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Should I Buy From This Company?

Too many detectives here - buy the bike.

I did; it was delivered on Monday.

As I expected? No; better. ABS, two brand new premium tyres, high-quality aftermarket rear shock, heated hand grips, and a Power Commander (plug-in generic tuning chip). I haven't ridden the bike yet, but it's obviously been looked after, and in view of the rear shock I'm hoping there are aftermarket Progressive springs in the front forks, because these early ones were noted for front end dive on braking, to the extent that a road test I read christened it the Greg Louganis bike...

Only one problem, but not for me; when the van arrived, the alternator warning light was on. I loaned him a multimeter, and sho 'nuff, the alternator wasn't delivering anything, and the battery voltage was down to 11.75 with the engine running. He left here at 13:45, and by dint of keeping the engine running for eight hours, it got him back (including two stops to pick up other bikes), about 230 miles in all, without breaking down. Big (and good) battery in it, obviously, but the headlights must have been glow-worms by the end...

It wouldn't turn over the next morning; no suprise there. All's well that ends well, though.
 
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Decent looking bike for the money you paid for it and I'm glad the buying process worked out well, enjoy :thumb:
 
I had an F800ST about 10 years ago. Great bike, but it had a weak charging system, only able to just about provide enough power for the bike in stock form.
It also had a very snatchy throttle at low speeds, but that's standard BMW affair. Otherwise it was great and funky looking too.
 
Top end rattles like a bastard, though. That'll be why a previous owner fitted the Scorpion end can, then... The guy I bought it from says they all do that, but it does no harm. Oh yeah? My first thought was 'Bollocks', but everybody else says it's normal, and the early engines really were like that from new; the cure is good earplugs (!). I guess I'll just have to live with it.

Pity really; I was quite looking forward to getting at its innards a bit - haven't been inside an engine for years...

Alex, I agree 100% about the marginal alternator output; 400w really isn't much at all. A previous owner had fitted a pair of spotlights, but I only ride on lit roads at night, so I've binned those.
 
Rotax engines of that period always sound like there's a bagful of fasteners ratting around in them, the RSV was the same.
 
I'm used to Japanese engines nowadays; they're not like that. I had an Aprilia Caponord, and that was a bit clattery, but this Rotax sounds like a diesel tractor...
 

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