Buying pre-registered - Anything to look out for?

[KurtAlden]

Morning all

I've had a Varadero 125 for around 5 years, have just passed my test and I'm very keen on the Transalp. There is a dealer near to me with a couple for sale including a sept 2011 pre-reg, zero miles, basically brand new for just under 6k. I'm, well tempted as I'd be saving 800 or so on new but was wondering if there are any pitfalls to consider when buying preregistered.

I understand I won't be the first owner and I'll lose maybe 8 months warranty but is there anything else to think about? I've been trying to find out the service intervals to see if I might need to do a 1 year service soon after I buy it or something like that or maybe there is something else to consider like the fact it's been standing for a while or whatever. Any thoughts please?

Cheers
K

[Sohoeasy]

Hi Kurt, Interesting this one ? £800 is certainly a cash saving on the retail price of a new un reg' bike but I don't think it's a great deal in the long run to be honest, for a pre reg 2011 bike.

Your money always talks and i'm sure in this climate you could get a reasonable deal somewhere on a brand new bike with a full warranty and no dust on it ! Also Honda frequently offer great deals through the dealers which include hard luggage and other options included in the price and OTR (look around the dealer adverts). The luggage offers alone would offer a retail saving of ,if not £800 certainly several hundred pounds. The 2011 bike will always be worth less too than a new 2012 model if you consider resale anytime soon.

If you do go for it haggle for even more. (not too much,as it has to be moved but not for less than they bought it in for ) Keep us posted !

[Paul-S]

What Soho said

Welcome to the forum

[Boris]

What Soho said

Welcome to the forum

I agree. I bought 9 a month pre reg Varadero with 0 miles on the clock and paid £1200 less than a new one and got a full 3 box Honda luggage thrown in and this was when the new price of a Varadero was £6199. The warranty and AA rescue was up and running from registration but the servicing started from when I bought it.

[dod]

Blade Honda in Swindon had new TA700 at £5800 (I think) a few weeks back at the Crosstourer release. They are new Honda dealers in Swindon taking over from George White.

[ibriggs]

To add..I bought a brand new TA in January for £5,850 with first service included and 0% 3 year finance. Unfortunately no free luggage, but if you buy wisely you will get a full Givi set for under £400. I got my TA from John Banks Honda in Bury St Edmonds and it was the quiet season, although we seem to be a constant quiet season at the moment.

The other side of the coin is that if we push the dealers too hard there won't be enough of them left to create competition.

btw, I also had the 125 Varadero as my first bike.

Good luck
Ian

[sadpsych]

Completely off topic but Baby V to TA seems a very common path into Bikes. (A path i have trodden myself)

But how are we going to get newbies into the swing with the demise of the Tranny , The immenent demise of the Daddy V and then i suppose the Baby V.

Does Mr Honda have plans for a baby Crossdresser?

[KurtAlden]

Hey all

Thanks for your advice. I decided to go to the dealers to see a few as they had brand new, pre-registered and nearly new. However, the dealer pissed me off yet again just by being arsy and treating me as if they were doing me a favour just by letting me in their shop (I'm naming no names but I'm willing to bet it's guessable) so I decided they did not deserve my custom which is kind of shooting yourself in the foot if they have exactly what you want but hey.

So instead I bought a mint 2010 Transalp from a BMW shop, it's actually the Transalp I had a test ride on so kismet there, it's absolutely immaculate, as if its barely been out. It's got Honda panniers and top box which I don't want so will be selling and I'll also get a low seat to try out as I'm a bit of a shortie but I loved it during the test ride, it felt exactly like a bigger Varadero and so fast it was scary after coming from a 125.

As for moving from a Vara to a Transalp, if you love the Vara then it's the natural progression. For me the Varadero 125 is unbeatable as a learner bike and if you want the same just bigger then you want a Transalp (I think the 1000 Varadero is just too big a step). I looked at the V-Strom, the Versys the the G650GS but my heart was not really in it basically because of the looks of the Transalp (a grown up Varadero) plus my Vara was 4 years old when I bought it and has done me for 5 years and several thousand miles without failing to start once and is still worth £1200 part ex so I wanted to stay with Honda and that style of bike.

I did have a look at the NCX700 thingy but felt it looked like strange, futuristic design concept out of place in a bike shop, not a motorbike I'd want to own and enjoy and, if that's the future, then I'll be looking elsewhere. I think I'm a little old-fashioned though, I have been disappointed not to find a bike with an analogue speedo for example so maybe I'm kind of on my own here but hey. It's funny, if you have a look at the Honda Adventure range there is a definite "old" and "new" style divide with only the "new" Varadero missing, wonder what's coming in it's place.