C-list Disappointment

Yesterday Patti and I wasted a day of our lives and about $75 chasing a Craigslist lead on a 12,000-mile 1986 VFR700F. The bike is located in southern Michigan and has been advertised for a few months, originally listed at $4500 if I remember correctly. It's now lowered to $3500. With only one photo and sparse details the bike was represented as a co-worker's barn find which the seller had a local shop bring back to life. A receipt of the work performed was included ($1500) as was an old beat up Arai helmet in the factory's racing colors with a Freddie Spenser signature (no documentation).

This sounds like something I would be interested in, so after a few phone conversations and negotiations we agreed to make the trip. The bike was represented as, "I can't find a single flaw."

Within three minutes of entering the musty garage I found several. The seller hadn't even bothered to wash the machine. It does run, but the overall condition was only average with two badly touched up paint spots and a splotchy seat cover. "Well, I'm a Harley guy" didn't do much explain how he missed the small dent in the fuel tank after I explicitly asked about small dents in the tank, as I always do. I'm always prepared to walk away from a prospective bike — which is exactly what we did.

So, if you find yourself tempted by the following Craigslist ad...buyer beware.