| Author | Message | ||
     Safd |
Hello, I'm about to pull the trigger on a XB12stt with 41 miles on the clock. My question is whether I should be worried about it. I know the break in 'rules' have been revised since I had my '05cityx. I've never bought a new bike or car for that matter with that many miles. thanks | ||
| Spiderman |
They, more than likely, demoed it. As long as it comes with the factory warranty don't sweat it. If it was hammered on that bad some tell tale sign will happen way before the warranty expires. Just check under the tail for rubber chunks that would indicate burnouts and check the brakes to make sure they are up to snuff. Then have fun! | ||
| 12r |
I once bought a car that had done 33 miles but new bikes have always had a very low mileage; my Firebolt had just 4 miles on it. I wouldn't sweat too much about 41 miles on the clock but for peace of mind I would like to know how they got there. | ||
| Terribletim |
I know Harley runs every bike for 5 miles on the dyno before it leaves the factory. 41 miles isn't really anything. Like Spiderman said, just make sure the warranty is good. | ||
| Redponcho |
I have never bought a new car or bike. If I was paying new price for something I want as little miles as possible. Maybe thats just me. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I supposedly bought my bike brand new, but when I picked it up, it had 80 miles on it. It was never actually explained to me that the bike was a 'demo' until I picked it up from the dealer. There were significant problems right off the bat that took me months to straighten out. The engine was eating oil like crazy and had a really bad knocking noise coming the cam-case when it was hot, and the front rotor was badly warped. It seems everyone but me got a chance to test ride this bike. I was refused a demo ride on the bike I evenually found out was a demo - if I had, I wouldn't have bought that particular bike just because of the warped front brake. I came back the next day to start the process of having it looked at and realized pretty quickly I was getting the run-around. I eventually had to go to another dealer who replaced an exhaust valve and guide and bent pushrod (they suspect a valve may have siezed in the guide at some point before my ownership, possibly caused by too may revs when not broken in, their words, not mine), and they replaced the front brake rotor... all under warranty. Unless the dealership AND service department is going to stand behind the bike 100%... I'd be wary. A good service department and service manager can make or break the start of a relationship with a new bike. I was very lucky the dismal beginning with my Buell was turned around by the right people, but it was a very frustrating couple of months because I had to go out and find these people myself. As a side note... I got an extended warranty with the bike but never had to use it. All the problems were from the first day, and after they were resolved, nothing ever went wrong with the bike. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I know Harley runs every bike for 5 miles on the dyno before it leaves the factory. 41 miles isn't really anything. Like Spiderman said, just make sure the warranty is good. I believe this is closer to 1 mile. I think all they do is put it on a dyno, run it up to 60mph and then back down. My 2004 Sportster had 4 miles on it when I picked it up, but I think was because the service guy took it for a spin after the stage 1 to make sure the bike was in order. My 2007 Firebolt had 1 mile on the clock when I got it. As a comparison, my car had 150 miles on it when I got it. I don't know that it was ever "demoed", but I'm sure the sales people took it home more than once. It's just the way it works. | ||
| Safd |
Thanks for the responses. I have mixed feelings.  | ||
| Terribletim |
I too would have mixed feelings Safd. Just make sure the dealer will stand behind it, or at least some dealer will stand behind it. Will they give you the same deal on one without the miles on it? Can't hurt to ask. If it is a good dealer, explain your hesitation, and they should help you out. | ||
| Fed |
it's not a bike but for what it's worth i work for an auto dealer and get a car. it has 6,400 miles on it but will be sold as a new car (discounted) if it's not registered it's still new. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
41 miles is not NEW, new. I would have a heartfelt chat with my dealer if I were having mixed feelings about such a large purchase. You might either ask for a newer, new bike, or a price adjustment based on the fact that you don't feel the bike is new, but rather a demo. Buell's demo policy cuts two ways: you can't demo bikes without putting miles on them. Perhaps you will learn a lot about how your are going to be treated after you buy a bike from this dealer, if in fact you decide to do so. | ||
| Cruisin |
