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Thread: Buying an 08 w/ rebuilt title possible issues?

Created on: 09/20/10 12:35 PM

Replies: 6

maximx



Joined: 09/20/10

Posts: 7

Buying an 08 w/ rebuilt title possible issues?
09/20/10 12:35 PM

I'm looking to buy an 08. It will be my first zx14. It's for a great price 5200. It has a rebuilt title and that concerns me. Apparently the bike looks, rides, and performs perfectly but I still have to Check it out. I just want to know what specifically I should look for in this bike. So any help is appreciated.

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loadedmind


loadedmind's Gravatar

Location: Planet Earth

Joined: 01/17/10

Posts: 674

RE: Buying an 08 w/ rebuilt title possible issues?
09/20/10 1:18 PM

Look real carefully at the frame/subframe, look at the swingarm - is it bent/twisted/warped? If it was replaced, why? Think about what a bike might look like after a wreck on each side and then observe where the plastic meets with the holes. Does it look right? Ask up front, why is the title rebuilt? Tell me about the history of the bike or the previous owner. Was it ragged? Check for any signs of a wreck in other words. Scrapes on metal anywhere, scrapes behind the dash (bike flips, windscreen comes off, scrapes dash. Check for missing bolts anywhere.

It might actually help for you to download a blue print of what a ZX-14 looks like from any of the various websites out there that can provide this to you free of charge. Then see if those bolts are missing anywhere. Not all, obviously, but key bolts, like, for the engine and what not. Depending on which ones might be missing, it still might not be cause for concern as they may have just forgotten to put them back after doing stuff like replacing the stock fender or tinkering with the fuse box. Check the wear on the brake pads, front and rear. Do they look pretty evenly worn? If you can, put something in the front of the bike and crank it, turn the lights on regular and bright and make sure they're aiming properly. Is one looking off to the side? Might have been impacted during a wreck, in other words.

Check the wear on the tires - any weird wear patterns? Turn the bike all the way to the right and left and make sure they line up where they're supposed to. Might help you to bring photos of a pristine '14 for reference purposes. Get down on one knee and look at the bike from the rear and from the front. Does it all line up properly? Ask what kind of oil was used in the last change and inspect the quality of the oil in the side indicator with the bike upright. I know this is going to sound strange, but smell the oil. You're looking for any abnormal burnt smell.

Take a look at the bolt that's directly underneath the bike for the oil drip. Does it look like it's been scraped as if from asphalt/concrete? You don't need to take it off for this, FYI, and you don't want to as oil will definitely follow! ::8^)::

Inspect the chain and sprocket. For the sprocket, you're looking for any teeth that might be worn abnormally and for the chain, you want to check general condition. You can tell a lot about a bike in the chain alone. While you're down there, check the slack. When you pull up on it, you're looking at about an inch and a half and not much more.

When you're done with this part, ask to take it around the block and test the brakes. For the front, do they start to grab where they're supposed to? Check the reservoirs at the dash. Are they at proper level? Does the rear brake feel mushy or is it sound? You're listening for any metal-to-metal during all of the brake-checking, of course. Go through all the gears. Listen for any excess chatter or metal grating sounds.

This should get you in the right direction. I'm sure there are things I'm missing, but this is just off the top of my head. Good luck and if the whole thing doesn't feel right, don't be afraid to walk away.


* Last updated by: loadedmind on 9/20/2010 @ 1:20 PM *



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmufqEW7Gtw&feature=player_embedded

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willidx4



Joined: 03/17/09

Posts: 599

RE: Buying an 08 w/ rebuilt title possible issues?
09/20/10 2:42 PM

I'm looking to buy an 08. It will be my first zx14. It's for a great price 5200. It has a rebuilt title and that concerns me. Apparently the bike looks, rides, and performs perfectly but I still have to Check it out. I just want to know what specifically I should look for in this bike. So any help is appreciated
\

Don’t do it look around for a clean 06 or 07 with a clean title. You can find an 06/07 for very close to that price all day long. Even If the bike only had plastic damage and the insurance company totled the bike out why take the chance for a few. 100 bucks. I sold my 06 with a pipe,PC no flies for 6400 and that was a year and a half ago the bike was very clean and if you ask me he paid to much the bike had 22k on it. Check this Ebay listing out they want 6700 for an 07SE with 7k miles which they won't get

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007-KAWASAKI-NINJA-ZX-14-SPECIAL-EDITION-AWESOME-/150495026452?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item230a33dd14

or how about an 09SE with 6k on it he is asking 7k but I bet 6500 would do the job

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2009-zx-14-SE-/220670951216?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item3361037f30

this 07 has starting bid of 5500 you know why he started at 5500 becuse that what he will take and thats all he might get.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007-kawasaki-zx14-/320593310880?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item4aa4d9b4a0

Pull out 6k in cash and you'll be able to get a very clean bike with low miles and a clean title

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maximx



Joined: 09/20/10

Posts: 7

RE: Buying an 08 w/ rebuilt title possible issues?
09/20/10 2:52 PM

What an awesome response. Thank you. I'll make a check list for when I go. From what the owner said the damage was cosmetic but I never trust someone trying to sell me something. He said he bought it wrecked and fixed it. He sais he replacex it with monster energy plastics. He also said there wAs no mechanical damage repaired. Thanks for all the tips. I think an aggressive test ride is in order as well.

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RioZX14


RioZX14's Gravatar

Location: N.H.

Joined: 09/10/10

Posts: 8

RE: Buying an 08 w/ rebuilt title possible issues?
09/20/10 3:33 PM

I would check with your town hall or state and see what's required. My son bought a totaled Tacoma and we had to have it state inspected and the inspector affixed a stamp to the door panel.... this was before he could register it. If your in the same state you may be ok. Don't want any suprises if it hasn't been registered on that rebuilt title. Ask your insurance company also...different rules apply to rebuilt titles.

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willidx4



Joined: 03/17/09

Posts: 599

RE: Buying an 08 w/ rebuilt title possible issues?
09/20/10 3:44 PM

If you do buy it for some reason you better have the frame and forks checked out by a pro. If you need to ask what to look for on a used bike and especially a salvage title bike you might be in over your head. Just curious how many bikes have you owned? Loaded gave you some sound advice follow it. I would also ask to see the bill of sale from the insurance company or who ever he bought the bike from. Most impotantly check the VIN#s frame and motor to see if its been stolen. some people will actually try to sale a bike with a bill of sale that they still owe money on which is illegal. Some people will report a bike stolen get an insurance pay off the loan and pull the bike back out and drag race the hell out of it for a years. He then gets some crack head to sell it to some schmuck as a low milage rebuilt bike. The schmuck that just turned over several grand in a wal mart parking lot gets a bill of sale. He then walks his happy ass into the DMV to get the rebult title only to have the clerk tell him the bikes vin is being reported as stolen. Trooper shows up takes the bike returns it to the insurance company that paid the claim schmuck is out of his cash.Good luck


* Last updated by: willidx4 on 9/20/2010 @ 4:08 PM *

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maximx



Joined: 09/20/10

Posts: 7

RE: Buying an 08 w/ rebuilt title possible issues?
09/20/10 7:40 PM

I contacted my insurance company. They said there is no problem. About getting it inspected it has a Rebuilt title. In Mass they only get the "rebuilt" after they have been inspected road worthy and registered.

This will be my 4th motorcycle. I was more looking for zx14 specific problem areas that I should look for other than general guidelines. But, that being said all of the information is great help and much appreciated. I feel like I will be able to judge the bike well on first impressions. The gut feeling never lies.

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