Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Comments on eBay listing

Any comments on this eBay listing before I bid? Seems a bit risky to me buying it sight unseen.

This is a beautiful 2006 CLEAN/BLUE/REGULAR TITLE black and gray Triumph Bonneville America ready to ride. TRIUMPH accessories, Saddle bags and pillion seat with new Triumph padded sissy bars, luggage rack, and oil cooler.

You will be very happy with this bike. Overall bike is awesome; this bike glides and I drove it as a commuter. This bike as you can see in the picture is in excellent shape and the reserve is set at a very fair price. These bikes have a lot of Japanese parts and are very durable. Apart from the below info, the bike is as close to showroom as a 2006 is and it is sold AS IS.
There are no mechanical issues.

The bike was bought from an insurance auction in Houston and is NOT, I repeat, NOT A SALVAGE and NOT A REBUILT titled motorcycle. I do not know what happened and to be honest nor did I care when I bought it because after examination, I realized that there was nothing frame wise or mechanic wise that was wrong. I DROVE it and inspected it the very same day. It was what's called a Run and Drive vehicle with cosmetic damage.

Two dings in the gas tank, paint totally intact .
Two small dings at the back of the front light.
1 dent in the right and 1 small dent in the fork sleeve covers (NOT THE FORK). See pictures.
Speedometer not original (used and replaced, shows 33 K) works very well. (True mileage is less than 20k as I was told) The title reflects “MILEAGE NOT ACTUAL”. This bike still smells of new. Again I do not know what happened and because of this the reserve has been set down at well over a thousand dollars below blue book; your gain, my loss.

Fresh oil change 50 miles ago.
Battery fully charged.
Tires in excellent condition.
Chain feels good.
Front brake pads, better than half life.
Rear brake pads, about half life.
Fluids correct.
Registered to July 07 and inspected to May of 08.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...760596&rd=1,1

The bike has 3 days to go. Why dont you place a thread "Calling all Texans" need your help etc. Maybe one of the members can go look at it for you. Worth a shot

The guy is being very candid, but (and I cannot necessarily put my finger on it), I don't like the feeling I get about the bike.

As far as the bike "smelling new," I don't think new bikes smell new.

I bought 2 vehicles on fleabay in 2003. Both are 2001 models and the best vehicles I've ever bought. I'll look at ebay for all my rides from now on.
This bike could be a good deal, depending on the reserve.

Always hated the "As Is" comments.

Something just doesn't feel right about this. How did it get dents on both sides, the back of the headlight, and why was the speedo actual reading not logged? This guy doesn't come across as experienced enough to make the claims he is making (may be, who knows).

What we do know is

the bike has had damage
was at least partially repaired with used parts
and has no record of maintenance

If you buy it, plan on a valve job and other 12k and 20k maintenance work. Just my 2/100ths.

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These bikes have a lot of Japanese parts and are very durable.

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Huh? Durable, definitely. Japanese parts, nope.

This bike was definitley more than likely wrecked. It's an '06 and has a new oil cooler and speedo. Check out the pics of the upper fork covers.

It doesn't seem right to me. Definitley see if someone in Texas can take a first hand look at it.

Soren

A thousand dollars isn't much of a reduction in price for the known damages. That doesn't leave any room for unknowns. Don't worry about being outbid. It won't bring reserve. Find a bike with fewer skeletons in it's closet. Just my two cents.

Black/Silver tank on an '06? 20-33K miles on an '06? Possible of course, but makes you wonder. Wonder what the date-stamp on the frame plate is? A lot of "I don't know" statements in the listing also. Must be an Austin member around here somewhere to take a look-see.

Regards,

Tom

I wouldn't. It would be easy enough to find out from the prevous insurance company why they auctioned it off but the guy didn't go to the trouble. Also, dings in the back of the headlight?? I can't imagine how that could get there even in a hail storm, which was my first thought.

The motorcycle is or should be under warranty. No need to put on an old speedometer. Triumph would replace it if it broke. If somebody else broke it, like in a big accident that would be another thing. I believe the bike was a total loss and thrown back together. 33000 miles on the speedo sounds like he got some spare parts off a 2002 or so to put it back together. There are no used speedometers available out there!

Have the seller certify that he has no knowledge of the bike ever being involved in an insurance claim.

That add gives me the creeps. I wouldn't touch it. Insurance auctions sell total loss vehicles where they paid the owner the retail value of the bike and took the salvage.

I don't like the "it has less than 20,000 miles on it but speedo reads 33,000" part Like satxron says the insurance paid the origonal owner and took the salvage for some reason. That also throws up a red flag in my opinion. If you can't look at it close and go over it with a fine tooth comb I would keep looking.

The only thing I would say it has going for it is the sellers 100% pos. rating. But even at that there is that pesky "AS IS" I never like that.

You have my 2 cents worth. Ultimately your call.

I suppose you could do a vin # research on carfax. May or maynot turn up something on history.

If it sells cheap it would make a great parts bike or a custom project.
A buddy bought a truck from a guy in Tx on Ebay. Custom work, big motor, all in excellent condition. Auction ended and it couldn’t ship right away due to unforeseen tranny probs. When it did show up it had leaked ALL of its trans fluid out during the trip (it was on a car carrier), the car under it was covered in it, it needed a new carb, had a crappy weld job for the fuel bung in the bed and the list goes on...
You get the idea.

Not saying that this is the case....but...
My recent Flood refugee had his bike totaled by the insurance co because it "was under water" I asked him how high the water got...he said ...below the wheel bearings...but they totaled it anyway...needless to say he repurchased it as a salvage and will "repair" it

Go back to Ebay and check out the Green one with 44 miles on it , what's wrong with this guy ? Does he hate to ride ? BTW , I saw a signature line somewhere on some forum that said the green ones go faster

Considering the distance, the condition and lack of info.... I would leave this one right where its at.

Check out the big dent on the pipe right below the rear peg. Plus the heat shield looks scratched in the picture.

The thing still has the AI in it and look how clean the pipes are after 20,000 miles I would expect those pipes to blue and gold.

The dents are all over the bike both sides so I would wonder how they got there, maybe vandles beat it with a pipe or bat.

He is advertising it in my neck of the woods on http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/343382423.html indicating his wife wants it out and forgetting to talk about insurance auctions. He says the oil cooler is an option

Everyone should email (or call) this guy and hammer him about it being a very durable bike because it has Honda parts. What a moron.

Soren

This bike was on ebay last week. The ebay listing had more and closer up pics. There is a dent in the tank, right fork shroud, back (!) of the headlight pipes, and more. He bought it at auction and its trying to flip it.

OK... this is funny... I emailed the moron....
Here is what I wrote:

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What the heck are you smoking? There is not a single japanese part on that bike! It is 100% British. That is why it is a very reliable and durable bike.



Soren

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Here is the moron's reply:

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What am I smoking? Same as you, I guess. Try the brake lever, the clutch lever for a start (interchangeable with a lot of CBs), and so on… Would you like to go through the motor? Honda sells Triumph parts that they resell under their names… I think that maybe the Daytona and some of the street bikes have more Japanese bikes. Don’t get uptight, it’s ok… The point is that regardless, this is a very durable bike and that you won’t find one at that price in this condition…

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