Help Buying Used Street Triple R

I wouldn't worry about it. get a feel for the bike with such low use.

 

Look at it this way.......what does servicing actually do?

It consists of a mix of checks, adjustments and lubricants. The biggest single thing is engine oil. The oil itself is degraded in use as its molecular structure gets broken down by heat and friction and its detergents wash combustion by-products off the motor. Unused oil deteriorates minimally.

Alongside servicing there is general deterioration. The biggest worry on a bike are the oil seals on forks and input/output shafts from the engine. Chances are they are fine but I would replace the fork oil in early course just to be on the safe side if it was not part of the service.

Most bikes these days get light annual use. If it looks like it has generally been looked after then lack of an annual service with low mileage would not bother me a jot. The one thing I would budget for is new tyres. The likelihood is that their carcases are time expired irrespective of actual wear. There is a little oval mark on every tyre wall with a 4 figure number e.g. 4206. That signifies manufactured week 42 of 2006. I would junk a tyre much more than 5 yrs old.

 

Sounds plausible. Chances are the battery is shot too. Check and haggle!

 

Wouldn't worry about lack of service, but get the price of a new battery knocked off it. Lack of use will have severely Shortened it's life, and streets not the best starters, when battery is low.

 

As already mentioned in previous comments really. Just try and get a few quid off for a few replacements. Good luck with your decision .

 

True enough but UV light is the real killer. Chances are a 63 plate with 5,000 has its original tyres....

 

Check whether the service he is getting done includes replacing brake fluid and coolant, if not budget for that. Also as previously mentioned assume battery and tyres will need replacing.
Asking him whether he has kept it on a trickle charger and tyres off the ground (people rarely do the later - me included) but will give you some indication of how careful an owner he is. Has he started it up at all during its lay-up periods (not a good idea IMO - unless properly warmed through/riden), or used any fuel additives to protect against stale fuel? Injection systems are usually better than carbs at tolerating stale fuel, but also was tank kept full to minimise condensation/water/rust?
All good bargaining points.