To buy or not to buy damaged xb12ss

[Jan]

Hi everyone

Couple of weeks ago I got ran off the road and unfortunatly totalled my bike. Now I'm looking to buy a new one and I'm pretty sure it's gonna be a buell XB. I've been looking around a bit and there's a pretty new second hander (2009 - 6000 miles) around here but it's got some damage on it. I think the guy selling must have dropped it. Since this will be my first buell (coming from a gsxr) I have no idea how severe the damage is. Looks like a pretty serious dent in the frame. Can it be fixed or do you guys say stear clear of this one? He's asking 7500 euro (bout 11k USD) for it aswell.

 

[yellow50]

If it is just the dent on the frame, you can over it with some carbon fiber frame covers. Most bikes have frame pucks (hard plastic thing that stop frame damage) in the spot that is dented. Also, im not sure what those things are going for over there but 11k usd is a crazy amount of money for a buell over here. Could just be that our money is now worth nothing.

 

[Jan]

It was about 16k USD new and i'll probably take the price down a bit anyway since it's damaged. It is a pretty normal price tho for that age/mileage.
I always thaught that damage to the frame is severe damage. That's why i'm asking here if that type of damage is a real problem or just a cosmetic one.
As for the frame puck, it has one on the other side (got a pic of it) so i can only assume that one, where the dent was, came off when he put it down. The left pipe is a little scuffed and there's some paint gone near the rear axle. All in all it looks ok but that dent's got me a little worried.

 

[chucks_net]

The inside of the spar is where the support comes from -so structurally you should be ok.

Does it look like there were frame pucks on there? a simple parking lot (carpark) drop can cause a similar dent with frame pucks.

What is the sellers story? Does it match the bike -if not pass.

The dent does severely decrease the value in my opinion. In resale its a blemish that is hard to fix and brings up frame structure concerns.

For part out it cuts the value of the frame in half.

Offer 5500 and settle on 6... or offer 6 and settle on 6500. 6500 would be my ceiling.

Also look for damage on the swingarm, right engine cover, and bottom of the right fork.

 

[Jan]

I got the pic in a higher res so i got a bit more detail on it, there is no damage to the engine cover or bottom of the fork and the swingarm is scuffed at the bottom where the axle hole is. I wouldn't go any higher than 6 unless he's got the damaged fixed properly in the meantime.
There is the standard framepuck on the other side. So it looks like a drop at low speed to me. I've just asked him how he got the damage. My bike looked alot worse after I crashed it at 85mph
Would it be expensive to get the dent fixed (or the part replaced)?
I'm not to worried about the other stuff.

 

[chucks_net]

just body fill it

the best way to fix it is to have that section cut out and have another welded in. this should be done carefully because over heating the frame will temper/ distemper it causing it to crack under normal load

 

[Buellysses]

Am I missing something here? Are these bikes really that much more money on the other side of the pond?

$5000USD off original retail for a used, wrecked bike? Sorry, I'd pass on that one. Stateside, I personally wouldn't pay more than $4-$5k(USD) for a bike like that.

 

[myronman3]

i wouldnt even pay that. 3000 to 3500 TOPS.

 

[chucks_net]

yeah -here in the states 3K would be my bid

 

[Jan]

I guess I'll keep looking then for a bit.
It's pretty hard to find a decent buell over here
but i'm eager to join the club

 

[chucks_net]

I would just buy it and ride it

 

[Jan]

I guess ill see how much hes willing to come down...

 

[stratochile]

Just bought an 06 XB12Scg with 3600 miles ....mint for $5300.00 US

 

[unionthug]

Damaged frames are bad news, I'm all for a project, my 07 was a rundown mess when I picked it up for $2900 but it had no major issues. I looked at several salvage bikes on the way to the one I chose but a bent frame is a huge question mark.

That bike in California would be around $3500 USD tops.

 

[Ranger3987]

If I was in your shoes and buells were that hard to come by I would argue him down as much as possible and buy a used frame in perfect contion and when winter comes you will have a little project and then a much better condition buell and you will know the bike inside and out