Originally posted by rockhopper I would say though Ruth that trying to do deals etc after the deposit has been paid is probably the wrong way round to be doing it.
Of course. But I'm not trying to 'do a deal', just want to make sue that when I go to collect the bike there isn't anything obviously wrong with it and that if the tyres are not satisfactory (and frankly even there I'm not entirely sure how to judge) or if it's making any funny noises, Skids will spot it in a flash whereas I would just hand over the money.
I'm not looking for a reduction in price. I'm looking to get what I'm paying for, which I have been assured will be 'a very good clean bike in excellent condition and by far the best one Steve has for the money I want to spend, and in fact the one Steve himself would buy if he was buying one'(does that all sound like used bike salesman speak and I'm just being too trusting )
Point is, I know I am probably paying over the odds but then it's a dealership selling it to me and when I want to chop it in I shall go back there and make them eat there words if they sell me a dud. Also, in case you haven't noticed, me and Timmy M are best mates now so Steve won't want to upset me.
I have actually had some dealings with Steve at OYB before. At the time I was looking at a 1999 900ss and was quite keen to take it for a test ride. I was on my M600 at the time and looking for a next step up.
I am pretty sure I would have paid the deposit that day if Steve could have been at all bothered to let me take the bike out. It was altogether too much trouble for him (battery might be flat etc.) with such short notice so he suggested I come back in a few days to give the mechanics time to do a once over before I could take it out.
Turn up a few days later - still hadn't done anything about it. Can I come back tomorrow? Obviously my money wasn't good enough. I went out and bought the 748 that weekend.
You have obviously had more luck than me in getting a test ride!
Picked up my lovely new (September '03) Monster 620S I.E. this afternoon from Ducati Aylesbury after Skids had given her a thorough check over. They seem to have been true to their word. She is in very good nick and nice and clean.
Thank you so much for coming over to do that for me, Kev, I now have complete peace of mind, whilst of course understanding that nothing you said is binding and you cannot be held responsible blah blah blah, just having you there to look over her to confirm she was OK was all I needed. And Jen too for the moral support.
And riding her home. Perfect! So effortless. Fast enough, smooth, you just sit back and go with the flow. Plenty of power for the winter riding and short trips out. I came back via Amersham and Chesham just to get onto the roads I liked the look of last week on the way to Beaconsfield but have never actually ridden on. No worries overtaking, a quick twist of the wrist and she's off and flying. Quite comfortable at higher speeds too because I'm not creating too much wind resistance if I hunker down over the tank. I already have every confidence in her. The Duchess is still the Duchess but this little beauty put a grin on my face all the way home.
Is it possible to adjust the clutch lever so that it's a bit closer? That's the only thing that felt slightly uncomfortable as it was a bit of a stretch letting the clutch out gently in first gear.
Managed with a bit of furniture shifting to get both bikes parked alongside each other and I am now a two Ducati family
Hi Ruth just got back in myself. I'm happy to have helped and thank Jo for the cup of tea. The clutch lever isn't really adjustable as the screw in the end is for just setting a bit of slack. It is possible to fit adjustable levers off a early 748/916, new pattern parts levers are about £30 a pair. We put them on Senna3's ST2 a couple of years ago and thety worked well. Good to hear you enjoyed riding the 620 home. I bet next time I see it its not going to be as clean as it was today.