used stella

alexandercase · Post by **alexandercase** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 12:09 am

Looking at getting a second Stella as a project bike to be a second scoot I can work on and work on the issues. I am looking at one on Craigslist for $1900 it has 6600 miles, gas tank meter doesn't work, needs oil change, doesn't electric start and has a couple paint blemishes. Think it is a fair deal? Should I keep.looking?

talindsay · Post by **talindsay** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 2:45 am

Man, if you lived closer I'd totally sell you my 2005 Stella with 16k miles. I rebuilt its bottom end last year and it's solid but I've had trouble getting the top end settled in to where I'm happy with it, it would totally match what you're describing.

To me, $1900 is a lot for a used Stella unless it's in really good shape - I'd offer $1500 if it's in good shape other than the listed issues. Of course, none of the issues you describe are even "issues" in any real sense - the gas tank meter only works on about half of my friends' Stellas, and even when it does work it's not very accurate. THe electric start doesn't work on several of them, and on those where it does work, the batteries are usually too shot to use it anyway. Everybody I know with a Stella older than 2009 just uses the kickstart regardless of whether the electric start might work or not. The oil change will cost you about $2 to do yourself, and the paint on Stellas is so thin that any used Stella will have some paint blemishes.

To be worth $1900 though, the following would all have to be true (and likely aren't):

Front and rear shock should both be in good shape.
Brakes should both work reliably and have plenty of life.
Tires should be in good shape, including spare.
Battery should reliably hold a charge.
Engine should have never had any issues and not leak oil.
Clutch should have a good feel, with plenty of friction zone and no unexpected slipping.
Hubs should both be in good shape, turn smoothly, not feel exceptionally bumpy or uneven, and have no free play.

Just my opinion, but I'd ask for price reduction on each of those - and with all of them acting up I'd say no more than $1400-1500. Remember each hub is $100+ for the parts, the battery is nearly $100, brakes are $50, tires are $25 each, clutch is $100, shocks are $100-200 a piece. If the engine leaks oil you might not care since it sounds like you want to rebuild it, but it's still a sign of wear and of course nobody intends to replace the gears or rear axle when they rebuild an engine, both of which will get more abuse if the gear oil wasn't properly maintained.

Good luck!

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 2:52 am

yeah, offer 1500 and see what they say. The gas gauge is never accurate even when they work, so don't sweat that..And electric start? BAH, who needs that?

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 3:58 am

I just paid 1900 for my second Stella.

However she was in absolutely excellent shape! She only had 47 miles on her, got ridden around the neighborhood a couple times and owner decided shifting was not for her. It also had a full set of chrome (rear rack, rear crashbars, legshield protector, front fender protector) which the bike came with originally as part of Genuine's dressed for the holidays promotion.

alexandercase · Post by **alexandercase** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:05 am

well i went and took a look at it, here are the stats, it is a 2005, 6600 miles, hasn't had a tune up, which in his book meant it wouldn't hold a steady idle, after about 30 seconds it stalled. had some minor paint scrapes, a tiny bit of rust on the spare tire cowl, he put a different exhaust on it, but it wasn't anything special. It had the basic rear rack, here is the clist posting..

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/3118846137.html

I ended up offering him $1700 because I was antsy, but definitely didn't think it was worth the $1900 he was asking, since he just posted it 48 hours ago he was going to wait and see if he got any better offers, but there are better ones than his on clist for cheaper, around $1500 with fewer issues, his just happens to be black which is that color I really am looking for...

Thanks for all the advice so far, it has been sooooooo helpful!

kitty · Post by **kitty** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 4:55 pm

Looks good, hope the idle issue is worked out easily. Hell, mine can't hold an idle for 30 seconds when I start it, takes some gingerly revving and some patience before she'll go

Lokky wrote:She only had 47 miles on her, got ridden around the neighborhood a couple times and owner decided shifting was not for her.

I'm amazed someone could give up so soon. At 40 some odd miles I was still weary too, and wondered why I didn't take the easy route and get a Vespa LX150. However 100 miles in I knew I made the right choice. Her loss, your gain, right?

alexandercase · Post by **alexandercase** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 4:59 pm

If only I could get so lucky to swype one with 47 miles with chrome and all, that would be unbelievable!

kitty · Post by **kitty** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:16 pm

I think I got pretty lucky. Leftover brand new 2009 for $2700. Had 8 miles on it when I picked it up. The chrome I'm not a huge fan of. I'd leave the rear rack, keep the front in case I needed it, and sell the rest.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:50 pm

alexandercase wrote:I ended up offering him $1700 because I was antsy, but definitely didn't think it was worth the $1900 he was asking, since he just posted it 48 hours ago he was going to wait and see if he got any better offers, but there are better ones than his on clist for cheaper, around $1500 with fewer issues, his just happens to be black which is that color I really am looking for...

