748S, Deal or Not?

[HotIce]

So I am in Italy, and there is this guy who wants to lose his 748S.
It has ~28000 Km, cracked windshield and broken mirror (caused by sidekick breaking and bike falling in its garage). Should be ~200EU to fix, /methink, as sidekick and other minor damages have been already fixed.
Otherwise nice and clean motorcycle, with new tires. No signs of any damage to the fairings and, according to him, well maintained.
He wants 2200EU, but I can get it for 2000EU no problem.
Deal? No deal?
Anything special to look for?

[weemonster]

what year is it? 
2000 euros Is a good price for any 748 its easily worth that if you broke it (parted it out)

[stopintime]

Did the kick stand itself break or was it the bolt hole in the engine case? Look for cracks, welding or glue.

Not sure, but didn't the desmoquatro engines have issues with flaking rocker arms? (cam-valve)

[ducpainter]

Yes, the Desmoquattro did have issues with rockers, and if let go it will wear cams.

If the bike was maintained correctly the rockers would have been inspected at a valve adjust and replaced as necessary.

[suzyj]

caused by sidekick breaking and bike falling in its garage

I'd be looking for whatever broke the side stand. Last I looked, they were pretty unlikely to spontaneously break. More like "caused by being chucked down the road", which is the traditional way of busting mirrors and windscreens.

[HotIce]

It's a 2003, which should have the new rocker arms installed, unless I am mistaken 
The broken sidekick, was really the sidekick bar broken, and not its frame attach point.

[ducpainter]

There was no 748S in '03. It can be an '02 at the newest, or it's not an S.

It should have the latest version of rockers installed, but that's no guarantee they're good. While they were the best version the new ones occasionally do go bad.

[Gator]

It seems like a good price. Are you planning to export it from Italy?
If so that could double the price for shipping, tax.... etc.

[HotIce]

There was no 748S in '03. It can be an '02 at the newest, or it's not an S.
It should have the latest version of rockers installed, but that's no guarantee they're good. While they were the best version the new ones occasionally do go bad.

Just looked at the title, and it's been registered to the original owner in Mar 2003 (according to title), but it may very well be a 2002 model. It is definitely a 748S, by title and features.

Bike will stay in Italy, and not exported to US.

[ducpainter]

The model year is determined by the tenth character of the VIN.

[HotIce]

The model year is determined by the tenth character of the VIN.

Thanks. Most of the confusion is due to the way we refer to "year" when we talk about motorcycles (and cars) in Italy.
The by far most common interpretation is the year when the original owner registered the bike for the first time.
Not much which year the vehicle was produced.
This is why registrations of cars and motorcycles drops in late Nov and Dec, as people prefer to not "waste" a year, for a month.


PS: Bike has 26K Km and not 28K.

[Steve.In.Atlanta]

I'd be looking for whatever broke the side stand. Last I looked, they were pretty unlikely to spontaneously break. More like "caused by being chucked down the road", which is the traditional way of busting mirrors and windscreens.

Same thing happened on my S4R several weeks ago. Got home from a ride and was washing my bike when the sidestand just snapped. It broke off the big tab you bolt thru. Just fell over and busted the clutch lever and mirror. Handlebars were straight ahead so no damage to the tank.

[HotIce]

Here she is:

[hbliam]

Yep, that's a 2002. And worth 6500-8K in the US if its in good shape.

[weemonster]

definitely worth 2000 euros