Buying a bird - milage

[crj0007]

Hi
Ian looking at a bird with 32k on the clock 2005 model. Everything seems good but need to know if I should be concerned about the milage?

 

[noobie]

I've seen it said that build wise, the bird is the bike even Honda cannot make anymore.

My own is a 97 but has 48k miles on and steadily rising. I would have no issues on buying a bird with double the mileage as long as cost was appropriate.

Service history and additional receipts are always a sign of a informed owner as with any bike but a bird more than most, condition is key.

on mileage alone, 32k on an 05 would not be a worry for me

 

[Centaur]

Buy on price and condition, crj, as Noobie has said. If the Bbird has been well looked after that's the main thing. At that mileage it is barely loosened up. Better if it has been serviced by a knowledgeable owner than most dealers. Where are you buying from or from whom? :-0)

 

[andyBeaker]

Hi
Ian looking at a bird with 32k on the clock 2005 model. Everything seems good but need to know if I should be concerned about the milage?

8rfl@8rfl@8rfl@

Sorry
:-0)

I sold my first Bird with 106000 miles on it, that is now over 130,000. And still going strong.

The second was sold with about 60,000, barely run in.

Don't worry about mileage, just condition. And no need to pay silly money - in my opinion there are few worth more than about ?3k and plenty that are sub ?2k.

That might upset a few on here ..............gulp%$fan

 

[Cyclops]

Mines currently at 84000 and i see no reason why it won't outlast me @tu*

 

[crj0007]

Hi
Buying from a dealer with mine as a px. It's up for 3.5k and everything looks mint. Service book, Corbin seat, Matt black with gold wheels, excellent condition.
MN aybe paid slightly over odds but it gets rid of my bike with no hassle.
Hope I've done the right thing.

 

[noobie]

The bike itself should be fine, the matt black's biggest problem was staying matt. On heavy contact areas such as the side of the tank where your knee's rest it tended to have some shiny patches and of course you can't polish it

there are however a number of matt care systems and matt protectors is you do a few searches. Might also be worth starting a thread in the coffee house entitled something like matt black bird, how did you care for yours? Your bound to get a few who have owned them, I think also there are some matt paint sealants?

 

[Centaur]

Here ya go.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251317573390?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

You need some of this stuff. Plenty of suppliers on ebay with different sizes and thickness. :-0)

 

[Fireblade92]

Hi,

Mine is just coming up for 70K miles and is still as god as the day i got it with 8K miles on it... and in some respects better as it is nicely run in.

The only thing that seems to have happened over the years is a few cracks in the bodywork. On mine the stress points appear to be n the top of the mudguard where it bolts to the forks and around the bolts on the side panels. Other than that the fork legs look a little tattier than they did when I got it but nothing else.

So in short don't worry about the miles if its been looked after, check the bodywork for cracks and don't worry about the fork legs as they all look like that.

 

[Jaws]

Have a look at the service book.
If it has all Honda dealer stamps in it then consider them to be absolutely valueless
An awful lot of my business was based on redoing so clled main stealer services..
If it has got Honda stamps then no matter what they say is done, do it all your self when you get it home
Do not use fully synthetic oil but semi
Do not use Honda oil filters ( any thing but

If it has a K & N filter fitted ditch it and replace it with a paper type

At 32 k the valve clearances are supposed to be done.
They will not have been.
But do not even consider doing them..
After 16 years of working exclusively on Birds I have only ever found one out below 100,000 miles
Interestingly, every time a bird is serviced at a main stealer they always find one or more is out.. And they are so clever they can find it AND re-shim it without taking the rocker cover off.. Amazing skill ? Magic ? No just fuckin lying thieving arse holes in the main

At the sort of mileage the bike you mention has on it, it is barely run in !

 

[mikeyw64]

Have a look at the service book.
If it has all Honda dealer stamps in it then consider them to be absolutely valueless
An awful lot of my business was based on redoing so clled main stealer services..
If it has got Honda stamps then no matter what they say is done, do it all your self when you get it home
Do not use fully synthetic oil but semi
Do not use Honda oil filters ( any thing but

If it has a K & N filter fitted ditch it and replace it with a paper type

At 32 k the valve clearances are supposed to be done.
They will not have been.
But do not even consider doing them..
After 16 years of working exclusively on Birds I have only ever found one out below 100,000 miles
Interestingly, every time a bird is serviced at a main stealer they always find one or more is out.. And they are so clever they can find it AND re-shim it without taking the rocker cover off.. Amazing skill ? Magic ? No just fuckin lying thieving arse holes in the main

At the sort of mileage the bike you mention has on it, it is barely run in !

wouldn't it be easier to have that as your signature John 8rfl@

 

[andyBeaker]

wouldn't it be easier to have that as your signature John 8rfl@

What, easier than an 'X'??

