Honda 919

[sarnali2]

You're always better off going new, specialy with the discounts. Sounds like the P.O. was a clumsy f**k, I'd be pretty leery of a bike like that. If colors an issue it's not too expensive to paint a tank and fenders....

[The_AirHawk]

Originally Posted by sachiwilson

The 599 is the one with the flat black. I don't think the 919 ever had it (could be wrong here though.) I've only seen 19s with glass black (plus some other colors.)

Early 919's had a "flat silver" colour and a "flat charcoal" that was nearly black. Wasn't 'til the 2nd-year of 599 production that the 919 got gloss paint, IIRC. Very bland-looking bike, almost-certainly the reason it didn't sell well. That, and the fact that the motor was the poster-child of the "tuned-for-torque" derision by most of the magazines - even though most-every owner I've talked-to about it sez it's not really all that bad.

[sachiwilson]

Cool. I've seen very few 19s and most have been gloss black or deep red.

[Saki]

Originally Posted by sachiwilson

Cool. I've seen very few 19s and most have been gloss black or deep red.

They're certainly not very popular, I looked at a spanking-new 06 today, and the dealer wa still trying to sell it for invoice ($7,200). Still, I think its the bike I want, I just need to find a good one. The don't seem to sell well new, but they're not easy to find used either. I guess thats just the thing about naked - there's not many of them in general.

[sachiwilson]

Yeah. I love naked bikes, and (for me) my 599 is absolutely the best bike I've ever owned (including that wonderful 1969 Norton Mercury . . . ).

You could check out the Honda 599 forum on line -- they also talk about the 19s so you might be able to ask about getting one there.

[Saki]

Kind of OT, but is there anything I need to wary of with a "new" bike that has been sitting for 2 years? I'd imagine if it ever had gas in it that could be bad, tires could start dry rotting, oil probably has become acidic, etc - aything else?

[The_AirHawk]

Originally Posted by Saki

Kind of OT, but is there anything I need to wary of with a "new" bike that has been sitting for 2 years? I'd imagine if it ever had gas in it that could be bad, tires could start dry rotting, oil probably has become acidic, etc - aything else?

Mouse nests in the airbox (or even crankcase - saw pics of that once!), mouse-chewed wiring, corrosion in wire-harness connectors (depends on condition of bike before storing, and how it's stored), modifications half-completed (or half-assed completed) and then forgotten before storage, drying hoses, drying seals, antifreeze turning acidic and then to goop as the engine disintegrates from the inside-out, water in the cylinders (from weather), rust on the cylinder-walls from condensation and then the engine "suddenly" needs rings (usually only with iron liners, Nikasil-coated aluminium or iron cylinders probably won't be as susceptible to this), clogged carb passages (especially on the idle-circuit).

But wait! - there's more................

[pushrod]

For a showroom (or in the back storeroom) "new" bike, you need to look at tire and battery shelf life (I'd insist on new ones on a bike two years old or older).

The crankcase oil, assuming it was ever installed, probably hasn't seen any runtime, so has little in the way of combustion by-product contamination. Also, some bikes (such as Triumphs) have "break-in" oil, which is to be replaced at approximately 500 miles.

All the critter issues Airhawk mentioned apply.

I haven't waved the flag yet, so I will now. Get a Speed Triple! You can get a 955i for the same or less money than you're looking at now, and no one disputes the grin factor of that bike. Indeed, Motorcyclist voted it "The best bike to lose your license with".