Little help please!

[nkd666]

Right..... I think I've found a good 'un, Y2K, really decent condition, good price, and a reasonable part- ex offer (rare at this time of year). I've had a bloody good look around it, and everything seems in order. The guy is opening up the shop midweek for me to take a good long spin on it. After 14 years of year round biking, and a good number of bikes owned, I know what I'm looking for in a general sense.....overall condition, signs of abuse, head bearings, chain condition, wheel bearings, swinging arm bushes, etc, etc, etc, and all these things check out fine.

What I need to know is...... are there any things that specifically affect 'Birds that I should look for, little giveaways that all may not be well, particular engine and gearbox noises, flat spots, braking effectiveness, particularly unsuited tyres, etc.

Any advice on what to look for from an audio, visual, and riding point of view would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Nick.R#?

 

[Centaur]

Wait

for the flood. A ferkin deluge of experts here. seriously, hang on for the guys that can squeeze the bbirds spots and not even draw blood! Must be about six million threads on this subject but everyone loves to get in on the act. Bless em all. c7u8

 

[BlackBirdBaz]

Hi Nick,
I have only had mine for a couple of weeks and wish you well with your purchase and may bump into you at six hills in the summer. I would guess with a 2 year old bike with a full service history you would have nothing to worry about, where are you buying it from ?

I am a few miles east of Oakham if you ever wanted a meet for a coffee on some warm sunny day !!!

 

[nkd666]

Hi Nick,
may bump into you at six hills in the summer.

We're quite often at the Ox at Six hills on a Tuesday, ditto the Victoria at Coalville on a Thursday and the White horse at Morcott quite often on a sunday. Should definately see you around.

 

[blumeeni]

Blue ones are faster than other colours,more comfortable,better looking,handle better,stop quicker,better mpg,more reliable.
As Baz say's so long as it's looks good,feels good serviced and cared for then they're a pretty sound buy.
But do a check on it's history AA or MCN etc ask for the previous owners contact details if you can get in touch with him I've found most previous owner's will tell you what you need to know.
Take someone with you two heads and all that a m8 may spot something you've missed.
:beer:

 

[BlackBirdBaz]

We're quite often at the Ox at Six hills on a Tuesday, ditto the Victoria at Coalville on a Thursday and the White horse at Morcott quite often on a sunday. Should definately see you around.

Sounds good, Morcott is my local one, only 10 mins away and if my memory serves me right I cant actually remember ever seeing another 'Bird there so recognition shouldnt be much of a problem. I went a few times last year to Morcott and the Ox on a rather loud SP1. Never been to The Victoria, must look into that one.

g0551p

 

[Centaur]

Come on

for the flood. A ferkin deluge of experts here. seriously, hang on for the guys that can squeeze the bbirds spots and not even draw blood! Must be about six million threads on this subject but everyone loves to get in on the act. Bless em all. c7u8

Where are you all. Don't let me (or Nick) down.

 

[Gerrard]

xx

The only thing you have to worry about is the colour it must be black/matt.
Cheers Paul

 

[blumeeni]

The only thing you have to worry about is the colour it must be black/matt.
Cheers Paul

you jest me thinks uke: gotta be blue dude

 

[gypsy]

you jest me thinks uke: gotta be blue dude

for once i agree with Blumeeni
def Blue if your gay!!!



















or Welsh !
hows the hangover Blu?

 

[blumeeni]

for once i agree with Blumeeni
def Blue if your gay!!!



















or Welsh !
hows the hangover Blu?

All better thanks Gyp for the concern :k you'll make Stan jealous though.

 

[gypsy]

Feck im Blu !!
let him suffer uke:

 

[Gerrard]

xx

BLACK.
Cheers Paul

 

[stan the man]

:cry: :cry: :cry:

 

[gypsy]

i dont trust them sheeps tears ? :f

 

[stan the man]

:B :B :B

 

[Jaws]

Check the front suspension aint sagged, check it is charging..
Check for rattles / buzziness at around the 3.5 to 4.5k rev mark ( its only a cct if it is, which is about 10 minutes work and ?45.00 for the pucka upgraded one, but it is a great bargaining point )

If it is a 99 to 2K one look at the bike from the back. If the left hand zorst is well in ( towards the swing arm ) it is nowt to worry about ( normal from new would you believe ) but again a good bargaining point asking the seller how come it is bent in .. Some folk know it is normal some dont.

Noise from clutch basket at tickover normal, but should go when clutch pulled in.

Front fork lowers tend to pit up easily, tyres should be the proper recomended fitment ones and not something someone THINKS is correct.
( Search on tyre fitment for full info .. but most of us fall into two camps, Bridgeston and Avon.. each have very specific Bird fitments )


Nothing else really to check !

 

[nkd666]

Cheers for the advice......

Well, I've been an' gone an' done it. Took it out for an extended thrash this morning, and didn't want to take it back, so in the end I had to dust off my wallet.
I pick it up the weekend after next.:yo::yo::yo:

 

[Jaws]

Well done that man ... I appreciate the opinions found on here are generally pretty biased, but it is worth remembering the bike has gotta be good in the first place to gain such an enthusiastic ( and wildy biased !) following in the first place

 

[BlackBirdBaz]

Cheers for the advice......


I pick it up the weekend after next.:yo::yo::yo:

WheyyyyyyyHeyyyyyyyyyyyy

That'll be 2 Blackbirds for Morcott then ??

It is a Blue one isnt it, tell me its a Blue one ???