696 purchase

[yosephs2k]

Hi guys, im new to this forum and ive recently decided to get a 696, i found one thats very well priced but i think its been dropped, has a bent brake lever and bent
clutch pedal. I really like the bike and apart from those faults it seems fine. The tank has a small crack that can be fixed by getting a new cover and i THINK the handle bar is a bit bent.
Just need to know what you guys think, should i just get it and buy a new handle bar and gas tank or just hold out for a couple of months and try finding another. Monsters are pretty scarce in Kuwait

Apologies if its the wrong forum.

thanks

edit : bike has around 13,000 miles.

[H-2 CHARLIE]

great bike but a water cooled motor would last longer and less repairs in the place you live with extra heat all year long . just saying

[Howie]

The bike was dropped.  Get it checked out by a competent shop before purchasing.  Definitely check the steering stops.  Also price out all the parts you need.

[Howley]

It was dropped on both sides by the sounds of it, if something to do with the brakes and something to do with the clutch are both bent.

[elgallo73]

I did some riding in your neck of the woods, Yoseph, and if you are sure the frame and forks are not bent, I'd say go for it...  If you can negotiate a decent price based on these faults, you could make a great deal.  I'm not sure what the VAT is in Kuwait (was 20% in Bahrain), but you could make a trip to Saudi to pick up the parts (that is what we did) or just order online if it is not too bad...

One more note, my bike was air cooled and the weather in Bahrain was somewhat more extreme than Kuwait as I remember.  Mine did fine and no doubt a Monster should fare equally well.  Miss living in the Gulf, great place for a family!

By the way, the tank cover MIGHT be repairable, if bodywork is still as cheap as it was when I was there, that might be a better route, but I'd be hesitant to trust the average shop with my engine...

[yosephs2k]

hey guys, i just came back from the dealership and i talked to this awesome guy who
told me that the bike has been dropped twice, once by the previous owner and once
by a guy who test rode it. The salesman tells me that the 2nd drop was bad as in the tank was
cracked just a bit and showed me the spot (very superficial) and the gear pedal was damaged, says the frame wasnt damaged at all. i also checked it thoroughly and there only seems to be some scuff marks on both exhausts and the handle bar ends. Mirrors were replaced and 2 new tires. There were little drops of oil on the dealer room floor but very small droplets, i was told that it would be fixed before i buy it.
also as i understand it, i can change the tank cover?

thats alot of typing i know but i really need to know what you guys think i cant find any
other new 696 for that price its just too good of a deal.

[rockaduc]

Since you are asking for opinions (we all know that opinions are like...), here is mine:

i would walk away and either get something else or keep waiting for a 696 that was less molested.

[justinrhenry]

i'd walk away too... unless of course the price is right and that's more important to you than scrapes. BUT... when you try to resell this bike you'll have a very hard time selling a dropped bike. 

[take risks]

yeah make sure you are really happy with the price.

you will be modding this bike anyway.
so a couple more things on the list are not too bad at all.
plus bent stock levers just means you get to replace them with the adjustable ones.

I thought I was definitely going to keep mine stock. then after week one I was cutting the frame with a hacksaw.

good luck!