Second post, purchasing a monster

[michaeljr]

I agree a 620 is super easy to ride and loads of fun. I'm wary of any bike thats been down. Make sure you buy one with both red and black keys!! Remember you need a Valve job at 6K Miles and that aint cheap.

Any mods I should take care of right away with the 620 and 695?

[Slide Panda]

Ensure that the belts are fresh. Have suspension set for you. Shorten stock final drive gearing (if not already done)

[michaeljr]

 http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/mcd/3105170717.html

Blue book at 4400....his price at 4900.

Is there something I'm missing here with monster prices in the northeast?

[xsephirot]

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/mcd/3105170717.html

Blue book at 4400....his price at 4900.

Is there something I'm missing here with monster prices in the northeast?

It's all about supply/demand when it's perfect riding season.

[Slide Panda]

It's all about supply/demand when it's perfect riding season.

Very. Watch thing long enough and you'll see radical shift in prices. usually the best time to poach stuff on the cheap is Nov/Dec. Dead of winter and possibly folks looking to fund holiday purchases.

[Teutonics]

...usually the best time to poach stuff on the cheap is Nov/Dec...

^^^This.

And expand your search area.  Use Search Tempest or some other search tool and set the driving radius for the farthest you would be willing to go.

I purchased my bike in the month of October, 400 miles away (full day drive there and back), and got my 900ie with 1,286 miles on it, ducati hard bags, and a ton of accessories for cheaper than some of the prices you're quoting.  There was nothing in my price range in my high demand area, but in "the sticks" no one wanted to touch a Ducati.  There are deals out there if you're willing to work a little for them.

As was also mentioned before, don't sweat a few hundred dollars one way or the other.  It's really not that much money if you put it into context (length of bike ownership, how much you spent eating out last month, wife's last trip to Macy's or Costco, etc.)  

[michaeljr]

It's all about supply/demand when it's perfect riding season.

Counting this one out too. The year went from 07 to 08, "new body style", "my mechanic looked at it and said it's fine, no need to change belts etc, the booklet says you have to but you don't", "I think it's a 69...something, I can't remember, just look at the pictures" "pictures speak for themselves" "vales? yeah yeah he said the valves are good" "someone is coming to look at it sunday, better jump on it if you want it"

Don't they realize that when you say "my mechanic", and when you say "at ducati?" and they say "no my buddy", that red lights start flashing and sirens go off? 
Gotta love the craigslist salesman hahaha

[Slide Panda]

Un huh... oookay your mechanic said that diamonds come out of the exhaust?! Wow and you're still stilling 

Seems that fellow is fulla crap.

[michaeljr]

Un huh... oookay your mechanic said that diamonds come out of the exhaust?! Wow and you're still stilling 

Seems that fellow is fulla crap.

Yep. I've noticed about half the bikes I call about have a similar story. "Oh no I didn't go to ducati, my buddy works on bikes" "Yeah it got serviced, but I have no paperwork  - Can you grab the paperwork from ducati for me? - No, I don't know if they are around anymore" Keep in mind, there's about 5 dealerships in the area, and that hasn't changed for god knows how long. Do they really think people buy their bullsh*t?

The hysterical one was "yeah the bike is mint, I mean, I had to replace the engine because something happened with the timing belt and it was a serious malfunction, but I picked one up at a salvage yard up here. There's a ton of totaled bikes, mainly ducatis. It's no big deal, runs awesome, never had to change the title either, not that it was wrecked, but you know with the engine replacement at all. So when do you want to take a look at it?."  After I asked him if ducati covered it, he said "No it was right after the warranty expired". Keep in mind, the bike has 5K on it  but it's off warranty  . What scares me, is that there is some mook out there that WILL actually buy a bike off of that kid.

[Slide Panda]

Well we don't have a Craigs Lit crackheads thread fo no reason.

There's lot of lazy, dumb and or irresponsible folks out there looking for the easy way that think other folks think like they do.

And yeah - I've seen listings like you describe and do think "God I hope no one actually pays for X in *that* condition..."

[michaeljr]

So I'm waiting for a response from the guy in Brooklyn. Hopefully that works out.

If not, these guys offered to sell me this for 3900 http://www.momsouth.com/new_vehicle_detail.asp?sid=01298029X6K29K2012J9I17I43JAMQ2055R0&veh=14551&pov=2742739

Not crazy about the headlights, but it's a duca and it's from a dealership with a warranty.


Still keeping my fingers crossed on the bike in BK.

[Slide Panda]

So if that's a 05, it looks to be an early production run one. Note the gold calipers - later that year they got down graded front calipers in balck, rear was black too. So it's quite likely this one has a steel tank.

The exhaust makes me Hmmm a bit. Personally I don't care for D&D. They tend to be over loud and obnoxious sounding on top of that.

[michaeljr]

So if that's a 05, it looks to be an early production run one. Note the gold calipers - later that year they got down graded front calipers in black, rear was black too. So it's quite likely this one has a steel tank.

The exhaust makes me Hmmm a bit. Personally I don't care for D&D. They tend to be over loud and obnoxious sounding on top of that.

He did say it's the model with the steel tank. 6 speed too. I was nervous about it being the single brake 5 sp model.

How's that price? They dropped from 5K (which I know it wasn't worth it by any means, but as everyone has said, peak season).

I've heard the D&Ds, just never on a duca. Start looking for a replacement immediately if I was to pick it up? I'd rather go with a carbon setup anyways. I will say, that exhaust wrap job looks awful. I love the wrapped look, but that looks like a pretty botched job.

[Slide Panda]

Well exhaust is personal pref - so you do what you want. Price seems high to me as it's basically stock. But I havn't been in the market for a while

[The ModFather]

I bought a used all stock 2005 620 Dark for $4500 with 5K miles. First mistake was it only came with the black key and I was unaware. First mods I made were Tail Chop and mirrors as those stock items are hideous. Take off the reflectors on the forks too I hate those and at night they'd see your headlight anyway so I find it kinda superflous. 14T front sprocket is a good mod. I took a Dremel to my front and rear fender and chopped it down as I found the stock ones a bit long. Beyond that its all personal preference I put on Rizoma Handlebars, grips and mirrors. Lots of people complain about the Rizoma grips but I had no problems and love'em. You can rattlecan your cam belt covers as the stock ones are an ugly shade of gray. Also the coffin reservoir lids are pretty damn ugly. I picked up cnc ones from Slingshotracing.com. I also bough some nice ASV Levers in the Refurb section direct from ASV website very cheap very nice but no warranty which I'm okay with.