| Author | Message | ||
     Griff |
This may have been covered here before but I am new to the board. My local dealer has a bunch of tube framers that were originally demo bikes. All have around 3000 miles and are 2001 & 2002 models. Has anyone bought a demo bike and had a good experience? My concern is that the break-in period was probably spent doing 100 miles per hour and back alley burnouts. Not the best for engine longevity. Prices for these bikes are fair, $4000-$5500, and the bikes appear to be in decent shape. I've got my eye on a 2001 S-3T for $4600... Any help/opinions appreciated. | ||
| Gomo |
Go for an extended warranty, 7yr if possible. If someone did beat it up and it doesn't show right away, you'll be covered. | ||
| Griff |
Thanks for the input. They are selling these as "new" because they haven't been registered, just ridden with manufacturers plates. I haven't discussed what warranty they come with. The consensus on the board seems to be all over the place in regards to the warranties and what is covered. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Mine was a demo. It had many issues in the first year, all of which were covered by the one year. I extended the warantee out to 3 years beyond that. Here's your plan: get one. and use the hell out of it the first year. I put 20K on my first year. Most of my issues were from idiot mechanics. People understand fuel injection now. | ||
| Whodom |
Griff, sounds like a pretty cool deal, but if you aren't getting at least a one-year factory warranty with the bike, it's just another "used" S3T. I've heard tubers are going dirt-cheap recently, so I'd check ebay for recent selling prices for similar bikes before you decide. I'd think a year would be more than enough to show up any hidden defects like excessive oil consumption that might have been caused by an abusive break-in. Hey, maybe you'll find out that "Motoman" is right on his suggestions about how to break in engines... | ||
| Bigblock |
go for it, but get an M2 if possible, the carburated bikes run SO much better..., and, they are much easier to work on yourself, for repairs AND upgrades. JMHO. | ||
| Tramp |
bear in mind that demo bikes are often used as 'spare parts donors' for customer machines with backordered parts, and they're often just R&Red back onto the donor bike with little regard to torque spec., etc. further, it's an aircooled machine, and precious few folks throwing a leg over a demo give it any viable warm-up time before going WFO on the hiway. shop employees tend to thrash on 'em, too. really, with all the nice deals on used tubers out there, I'd advise keeping a wide berth of those things, warranty or not. Warranty is only as good as the dealer's parts and service department, downtime could be ugly and protracted... If you're purchasing from a dealer, get a new machine, otherwise, scan the classifieds on these boards for tubers.... | ||
| Bomber |
I agree -- without a great warranty, it's another used scoot, and tubers are priced very low these days -- further, the warranty is only as good as the service manager's desire for it to be, and service managers change from time to time at dealers (not slaggin anyone, btw) -- this situation may be the exception that proves the rule, but it's basically a 3 or 4 year old bike with some degree of warrenty -- without know the price (I'd suggest no more than 3.5 - 4Gs or so), it's a tough call to make like others have said, demo bikes are not treated as if they are valued by the demo riders, in many cases -- which can lead to boocoo problems that may, or may not, be covered -- even if they are, do ya want your scoot down for a week or three in July? ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances -- me, if I wanted a tuber, I'd find one here, talk to the owner, and ride off into the sunset with a bike who's history I know (nost folks here are honest as the day is long, and there's a coupla M2s fer sale as we speak) YMMV | ||
| Tom_b |
Check out cycletrader.com there are a lot of better prices and bikes to choose from than ebay. Also if your near Kansas city there is an m-2 and an x-1 in the Kansas City Star newspaper for sale. | ||
| Whodom |
I wasn't necessarily suggesting buying a bike off of ebay but at least it will let you see what prices tubers have actually been selling for. Cycletrader.com will only show asking prices which may be much higher. | ||
| Griff |
