Wanted - your knowledge

First topic message reminder :

Hi,
I'm a new member to this forum and wanted to start by asking your opinion...
I've been looking at getting a Thundercat for a while now and am almost at the point of buying. But I've noticed that they vary a lot in price. I'm only going to have about £1500.00 which should be enough to get a reasonable one as a private sale. My querie though is what sort of milage is acceptable for these bikes? Some have done under 25k while others have closer to 50k! I'm guessing service history comes into play here.
Any input would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike

Got my 99'T' 25,000 miles last May for £1,400. Came with 11 months MoT and 5 months tax.

All the MoT certificates except the very first one, stainless downpipes and a Scottoiler, had the carbs balanced and new manifolds this year and that's it, so looks like £1,500 is your bench-mark. Should be plenty out there depends how far you wish to travel.

The seller also did a HPI check as well, which was clear.

I'll join in this resounding thumbs-up for what a bargain the Cat is.

Had mine just shy of 3 years and today she passed her MOT for the 3rd time with no issues yet again (2 advisories the first year I took her in - both tyres close to tread limit).

When I got the Cat i thought I'd upgrade in 12months but we're still together and I can't see that changing anytime soon.

Maybe I paid a little more than others on here - £1800 for a 99 black/orange/silver model (easily the best colour scheme ) with decent service history, full MOT, 6months tax and a 12month warranty that ended prematurely as the place went bust 8 months later. But even if I did pay a little more than others on here, I still think I got a great deal; not had any issues other than a seized caliper pot, 12000miles later.

Go forth and purchase, while there's still a summer to enjoy.

Thanks everyone, it's reassuring to know you're all out there with lots of experience and advise.
If things need doing (like the chain & sprockets, rear shock, fork seals or if the carbs have not been balanced) are these expensive jobs? Is it worth trying to knock the price down or best to just walk away?
I've seen a few on bike trader, eBay, piston heads and mcn that look like very good possibilities. Some are too far away to go and view. Would any of you ever buy a bike after just speaking to someone on the phone and without ever actually seeing it?

It depends how handy you are with a spanner. All of those (not sure how to do the rear shock but there will be a how to somewhere) are do-able at home, as long as you have the tools and the know how and the parts.

Obviously it's better if you find one where this has been done.

How would you pick up the bike if you bought it like that? I'd say that's worse than buying one on eBay without looking. At least eBay has pictures. You could buy it and ride it for the first time and it could feel completely wrong to you. I'd try to get a test ride on it before buying, as well as doing some checks, fork seals, chain etc.

Regards

Mike

It's always worth trying to knock the price down. Chain and sprockets are a service item, fork seals can leak or never leak, my fork bushes were worn out before the seals leaked, rear shocks depends on the loads carried by the bike(any were between 25000 and 50000) calipers need cleaning every spring time to remove the winter muck. The rear suspension bushes are the expensive repair if they're not greased. Electrics are very good(mines still on the original battery) Speedo cables can fail. A Cat does benefit from the carbs being set up well, it's so much nicer to ride. As for the so called 2nd gear issue, that's most often down to rider abuse, if the bike jumps out of gear walk away.

Mikes_A_Thundercat wrote:Would any of you ever buy a bike after just speaking to someone on the phone and without ever actually seeing it?

Dare I admit it, I've done that with both 'Cats I bought. OK the first time was via eBay and I didn't pay till I saw the bike, what a cracker that turned out to be. I knew the owner of the second one, but only seen photos of the bike.
Wouldn't recommend it though.

Hi mike,
I was thinking in the context of a garage/dealer that can deliver a bike for about £100.
They could give you pictures but it's easy to miss things on a photo I guess. I seem to be answering my own question here but it's probably best to take a friend with knowledge and have a test ride first.
Great to know most of those service jobs can be done at home.
Thanks again everyone.
Regards
Mike

Hi Mike,

I see, that makes more sense. I still don't think I'd risk spending my hard earned on something I haven't checked though. You're right, you're answering your own question. Take a mate and make a day of it if it's quite far away.

Regards

Mike

Well dont let the mileage put you off.....i bought my second Cat (stevecat1) with lots and lots of miles on her, i think around 70K...Is that right...ish steve??
Anyway, i knew the bike was well serviced and looked after so i have no issues with the bike and it runs like a dream!!

Any of the aforementioned jobs are do able with a set of Spanners, patience and a Haynes, the first job I ever did on mine was strip the back end down, remove the shocker and disassemble to get the spring powder coated, with the Haynes it was like painting by numbers.

Don't be put off by a job but once you've got her like others have said regular maintainance is a better preventer, if she's looked after i.e lubricated, oiled and cleaned she'll be bullet proof. Watch them brake calipers and rear shock bushes, the latter, if not serviced and lubed can be costly.

Dirt Bike Dave wrote:.i bought my second Cat (stevecat1) with lots and lots of miles on her, i think around 70K...Is that right...ish steve??

Oops did I tell a mileage porky?

It's more in the region of 90k+ miles . I reckon that bike still goes as well as one a fraction of its mileage.

Was regularly maintained and most of those miles were long distance trips. Its the short /start stop miles that take their toll.

If you have the luxury of buying from someone you sort of know all the better.

SteveCat wrote:

Dirt Bike Dave wrote:.i bought my second Cat (stevecat1) with lots and lots of miles on her, i think around 70K...Is that right...ish steve??

Oops did I tell a mileage porky?

It's more in the region of 90k+ miles . I reckon that bike still goes as well as one a fraction of its mileage.

Was regularly maintained and most of those miles were long distance trips. Its the short /start stop miles that take their toll.

If you have the luxury of buying from someone you sort of know all the better.

Haa haa, the more the merrier..still feels as good as my original T-cat which only had 12K on it when i sold it....Plenty more life left in the old girl yet!!!