Drifter

I would like some opinions on this,,I have a 99 bluebird that has done 65000kms,,its time to spend some money on her,,leaking front suspension,steering bearings,chain and sprockets,I was thinking of doing the work and giving her a new paint job but there are 2 other birds for sale in my area and now wonder if it was time to update the old girl instead,,

option 1 -2 tone Silver 2006 bird with 19,500kms on the clock,immaculate.
they want $14000 for it,,hummmm

option 2 - 2 tone 50th anniversary gunmetal/gold wheel 2004 bird with 25000kms on the clock for $12500,,(Thanks bullet for the info)

option 3 - stay with the old girl and do up,(Both places offered me $7000 as a trade)please understand I are not a mechanics

I see a few of you are on your second and third birds so are the newer bikes worth the trade up if money is not a big issue,I ride my bikes hardish and do a few kms but don`t spoil them with wax and polish much,(to many metal roads around home)so what does the crowd say,,,Cheers

PH005

I saw one of the 50th anniv" mddels in a dealers the other day. Very classy. I would go option 2.

Strek

I like the looks of the anniversery bike but never cared for the gold wheels. To me it doesn't go with with the silverish color on the bottom of the bike. I don't do a lot of wrenching on my bikes like I used to but It seems that if your current ride is running good the items that you have listed as needing service shouldn't be as much as you would be spending on one of your other choices. From what I have been reading from some of the other riders from Australia is that the new ones (if there are any left) were going for what you have down on option #1. I don't know if they have any brand new in NZ like they do in Australia or if you could get one from there and have it shipped. You mentioned that you were thinking of possibly painting your current blue bike. If you painted it BLACK that would be a good thing. If you are dead set on getting a newer version and getting a brand brand new one is not an option then I think I would go with Option #1.

CanadianBird

If you're going to spend money, why do it on paint?? I have twice the kms on my '02. Why not invest a thou or two and bring your Bird up to par? OMG they rip you on Birds in NZ. Eventually Birds need bearings, suspension, and repairable leaks. I look at it as, "the devil you know to the devil you don't". Perhaps if you invested more TLC in you Bird and made repairs as they arrise you wouldn't have to sell. There are excellent Bird parts sites. Jaws, JohnXX and various dealers as well as E-Bay. You could bring the Bird up and have enough left over for a second ride. My two cents. Cheers. Option #3.By the by, I NEVER wrench my Bird, just wash, wax, wax, wd 40 where necessary, chain lube.

Drifter

Hi Strek,No new ones left in NZ,,,the last ones just sold out the door for $17,999 + onroad costs..hard to find any low km bikes as well,,I can`t get over reading this site and hearing of bikes 10 years old and under 10,000 miles on the clock,,thats not what the bird was made for(sitting in the shed or living room,
CB -That is the point of my post,,,to get feedback on the newer bikes(if they are better than the older models)also bike has been serviced since new by the shop with 6 month checks and anything that needed doing is done,,the problems now seam to be standard 60,000 isues,no biggy I know but the newer birds are only getting harder to find,,I hear what you say thou so thanks!!!

Strek

Drifter.. Sorry to hear that and it sounds like some pretty high prices even if there were new ones. What about the shipping from OZ option. I'm guessing that option would be costly. I've always been able to find low mileage bikes in my area. I live in a 4 season climate area with a long nasty winter season.
I live in a pretty sizeable city so theres also lots to choose from. For those reasons Im normally able to find low mileage bikes. My 99 which I purchased used last year had 9000 miles on it.

Logoman

I'm installing tapered bearings on my bike and rebuilding the forks. Believe me, if I can do it with a little help so can you. Also, not that hard to change sprockets and the chain. The right tools are all you need.

But, if you're just tired of what you have and want a new pretty face, then go for it.

Drifter

Strek,with the exchange rate and then shipping it would be cheaper to buy here,,I lived over there for 5 years and brought a car back last time,,Our roads are crap down here and where I live it can snow any month of the year but few cops or idiots around to spoil the fun.
Logo we meet again,,Yes if I wanted to I probably could but I would sooner pay some one else to and know everything is done right..
The thing I want to know from you guys is are the newer birds worth the extra $`s long term,,A bird well see out my riding days out nothing else!!!

Strek

Well I see that you ride a 99 and my bike is a 99 as well. The only difference outside of physical condition and mileage (perhaps) on the newer model years that I am aware of is that they changed to a digital dash layout. I'm not aware that they did anything else on the bike. So if you are looking for a fresher model then a newer one with less miles might make sense. I'd do option 1 in that case. Let us know what you end up deciding.