You're right. You are antsy and offering too much. Yes, it is July (and that pushes prices up somewhat) - but I think you either need to get that scooter cheaper or find a better one.

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/mcy/3117069209.html

alexandercase · Post by **alexandercase** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:57 pm

are you the owner of the red one I have seen on clist?

I wish it was just black, it would be perfect!.

JohnKiniston · Post by **JohnKiniston** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:03 pm

Saw one painted without even being taken apart, they bagged and taped the controls and cables and stuff and made their own paint booth out of a tent.

Get a quote to have it painted?

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 2:55 am

alexandercase wrote:are you the owner of the red one I have seen on clist? I wish it was just black, it would be perfect!.

No,

. I'm not the owner of the red one. Just offering my two cents worth. And paint usually has some damage on any older bike so repainting may well be somewhere on the agenda. I personally like two tone paint jobs, so any mono-color scooter is just an opportunity waiting to happen IMO.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:15 am

alexandercase wrote:well i went and took a look at it, here are the stats, it is a 2005, 6600 miles, hasn't had a tune up, which in his book meant it wouldn't hold a steady idle, after about 30 seconds it stalled. had some minor paint scrapes, a tiny bit of rust on the spare tire cowl, he put a different exhaust on it, but it wasn't anything special. It had the basic rear rack, here is the clist posting..

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/3118846137.html

I ended up offering him $1700 because I was antsy, but definitely didn't think it was worth the $1900 he was asking, since he just posted it 48 hours ago he was going to wait and see if he got any better offers, but there are better ones than his on clist for cheaper, around $1500 with fewer issues, his just happens to be black which is that color I really am looking for...

Thanks for all the advice so far, it has been sooooooo helpful!

$1900 for THAT?!?!

I would of told him one grand total, and no hassle.

There was a GREAT looking set of Stellas for sale recently that I wish I could of bought: One was a very clean, low mile (albeit Pink) Stella in Tucson for $1500 and another excellent condition silver one in Mesa for $1750. Both looked on the money for what they were asking but not having the cash, I didn't go and check them out personally. There are better deals to be had.

The one I'm looking at is a basket case scoot (engine is literally in a basket) and has a fair amount of scratches and what not (but no dents), but I may be able to bag it for $700 with title. It has front and rear racks and new tires. That and it's a friend so I'm cool going a bit high since he needs the cash

talindsay · Post by **talindsay** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 3:45 pm

You said it's going to be a project bike, but I think maybe you don't understand "project bike". If you really want a project bike but you're worried about the color, you've rather missed the point. Get something cheap but with a solid foundation, tear it apart and learn how it works, rebuild it, build it up to be badass. If it happens to look really ugly, so much the better - it demonstrates even better that it's a project bike. If there's rust and you're worried about it, rattle can it - preferably with matte black. Once you've got all the internals exactly the way you like them, if you don't like the rat bike look, THEN spend the money to have it painted exactly the way you like and make it a nice display piece; but when you're tearing in to a project bike you'll scratch the paint. You'll be constantly tearing it up on the side of the road, laying it on its side to work on this or that, and the last thing you want to be worrying about is whether the paint is pretty.

Buy whatever is cheap and stop worrying about the paint - you already have a pretty, reliable scooter (I assume that's your 4t in your avatar), the purpose of a "project bike" is to give you something you can tear up and not care if it gets beat up in the process.

Buy whatever is cheap and rattle can it.

kitty · Post by **kitty** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:02 pm

There's a lot of difference in opinion here, but as of right now he's happy and was okay with the price. I can understand the reasoning, a couple hundred in parts and some elbow grease is cheaper/easier than a $1500 paint job, so if that's how it worked out than he's way ahead of the game.

The $1500 red one on CL above might be a good deal, IF you like red. Personally, I would never have a red scooter, so I'd either pass on it or have to spend a lot of money/time on painting it. Not really a deal in that case.

alexandercase · Post by **alexandercase** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:36 am

not a big fan of the red at all, i agree with almost everything that everyone has said, that is the main reason I posted this. The engine and random small issues are what I'd want the 'project' stella for, but wasn't sure if paint was something I really want to mess with.

The dude ended up dragging his feet and had some trouble finding his title. The main reason I was willing to do the $1800 was because I am very impatient, had a couple days off, and the weather here of course was making me itch to buy another scooter. There is no way i'll do the $1800, I'll let the guy cool down when no one buys it because of the issues and I'll offer $1600-$1700. Thanks everyone for all the great advice!

FYI, people on clist sometimes suck at clist...lol

(guy posted the scooter 5 days ago along with 2 motorcycle jackets and a rain apron, he then 24 hours later reposts it without the extra gear for the same price, then when I go to take a look at it says he is firm on the price, he claimed the extra gear was worth $300 retail, but basically wanted to give it away for free? The whole thing was silly. Oh well I will either get it cheaper or wait for something better.)

Modern Buddy

used stella

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Re: hm

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