Is this a good deal? Or a bad idea?

[shirtpocket]

Looking to get my gf into riding, and the ct being semi-auto seemed like a good starter bike and can keep up with my grom. I found this stolen recovery (salvage title) CT125 for $800. It runs but seems to be bogging on acceleration from idle. Is this worth rebuilding or would I be in it more than just buying a used one for ~$3000. If it's too high, what would you pay for it (if at all). Figured you guys would probably be the best group to ask. I am capable of working on bikes myself, so labor would be just me and my time. Thanks in advance!

 

[George S.]

There are CTs with low miles for as low as $2000-2500.
Even after doing the work, this one may still be unreliable, and your girl will get annoyed.

 

[BergyPatty37]

Unless you were getting it for spare parts, I would pass.
You want your girlfriend to have a pleasant experience getting into riding, having a stolen bike that is probably going to have gremlins its whole life is not a good way to introduce her. Find a nice used one for around $3k, especially as winter approaches and people do not want to store them. Then she will have reliable, and resale value will be better in case she doesn't like it and you need to sell it.

 

[shirtpocket]

Well if you guys think it's a bad idea to rebuild, would it be worth picking up for a part out? My buddy gave me a good idea of taking the motor and putting it in a grom frame which might be a good option and part out the rest. Not sure if the rest of it would be worth much.

 

[BergyPatty37]

Not sure at that price, it looks pretty rough. You could try selling the wheels, front and rear light assemblies. Probably wouldn't break even off those items alone.
I'd be curious the full story on it, it looks beat to hell and I personally wouldn't get it unless I needed some parts and could get it for maybe half that price. Just seems like a headache if that is what the outside of it looks like.

 

[G19Tony]

I do not think it's a good deal. Too clapped out. Let it be someone else's problem.

 

[dmonkey]

I agree with others, just looking at those photos I would wager that if you were to replace the missing & damaged parts with ones purchased through a USA dealer or vendor, it will end up costing more than the MSRP of a new one. That bike is best suited as parts bike, off-road only use stripped down, or for someone looking to customize one where they'd be ditching the OEM components anyway.

I'd even try talking the price down on it as a parts bike. The salvage title kills the value of the bike with how plentiful they are. Parts bikes might seem like money makers but consider the effort you need to put into actually parting it out. Usually a few big items like wheels or engine can pay for most of it, but the rest can turn into a job.

 

[DeadguyAle]

The old saying "Ride it like you stole it" keeps popping into my head.
It would be a hard maybe at $250, who knows what condition the motor is in. Even from a sale off the parts perspective there's not a lot left that would generate much cash.
As others have said you would be better off spending your money on something that has been taken care of.

 

[m in sc]

offer 500. if he bites worth it. i taught my wife on a super clapped put theft recovery 13 gladius. she dropped it 2x and who cares? if she digs it, you have a parts bike. and she can get something she likes after. mine got herself a new supercub, and I moved the gladius on, and its still being used. I did fix it up though. my 0.02.

 

[Bermuda Trails]

if it was me, i would offer the person selling it $200 and work out how much it would cost to get it in a usable state (does not need to look pretty). if you think you can keep the cost really low then do it and give it to the Mrs. so she can use it for a few months ( off road only) Then invest in a much better condition bike if its something the lady wants to keep doing in future.


in the end you end up with a "parts" bike and the Mrs. is on a reliable bike having fun.

WIN WIN

 

[Pittsburgh_Bob]

You sure you want to get your gf into riding?????

 

[m in sc]

id give 500-800 just for the parts. i mean it runs. look at what used motors are going for. this would be a great candidate to pull the engine, big bore it, do all sorts of crazy shit to but keep the stocker on the shelf. as said the HL and TL are worth it by far. if it was in NC or SC it would already be in my garage being torn down.

 

[dmonkey]

Looking closely at the photos, the tail light lens appears busted which is a bummer because otherwise yeah, that would be a valuable part.
The extent of the damage to the bike, and the unusual damage like the speedometer being bashed in, suggests someone may have intentionally tried to vandalize every part of the bike... be a shame if they damaged the engine too.

 

[BergyPatty37]

@dmonkey Exactly. Imagine what the motor is like just based on the outside of the bike. I bet it was run hard and beat out of. Probably low on oil. I just don't see any value outside the tires and maybe some other parts.
Even the front fender is bent and black instead of yellow. Mirrors missing, brake lever bent.
Hard pass unless for a couple hundred bucks just for the rims (assuming they aren't all bent and damaged too).

 

[Pittsburgh_Bob]

Um, I'd buy a new one at the local dealer?