To clarify Fed's statement - if the bike has not had a title assignment done, then it's still considered new. A dealership can slap on a plate to any bike, have as many people as they want take it out, and then you can come in and buy it "new". That's one of the reasons some dealerships limit their demo fleet - they'll have a couple demos and that's it, leaving the other bikes untouched. After they've had it for some time (even a year or more) they'll unload it as a holdover at a discounted price. You still get it "new" with a full warranty, but at least you don't pay top dollar for it. My firebolt had 57 miles on it when I bought it. Some dealerships turn over their stock pretty quick so they let you demo any bike on the floor. It may have a few miles but you get the full warranty and they stand behind the bike 110%. I never hesitated because of the mileage. | ||
| Safd |
Well I talked to the salesman and he says that their tech guys put around 15 to 18 miles on it, which he says is standard, and that on a Uly test ride he took it out and let the customer bring it back. He says that he rides in front and the customer rides in back so it's his pace that the demo rider rides. He seems like a good guy, but he hasn't brought up discounts or freebies. I was going to go get it today, but I have to watch the kids so it looks like tommorrow. So more time to think on it. thanks | ||
| Towjam |
Almost every bike I've purchased (with the exception of my Buells) have still been in the crate when I did the paperwork. This actually is one of my conditions for purchasing and better ensures me that the miles on the odo were put on during make ready. Ironically, the Firebolt I purchased last month was already uncrated and only had 2 miles on it when I took delivery. However, it obviously had not been fully set-up and I've since found out that the person who bought it used (after I traded it in on the 12Ss) has had it back in the shop 3 times for various problems. | ||
| Terribletim |
Yea, the Harley I got my wife was still crated too, and it 5 miles on it. I felt solid it was "new" since it was still crated. Safd - sounds like the dealer hears what you are saying. Either that or he is good at making the sale. Go with your gut. How often do you shop there? Is this your first experience with that dealer? The bike may be fine, if what he said about the miles is true. If you don't like it for some reason, ask about another bike with less than 5 miles on it. I would probably go with it. 41 miles isn't even broke in yet. As long as they were not WFO miles, you're fine. And there's always the warranty with a "new" bike. Like I said, go with your gut. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Safd, I had a demo with 351 miles on it. It was our dedicated demo unit. All the other ones only had 5-12 PDI miles on them. The warranty was still 2years from date of sale, not date of delivery to the dealer. You should be able to buy & RIDE that bike in confidence. Take it out for a mile ride yourself and feel it, besides isnt 42 the ultimate answer to everything, life, the universe... everything as we know it ? | ||
| M_singer |
Some of the advantages of buying a new bike are that you get to break it in the way that you see fit and you know that it has not been abused. Most people who demo bikes want to see what it can do. I would think that most demo riders get friendly with the rev limiter. Not a good idea for the first few hundered miles or so. I wouldn't pay the going new price for any bike with more then 5 miles on it. There is no reason to. Even if you are confidant that the dealer will stand behind the bike...who needs the hassle? | ||
| Johntman |
well i was sold a 05 XB12Scg in oct. of 06 as a demo. they stated it had 40 miles on it. the dealer was also calling it a city cross? i guess the cg threw them off and they sold it for a thousand dollars off the msrp of the city cross. then when they rolled the bike out to me it only had 4 miles on it. It was almost like stealing from the stealership. I hear they are not going to sell buells anymore... couldn't wonder why. | ||
| Metalstorm |
besides isnt 42 the ultimate answer to everything, life, the universe... everything as we know it ? Yes but we still don't know the ultimate question now do we?  My bike had 10 miles on it the day I bought it and strangely, three days later when I was able to pick it up, it had 18 miles on it. I was a bit irked by that. Not to mention that they had three days to get her spiffy for send off but when I arrived they were shocked & confused and I had to wait 20 minutes while they did a quick wipe down. (they won't send a bike out until the've shined them). But at least the only problem the bike ever had was a chaffed ign wire by the neck. I got that fixed under warranty during the first month and ever since, she has been 110% reliable. As was already said, as long as the warranty is good and the dealership is good, there is nothing to fear. Unless you absolutely, positively, must have a virgin (Message edited by metalstorm on March 15, 2007) | ||
| Toona |
If it is a demo, ask to take it for a ride. If the dealer is as serious about selling it as you are buying it, a test ride won't kill the deal. If the dealer balks, you walk. |
