Help and Advice on Purchase

There were some early recalls: http://www.automotive.com/motorcycle-recalls/141/honda/silver-wing/index.html Nothing major and will obviously be fixed by Honda if not already done. Ask a dealer to search the Honda database using the bikes VIN to find out if recalls are done.

As for price, use Edmunds and Kelly Blue Book to find the reasonable price. A 'good deal' is one you and the seller are happy with .

The FI system has not always liked long term storage and some have noted problems when taking a bike out of very long periods of inactivity - may be a good bargaining point.

x

You mentioned you want your daughter and grand-daughters to learn on the Silver Wing. You should know that the Silver Wing is probably just as heavy as the Honda 750 you have and also at least as powerful and fast. You may want to look at a Honda Reflex or another 250cc scooter to learn on.

The Silver Wing's wet weight is about 550 lbs and can go over 100 mph per GPS. So you may want to think about this. It can get away from riders very quickly. I believe the seat height is higher too since it is 29.5". Keep us informed.

I just bought a 2003, Non ABS with 2600 miles for $2800. Only one small scratch on the front fender.( about half inch long).

This is my first silverwing, but I did shop around for a couple of months and it was the best deal I could find at the time.

In 04 the original owner brought it to the dealer for the 600 mile service (last oil change). I went ahead and changed all the fluids out. He did ride it regularly just to maintain battery and keep gas from going bad.

Check the tires, mine look good, but I may change them as they are 8 years old.

I have had many motorcycles over the years. (including Gold Wings) an was surprised with how much power these scoots have.
Something to consider for your daughter and grandaughter.

Good luck and let us know if you get it.

You'll liekly be very happy with the scoot; however I'll pile on with the others in saying it's not the best bike to learn to ride on. They're pretty dang heavy (although the low CG helps w/that), and pretty powerful as well. I'd recommend a Reflex, Bergie 400, Majesty 400 or even one of those new PCX or SH150i Honda scoots would be fantastic.

Honestly, the weight of the SilverWing is only felt in two situations:
1. if you have to pick it up from a drop. And if knowledgeable that is overcome with leg strength.
2. Padding about without power, especially backwards up an incline.

The balance of the bike is quite nice and as long as the feet can hit the ground at a stop and proper technique is used keeping the bike vertical is quite easy.

If you can do work yourself---try $1000 and follow what big bird said.

That said-----Silverwing horrible bike/scooter to learn on....and expensive to fix when they dump it.

Better would be Honda 250 Nighthawk----where they can learn to properly ride bike----like stand on pegs, maybe a little dirt. Cheap dirt bike? Send them to MSF course to at least learn basics

John Grinsel

I'm sure you realize at 13 that they can't drive it on public roads anyway.
And I think anything over 50cc you need a license for.
I would not get something this large or heavy for a 13 year old.
I would get something that can be fixed easily if it goes down, with very little plastic on it. Also teaching someone to ride a bike with a CVT won't translate to the motorcycle because you aren't teaching them to shift.
Jdeereanton said there are only two times when you feel the weight of the bike. I would like to add a third. When the bike has gone down and your leg is pinned underneath and there is no one to help you lift it.
In most cases I promote this bike bigtime because it is such a great bike.
In this case I invite you to consider its too much bike too soon for a 13 year old.
I understand that you don't want to waste money buying a bike they will grow out of quickly. However, you will probably spend money in minor repairs while they are learning. Better to do that on a bike that is less expensive to repair.
JMHO.

Dan

During Labor Day weekend in 2010, I purchased a 2002 Silver Wing with 6,650 miles for $2,800. Prior to that purchase, I actively followed as many Silver Wing sales, auctions, etc. as possible. $2,800 was definitely at the low end of the price spectrum of actual sales. Otherwise, I would not have bought mine.

Although not quite as closely following Silver Wing sales since then, I have noticed the typical low price creeping above $3,000. You can find them for less, but more likely somewhere around $3,250 on the low end for 2002s and 2003s. With such extremely low mileage, sellers may want to more than what I paid. But the responders before me have good points about vehicle inactivity for long periods. As gas prices creep upward, the demand may pick up somewhat and boost prices further.

Although I will agree with others that the Silver Wing seems an unusual choice for the riders specified in your original post, you seem comfortable with that issue and your question was primarily about the value and likely price. If you can get a better deal, congratulations!

Congratulations. Sounds like a good deal. Are the 13 year olds involved in checking it out and getting it ready to ride? Never too young to learn that riding is more than just twisting the throttle. Get them to researching on this forum [the best] and others. They're probably computer experts. The hard part will be waiting till the weather improves.

Congratulations - enjoy it as I'm certain you and your family will.

Let me add my congratulations. Sounds like you have made a great deal. Someone on the forum described a good deal as one you feel good about after it is over. You may have fallen into one of the best deals I have heard about. If so, you are gonna feel really good about it. Welcome to the Swinging world.

x

that is a helluva deal on that bike....my opinion.

Nice work! Congratulations on your purchase!