 

[Jaws]

wouldn't it be easier to have that as your signature John 8rfl@

Even though now retired I have to go through things like checking the charging circuit, fork spring changes, CCT change etc etc almost daily..

I often get asked if I ever get fed up repeating the same old tghings day in day out..
Nope..
I 'spose it dates back to teaching days.. I guess I just got used to repeating my self !

 

[mikeyw64]

Even though now retired I have to go through things like checking the charging circuit, fork spring changes, CCT change etc etc almost daily..

I often get asked if I ever get fed up repeating the same old tghings day in day out..
Nope..
I 'spose it dates back to teaching days.. I guess I just got used to repeating my self !

say again

 

[crj0007]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. Cant wait to get her home.
Thank you JAWS you undoubtedly know your stuff
I plan on changing the rectifier as I believe they fail (one failed on my street triple first time out on the motorway in the fast lane! I changed it for a Mosfet), Also drop the oil and replace the filter.
Will the shock and springs be OK with that sort of milage? What are best aftermarket shocks?
JAWS where are you based?? Do you carry our work on other peoples bikes?
Sorry guys for so many questions
I'm a newbie and like a kid with a new toy.

Yet another question is: I'm going on a 10 day tour of the pyrenees in September and want to get the bike sorted by then for piece of mind. Is there anything else I should be looking at regards prep for the trip?

 

[andyBeaker]

'IT' not 'her',d34l

JAWS likes being called for advice at any time, his preferred hours are 2am to 4am;-0))

If your shock is the original it will definetely be way past it's best. I used to use JAWS exchange refurbished and uprated rear shocks - certainly fit for purpose and sensible moneu compared to the alternatives.

Again the JAWS front spring kit is a good shout - it's hard to describe the difference compared to stock - the only words I can think of is 'the front end feels more plush'.

IMHO the best mod you can make to a Bird is fitting HID lamps into both main and dip - the headlight is very poor with a normal bulb; even if you don't ride in the dark a HID will make you much more visible. Personally I have used HIDs that cost less than ?30 and they have been fine.

Second would be a good aftermarket seat- i didn't realise how uncomfortable stock is until I tried a Corbin.

Also at those miles the cam chain tensioner is on it's last legs - you'll know when it goes as the motor sounds like a sack of spanners. It won't do any harm, again JAWS does an uprated item that takes about 15 minutes to replace, inclding ten minutes taking the side fairing off and putting it back.

Enjoy the bike!!

 

[Jaws]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. Cant wait to get her home.
Thank you JAWS you undoubtedly know your stuff
I plan on changing the rectifier as I believe they fail (one failed on my street triple first time out on the motorway in the fast lane! I changed it for a Mosfet), Also drop the oil and replace the filter.
Will the shock and springs be OK with that sort of milage? What are best aftermarket shocks?
JAWS where are you based?? Do you carry our work on other peoples bikes?
Sorry guys for so many questions
I'm a newbie and like a kid with a new toy.

Yet another question is: I'm going on a 10 day tour of the pyrenees in September and want to get the bike sorted by then for piece of mind. Is there anything else I should be looking at regards prep for the trip?

Although officially retired now I do occasionally throw a few spanners around, but it is really a matter of catching me in the UK !

A custom rebuild of the old shock is now ?124 .. At 30+k miles the one on the bike will certainly be well passed its best, as will the front springs.. But the fronts are time related fails unlike the rear.

I am in Thetford in Norfolk


preparing for a trip

Look at the tyres.. Make sure you have enough life left in them, also check the pressures and get them to 42PSI front and back
Check the chain and sprockets

And that really is about it !

Any bird that looses or uses a single drop of oil between the 8000 mile oil change intervals is in deep trouble ( they just do not use any oil at all )
Do not be tempted to change oil at shorter intervals than 8k miles..
If it was needed Honda would have specified a shorter time.. They would not have risked their reputation to save you money on oil, believe me !

 

[noobie]

The funny thing with the bird is very little goes wrong and what does is well known by now and relatively easy to fix.

In regards to your trip, the bird will be no different than any other bike for prep in advance. If you do not go down the replacement seat route but are going to take a pillion, then a triboseat cover works well to stop the pillion pushing your man apples into the tank.

I agree with Andy on the upgraded cct as it's relatively cheap and very easy to fit. Also hid, personally I feel just on the dipped is enough but it comes down to personal choice.

If you are doing a tour then this section would be a good read http://www.bikersoracle.com/blackbird/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=23

The best thing you can do with a bird however is ride it. After that add bits if you wish and watch the bolloxs that goes on in here

 

[lumpy]

Mines currently at 84000 and i see no reason why it won't outlast me @tu*

I've seen you and I can believe that too

 

[Cyclops]

J:bow:

I've seen you and I can believe that too

A tad harsh but fair :violin: