2016ES factory Demo bike for sale, concerns

[EX Beemerguy]

A local dealer brought in a factory demo 2016ES with 5K for $14000. I am tempted but feel it was likely not broken in properly and ridden hard. Dealer has no records or history, anyone have any experience with factory demo bikes?

Thanks

 

[Ignacio]

A few thoughts::

• KBB suggests a new 2016 is $13265 to me in eWA. $14K seems a bit high.
• While I'm a bit skeptical of the loaded term "broken in properly" given the volumes of NEPRT-worthy posts...if your "feeling" is based in specific knowledge of it actually being abused...then pass.
• Not much to have records for at 5K other than an oil change and first service or two.
• Regardless, if it's a concern...ask them to throw in the 4 years of extra Y.E.S. as part of the deal and that alone will take away mountains of stress and risk.

Welcome to the forum. I'm headed to Whidbey right now for the next few days.

 

[RossKean]

Ask to see maintenance records to make sure that the fluid changes were done when they were scheduled. Unless someone abused the crap out of it, I doubt there are issues related to "break in". Look for evidence of a drop - scuffed mirrors, stator cover or side bags. Make sure the front "stay" for the mirrors is solid (often breaks in a drop).

Look for scuffs on the top of the right bag. Might need a repaint - often an issue with boot scuffs from people less familiar with the bike.

Don't know about pricing in your market but doesn't seem like a steal to me - might be worth seeing if they will dicker a bit. (I see Iggy already mentioned price)

 

[BkerChuck]

Welcome aboard.

I can understand some skepticism about the break in on a demo unit. Perhaps my experiences might help. I worked for 16 years for a Harley dealership and while that's not the same perhaps some things cross factory lines. Whenever we had the factory demo fleet at our shop I learned from talking to their staff that all the demo bikes had at least a few hundred miles put on them by factory staff before letting them loose under the general public. Bikes our dealership declared demo units were treated that same way. I was fortunate enough to occasionally be the break in person for a few. I put the first hundred miles on a Softail Deuce the year it was introduced and the first 300 on one of our VRod models we had as a demo.

Add to this Iggy's suggestion of getting them to throw in the YES warranty plus the history of the FJR and it's reliability I don't think I'd get too terribly worked up over it. Reality is you can apply the same logic to any bike you purchase used.

 

[rushes]

Kinda like thinking about asking a woman to marry that can't tell you how many lovers she's had.

Hmm...

There seems to be no obvious damage... ??

Good luck with your decision..

 

[Steel_Gin]

I don't know if Yamaha sticks to this 100% of the time, aren't the demos lead by an escort? (Keep your mind out of gutter boys. )

In addition to the suggestions above, what about asking for a new set of PR4s?

 

[Geezer]

I would probably never buy a demo because of the lack of peace of mind regarding how it may have been abused, but if I was tempted it would have to be discounted a lot more than that. As Iggy says, you should be able to get a brand new one for less, so why take what is basically a used machine for that price?

 

[NTXFJR]

Here's one new for same price in Chatsworth Cali. Maybe show it to a local dealer to see if they'd match it?

https://www.cycletrader.com/dealers/Wheels-in-Motion-2915090/listing/2016-Yamaha-FJR1300ES-119774755

 

[art miller]

Why buy a used bike for the same price or more than you will be able to buy a new one for in a couple months. You can be sure the dealers will be pushing the 2016's out the door at discount prices when spring buying season rolls in. There's nothing like a brand new bike!!!!

 

[SacramentoMike]

The phrase "beat it like a rented mule" comes to mind . . .

 

[Bugnatr]

Look at the abuse the FJR gets from the IBR plus many of the seasoned riders here and it just keeps going.

This is more about price than being a demo. I like the idea of them throwing in a YES

 

[08FJR4ME]

I have never abused anything I ever rented. YEH, RIGHT!!!!! Reminds me of my first rental car when my wife had an accident. After I turned it in I remembered I forgot some cassette tapes in it. I went back the next day to see if they had them. Turns out the car was at the dealer getting a new engine put in it. Yeh that's right I drove it like a grandma going to church on Sunday.

Good luck,

Dave

 

[Bill Lumberg]

When I started looking for an FJR to replace my RT, I was specifically looking for a demo bike. I ended up getting a good deal on a year end closeout bike. I bought new and still ended up having a problem. I wouldn't be worried about a demo bike, but it'd have to be at a big discount versus a new bike.

 

[Joel S.]

'16 FJR 1300 A .... $12299

'15 FJR 1300 ES .... $12999

'16 FJR 1300 ES ... $14699

New pricing, if it helps.

Guessing the 13.2 KBB is for an A model?? (KBB suggests a new 2016 is $13265 to me in eWA. $14K seems a bit high.)

 

[escapefjrtist]

Too much money. Have them throw in a 4 year YES and offer them $14k - including TT&L and any fees

Good luck and happy hunting!

--G

 

[CAJW]

The phrase "beat it like a rented mule" comes to mind . . .

Mike, are you that old to have actually rented mules, or did you overhear guys chatting at the bar?

 

[Steel_Gin]

I really need to stop reading this thread. The numbers in post #14 got me to run numbers and has me thinking about asking my wife a question that will make her mad.