Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros

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Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros
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Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros

Second-hand advice on winter bikes for 1500 euros
With the temperatures, so do the prices

Is there still space in the garage? Then give a small family with pets quarters, put a snowman in it or buy a second motorcycle. With the temperatures, so do the prices.

Jorg Lohse

December 17, 2009

Make no mistake about it: Buying a second motorcycle can lead to powerful problems. For example, your head of household will be quite annoyed if you bring in “another filthy carrot”. Associated with the advice that you should “take better care of the condition of your house and yard”. In this case you should pull a joker up your sleeve, more on that later.

Before going on to the problems of a purely technical nature. Even if it pretends to be the price limit of 1500 euros: In this context, it is particularly difficult to actually land a veritable bargain. Because here you can find pretty much everything in two-wheelers that should somehow be turned into money. Shrewd salespeople do not shy away from uninhibitedly dazzling ridden bikes.

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Fresh-up cures for tires and plastic parts are particularly popular. Away with the gray haze, bring on the old glory. The whole thing looks like new from the store afterwards, but its function can be severely disturbed. The issue of standing damage is a very big one in the low-budget class.

The alarm bells should ring especially when the combination of old vehicle and low mileage. Information on this on page 99.

And now to the harmony in house and yard: At www.style-your-garage.com there is a chic cover for ugly garage doors (see above). That sounds like a great compromise.

All-rounder


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


Drawing: archive

Anyone looking for a lot of utility is in good hands in the bread-and-butter class: a lot of motorcycle for little money. The density of bargains is particularly high. Likewise the variety of offers. The big Japanese brands are naturally very well positioned and even offer something for friends of exotic material – for example in the 400 class.

Honda CB 500 / S


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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Honda CB 500 / S

The plow horse in proven Honda quality. The Sparmobil is still very popular with commuters and courier drivers, but it has been eclipsed by the CBF range. There are no real downsides to complain about with the twin. The Honda passed the MOTORRAD endurance test with flying colors – a result that dealers and workshops confirm. When inspecting PC32 types (from Italian production from 1997 onwards) the search for rust should be intensified – especially in the tank. There is a large selection, and many machines are offered including useful extras such as engine protection bars and luggage systems.

Data (year of construction 1997):
Water-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, 499 cm³, 42 kW (57 PS) at 7500 rpm, chain, weight 196 kg, tank capacity 18 l, seat height 790 mm, top speed 180 km / h, consumption 4.3 l / 100 km, Regular gasoline

Price example:

EZ 4/1996, 47,800 kilometers, 1st hand, washer, steel braided line, dealer, 1,550 euros

Kawasaki Zephyr 550


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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Kawasaki Zephyr 550

Not a real rock star, but at least an attractive star at an equally attractive tariff. Kawasaki’s Zephyr series, with its finely ribbed four-cylinder bench, successfully ties in with the wild seventies and could still be in the salesrooms today. With its compact dimensions, the 550 entry-level model escapes especially smaller drivers. On the other hand, the engine and chassis are a little weak. During inspection and test drive, watch out for noticeable engine noises (valve tickers, timing chain) and check whether the suspension struts and fork are tight. If an exchange is pending, it is better to convert to high-quality retrofit parts (WP Suspension or Wirth).

Data (year of construction 1998):
Air-cooled four-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, 554 cm³, 37 kW (50 PS) at 10,000 rpm, chain, weight 206 kg, tank capacity 15 l, seat height 770 mm, top speed 168 km / h, consumption 4.4 l / 100 km, Regular gasoline

Price example:
EZ 6/1993, 47,900 kilometers, completely overhauled, many extras, throttled to 34 hp, from private, 1300 euros

Suzuki Bandit 400


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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Suzuki Bandit 400

The 400 class never really got a foothold in Germany. Which is a shame, because there are many Minis of well-known model series there. For example the Bandit 400, the basic model of the legendary Bandit series. While the younger 600 and 1200 sisters tour Germany’s streets thousands of times, the 400 series introduced in 1990 is traded exclusively in insider circles. On the one hand, of course, this means that interested parties have to search patiently. On the other hand, however, also that many baby bandits have so far enjoyed caring for lovers. In 2010 the model celebrates its twentieth anniversary: ​​Real bandit fans should put the youngtimer in the garage right now.

