Please help me decide which used Blast to buy

[gav_sharma]

Hi,
I have driven bikes before for 6 years in India. I have been in US for past 8 years and I was thinking of starting on a modest bike. Fuel efficiency, price,comfort and low maintenance is important to me. Power, pickup and looks are less important.

So between the following bikes which one would you recommend buying ?

Buell 1
Buell 2
Buell 3

 

[just_some_dude]

Go for the cheapest one and ask for a lower price.

My initial reaction is the 2004 is the best deal.

 

[wolfo68]

the 04

 

[gav_sharma]

Ok. I will make him an offer. What would be a good price to pay for an 04 ? Also what kind of questions would you ask buying an 04 Buell. Were there any recalls with 04 Buells that I need to pay attention to ?
Would it be ok to have it checked by a mechanic ?
I have never bought a bike in US so please tolerate my newbie questions.

 

[strmvt]

ride it take it to get checked out for sure if he wont let you get it loked at walk away you might have to pay to get it looked at though but could be worth it

 

[just_some_dude]

You could offer 1400 and see if he'll do 1500. Or you could go hardcore, like I did with mine (they asked 1500) and I asked for 500. They gave it to me for 500 . Although you run the risk of offending them. Also, consider the amount of time it's been listed. He may really want to sell it because it's been there for a few weeks, or he's not budging on his price and nobody will buy it.

You could have it checked out by a mechanic if you want, but I think you could do a decent inspection on your own. Make sure there is no frame damage, make sure there is oil!, etc.

You can find a used motorcycle checklist fairly easily online by searching on Google.

Also, the seller may not let you take the bike to the mechanic.

I probably wouldn't take it to a mechanic. I would just look at it in detail and start it up to listen.

My guess is that bike is going to be in good shape.

No recalls that I know of.

 

[wolfo68]

should be ok, just listen to it and ask about maintenance and how long it has been sitting, 1800 seems like a good price for an 04 but you could offer less and see if the person drops the price for you, remember to bring cash because cash always talks

 

[pinball242]

id go for the first one, based on looks alone.

 

[Alfatango1]

Offer the person with the 2008 $1500 and see what happens or buy the 04 for like $800

 

[Drkside79]

I would offer $2 for the 08

 

[ezblast]

#3 is the best bet.
EZ

 

[myronman3]

yeah, offer the guy with the 08 1500. i wouldnt pay a dime over 1500 for a blast, there are just too many of them available and people tend to not keep them very long. they use them as beginner bikes and seem to want more bike soon, so they try to sell theirs. i think the blast is a great set up, so much so i bought one for my ex wife for her first bike. but again, i wouldnt pay over a 1500 for one, and that had better be very low miles and a newer bike.

 

[gav_sharma]

Thanks for all the comments. I just talked to the 04 Buell guy. He said he is a mechanic and has two other dual sport bikes. He bought the bike used from previous owner at 1000 miles for his wife and daughter but they didn't ride it enough. So he has been driving it mostly. He said he has used synthetic oil in it and serviced it himself regularly. Also he said that bike is working fine currently and he is riding it to work everyday.
Regarding the price he turned down many offers of 500$/1000$ range and best he got was $1650 over the weekend which he also turned down. Lowest he said he could do is $1750. Maybe I can bring him down to $1700.

So should I buy it at $1750 ? I will try offering $1750 to the 2008 one and see what he says.But that bike has sat in garage for 2 yrs so I am not sure if it will work fine. Is there a big improvement in 2008 over 2004 Blast ?

 

[gav_sharma]

I found this recall info on 2004 Blast. So were there only 656 blast motorcyles sold in 2004 or does the recall effect only few motorcycles ?

Recall ID #60856 - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Recall Date JUL 23, 2004
Component FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Motorcycle Affected BLAST
Potential Motorcycles Affected 656 Recall Details
Recall Date
JUL 23, 2004

Motorcycle Affected
2004 BUELL BLAST

Summary
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE VALVE WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO ALLOW AIR TO REPLACE FUEL IN THE TANK DURING OPERATION COULD MALFUNCTION THEREBY STARVING THE ENGINE FOR FUEL.

Consequence
THIS SITUATION COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH, CAUSING THE POSSIBILITY OF DEATH OR INJURY.

Remedy
BUELL WILL REPLACE THE VENT VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUELL AT 414-343-8400.

Potential Motorcycles Affected
656

 

[ezblast]

If he is a mechanic, he already checked such things. That recall was for all 04 bikes, however, only a few had bad valves - they just didn't know which, and the valve is cheap in cost, so they recalled all for that year. 1800 is a good price for a 04 that was owned and maintained by a professional. Most of the beginners abuse the bike so bad it doesn't matter, because there probably will be something that needs addressing by the new abuser - lol - I'd get the 04 and stop worrying about 50 bucks, and thank goodness the previous owner at least new how to care and maintain his bike.
EZ

 

[gav_sharma]

Thanks EZ. Good points and I do agree with you. The 04 bike is being used now and hence should be in working condition. The 08 has been sitting in garage for two years.

So one more question. Is there a big improvement in 2008 Blast over the 2004 one ?

 

[ezblast]

A few newer non-critical bearings, due to vendor changes, but no other changes. Oh - and seats - the 06 and up seats are way more comfortable (change in vendors) - lol
EZ