[Rawclam]

Hi all, I am looking at buying a used TW, a 2000. It has 6000 miles on the clock. I haven't seen it yet but have talked with the owner. He says it runs well but is cold blooded. He has a new rear tire and new front and rear sprocket and chain that will need to be installed in the next 500 miles. Bodywise it has a few scratches but no dents and is missing the rear turn signals. He is asking $1500.00 My questions for you here is this, does the price sound fair? Should the chain and sprockets need replacing at 6000 miles? are the TWs cold blooded? These bikes sound great for where I live at the beach. I am going to see it this Saturday. any input is appreciated Thanks, Ric

 

[Gerry]

Yes, the TW seems to be 'Cold blooded'. Suspect the sprockets represent a ratio change and do not reflect wear. Stock chain is cheap and seems to stretch alot. Extra tires at 6000 miles seems odd, then again, if the previous owner has followed the forum, maybe he has some upgrades at the ready. To me, price is a 'personal' thing. How bad to you want a TW? I would not have any problems with $1500. Gerry

 

[Rainman]

1,500 is fair. Yes, they are cold blooded. Chain and sprockets will probably need to be replaced but thats no big deal. No taillights? Those can be expensive and time consuming depending on if he just unplugged them or if he cut and ripped out the wiring.



Kelly Blue book shows that the bike is worth 1,510 dollars. I'd offer less because its not street legal and you can't ride it home.

 

[qwerty]

Hi all, I am looking at buying a used TW, a 2000. It has 6000 miles on the clock. I haven't seen it yet but have talked with the owner. He says it runs well but is cold blooded. He has a new rear tire and new front and rear sprocket and chain that will need to be installed in the next 500 miles. Bodywise it has a few scratches but no dents and is missing the rear turn signals. He is asking $1500.00 My questions for you here is this, does the price sound fair? Should the chain and sprockets need replacing at 6000 miles? are the TWs cold blooded? These bikes sound great for where I live at the beach. I am going to see it this Saturday. any input is appreciated Thanks, Ric

$1510 is the dealer asking average of a 2000 in good condition. $975 is the dealer trade-in average of a 2000 in good condition.



The bike you are looking at is in fair, amybe poor, but definately not good, condition.



TWs are not cold blooded. Their idle mixture screws are set too lean to please the EPA. Free fix.



1) Rear tire should still have at least half its tread life. If a new, not used, replacement is offered, add $85-100 to value. 2) If rear tire is shot, suspect mileage shown by odometer is not accurate. If rear tire is shot, you'll need to add $20 for a tube and $30 for mounting, plus the hassle of getting it done, so including the new tire in the deal is a no-deduction/no-premium deal. 3) if rear tire is shot, and replacement is used, deduct $150 from the asking price.



Front tire is probably worn out at 6000 miles. Several options in the $50-75 range, depending on where you ride and the look you want. Deduct $100, the price of a new tire, tube, and mounting, unless a new tire is on the bike.



Fact is, a 2000 with the original tires is riding on 11 year old tires. They need to be replaced, anyway, just because of age. Mail-order tires and tubes will set you back at least $180, plus labor if you don't mount them yourself, expect to pay $250/set or more from a shop with mounting included.



Turn signals and hardware are $60+ each. Deduct $120 from price IF wiring harness is still present and in good shape. Deduct another $50 if wiring is cut up. Deduct $20 for installing.



Stock chain is junk. Very easily the chain and sprockets are worn out. To replace the set properly, you'll still need a quart of oil, lock tabs for the wheel sprocket, a gasket for the case cover, and labor. Figure $75 deduction IF the replacement sprockets are good quality AND the chain is good quality. If the stock chain is offered as a replacement, it has no value because it is junk. If an o-ring chain is offered as a replacement add $75 to the price because o-ring chains are worth that. The value of a quality o-ring chain will counteract the deduction for the labor and small bits to install the new sprocket set.



$1510

- 250 for tires

- 150 for turn signals

- 150 for chain and sprockets

- 100 ? for scratches

$860

+ 100 for new tire, if it is the tread pattern you want

+ 35 for new sprockets, if they are the ratio you want

$ 995



Add in the value of a good chain, a stock replacement chain is worth nothing.



All of a sudden, that $1500 asking price isn't looking so good, is it? Looks like the asking price is about $500 high.



I paid $1800 for a 2003 with 712 miles in 2007, with a new battery, no damage, missing one mirror. I'd pass.

 

[Rawclam]

WOW! thanks for all the input, great stuff here! Yeah im going to look at it tomorrow but I am not holding out much hope that its worth it. I'll keep you all posted, if not the hunt goes on! Thanks again for your thoughts!

 

[Schleppy]

WOW! thanks for all the input, great stuff here! Yeah im going to look at it tomorrow but I am not holding out much hope that its worth it. I'll keep you all posted, if not the hunt goes on! Thanks again for your thoughts!

I just paid $1500 for a very nice 96 with 3100 miles on it two days ago. It looks like it has harldy been used and the guy added bark busters and an aftermarket chain guide. I think I paid about what it was worth, I didnt get a crazy good deal but when I got there to look at the bike I had a hard time finding anything wrong to work on the price with.



I wouldnt put too much stock in the blue-book values of these bikes either. The TW is very popular and seems to sell for well above the blue book from what I have seen. What other bike do you find so many wanted ads for?



You were already given some great advice by people that know a lot more about motorcycles than I do. My advice would be to print off a copy of that itemized value's that was posted and bring it along. Offer low and dont get your heart set on owning it. You may get it cheaper than you think. Also, the great deals are out there. Having a fist full of cash these days is rare, and bikes will start popping up for sale like crazy soon especially around the 15th.



Good luck