Buying a Cat D bike

[tommyboy]

I am going to look at a Cat D Adventure tomorrow and would welcome some advice please. It has been down the road on its right hand side damage to tank, head (replaced and runs) pillion footrest and hanger, and handle bars are bent. It alledgely runs ok but the bent handlebars worry me, could this point to anything to worry about? I do have a C+G in car mechanics but not that knowledgeable about bikes that have been thrown down the road! it is missing the engine bars which i guess got totalled in the crash.
Cheers
Tom

 

[Bigtwin]

Is it running? If not, it's going to be very hard to see what else's bent at the front? In any event, you want to check everyhing (headstock etc) with a magnifying glass - but you know that anyway. I guess you can check the wheels for true without riding it.

Got any paperwork - worth ringing the insurers and asking what happened to it?

 

[Steptoe]

What mileage is the replacement head, if it's not the same mileage, it could give uneven running problems that will cost a lot to get sorted.

I've never seen a bent or twisted headstock on a crashed R series. Everything else bent, but never that.

Check the right hand side of the gearbox, where the footrest hanger mounts, seen lots of boxes cracked in that area. Spin both wheels to check they're true .
Listen for any ticks or light knocks when the engines running, i've had more than a few 1100/1150 where the piston has caught the edge of the cylinder head when they've gone down the road with the engine running .
Check the "A" frame, and mountings, and the rear subframe to see if it's level.

And don't get too pre-occupied looking on the right hand side where the damage is stated, check the left hand side just as thoroughly ( it's an old trick) As is leaving a small area of damage ( like the bars you mention) to occupy you and divert your attention, and to make you think they're being straight with you by pointing out the tiny amount of damage left to repair .

 

[tommyboy]

Cheers Bigtwin and Neil
I will try to go through it with a fine toothcomb and trust my gut feeling!
I can spot moody cars with my eyes closed but bikes are much harder for me to guage.
Bound to be dodgy it's in essex (bleedin wide boys)
Cheers
Tom

 

[Tarka]

Seeing as the bars are bent,check under the top yoke to see if the small metal lip under the yoke bearing hasn`t been torn away.

This happened to mine...I think the factory designs it this way to save the pivot pin thread from being ripped out of the headstock casting.

 

[tommyboy]

Cheers all for your advice but it's turned out to be a non starter, I was told the milage was 6,700 but when I specifically asked the guy on the phone it was actually 67,000 which I know is ok on a GS but I have to look at the resale value of the bike after I have put more miles on it plus the resale of a cat D bike and it was not financially viable
Back to the drawing board
Tom

 

[Bigtwin]

Cheers all for your advice but it's turned out to be a non starter, I was told the milage was 6,700 but when I specifically asked the guy on the phone it was actually 67,000 which I know is ok on a GS but I have to look at the resale value of the bike after I have put more miles on it plus the resale of a cat D bike and it was not financially viable
Back to the drawing board
Tom

Good idea - the words "barge" and "pole" spring to mind.

 

[oblertone]

Hmmmm

Was this perchance our friends from Unit 30 (?), the Industrial Estate, Woodford Green ?

 

[tommyboy]

If that is the guys from essex then yes it is!
Is there something I should be aware of when dealing with these guys?
Tom