Stopped at the dealership today and they are now offering only a 30 day warranty or you have the option to buy the extended warranty. I don't plan on spending that much money. If I can get out the door with a one year warranty thrown in I just may buy the S3T. I figure that over the course of the year, the 15K or so miles I will put on ought to bring any hidden demons to the forefront. They also have several M2's with about 2500 miles on them. They're asking $5300 for the 2002's and $4500 for the 2001's. Also a 2002 X1W with only 3 miles for $6800. The salesman says they are all old factory bikes used by management.... | ||
| Gomo |
Unless I am mistaken, if the bike has never been registared - it should come with the 1 yr warranty with it. I never heard of a 30 day deal for an un reg'd bike. | ||
| Griff |
That's what I thought also and had been the policy on previous demo bikes. The sales guy was fairly new and the manager was conveniently not around. To bad, they could have sold another bike today. This dealer sells Honda, Yamaha, Polaris, old military vehicles, Honda Power Equipment, ATVs, etc. The sales guy may have just been getting his product lines crossed. | ||
| Tramp |
Griff said: "The salesman says they are all old factory bikes used by management" that's right up there with "the check's in the mail" 21st cent. version of "owned by a little old lady from Pasadena"... Griff, get outta there and stay outta there. (Message edited by tramp on October 12, 2005) | ||
| Tramp |
Griff said: " I figure that over the course of the year, the 15K or so miles I will put on ought to bring any hidden demons to the forefront." That's rarely the case...premature engine component wear could take years to rear it's expensive head.... | ||
| Court |
old factory bikes used by management" Those are auctioned to dealer annually. Buying one is a crap shoot. Could be great, could be bad. There is no factory warranty on them. Duh | ||
| Mikej |
Griff, this dealership owner wouldn't be one of those former car dealership owners that we've heard rumors of being recruited, is it? Sort of like putting a former Winnebago regional manager in charge of Buell regional management, sort of. | ||
| Griff |
Naw - They've been around a long time. They started as a Harley dealer in the 1920's or so. Service and pricing for new stuff is really good and selection is great. They just have too many product lines now... | ||
| Tramp |
Grif- walk away from those demos.... | ||
| Court |
>>>Sort of like putting a former Winnebago regional manager in charge of Buell regional management It was Holiday Rambler. Tried. Didn't work. Ford seems to work better. | ||
| Buelltroll |
I personally wouldn't buy a demo based solely on the fact that I beat the snot out of every one I've ever ridden,and I'm sure I'm not alone in this fact,Broke in or not. | ||
| Daves |
Note to self, never let Buelltroll demo a bike. I almost always go with the customer on the demo ride. Seems to cut way back on the abuse and crashing of my bikes. Last Sat on the demo rides the rules were, No wheelies No stoppies No riding like a Jackass I told Dale and Andy, the ride leader and taildragger to report any such riding to me and I would handle the problem(not their job) Didn't hear a word all day! | ||
| Ceejay |
Thus one of the reasons I don't test ride at buell of appleton..  | ||
| Mikej |
Note, he didn't say anything about curb hopping.  | ||
| Blackbelt |
or lowsiding.. lol or highsiding for that matter.. | ||
| Tramp |
dave- the problem i remember from working at a couple bmw dealerships wasn't so much the potential customers beating on demos, it was..... US........ we thrashed those things..... | ||
| Griff |
Ended up skipping the demo bikes. Found a '98 S3 with 11.5k for $2700. Seems to run well and isn't to beat up. Having a carb feels better to after reading all the crap about resetting TPS on the board. Figured I can't go to wrong for the price. Now to see if the race exhaust sitting in my basement for a 2000 will fit this bike. The air filter has already been upgraded. Add a set of bags and the S3T bars and she'll be ready to go. Anyone know if the later model 2000 up seats can be made to fit these earlier bikes? | ||
| Bomber |
Y2K exhaust should fit your 98 without trouble -- I believe 97s and earlier had 2" OD header exists, with 98 and later with the 2.5" OD no data on seat, but my guess would be a 2000 and later would bold right on | ||
| Paulinoz |
98 was the last year the rear exhaust exited the head over the frame rail,99 on was under the frame rail, also last year of the "thong seat" so both may fit but it will not be a straight forward bolt on swap. IMO | ||
| Easy_rider |
Remember the days when they gave you the keys and a map? |