Data (year of construction 1991):
Water-cooled four-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, 398 cm³, 37 kW (50 PS) at 10600 rpm, chain, weight 190 kg, tank capacity 16 l, seat height 770 mm, top speed 172 km / h, consumption 5.8 l / 100 km, Regular gasoline

Price example:
EZ 5/1993, 28,600 kilometers, good condition, from private, 1,300 euros basis for negotiation

Cruiser


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


Drawing: archive

Little money, a lot of maintenance. That is the guiding principle for the small-volume chrome league. In addition, some offers have low mileage, but these are not always an advantage: See the topic of standing damage at the bottom right. At the same time, the choppers can attract all sorts of advantages, such as a clean cardan or toothed belt drive.

Suzuki LS 650


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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Suzuki LS 650

Do successful choppers necessarily have to emulate the model from Milwaukee? No, they can also be based on very wacky ideas. Like the LS 650, which insists on the principle: A motorcycle cannot be single-cylinder enough. This one comes out of the cellar with a lot of pressure, but looks tough and strained upstairs. So cruising on a stroll is the order of the day, accompanied by a razor-sharp exhaust murmur. Typical of the genre is the low-maintenance toothed belt, with which deer tallow helps against unsightly squeaking. At high mileage, damage to the camshaft and rocker arms is not uncommon, but the stubbornly shiftable gearbox is completely normal.

Data (year of construction 1991):
Air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine, 652 cm³, 20 kW (27 PS) at 3000 rpm, toothed belt, weight 171 kg, tank capacity 11 l, seat height 690 mm, top speed 127 km / h, consumption 4.2 l / 100 km, Regular gasoline

Price example:
EZ 11/1994, 36800 kilometers, very well maintained, many new parts, garage vehicle, from private, 1400 euros

Kawasaki EN 500


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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Kawasaki EN 500

Also a shocker for ultra-conservative chopper friends. Kawasaki relied on series twin and cast wheels for the EN 500, but was able to reconcile with a drop tank and toothed belt drive. Until 1996, when a greasy chain was used as part of the facelift. And that where they had been converted to spoked wheels in 1994! The easy-revving drive is less suitable for cruising, but scores with reliability and, thanks to a balance shaft, with smooth running. If you want to move the Kawa in a car pool, you should consider the models before 1996, which shine with a comparatively comfortable amount of space. However, the chassis is quickly overwhelmed.

Data (year of construction 1994):
Water-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, 499 cm³, 25 kW (34 PS) at 7500 rpm, toothed belt, weight 201 kg, tank capacity 11 l, seat height 720 mm, top speed 150 km / h, consumption (country road) 5 , 5 l / 100 km, regular gasoline

Price example:
EZ 3/1994, 44,000 kilometers, lots of chrome, socket, tool roll, TuV new, from private, 1499 euros

Yamaha XV 535


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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Yamaha XV 535

The parade horse among the small soft choppers is called XV 535 Virago and, despite the stylish V2 technology, brings tears to traditionalists’ eyes: the air filter housing and initially also the tank (until 1989) are dummies, and the double-barreled exhaust is also a real glare little sound and is considered to be susceptible to rust. Caution: replacement is expensive! Nevertheless, the top seller has its qualities: for example, with its clean cardan drive. Or his problem-free driving behavior, with which you can practically not go wrong. Thanks to the long construction period and widespread use, the offer is good and ranges from “classic and untampered” to “shrill customized”.

Data (year of construction 1994):
Air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke V-engine, 535 cm³, 34 kW (46 PS) at 7500 rpm, cardan, weight 197 kg, tank capacity 13.5 l, seat height 715 mm, top speed 159 km / h, consumption (country road) 5 , 3 l / 100 km, regular gasoline

Price example:
EZ 2/1994, 34,800 kilometers, 34 HP, summer vehicle, from private, 1,500 euros

Enduro


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


Drawing: archive

Winter time is enduro time. With the Ackergaulen you can travel without regrets even in bad weather. But be careful: many of them have often seen the whip and, in return, have not been groomed much. But since there is no shortage of used enduros in this price range, you can pick the raisins from the range.

Honda NX 650


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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Honda NX 650

She didn’t wear the surname “Dominator” for fun: For a long time, the Honda single left no doubt about his leading role in the Funduros class. Shone with fine workmanship, a harmonious chassis and a technically complex engine concept. With good care, the 650 is considered to have a long service life. When buying, however, attention should be paid to possible off-road use, which may have had a material-killing effect on fork seals, deflection levers and swing arm and steering head bearings. Year-round use on the road can also leave marks on rims, frames and engine housings. Be careful with noticeable engine noises.

