RDawson Posted July 8, 2017 #1 Posted July 8, 2017 I drove a 100 miles to go pick up what was described as a super nice great running MKII today. I found a bike with broken and rashed plastic all over, running on three cylinders and not well on them. Wood screws and zip ties holding the body together. No fuse box with a rats nest of one color wire to replace it. Scary hospital wobble at 30 mph. 3000 rpm at wot. No service history. All for the great price of $2000. Was told I wasted sellers time for not loading it on my trailer. Guess I'm too picky.
Du-Rron Posted July 9, 2017 #2 Posted July 9, 2017 Life is just a fantasy. Theirs was bolder, larger & brighter.
RDawson Posted July 9, 2017 Author #3 Posted July 9, 2017 VRs are extremely rare in this part of the country. I only know of three rideable bikes within 50 miles of me. When I find one I try to jump on it. Thought I found something after talking to the seller on the phone. Jokes on me.
djh3 Posted July 9, 2017 #4 Posted July 9, 2017 I wont say I see them all the time. But I will say often I run across them. Here is a good example of some I run across. A fellow could contact a member close by a good buy you see, go take a look at for you and let you know. Of course your 2 opinions would have to be close.
videoarizona Posted July 9, 2017 #5 Posted July 9, 2017 (edited) An 89 for around$2k should be about perfect condition. Me..I gave up looking for one around the Southwest that wasn't in poor shape four years ago. Found mine in Wisconsin and had it shipped. Total, under$2800 and got a very nice 89! So go looking elsewhere... You might find your next scoot! Edited July 10, 2017 by videoarizona
RDawson Posted July 10, 2017 Author #6 Posted July 10, 2017 An 89 for around$2k should be about perfect condition. Me..I gave up looking for one around the Southwest that wasn't in poor shape for years ago. Found mine in Wisconsin and had it shipped. Total, under$2800 and got a very nice 89! So go looking elsewhere... You might find your next scoot! Im not really looking for one, mine has less than 50k on the clock but I'll jump on one close by just for kicks. Never hurts to have a spare. This is just the third or fourth time I've wasted half a day looking at junk. The last one they told me had sat outside without the air box cover on it until it seized. But since it broke loose and started it must be ok right? That's after I drove 3 hours to see it. I left that one too. I just don't know why they never caught on in this region. Even the one I have I bought from a Canadian that comes here to visit Hannigans trike shop. I bought it just before they started to trike it.
videoarizona Posted July 10, 2017 #7 Posted July 10, 2017 Agreed RD...always nice to have a spare. I too got real tired of the lies told to me over the phone. The last drive out of town to visit a scoot was also the last time I did that. Hit the internet afterwards. My sanity was worth more to me....than a few bux in my pocket. Almost got into it with that last guy who told me his was in great shape. I drove 3 hours only to find it wasn't worth $100. To say nothing of the $1500 he wanted for it. I pointed out all the problems, plastic cracked or missing, motor leaked oil and water, tires old and cracked, seats cracked, grips looked like they got run over by a farm tractor...twice, and so forth. He got madder than heck. Good thing I was holding a screw driver in my hand...I really had the feeling he was going to come after me for putting his "Excellent" condition VR down! My parting comment to him was he should be happy I don't charge him for my time and gas...that he wasted. Oh boy, David...you can really put your mouth into it sometimes!! But guess that's the nature of stupidity. Grins...
Yammer Dan Posted July 10, 2017 #8 Posted July 10, 2017 Been there done that.Got one sitting here I never should have bought but had already had friend drive to get it. Still got his address he better hope I don't decide ta visit again.
bongobobny Posted July 10, 2017 #9 Posted July 10, 2017 Yup, to me a super nice VR means EVERYTHING works properly, nothing is missing, no broken plastic and all the maintenance is current and documented. It should be clean and shiny with little or no corrosion or pitting and no discolored clear coat... Mileage is insignificant unless it is in excess of 200,000 miles.
