Back on a Bike

Well here's stupid for you. I just bought a £4000 bike on Ebay while half asleep, d'oh! I'd narrowed it down to four including the two SE versions I mentioned before. After discussion with the owner of the chromed-out 2009/130 miles I reckon I could get it for £4500 if I pay for the service to ensure it runs true. In an email exchange the owner of the 2010/12500 (asking £4250) said 'make me an offer'. I decided that would depend on his response to 'Has it had the 12000 mile service?' If yes I'd offer £4000, if not £3700-ish. Then went back to vacillating and prevaricating with myself over which should rule, head or heart, sensible or eye candy (those 2014 base models at £5500 are still negotiable). Anyway I got dozy and only went and offered the £4000 without yet having had the reply!!!!! Ah well. Okay, I do know from replies that dealers aren't taking low-ball cash offers, and that on the face of it this is a decent price if I ignore the cost of the big service. So now I need to go get a helmet, organise the cash and arrange collection. My only get out if I decide to back out is that he describes it as a T100SE, which I queried with him a couple of times. He reckons the 2010 T100SE swapped out the spokes for two 17" alloys. I just do not believe that and can find no corroboration on line. It looks like a 900SE to me. So I suppose I could claim 'item not as described' once I see the paperwork does not include 'T100'. But I won't of course. Here is the spec of the beast. Expect to be collecting back end of the week or next weekend. Please join me in praying for sunny Autumn days. Here's the spec.
FLYSCREEN, IKON FRONT SPRINGS & ADJUSTABLE REAR SHOCKS, TEC 2/1 EXHAUST, O2 SENSORS, AI SYSTEM & AIRBOX BAFFLE PLATES REMOVED, K&N AIR FILTER, PERFORMANCE TUNE EMU REMAP DOWNLOADED, NORMAN HYDE LOW HANDLEBARS, BAR END MIRRORS, PILLION BACKREST, RENNTEC CHROME RACK, CENTRE STAND. 1210/10 plate, 3 previous owners, 12500 miles, MOT 7/16.

 

No frettin', jut grinning

 

I now see WiseBuyer' Guides I've been using to assess the value of bikes shows exactly the same for the 2010 900 SE as for T100 SE, at retail, private, px and trade. And shows 2010 as the last year for T100 SE before the 2014 MY. That would also explain why one of the other bikes from this period I was looking at on my long list was listed on Ebay as a 900SE but had a TI00 private plate. Anyway, it's 17" front and back I wanted so I'm happy. And fwiw, what I'm paying is a little below WiseBuyers' retail value, and some way above private, which is pretty much what I found for all the Bonnies I found sold on Ebay back through the summer. And forecast for the coming weekend is fine weather. So still grinning.

 

So next purchase is going to have to be a helmet. I'm tempted by the classic look of open face with Steve McQueen goggles this time round, with a muffler for the breeze. Even if it proves impractical for the colder weather I'll still have it for next year's good weather. Dunno.

 

True enough about the downsides of open face. Those bugs are a pain near the river in the evenings when out cycling, so would be multi-fold inconvenient on a motorbike. I suppose a white silk scarf in that classic of classic looks would help there - not sure it's that practical though. I used to wear a standard lid, just tempted by the style of the open face.

 

Talking of field of vision, one of the things the skiing accident did was completely blind my left eye. My right is fine enough without glasses, though I do use glasses for watching tv and really small print. So field of vision was a bit of a consideration, though not a clincher.

 

I'm tempted Dave. I do like the idea of the wider vision given I only have one eye. The Bolle McQueen goggles look very good too. I suppose I could give it a try bringing the bike back on Saturday, 90 miles mostly M6/M1. I won't be in a hurry. And will be £4k lighter in the pocket. My nearest decent bike shop sells the HJC like yours.

 

Nice job Crispey. If I do go for the open helmet I'd buy some cheap functional goggles like the Bolle 'McQueen' for £30 which accommodate glasses and then order some motorcycle specific prescription goggles-type glasses. Bolle do some that look pretty neat, as do other brands. In fact you can get the prescription insert put in to the 'McQueen' style. The kids could then use the other goggles for skiing. Btw, contacts and I don't get along together.