGnosis]

The saga continues... I received a text from the seller of the '04 Daytona that TheRedOnesAreSlower & I went to look at a few days ago & he said if I was still interested he would let it go for $2400. I responded that I was still interested but that I had already been up there once so would he consider $2300. He sent me a text this morning accepting my offer!  Now I'm not sure if that's what I want or not... It seems like a good deal & from what we found upon inspection it really seems to be okay, just a few hundred dollars to get it in tip-top shape. Please advise oh wise STNers. Cheers

You made an offer and he accepted.
By the honor code of ST.n... you must go through with the deal.

And, of course, enjoy the new ride!!
Oh, and... it doesn't exist w/o pix...

[Dan K]

MAybe a good thing you didn't get the S3 in Chicago - look at the end of the ad...

"'breaks great."  

Good luck with the Daytona - sorry the insurance company didn't give you another $1600.

- Dan

[Stripes]

sorry the insurance company didn't give you another $1600.

- Dan

Me too.    I'd be buying your 675 if they had...  

[Rincewind]

$2300 seems like an incredible price for a 2004 supersport, at least compared to the prices i see for Japanese ones.  If the scratches and issues aren't scaring you alway, it could be a very fun bike, albeit completely different than the Ducati.

[veefer800canuck]

I would prefer the torque and exhaust note of the big bore triple, but that's just me.

[RIDUX]

Any news here STRIPES?

[Stripes]

All personal expenditures are on hold right now. My company is in the process of buying another commercial property. I have made the seller aware of this & he is fine w/ it. If he hasn't sold it in a couple of weeks we will complete the transaction at that point.

[Stripes]

Any news here STRIPES?

I've decided I'm definitely not going to get another Ducati. I'm still keeping my eyes open for a pre-owned Daytona 600, 650, 675 or 955 or an affordable 1050 Speed Triple. However, since I finished restoring the Norton for the most part, I just might not get anything to replace the Duc. The few short times I have ridden the Norton I've fallen in love w/ it! I'm really looking forward to warmer weather to see if I will ride it as frequently as I rode the Duc. I've learned a lot & had a ton of fun doing the restoration on the old Norton that I've also been secretly looking for another old project bike. Probably not another Norton, but I'm thinking either an old Triumph Tiger(1 carb) or Bonneville(2 carbs). Or, wait for it... I really, really, really want to get a Ural! It's nostalgic looking, has a sidecar & you can get them equipped w/ 2 wheel drive! I've always been intrigued by them. Remember all of the good times we've had w/ the Urals in the past at MEME!