• Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )

Can I handle a Bird?

Can I handle it?


  • Total voters
    8
  • Poll closed .

andyBeaker

Moderator
Staff member
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Thanks. That is my initial reaction, but sometimes I think I'm being a bit over the top with expectations. I've been looking online for a while now and none of them this sort of age and price have been spot on. I'm getting proper bored and pissed off now. They want £3.5k - 21k miles that looks good against all old MOTs. I guess people service themselves when a bike gets this old, don't they?
Most people do the basics themselves.

The Bird is pretty bulletproof so personally I wouldn't worry too much about service history. It's all about condition. At 21k the original plugs won't even have reached the end of their service life. Have a look at the oil, should tell you all you need to know. Don't worry about valve clearances - they might need adjusting at 100k if you are very unlucky.

Presumably the dealer will be giving it a full service (if not then this is a bargaining point - I would want plugs, oil, filter, air filter, coolant and just for good measure brake fluid changing - last is pushing it a bit!). That lot will save you around £120 ish in parts and fluids.


£3.5k for a fifteen year old bike sounds a bit top end even with the low miles. Depends how much value you place on buying from a dealer.

Personally, I don't put much value on it!!
 

Me!

Utterly retired
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So did you pay very little for yourself at the time Turdy?
 

Biker

Member
Club Sponsor
Most people do the basics themselves.

The Bird is pretty bulletproof so personally I wouldn't worry too much about service history. It's all about condition. At 21k the original plugs won't even have reached the end of their service life. Have a look at the oil, should tell you all you need to know. Don't worry about valve clearances - they might need adjusting at 100k if you are very unlucky.

Presumably the dealer will be giving it a full service (if not then this is a bargaining point - I would want plugs, oil, filter, air filter, coolant and just for good measure brake fluid changing - last is pushing it a bit!). That lot will save you around £120 ish in parts and fluids.


£3.5k for a fifteen year old bike sounds a bit top end even with the low miles. Depends how much value you place on buying from a dealer.

Personally, I don't put much value on it!!

Thanks a lot for this. I know, the price is a bit steep. This guy always prices high, but he seems to always get the buyers. It must be the area. Like I say, I had my Hornet off him which was still old at the time but almost perfect. I'm going again today with someone who knows more about bikes than I do. Cheers.
 

Biker

Member
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Bought it. It's awesome. Loving it. At low speeds, it feels like I've always been riding one - fine for filtering, well planted and balanced. At high(er) speeds, feels like how I've always wanted to ride - muscular, fluid and surprisingly easy to match an exact speed if needed with a still wrist. Don't know what I was worrying about. Can relax and enjoy it now. Thanks all!

Now, when's the next rideout...
 

andyBeaker

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
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Bought it. It's awesome. Loving it. At low speeds, it feels like I've always been riding one - fine for filtering, well planted and balanced. At high(er) speeds, feels like how I've always wanted to ride - muscular, fluid and surprisingly easy to match an exact speed if needed with a still wrist. Don't know what I was worrying about. Can relax and enjoy it now. Thanks all!

Now, when's the next rideout...
Oh gawd.....
 

Jaws

Corporal CockUp
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I was very surprised how mild mannered the Blackbird is at low revs.
I think that is one of the things that make the Bird..
Total pussy cat until you want to play, then........ Saturn V booster rocket strapped to you bum !
 

Cougar377

Express elevator to hell
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Moderator
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Yep. Lazy overweight 600....and then you pass 5k on the rev counter ...
 

DEG5Y

Been there, and had one
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Had mine about 10yrs, but just put it back on the road after a 15 month winter tinkering session.
Leading up to taking it off the road I had been considering something different which ended up being a XT660x, great fun!
Having the 2nd bike gave me a chance to tinker.
It's about 800yds from my house to the MOT station and within that 800yds I was totally smitten again, what a fool I had been
taking so long over a few minor jobs.

The reasons I bought the XT seem insignificant now, only 3miles to work, kitting up for the journey...

SOD IT... I'm going on the BIRD! (y)
 

andyBeaker

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
Had mine about 10yrs, but just put it back on the road after a 15 month winter tinkering session.
Leading up to taking it off the road I had been considering something different which ended up being a XT660x, great fun!
Having the 2nd bike gave me a chance to tinker.
It's about 800yds from my house to the MOT station and within that 800yds I was totally smitten again, what a fool I had been
taking so long over a few minor jobs.

The reasons I bought the XT seem insignificant now, only 3miles to work, kitting up for the journey...

SOD IT... I'm going on the BIRD! (y)
3 miles!! Why not walk??
 

andyBeaker

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Staff member
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Because that 3 miles involves the new Mersey Gateway which is inaccessible to cycles or pedestrians.
Walkmyhe long way round.

I wouldn't advise use a cycle - it will get nicked.:p
 

Squag1

Can't remember....
Club Sponsor
Had to collect a cbr600F for friend.
On a Sunday I was on the 100kph section heading for the motorway.
Sunday drivers crawling down the road.

I even passed a speed trap being set up.
I thought the turbulence was caused by the tank bag.

As I moved on to the exit slip road I checked the speedo- oooppps.
It was in mph.
120 mph on the mway and there was still more in it.
 
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