RDawson Posted July 10, 2017 Author #10 Posted July 10, 2017 (edited) Yup, to me a super nice VR means EVERYTHING works properly, nothing is missing, no broken plastic and all the maintenance is current and documented. It should be clean and shiny with little or no corrosion or pitting and no discolored clear coat... Mileage is insignificant unless it is in excess of 200,000 miles. I would've been satisfied with a little less than that but: both fairings rashed side panels screwed on and zip tied lights not working running on 3 side stand light on bad tires oil leak twinkie leak valves never adjusted fuse box wiring a mess trunk broken lots of rusty screw heads etc E4 error on class, no compressor running starter clutch sounds like gravel thats just a 15 minute going over. Had a good windshield, saddle bags, seat, and battery for the money though. Edited July 10, 2017 by RDawson
Rick Haywood Posted July 10, 2017 #11 Posted July 10, 2017 I drove a 100 miles to go pick up what was described as a super nice great running MKII today. I found a bike with broken and rashed plastic all over, running on three cylinders and not well on them. Wood screws and zip ties holding the body together. No fuse box with a rats nest of one color wire to replace it. Scary hospital wobble at 30 mph. 3000 rpm at wot. No service history. All for the great price of $2000. Was told I wasted sellers time for not loading it on my trailer. Guess I'm too picky. Sounds like a $300 parts bike to me
RDawson Posted July 10, 2017 Author #12 Posted July 10, 2017 Sounds like a $300 parts bike to me I offered $400, Only because I liked the seat. His response was he'd rather take it to the dealer and have them to fix it and keep it. I'd love to be there when he asks them to go through it.
Dragonslayer Posted July 10, 2017 #13 Posted July 10, 2017 I offered $400, Only because I liked the seat. His response was he'd rather take it to the dealer and have them to fix it and keep it. I'd love to be there when he asks them to go through it. Or gets the bill.
Dragonslayer Posted July 10, 2017 #14 Posted July 10, 2017 A super nice VR is one that will let Big Tom scarf up all of his ice cream without getting upset. Like me.
djh3 Posted July 11, 2017 #15 Posted July 11, 2017 Sounds like a $300 parts bike to me Yup my thoughts exactly. Its not even a running parts bike.
bongobobny Posted July 11, 2017 #16 Posted July 11, 2017 Yup!! $500 MAX if I was in a super good mood!! My response was according to the title of the thread, "SUPER NICE!!" A good running VR should bring fifteen hundred to a couple thousand depending on the year. A super nice one could bring $2500 to $3000 depending on how much modifications were made and just how super nice it is!! Keep in mind there are a few 1st Gen Ventures out there highly modified/updated that some of us may have spent several thousand dollars on improving them (Uhhh, I think I'm up to around 10 grand on everything so far on the rebuild...)
djh3 Posted July 11, 2017 #17 Posted July 11, 2017 Had a guy I know responded to an add about a camaro. 70 Camaro, nice condition, new holley yada yada tires in GC no major leaks. Being a key word. So it was like 120 miles one way, he asks for pics of the car. All looks decent so he takes a day and goes to look. Get there the thing is under a tarp because door seals are junk and leaks, interior trashed out you can see an exon valdez sized oil leak at one time, but has sat for so long the dust an leaves have absorbed it. He goes to the fellow "this dont look nothing like the pictures you sent me" Seller: Oh yea well those were the most recent I had. "Really? From when 1972?" So guess the seller picked out some nice pics of when car ran and used those, didnt tell him it was basket case. Man some of these guys selling crap. Theirs is worth a fortune, but if I'm selling it no value.
RDawson Posted July 11, 2017 Author #18 Posted July 11, 2017 Yup!! $500 MAX if I was in a super good mood!! My response was according to the title of the thread, "SUPER NICE!!" A good running VR should bring fifteen hundred to a couple thousand depending on the year. A super nice one could bring $2500 to $3000 depending on how much modifications were made and just how super nice it is!! Keep in mind there are a few 1st Gen Ventures out there highly modified/updated that some of us may have spent several thousand dollars on improving them (Uhhh, I think I'm up to around 10 grand on everything so far on the rebuild...) I'm with you on that. I could tell by the pictures that it had a few add ons like lighting and trunk rack. It looked pretty well stock other than that. On the phone it was described as super nice, gotta see it-you'll love it, runs great, lots of power, etc. Giving him benefit of the doubt I didn't expect to see my dream bike but at least no major issues. Could've handled minor scratches or blemishes but found what I described. I know no dealer is going to take that job on to put in $2-3000 in a bike that won't bring $1000 with that body on it. They never get paid on those jobs n can't sell the bike for enough to break even. I just hate wasting time like that.
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