I've always had it on my bucket list, these iconic little bikes, but like with everything else its about the timing. My kids also like them and I thought it would be a nice change for the younger one to ride to varsity and back.
Towards the end of last year I decided its time. Tiger8 and I started looking and I posted an Add.
I did not want another project bike and after some research, set myself a limit of R8 500.00 for a pristine bike, parked in my garage and registered in my name. It was a tall order. Most of the bikes I saw on Gomboom were crap for the price and needed a lot of work.
Along came Psoreflex (Paul). He had two CD 200's and he gave me all the info on them. They were not really for sale, but he thought I was the right person to pass them onto. There were two problems... he was in Pretoria and the bikes were not running, (one of my essential criteria) having stood for two years. But we talked. Tiger8 and I discussed it, as the idea was that he would take one of them.
Paul assured me the bikes were as good as you can get, and I accepted that with reserve, but with the price we were then discussing, and considering the work needed, I decided it was not economically viable to buy them. In the end I reluctantly told him I'll pass the deal.
Quite a strange sensation for me to act sensibly when buying a bike.
And so for the time being I put the idea at the back of my head with "I'll see what else came along" I also had other things on my mind like a DR750.
A week or so ago I got a message from Paul, he insists that I have the bikes and at a price that I deem would fit in my total budget. He also offered that he will drive down to Bloem, where we can meet and I'll collect the bikes.
WTF :eek7: I had began to think, with all the shit around us, that there weren't people like that around anymore. I asked him what he had in mind then and he made me a silly offer I simply could not refuse, so I did not. For all practical purposes he was paying the bikes forward to me, just about covering his petrol costs to deliver them to Bloem.
And this last Sunday Tiger8 and I did our road trip to Bloem, met Paul and collected the bikes. 17 hours on the road. We were smacked and yesterday I was zombie, but a happy one.
The bikes are a 2001 and 2005 model, both with around 50 000km on the clock. Paul had left them under dust as they had stood for the last few years, flat batteries and tyres and all. I wanted to see what I got. When I saw them they looked good and there was a shitload of spares.
Last night I cleaned up 2001. Cosmetically the bike is pristine. The carb needs cleaning and then it should be good to go. I can tell you other things about their condition, like no rust on the bike and in the tank etc. I am a happy camper. I've said it a few times already Paul, but all I can do is say again THANK YOU. The kids love the bikes. Even Mommy is half convinced I did not buy a piece of crap again.
For now I am keeping both bikes and will chronicle the progress here, but first I need to tell you about the trip. Unfortunately I don't know yet how to get pics off my camera to my laptop, so for now I will let Tiger8 tell the rest.
Towards the end of last year I decided its time. Tiger8 and I started looking and I posted an Add.
I did not want another project bike and after some research, set myself a limit of R8 500.00 for a pristine bike, parked in my garage and registered in my name. It was a tall order. Most of the bikes I saw on Gomboom were crap for the price and needed a lot of work.
Along came Psoreflex (Paul). He had two CD 200's and he gave me all the info on them. They were not really for sale, but he thought I was the right person to pass them onto. There were two problems... he was in Pretoria and the bikes were not running, (one of my essential criteria) having stood for two years. But we talked. Tiger8 and I discussed it, as the idea was that he would take one of them.
Paul assured me the bikes were as good as you can get, and I accepted that with reserve, but with the price we were then discussing, and considering the work needed, I decided it was not economically viable to buy them. In the end I reluctantly told him I'll pass the deal.
Quite a strange sensation for me to act sensibly when buying a bike.
And so for the time being I put the idea at the back of my head with "I'll see what else came along" I also had other things on my mind like a DR750.
A week or so ago I got a message from Paul, he insists that I have the bikes and at a price that I deem would fit in my total budget. He also offered that he will drive down to Bloem, where we can meet and I'll collect the bikes.
WTF :eek7: I had began to think, with all the shit around us, that there weren't people like that around anymore. I asked him what he had in mind then and he made me a silly offer I simply could not refuse, so I did not. For all practical purposes he was paying the bikes forward to me, just about covering his petrol costs to deliver them to Bloem.
And this last Sunday Tiger8 and I did our road trip to Bloem, met Paul and collected the bikes. 17 hours on the road. We were smacked and yesterday I was zombie, but a happy one.
The bikes are a 2001 and 2005 model, both with around 50 000km on the clock. Paul had left them under dust as they had stood for the last few years, flat batteries and tyres and all. I wanted to see what I got. When I saw them they looked good and there was a shitload of spares.
Last night I cleaned up 2001. Cosmetically the bike is pristine. The carb needs cleaning and then it should be good to go. I can tell you other things about their condition, like no rust on the bike and in the tank etc. I am a happy camper. I've said it a few times already Paul, but all I can do is say again THANK YOU. The kids love the bikes. Even Mommy is half convinced I did not buy a piece of crap again.
For now I am keeping both bikes and will chronicle the progress here, but first I need to tell you about the trip. Unfortunately I don't know yet how to get pics off my camera to my laptop, so for now I will let Tiger8 tell the rest.
