F4i's which are in the dealers as "ex-demonstrators" and have a few thousand miles on the clock...but fully stock and in pristine looking condition and usually a grand, grand and a half off list price. Are they worth it? I used to work for a car dealership and I know for a fact that the staff take these demonstrators home sometimes and gangbang the living daylights out of 'em. Don't know if it happens with bikes too? Also...newbie riders dragging the clutch....missing gear changes while test riding the thing?

Is all this a problem or should the bike be in as good a condition as when a normal/responsible (no offence to stunters) person owns it? Does the bike need to be nannied through it's first few hundred miles?

 

Break in is critical to the life of an engine. If the rings are not seated properly the engine will probably never see it's power potential.

That being said, I do know some dealers that break in their demonstrators properly before they allow customers to ride them.

I would be wary. It's probably been ridden by people who have no idea what they are doing. This is doubly true since people seem to believe the F4i is a good first bike.

 

Thanks Dog...I'm a bit wary now...I very nearly bought an ex-demo from a Yamaha dealer a few months ago. Glad I didn't now... By the way...I can't even test ride it before buying cos I've never riden a big bike and I don't want the responsibility of dropping it. [>:] So the first time I'll ride it will be taking it home...[]

 

what kind of bike is it and how much of a price break will they give you?

 

The bike I was talking about is long gone...it was an '05 in my favourite colour (red/black) 4,000 miles on the clock and they were selling it for 4,999 (list price was around 5,900)... It's my local Yamaha dealer...now they have another one which I think is an ex-demo...06 model, 1300 miles and again in my favourite red/black..!! So tempting...! They are selling for 4,999 and list is 6,299...so a good discount!!!

This is the bike:



They aren't an approved Honda dealer but they are an approved Yamaha dealer...what do you think?

 

Call and don't mention you are looking at the bike.

Ask about a demo on one of their other bikes. Ask them about if it's crate fresh or if they have broken it in because engines do pickup a little power after they break in and will generally run smoother. If they tell you it's not broken in, then there is your answer. If they don't have any restrictions on riding demo's, then run!

 

Ok thanks Dog. Sounds like good advice.