Data (year of construction 1995):
Air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine, 644 cm³, 32 kW (44 PS) at 6000 rpm, chain, weight 183 kg, tank capacity 16 l, seat height 880 mm, top speed 160 km / h, consumption 5.0 l / 100 km, Regular gasoline

Price example:
EZ 7/1992, 15,900 kilometers, red with gold rims, dealer, 1395 euros

Suzuki DR 350


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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Suzuki DR 350

Makes it look small, but with its airy 91 centimeters seat height it is something for adults. A real finesse was added in 1992. The model variant DR 350 SH had a seat height that was adjustable from the handlebar. The Suzuki single could be lowered from 89 to 85 centimeters using the adjusting wheel. In 1994 the SE version with E-Starter was added, but it was not able to build on the sales success of the Hochtief offshoot. It is considered an all-round Unimog among the coarse-knuckles: the DR works off-road and on-road, is a nimble city runabout and, thanks to its robust engine, is perfectly suitable for long-distance travel. A popular accessory for globetrotters is a large tank (e.g. from Acerbis).

Data (year of construction 1993):
Air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine, 349 cm³, 20 kW (27 PS) at 7600 rpm, chain, weight 141 kg, tank capacity 9 l, seat height 910 mm, top speed 139 km / h, consumption 3.3 l / 100 km, Regular gasoline

Price example:
EZ 4/1993, 21,000 kilometers, large tank, Renthal handlebar, from private, 1350 euros

Scooter


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


Drawing: archive

The best argument to start a budget for a second two-wheeler: We can do without a car more in the future, honey! But now you have to jump over your shadow and say yes to the scooter. But definitely not the new-and-cheap part from the hardware store. Hit the used vehicles in the u-125 class. The utility value is right here.

Piaggio Hexagon 150


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


Aprilia

Piaggio Hexagon 150

The scooter market was shaken up in the nineties with new concepts. Even traditional companies like Piaggio do not close themselves off to the new design language. Right in the middle of it all is the hexagon, which in terms of drive relies on vile two-stroke technology, but with an illuminated trunk and pull-out lumbar support, it is luxurious finesse. With its small 10-inch wheels, the Hexagon can boast of quick U-turns, especially in city traffic, and the sprint qualities are also remarkable. However, if you pull the cable courageously, you have to struggle with high consumption. Those interested in buying should look particularly carefully for hidden rust nests.

Data (year of construction 1995):
Water-cooled single-cylinder two-stroke engine, 150 cm³, 11 kW (15 PS) at 7750 / min, power unit swing arm, weight 138 kg, tank capacity 8.5 l, seat height 780 mm, top speed 108 km / h, consumption (country road) 4.5 l / 100 km, premium gasoline

Price example:
EZ 3/2000, 8600 kilometers, TuV new, dealer, 1150 euros

Yamaha YP 250 Majesty


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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Yamaha YP 250 Majesty

His Majesty actually set new standards for large-capacity scooters with a modern chassis and well thought-out equipment. The aerodynamic front fairing looks heavily like touring motorcycle, powerful telescopic fork and powerful brakes do the rest. The imprecise handling and the slack drum brake at the rear were initially criticized. In the course of the facelift, the quality of the 250 increasingly improved, for example in 1998 with a disc brake on the rear wheel and a more durable exhaust system. An ABS followed in 1999 and a complete model upgrade in 2000. Tip for retrofitting: Better struts from Bitubo are available from Alphatechnik.

Data (year of construction 1996):
Water-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine, 250 cm³, 14.7 kW (20 PS) at / min, belt automatic, weight 158 ​​kg, tank capacity 11 l, seat height 700 mm, top speed 120 km / h, consumption 4.0 l / 100 km, normal gasoline

Price example:
Single room 4/2000, 39,000 kilometers, lots of extras, full service history, private, 1399 euros

125cc


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


Drawing: archive

Whistle on the malice of the buddies. In the 125cc class, things are smart and quick for cheap money. From the beautiful sports iron to the agile supermoto – driving fun is guaranteed. Especially if you want to hone your motorcycle skills without regrets. Stoppies, wheelies or drifts can be trained perfectly in the eight-liter format.

Aprilia RS 125


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


Aprilia

Aprilia RS 125

To speak of a milestone for the 125cc is difficult, but it is a milestone RS 125 always. And an athlete who has it all behind the ears: Please only look once at the horsepower specification. Convinced? The “Priller” is definitely very popular with youngsters infected with two wheels. The polished aluminum frame, banana swing arm and upside-down fork show where the Mini-Mille first saw the light of day: on the racetrack. Holders of the large driver’s license can live their lives unrestrained with the unthrottled RS 125, in the throttle mode the two-stroke loses some of its fascination. And regular screwing is more the rule than the exception here.

