hey guys...I'm a noob looking at a starter bike...wanted to get a few opinions on it n how much it's worth...want something I can toss around n not care too much about...thanx in advance...

http://www.rocketmadness.com/forums/...ad.php?t=42842

 

Opinion: Pass

600s aren't good starter bikes. Fully capable of killing a new rider in very short, very messy order. Add to it that bike has issues. Props to the seller for being upfront about them. But near 50k and admitted lax maintenance could mean major headaches for you later.

My best offer, if I were looking to invest in a possible major project, would be $600-$800.

 

I couldn't see the pics, but it doesn't sound as bad as you say. Sounds like it needs a good carb cleaning. The guy doesn't seem to state he's lax on maintenance, he just let it sit a bit long and that probably gummed the carb. Considering he's got a 600RR it's no surprise he let the F2 slide.

Blue book for that bike being 1980 doesn't include the fact it's a salvaged title, has blatantly been down, and has a dead cylinder.

$800 is probably a way more fair price for that.



Also, the 600 is a bit rough as beginner bike, but I wouldn't entirely rule it out. I came from an EX-500 before this, which is renowned as a beginners bike. I find the F2's handling far more comfortable, and while there is **** tons of power on this bike, you'll find yourself hanging out at low RPM's frequently as it's got plenty of take off from 4-7k rpm for getting around the city or for a newer rider. When you want to haul, the option is there, but isn't a nescessity. Those beginner bikes you've got to ride at 7k+ to have any gusto, and the EX-500's power band kicks off so sharply it's a bit abrupt for most beginners. The F2 I find far smoother in transition from the low to high RPM range.

 

My F2 is my first big bike.

Previously Id been a weekend warrior on 250's and didnt think there would be much of a power difference but the jump up, at first, was unreal. Took me about a month to get used to it. Its amazing how fast these bikes shift and how quickly you can get upto leathal speeds. I didnt expect it from a bike thats nearly the same age as me!

If you're mature and ride sensibly, keeping the bike under 6k its a very tame machine thats a great around town and on the motorways. But if you abuse it, it can kick back hard.

What saftey gear have you got?

 

My F2 is my absolute first bike. Self control on the throttle and common sense can allow it to be a decent beginner bike.

 

I second the question about safety gear! Get some good stuff that will save your bacon. Go used on Craigslsit if need be, just make sure you got a legit helmet, a jacket with good protection, and at least some mesh textile pants with some knee armor. Crashes DO happen, espescially for newer riders.

On that note alone, if you can get the bike for cheap it will be worth it!

 

It's not just a carb issue. There's a tranny problem too. That's why I say pass. Carbs are easy if not annoying for someone able to use a screwdriver and can follow instructions. Tearing into the tranny is another story.

Pass and keep looking.

 

Ya, low ball the hell out of him... with only 3 cylinders going he can't expect to get much. I would only get the bike if you are mechanically inclined and don't mind working on it for a while before riding it.

I would also insist on riding it (or an experienced friend) to check on that 2nd gear jumping out problem... a lot of bikes have slightly worn 2nd gear dogs (in the tranny) that cause some jumping out of gear but a lot of times it isn't the end of the world... really depends on how bad it is. That said it could feel not to bad and then 1 month later you can't use 2nd gear but if you paid very little for the bike you can afford to fix it.

Be careful though (as said above) the F2 is a pretty fast bike, for a new rider it could be pretty dangerous.... starting on a 250 or similar would be advisable (though not entirely necessary if you take it easy on the throttle).

 

I looked at the bike this weekend...pics don't do it justice...looked better than I expected, gf said the same...bike does idle slightly choppy...owner said it's most likely an idle jet...when the throttles turned it chop goes away and the header does heat up like he said...he ran it down the block a couple times n I would have got the gf to hop on but I didn't want him to think I liked it too much...he said he could take $900 for it and bring the bike to my house in his truck which is about an hour and a half away...I think the guys description sounds kind if negative because he's overly ****...I walked into this guys garage and everything was overly organized n neat and clean...I can tell that he's the kind of guys that likes his possesions to be perfect, so that's proly y he found it easy to point out the flaws instead of pointing out any good...at least that's the vibe the gf n I got from him...anywho I told him I wouldn't have time in my schedule to pick it up until the coming weekend with me having school n work n all if I decide to get it...like I said before I just want something cheap to learn on until I get something nice...in my opinion it fits the bill...as far as self control, I have it...concerning the gear, I bought a snell approved hjc helmet and some polo boots that cover the ankle(kind of a trend right now but I think they're ugly...they're sturdy as all get out though...) if i do get the bike I can assure you I won't even half think about riding until i go buy at least a textile jacket and some gloves...sorry fellas, no squid here...

 

I dunno, dude. Sounds to me like you want it pretty bad. Which means it may be hard for us to change your mind.

If it were me, even for $800 I'd probably walk away. A bike that's been modified heavily will be a huge pain to work on, every time. The aftermarket fairings will annoy you every single time you have to take it apart, which could be frequently, considering how many parts have been changed out since the bike was stock.

I second the advice about bringing an experienced rider to test out the 2-nd gear issue for you. If it really only happens under very hard acceleration, then maybe it's not that serious for you. But it will get worse with time. If the problem will need to be repaired right away, that means a lot of work for you, my friend. The good news is that parts aren't very expensive.

My purchasing rule of thumb is this: the more it's been modified, the less I want it. I don't want to spend the rest of the bike's life working around some previous owner's shortcut-fixes. You want a clean, stock bike. This is the opposite. If you have a warm place to work on it and don't mind spending some time, I'd offer maybe $400-500 knowing you're going to be replacing quite a few things.