Data (year of construction 2006):
Water-cooled single-cylinder two-stroke engine, 125 cm³, 21 kW (29 PS) at 10500 rpm, chain, weight 141 kg, tank capacity 14 l, seat height 815 mm, top speed 155 km / h, consumption 4.3 l / 100 km, Premium gasoline

Price example:
EZ 2/2000, 15500 kilometers, top condition, tires and brakes new, from private, 1450 euros

Honda CBR 125 R.


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


Aprilia

Honda CBR 125 R.

Even as a new vehicle, it was attractive CBR 125 R with an outrageously low price. Used, you just have to buy it here – there is hardly any other place that offers so much value. And the Mini-Blade really has it in terms of driving technology: The successor model of the two-stroke NSR 125 attracts with its easy high-revving four-stroke, which has no problems with its weight of 124 kilograms. In addition, there is the easy-to-shift six-speed gearbox. Exactly the right combination to always swim ahead in the city. On country road turns, however, the too softly tuned chassis is noticeable. Workmanship and reliability rank on the well-known high Honda level.

Data (year of construction 2004):
Water-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine, 125 cm³, 10 kW (14 PS) at 10,000 rpm, chain, weight 124 kg, tank capacity 10 l, seat height 790 mm, top speed 110 km / h, consumption 3.0 l / 100 km, regular gasoline

Price example:
EZ 7/2006, 28,440 kilometers, 1st hand, Repsol design, many extras, from private, 1333 euros

MZ 125 SX / SM


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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MZ 125 SX / SM

For many years, the traditional German brand has taken care of its prestige and tried to place a mighty 1000 in the market. Without success. In contrast, the machine program for the little man on the street is much more successful. It is based on a single-cylinder four-stroke engine with a water cooling system, two overhead camshafts and four valves that deliver a hefty 15 hp. For friends of long-legged models, this is used twice: in the 125 SX, a mixture of hard enduro and everyday all-rounder, and in the Supermoto 125 SM, which is highly regarded by sporty road pilots. One drawback is the bench that quickly sagged.

Data (year of construction 2003):
Water-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine, 124 cm³, 11 kW (15 PS) at 9000 / min, chain, weight 128 kg, tank capacity 13.5 l, seat height 850 mm, top speed 108 km / h, consumption 2.8 l / 100 km, premium gasoline

Price example:
125 SM, single room 10/2001, 24,990 kilometers, heated grip, new bearings, from private, 1290 euros

Stand damage


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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Little run means standing for a long time in older models. That has costly consequences.

Mileage is one of the standard questions when buying a used vehicle. In the case of older specimens, however, the question should rather aim in a different direction: “How long has it stood?” Because the ravages of time are gnawing away. One of the most frequent damage to the floor is carburettor clogged by deposits, which can be seen after a relatively short time during the winter months. Closely followed by the harmful UV radiation, which particularly affects the plastic parts. On the one hand, this can have purely visual consequences in that fittings become ugly fading, but it can also have severe consequences for the technology if intake manifolds or brake lines become porous and seals harden. The regular replacement of the brake fluid is often overlooked. Since this binds water, rust can increasingly spread in the system – with fatal consequences. Rust is already the classic service life that strikes everywhere: partly obviously on the surface, but often also hidden in hard-to-reach places. You will find lots of tips on how to properly deal with damage to the vehicle in the upcoming MOTORRAD issue 2/2010.

Used check


Second-hand advice: winter bikes for 1500 euros


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Carefree packages are not to be expected in this price range. What buyers need to look out for.

No purchase without follow-up costs: In the inexpensive bike class, you usually have to spend money after buying it in order to remedy one or the other grievance. So it’s good if you uncover some shortcomings at the on-site appointment and skillfully incorporate them into the price negotiations. What about the condition of the chain and tires, for example? Do you have to change the oil soon? Three important points with which one can properly influence the price. Another important point is checking the wheel and steering head bearings and levers. The costs for spare parts are usually manageable, but assembly is time-consuming and requires screwdriver know-how. What is the condition of the brakes? The pads can be replaced quickly and cheaply, but if you can clearly feel the scratches on the disc, a (usually more expensive) replacement is due. After the test drive, you also got a good impression of the condition of the chassis: Now you should check again whether the oil mist on the fork or shock absorber indicates leaks.

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